Jesus Has Power Over Creation

Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25

Thank you for continuing this journey of The Gospel Project^® for Kids. Over the next four weeks, preschoolers will discover that Jesus is powerful. In Sunday’s Bible account, Jesus shows His remarkable power over creation. After a long day of teaching, Jesus and His disciples got into a boat to cross over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. When their short sailing trip was interrupted by a violent storm, the disciples found themselves in danger with nowhere to turn—except to the One who created all things.

The Sea of Galilee is actually a freshwater lake in northern Israel. It sits nearly 700 feet below sea level and is surrounded by tall hills and mountains. The geography contributes to strong downdrafts and sudden storms that can quickly overtake the lake. This type of windstorm is what the disciples faced as they crossed the sea with Jesus.

Several of the disciples were experienced fishermen. They had spent significant time on the Sea of Galilee, but this storm was so strong. The waves overtook the boat, and the disciples were afraid they would drown. As the disciples panicked, what was Jesus doing? He was sleeping! The disciples woke Jesus. The situation was out of their control, but their reaction was full of irony: “Teacher! Don’t You care that we’re going to die?” (Mark 4:38).

The disciples obviously did not know why Jesus had come to earth. Jesus had come to rescue people from sin. Did Jesus care that the disciples were going to die? Absolutely. But He was going to rescue them from something greater than physical death by drowning. Jesus would save them from spiritual death when He died on the cross.

Who is this man? the disciples wondered. Jesus’ disciples knew Jesus was a good man and a good teacher. When Jesus calmed the wind and the waves, He showed His disciples that He is also God. God rules the sea and calms its waves. (See Job 12:15; 28:25; Psalms 33:7; 89:9; 107:25-30; Amos 4:13.)

Jesus was Born

Merry Christmas! Thank you for continuing this journey of The Gospel Project^® for Kids. Today's  Bible account focuses on a pivotal moment in human history. God had promised to send a Messiah to redeem sinners. God had sent angels to announce to Mary and Joseph their special part in His plan. But Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth. What about Micah’s prophecy that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem?

God is in control of all things. Do you think it was just by chance that Caesar Augustus called for a census? God used a pagan emperor to bring about His plan and brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem at just the right time, under just the right circumstances. God’s plan was for Jesus to be born in a manger. Jesus was no ordinary baby. He is God’s Son, sent in the most humble of circumstances, “not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

While Bethlehem slept, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to shepherds nearby. The Bible says the shepherds were terrified! But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David” (Luke 2:10-11).

The people of Israel were well aware of their need for a Savior. They made sacrifices daily to atone for their sin. Finally, a Savior had come who would be the perfect sacrifice for sin, once and for all. Jesus is also Messiah the Lord. The word Messiah means “anointed one,” especially a king. Jesus the Deliverer and Redeemer would be King over His people.

The birth of Jesus was good news! Jesus was not an ordinary baby. He is God’s Son, sent to earth from heaven. The purpose of Jesus’ birth was twofold: to bring glory to God, and to make peace between God and those who trusted in Jesus’ death and resurrection to provide salvation. Jesus came into the world to save people from their sins and to be our King.

Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph

In the Bible, God often used angels to communicate His message to people. Mary and Joseph, the earthly parents of Jesus, each received a special visit from an angel to announce the birth of God’s promised Messiah. The angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary surprised her. God chose Mary to be the mother of His child. The angel’s message revealed much about this promised child.

The news that Jesus was coming into the world was good news because of why He was coming. An angel revealed Jesus’ purpose to Joseph in Matthew 1:21, “He will save His people from their sins.” The gospel is the good news of what God has done for us through Christ.

The announcement of Jesus’ birth is not the beginning of the gospel; God had been planning for this moment since before the beginning of time. (See Ephesians 1:3-10.) The baby Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy, as well as other prophecies of the coming Savior throughout the Old Testament. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus fulfilled God’s plan of redemption that God planned from the beginning of time.

Prophets Told About Jesus' Birth

Thank you for continuing this journey of The Gospel Project^® for Kids. Once again, we are going to break from our chronological journey through the Bible to celebrate Jesus’ birth at Christmas. Jesus’ birth is God’s solution to our sin problem. When Adam and Eve introduced sin into the world, all of creation fell under a curse. (See Genesis 3:17-19.) We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We’ve inherited the curse of death from Adam. (See Romans 3:23; 5:12.)

Throughout the Old Testament, the consequences of sin are obvious. God’s people were separated from Him; they did not enjoy the intimate relationship with their Creator they were created to have. God’s people were affected by sickness and pain. The situation seemed hopeless, yet God did not leave His people without hope. Hundreds of messages came through the prophets concerning a coming Messiah—One who would rescue people from their sins. But when would this Promised One come? How would He come? Would the people recognize Him?

The prophets Isaiah and Micah—who both lived hundreds of years before Jesus was born—spoke specifically of the Messiah’s birth. Isaiah told King Ahaz what the Lord would do. “The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). He described the birth of a Prince of Peace—a Son of David who will reign forever. (Isaiah 9:6-7) Isaiah said that He would be a King! (Isaiah 11:1-5) The prophet Micah named the specific town—Bethlehem—in which Jesus would be born. (Micah 5:2)

God’s plan to save people from sin and death was not a secret plan. God used the prophets to give hope to His people. They said God would send a Messiah—born into the world as a baby to live the perfect life people fail to live and die the guilty death we deserve. Though death came through Adam, life comes through Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:22) Through His death on the cross, Jesus finished the work for our salvation. In Him lies our hope of forgiveness and eternal life.

The Sermon on the Mount

Unit 27, Session 1: The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5 - 7

Thank you for continuing this journey of The Gospel Project^® for Kids. Over the next few weeks, preschoolers will be studying some of Jesus’ sermons and parables. During His time on earth, Jesus spent time preaching about God’s kingdom. One of Jesus’ most well-known sermons is the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is recorded across three chapters in the Gospel of Matthew. In Matthew 5–7, Jesus taught how believers should live. While Matthew 5:1-2 specifies that Jesus taught His disciples, Matthew 7:28 reveals that the crowds listened to His sermon as well.

First, Jesus began with the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes describe God’s great blessings for believers. God’s kingdom belongs to the spiritually needy, God will comfort those who are sad, and God will give mercy to those who show mercy to others. Jesus gives believers reason to be glad when life on earth is hard because great rewards await in heaven. Jesus also taught how believers should live in a world that does not honor Him. Jesus called believers “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matt. 5:13-14). He said the good works of His followers should cause others to give glory to God.

Jesus taught about a righteousness that comes from the inside. God’s people had the law of Moses, but some of them—the Pharisees, in particular—were concerned mostly with the appearance of being righteous. The scribes and Pharisees looked righteous on the outside, but Jesus taught His disciples about a righteousness that comes from the inside. People who know and love Jesus have changed hearts that want to honor Jesus.