'Faith, not works'
Children's Activity
Teachers or Parents: The real message of this Gospel text is
found in verse 50 where Jesus says to the woman, "Your faith has
saved you." We need to take every opportunity to teach our
children that they are saved as a gift of God by faith, not
works. All false religions teach that people are saved by their
own works. Christianity stands alone as the one true religion
which teaches that God saves us; we do not save ourselves by our
good works.
*Have several keys with labels attached to them and a
padlock. The labels on the keys will all be good works, such as,
"I go to church every Sunday," "I give money to the poor," "I
obey my parents," and so forth.
Explain that the lock represents the door to heaven and ask
different children to try to open it with one of the keys. After
all the keys have failed to open the lock, explain to them that
good works are wonderful, but they do not open the lock to get us
into heaven.
Now, produce a key labeled "Faith." Explain that faith means
believing in Jesus and what he did for us. Ask one of the
children to try this key in the lock. When the lock opens,
explain how it is faith, not works, that gets us into heaven.
*Make two cardboard doors, one labeled "Good Works," and one
labeled "Faith." Explain to the children what we mean by good
works and what we mean by faith. Now ask them to vote on which of
these doors will open into heaven. You can separate them into
groups. It really doesn't matter if all vote one way, as the
demonstration will work even if all vote for works or all vote
for faith.
Now have someone open the door labeled "Good Works" and see
that there is nothing on the other side. Then have someone open
the "Faith" door and see a sign or something that represents
heaven.
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Open by singing "Rock Of Ages." Then, read aloud the second
verse and talk about why "all the labors of my hands" will never
fulfill the Law's demands. Other verses which make the same point
that faith alone saves us may also be discussed.
found in verse 50 where Jesus says to the woman, "Your faith has
saved you." We need to take every opportunity to teach our
children that they are saved as a gift of God by faith, not
works. All false religions teach that people are saved by their
own works. Christianity stands alone as the one true religion
which teaches that God saves us; we do not save ourselves by our
good works.
*Have several keys with labels attached to them and a
padlock. The labels on the keys will all be good works, such as,
"I go to church every Sunday," "I give money to the poor," "I
obey my parents," and so forth.
Explain that the lock represents the door to heaven and ask
different children to try to open it with one of the keys. After
all the keys have failed to open the lock, explain to them that
good works are wonderful, but they do not open the lock to get us
into heaven.
Now, produce a key labeled "Faith." Explain that faith means
believing in Jesus and what he did for us. Ask one of the
children to try this key in the lock. When the lock opens,
explain how it is faith, not works, that gets us into heaven.
*Make two cardboard doors, one labeled "Good Works," and one
labeled "Faith." Explain to the children what we mean by good
works and what we mean by faith. Now ask them to vote on which of
these doors will open into heaven. You can separate them into
groups. It really doesn't matter if all vote one way, as the
demonstration will work even if all vote for works or all vote
for faith.
Now have someone open the door labeled "Good Works" and see
that there is nothing on the other side. Then have someone open
the "Faith" door and see a sign or something that represents
heaven.
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Open by singing "Rock Of Ages." Then, read aloud the second
verse and talk about why "all the labors of my hands" will never
fulfill the Law's demands. Other verses which make the same point
that faith alone saves us may also be discussed.
