Sailing 7 C's LESSON 1: CONVERTED

 OBJECTIVE: To explain what it means to be converted.

SCRIPTURE VERSE: 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 "THEREFORE IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY: BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW."

             BIBLE STUDY: CONVERTED

 This Bible Study is designed to help you prepare from God's Word to teach the lesson. It is not intended to be taught to the students. Pray Paul's prayer from Ephesians 1:17 & 18 before you begin to study this lesson. (Put your name instead of the pronoun "you".) "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints."

 BE CONVERTED

Acts 3:19 "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."

 CHANGED FROM THE INSIDE OUT

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

 COMPARED TO BEING BORN AGAIN

John 3:3-10 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?"

 1 Peter 1:23-25 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."

  PRAYER

 Begin the service with prayer. Encourage a child to lead the prayer.

 INTRODUCTION-  QUACKER'S QUESTIONS

 Captain and Quacker.

 The leader can play the captain's part. Just add a captain's hat and a dark jacket. Quacker is a loving child-like duck puppet. If you don't have a puppet team, delete the quacks, and use a character for all Quacker's skits. An adult or child can act out the skits as a character instead of a duck puppet.

 Captain: Good morning, boys and girls! It is great to see you here today. I've been praying for you this week. (Be sure that you pray for every one of your children by name. I keep a list and pray for them regularly making note of special needs and answered prayer.) I'd like for us to start our service with prayer. Would one of you like to lead in prayer? (Call the child forward and have him/her lead in prayer with the microphone. This is good practice for the children.)

 Captain: Let's set our sails to explore the first of our seven "C's". I'll be your captain for this adventure. (Put the first flag on the ship.) The first "C" we will explore is "Converted."

 Quacker: Converted? Quack? I've heard of the Dead Sea, but I've never heard of Converted Sea.

 Captain: Well, it's not a body of water like the Dead Sea.

 Quacker: Quack, I see. It's more like a duck pond? Quack, quack. I love little duck ponds. Is it found it Michigan? Did you know that Michigan is the "Land of Lakes?"

 Captain: No, it's not found in Michigan. Actually it is found in the Bible.

 Quacker: I'm getting confused. Quack.

 Captain: When sailors set sail to explore the seven seas they are talking about the oceans like the Pacific and the Atlantic. You know, the seven major bodies of water. Instead of water, we're going to sail through God's Word with Paul as our guide to discover seven "C" words that are really important in the life of every Christian.

 Quacker: (excited) Oh, that's just ducky! (Stops) What does converted mean?

 Captain: Converted means changed from one form to another.

 Quacker: Huh?

 Captain: You know, like a tadpole changes into a frog. I'm getting ahead of myself. We'll tell you all about converted in today's lesson. So listen close. It's time for you to go, Quacker. We're going to sing some fun songs.

 Quacker: Quack. That's just ducky, cause I love to sing songs.  Quacker and Captain exit.

 TIME TO SING

 Sing fun active songs to start your service. Mary Rice Hopkins & Co.  and Mary Rice Hopkins & Co. Lighthouse are excellent sing-a-long tapes. Some of my favorites are "Hold On" and "Lighthouse", Hip Hip Hooray,  and "Never Gonna Quit." I also recommend Integrity Music Just-For-Kids Follow the Leader or Good News. Have fun with the active music. Work out motions for the words and use competition to get everyone involved and singing.

    OFFERING TIME

 You will need two offering containers.

 Boys and girls, it is time to worship the Lord with our giving. The Bible commands us to bring all our tithes into the storehouse. The local church is that storehouse. It is God's plan to take care of the church and the pastor. Open your Bibles to Malachi 3:10. Can anyone tell me where the book of Malachi is found? Malachi is the last chapter in the Old Testament. (Give them time to find the verse. Have the helpers help the children find it.) Let's read it together. This verse has a promise in it. What is that promise? That's right. God promised if we would obey Him by bringing our tithes into the storehouse, then He would open the windows of heaven and pour us out a blessing that there would not be enough room to receive. (Choose four people to receive the offering and one to pray over the offering.)

            AHOY! PIRATE PETE

 Pirate Pete

 Pirate Pete can be a character or a puppet dressed in a bold red and white striped shirt, with a patch over one eye and a bright, satin, triangular handkerchief tied over his head. Polly sits on his shoulder. If you use a live character for Pirate Pete attach a string to Polly's mouth to pull it open and a rubber band in the mouth to make it close.

 Pirate Pete: Ahoy, maties. Good day to you land lubbers out there. My name is Pete. Pirate Pete that is and this is my partner Polly. Not very original, but it fits my little feathered friend. We've traveled the seven seas together, Polly and myself. Ahh, we have. We've stolen treasure! We've raided ships. We've marched through snaky marshlands and steamy jungles searching for treasure. Ahh! We have! That life is behind me now! Ahh, it is. I have changed. No more stealing and raiding for me. No, I'm going in a different direction now. This book, the Bible, is my guide. Ahh, it is! Let me share a verse from it with you. (Put the memory verse transparency on the Overhead Projector {OHP}.) "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 Will all the boys say it with me. Now how 'bout you girls? Let's see how you do. I hope you are a new creature in Christ! I say maties, Polly and myself, best be getting along now.

 Captain: (Enters) Today you will receive a passport. It will have thirteen verses on it. If you can say today's memory verse perfectly next week, we will stamp your passport with a special stamp. If you memorize all thirteen verse you will receive a special prize after the contest. Plus, your name will appear in the newsletter that goes out to everyone on our mailing list.

 A  CLEAN SLATE

 (You will need the "Magic Slate" from your accessory package. Don't be alarmed by the word "magic" and please don't call it that in your class. It is a slate with a plastic sheet over the surface. You draw on the slate with a wooden stick, lift the plastic and the words disappear.) The Bible says all have sinned. No matter how sweet you are, you have sinned. It is our human nature to sin. We inherited that nature to sin from Granddaddy Adam. Everyone, and I mean everyone, has sinned. (Begin to list some sins on the slate.) Maybe it is something little like taking a quarter from your mother's purse or telling a lie. It could be cheating on a test. Help me name a few.

 It would be a very, very sad story if that were the end, because the Bible says "the wages" or the payday for sin is death. But the story doesn't end there. When you ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and come into your heart He erases all your sins. They are gone forever. (Lift the plastic sheet.)

 There will be times, even after you are born again that you will sin. When you sin (write "SIN" across all the other words), ask Jesus to forgive you of that sin. (Lift the plastic sheet to remove the words.) Ask Him to help you not to do it anymore. Turn away from your sin. (Write "TURN") Repentance means, turn away and go in the opposite direction. You must choose to obey God's Laws instead of what you feel like doing. It is God's plan for you to "Win over Sin."

      ISADORE

 Isadore

Isadore will be used often in this teaching unit. Choose this character carefully. He should dress and talk like a Cajun fisherman. We chose a rubber rain slicker, knee boats, white sailor gob hat, with the brim pulled over his face. He carried a fisherman's cast net. As available he should bring appropriate shells or pictures of fish. For the first week, bring an oyster shell or a picture of one.

 Isadore: Oh hello der, kiddies! My name it be Isadore. Isadore dat be right. Dere be three doors in dis room. Dere be de front door. Dere be de back door and dere be Isadore. Dat's me! I be a fisherman. Dats right! Ohh wee! I catch a bunch of fishes today. I catch de little fishey and I catch de big a fishey and I catch de in between fishey. Isadore, he just love to fish, for true!

 But today, Ole Isadore find something dat not be a fishey. Dat's right! Ole Isadore he found de oyster. Ohh wee! De oyster be goood to eat! Now de oyster he be hiding inside dis hard shell. Dat right, he be hiding inside. Sometime he have to eat. He get so hung-r-y, just like Ole Isadore be right now! So he open his mouth, well, I mean he open his shell. De oyster don't have no hands to eat his supper with. No sir-re! De wauter (water) it be filled with tiny fellows dat he eat as de wauter pass right through his shell. For true! Sometime dat wauter, it bring a grain of sand inside de oyster shell. Ohh wee! Dat hurt de oyster so bad. Remember he don't have no hands to pick de sand out with and it hurts! Isadore, he axed you, what he do now? You want Isadore to tell ya what he do? He do something mighty strange, he makes some milky white liquid. It be called nacre. Dat oyster squirt dat nacre on de sand. He do it again, dat what he do. He keep on doing it until dat sand be covered with nacre. Den we call dat grain of sand something else. Dat be right, we call it a pearl. Dat right. Dat oyster done made him a pearl out of dat sand. Dat pearl don't hurt him no more and it be so purty (pretty)!

 Dat oyster remind me of de Christian. De sand it be like sin. Jesus, He know dat it will destroy mankind. If you'll let Him, He'll wrap you with a robe of righteousness. Den you will be His Pearl of Great Price.

 Old Isadore, he got to get back to his fishing. Ohh wee! Dat fishing be so good!

     WORSHIP TIME

 Show the treasure chest containing the quiet seat prizes.

Boys and girls, I would like for everyone to stand with me. We are going to sing some very special songs now. I hope every one you will join me in worshiping the Lord as we sing these songs to Jesus. That's why I came today, because I wanted to worship God. I hope that's why you came too. Maybe you would like to close your eyes as you sing these songs. (The songs should be quieter worship hymns or choruses. Provide transparencies if necessary. Sing the same songs often enough that the children can concentrate on worship and not learning the words of a new song.)

 I'd like for everyone to sit very quietly. (Comment on several quiet rows. Thank them for being very cooperative.) This is a very important part of our service. It is our worship time. I'm going to ask everyone to sit very quiet during the next few minutes. No one is allowed to talk or move out of their seat. (Name two helpers) are looking around the room for two quiet seats. If you are talking or moving then you will lose the opportunity to win the quiet seat.

 RELIGIOUS, BUT NOT RIGHT!

 Acts 6:8- Acts 7

 Be sure to use flannel graph for this story.

Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia was a large, bustling, wealthy city, built on the Cydnus River. The busy harbors brought ships loaded with all sorts of wonderful things from many different countries. The vast highways running east and west brought travelers and merchants to the loud, smelly markets. Markets of every description lined the streets of this important city. Also, people were sold like cattle in these same markets. This magnificent city of Tarsus, with a university, beautiful buildings, and a thriving harbor, was the boyhood home of a man that would write most of the New Testament. The sights and sounds of this amazing city must have left a deep impression on the young man named Saul.

 Tarsus realized the importance of higher education, and it's people were devoted to being well educated. Saul was no different. He studied under the greatest teacher of his day; Gamaliel. Saul was a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee. You see the Pharisees prided themselves on being fair, or righteous. They were determined to do everything exactly "fair, you see?" (Phar I See) They obeyed the law down to the last little dot. Saul was a devoted Pharisee.

 Saul was a Roman citizen by birth, and a devoted Jew by religion. Yet it was Jerusalem, the religious center, not Tarsus, where we catch our first glimpse of this fine, educated young Pharisee. In fact, our first glimpse of him takes place at a scene probably unlike what you might expect. Come with me to Jerusalem.

 The church was growing. Besides the twelve apostles, seven deacons were appointed. These deacons had the responsibility to distribute food and money to the poor. They took care of the business of the church. Stephen was a deacon. He was full of the Holy Ghost and faith. God used Stephen to perform miracles and wonders.

 Not everyone was happy about the wonderful miracles that Stephen did. Some devoted Jewish men from the local synagogue were furious. They argued with Stephen, but Stephen stood firmly that Jesus was the Messiah. They had to admit Stephen spoke wisely. There was just something different about Stephen, but his words didn't fit with their traditions. They couldn't accept Stephen's crazy new ideas. They hated Stephen's beliefs. They couldn't possibly believe that Jesus was the Messiah, so they tried to stop Stephen. They stirred up a mob against him. With the council's approval Stephen was brought before the council to defend himself. Witnesses were told to tell lies on Stephen so he would be convicted by the council.

 "This man is always cursing this holy temple and the law. If I've heard him say it once, I've heard him say it a hundred times that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this temple and change the customs that Moses gave us."

 The council looked from this liar to Stephen. Instead of looking pale with fright or crying for mercy, Stephen's face looked like an angel's. It was time for Stephen to defend himself. What a sermon this little deacon preached. He started with Abraham and moved through their Jewish history that he knew so well. He reminded them of Moses' words, "You won't listen to me, but God will raise up a man that you will listen to his words." He closed his sermon with  "Why do you resist the Holy Ghost as your fathers did?"

 The words Stephen spoke was like a sword cutting through their hearts. They must have known he was right, but they didn't want to change. They didn't want to accept his words, instead they were furious with Stephen. They gritted their teeth at Stephen. They drug him outside the city, where they yanked off their coats and gave them to a young man to hold while they prepared to stone Stephen to death.

 Stephen still full of the Holy Ghost looked up to heaven. God pulled back the curtain for Stephen to look inside. He saw the glory of God and Jesus sitting on God's right hand. Stephen was so excited he had to tell them. "Oh people, I see the heaven's opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."

 They yelled to the top of their lungs and stuck their fingers in their ears like two year olds. Their screams were loud and angry. The dust swirled wildly as they hurled stone after stone at Stephen. Stephen was praying the whole time. Then he knelt and prayed "Lord, don't lay this sin to their charge." When he finished praying he fell asleep.

 Saul was the young man holding the coats of the men stoning Stephen. He wanted to see Stephen stoned. You see, Saul was religious, but not righteous. He knew the law, but not the lawgiver. He thought he fought for God, but He fought against Him. It's not enough to be religious, you must have Jesus in your heart. It's not enough to know about the Bible, you must have Jesus living inside. Jesus is the only way to be saved.

                 THE HUMAN SHIP

 Show the picture of the ship. Illustrate that the only piece that will fit the hole is the cross.

 Ships are wonderful sailing vessels made to transport goods and people. The size and types are varied. Each ship is built with a specific purpose in mind. The huge cargo ships are made to carry cargo. The luxury liners are made to carry people leisurely from port to port. The warships are made to carry guns, equipment and manpower for fighting wars on the sea.

 People are like ships. We were designed to carry a very precious cargo, Jesus. When man sinned, he developed a hole in his boat. This hole is an empty space that only God can fill. God provided a means for the hole to be patched until a more permanent solution arrived. That patch was the sacrifice of animals. The blood of sheep and goats could only cover mankind's sins, not remove them. When Jesus died on the cross in payment for sin, He made a way for believers to be changed; to be converted. Anyone can receive this amazing gift.

 Sad though it may seem, mankind has tried to fill the hole themselves instead of receiving the solution God offered. They have tried to fill the hole with money, success, fame, friends, and things. Like trying to put a square peg in a round hole, it doesn't work. Oh, some have been pretty successful at their efforts, or so it seemed at first, but the plug in their empty hole will not last.

THE RIP TIDE

 You can purchase the visuals for this story separately.

 The salty wind blew wisps of candy blond hair in JB's face. He looked back to check on the funny looking contraption he had rigged to cart his surf board to the beach and home again. It might look funny, but it worked great! His friends might laugh, but it sure beat lugging the heavy thing around. The long, sleek board was heavy for a ten year old kid.

 Blackie barked and danced around JB when he began to un-strap the board on the beach. "No, you can't go, fellow! Stay here, JB instructed the small black dog. He rested the board on the sand and petted Blackie.

 JB watched a sandpiper race to the water's edge on tiny stilt like legs and then race away again as the tide came in. The bright sun made the water sparkle like diamonds. The surf was up- perfect! JB watched as a big wave began to build and crest, crashing before it reached the beach. "Time to catch a big one, old boy," JB echoed the same words he had often heard his older brother say. He headed toward the water with his large board tucked under his small arms.

 Blackie began to yelp again. "No, boy, you better stay here." Blackie continued to yelp and whine. "OK!" JB agreed as he scooped the dog under his other arm.

 In the water, JB climbed on the board, placing Blackie in front, he began to paddle out, looking for "a big one." Spotting a great looking wave JB climbed on top and began to ride the wave. His balance was perfect. The wave was exhilarating; until . . . it came crashing down on top of him taking him under. He didn't have a strap on his board, so the board went one way and JB went another. Much as you would expect, Blackie began to dog paddle. JB started to swim after his board, but the tide was too swift. He decided he'd better get his dog instead, but he couldn't seem to push himself against the swift current of the water. "Is this a rip tide? What am I supposed to do?" He knew there was something special he was supposed to do, but he couldn't remember. Again and again he tried to swim against the tide, but he was helpless. The harder he struggled the weaker he became. The weaker he felt, the stronger the tide felt. JB began to panic. He had enough wits about him to realize, unless he got out of the rip tide he would drown.

 JB's older brother was "rapping" with his friend on the beach unaware that anything was happening. One of his buddies calmly interrupted the meaningless chatter that was going on. "Hey, ain't that your brother's board? I think your brother is drowning out there."

 That is exactly what was happening. The older, experienced surfer grabbed JB's board and paddled out. He spotted the dog first. He plopped the dripping black pet onto the front of his board, then he paddled to JB and scooped him out of the water. JB, spitting and sputtering, was white with fear.

 The older brother's only comment was, "Why did you do a stupid thing like bringing the dog?"

 JB felt good, stupid or not, to be safe on the water's edge.

 When mankind was sinking in sin, God sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world. He wants to save you from your sins. Just as JB couldn't swim out of the rip tide, you can't save yourself. JB needed someone to save him from the rip tide and you need someone to save you from your sins. Jesus is the only person that can do that. Jesus wants to be your Savior!

 Just a word about the rip tide. The only way to get out of a rip tide is to swim parallel to the shore. That way you won't tire out before you swim out of the rip tide.

         PRAYER TIME

 This is the most important time in the service. Give them time to get quiet and think about what you have shared from God's Word, then give them an opportunity to pray quietly at their seat. Be careful that prayer time doesn't drag so long that some become restless. Pray with the children for special needs. Helpers will need to monitor this prayer time carefully to prevent irreverence.

Boys and girls, today we've talked about being converted or changed. Every person is born with the need to change. I'm not talking about changing on the outside like a tadpole. I'm talking about on the inside. No matter how good we are, we need Jesus to forgive us of our sins and come into our hearts. Without Jesus we are like an empty boat; an empty boat with a hole in it's side. We all need Jesus. Many of you have already asked Jesus to come into your heart, I'm not asking you to do it again. I am asking you to pray quietly for someone you know that doesn't have Jesus in their heart.

 There are some of you that have never asked Jesus into your heart. You need a change, not on the outside, but on the inside. You need Jesus in your heart. Would you like to ask Jesus into your heart? (Go through the A, B, C's of Salvation with the class. If you are unfamiliar with this simple plan of salvation, see the teacher's instructions in the front of the book.)

         REVIEW TIME

 Ask questions about the lesson to see what they remember. Give each person that answers the question a small treat such as a piece of candy or a sticker.

 Who was Saul's famous teacher? Gamaliel

What was Stephen's job in the church? He was a deacon.

What was a deacon's job? He distributed food and took care of business for the church.

Why were religious leaders so angry with Stephen? Because he did miracles and taught that Jesus was the Messiah.

What did they do to ensure that Stephen would be convicted at the council? Brought in witnesses that promised to lie against Stephen.

What did Stephen do while they were stoning him? Prayed.

What did Stephen's face look like? An angel's

What did Stephen see before he died? The heavens opened and Jesus on God's right side.

Who was holding their coats while they stoned Stephen? Saul

Saul was very religious and very educated. Did that make him right with God? NO

Did Saul need to be changed? Yes

 CRAFT #1

  SPONGE SAILBOAT

 You will need enough sponges or meat trays for each child, and water resistant glue, such as Founders Craft Adhesive.

 These sailboats can be made from sponges or the styrofoam trays that meat is packaged in. Trim the sponge/meat tray to 5" X 7" size. Cut off both corners of one end of the sponge/meat tray to make a point as shown in fig. 1. Use one corner to make a sail. Glue the edge labeled "B" to the center of the sponge/meat tray. NOTE: Supervise the gluing process. This will not come out of clothes if you let it dry.

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