December - Jesus Was Foretold:

Week 1: Jesus Was Foretold
Advent Passage: Jeremiah 33: 14-16 "At that time I will bring to the throne of Davis a righteous descendent, and he will do what is just and right throughout the land."
Subject: People in the Old Testament talked about Jesus' coming long before his birth. They talked about it because it made them happy.

Week 2: John the Baptist
Advent Passage: Luke 3:1-6 "Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had turned from their sins and turned to God to be forgiven."
Subject: John the Baptist came before Jesus asking people (asking us) to repent of their sins.

Week 3: The Happy Prophecy
Advent Passage: Zephaniah 3:14-18a "For the Lord your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song."
Subject: Jesus' birth was the fulfillment of God's plan and many people were happy that it had come.

Week 4: Bethlehem
Advent Passage: Micah 5:2-4 "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past."
Subject: Not only did Micah foretell Jesus' birth, but he also gave his address! Learn the story of Jesus' birth and learn that he was born in a stable in Bethlehem.

Week 5: Jesus the Boy
Advent Passage: Luke 2:52 "So Jesus grew in both height and wisdom, and he was loved by God and by all who knew him."
Subject: Jesus grew up by going to church. One of people's favorite Bible stories is of Jesus in the temple as a boy.

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January - Our Leader:

Week 1: The Wiseman
Bible Passage: Matthew 2:1-12 "When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!"
Subject: The wisemen were leaders and learned men from the east. They came to worship Jesus at his birth in recognition of his importance to the world.

Week 2: Water Into Wine
Bible Passage: John 2:1-11 "This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was Jesus' first display of his glory. And his disciples believed him."
Subject: Jesus performed his first miracle at a wedding feast. It was the world's first glimpse at his miraculous powers and potential.

Week 3: Body of Christ
Bible Passage: I Corinthians 12:12-21; 26-27 "Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it."
Subject: Paul compares members of the church to the parts of Christ's body. We are each a part of Christ and we each need to lead by his example.

Week 4: God Cares
Bible Passage: Jeremiah 1:4-10 "And don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and take care of you. I, the LORD, have spoken!"
Subject: Jeremiah was a young prophet who did not feel that he was old enough to speak for God. God helped Jeremiah to do his job, just as he will help us as we work for God's glory in the world.

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February - Good Followers:

Week 1: Jesus Inspires
Bible Passage: Luke 5:1-11 "And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus."
Subject: Jesus inspired his first disciples to follow him, and they did -- immediately. Jesus can inspire us to be followers as well.

Week 2: Trust
Bible Passage: Jeremiah 17:5-10 "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence."
Subject: Following God means to trust him and the plan that he has for our lives.

Week 3: Love Your Enemies
Bible Passage: Luke 6: 27-38 "But, if you are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you."
Subject: Loving your enemies is tough. But, to be a good follower, that is what Jesus calls us to do.

Week 4: Use the Word of God
Bible Passage: Luke 4:1-13; Romans 10:13 "For anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Subject: Jesus was tempted in the desert by the devil. We can resist temptation by calling on the Lord to help.

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March - Sinners Repent:

Week 1: Standing Firm
Bible Passage: Luke 13: 31-35 "Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord!"
Subject: Not everyone liked Jesus and what he stood for. But, Jesus stood firm and continued his work anyway, encouraging everyone to repent of their sins.

Week 2: Repent
Bible Passage: Luke 13:1-9 "No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will also perish."
Subject: Through the parable of the the fig tree, Jesus taught us to repent from our sins.

Week 3: Prodigal Son
Bible Passage: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 "...for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost but now he is found."
Subject: The story of the Prodigal Son is one of the best illustrations of God's unfailing love for us.

Week 4: Final Warning
Bible Passage: Luke 20:9-19 "The stone rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone."
Subject: Through the parable of the evil tenant farmers, Jesus declared to the religious leaders that that he was the Son of God and that they should believe the authority of his words.

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April - The Shepherd and the Sheep:

Week 1: Last Supper (Palm Sunday)
Bible Passage: Luke 22:1-23;56 "This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you -- an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you."
Subject: Jesus chose to share his final Passover meal with his disciples. He used this traditional meal to tell the disciples that he is the new, perfect sacrifice for all mankind.

Week 2: Easter
Bible Passage: Luke 24:1-11 "He isn't here! He is risen from the dead!"
Subject: Jesus is not dead. Jesus is alive!

Week 3: Jail Break
Bible Passage: Acts 5:12,17-32 "But Peter and the apostles replied, 'We must obey God rather than human authority.'"
Subject: This story in Acts shows Jesus' disciples obeying his commandments against all odds. They continued sharing their faith and the Good News of Christ even when faced with prison and death.

Week 4: The Switch
Bible Passage: Acts 9:1-20 "And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, 'He is indeed the Son of God.'"
Subject: Paul went from a killer of Christians to one of God's most important servants. This story demonstrates the power of God's forgiveness and how it can work in every follower's life.

Week 5: The Flock
Bible Passage: John 10:27-30 "My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me."
Subject: Jesus uses the example of a shepherd and his sheep to show the strength of the relationship that he can and will have with his followers. No one can snatch willing sheep away from this shepherd.

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May - A Church is Born:

Week 1: The New Rule
Bible Passage: John 13:31-35 "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other."
Subject: Jesus gave us a new commandment to operate under. We are told to love each other the way that Jesus loved us.

Week 2: Share the Good News
Bible Passage: Acts 14:8-18 "Jesus replied, 'All those who love me will do what I say. My father will love them, and we will come to them and live with them.'"
Subject: When Paul and Barnabus healed a crippled man they were acting as God's agents. They had to explain this to the people around them who did not know who Jesus was. God wants us to share the message we have been given to those who don't know about it.

Week 3: Jesus Ascends
Bible Passage: Acts 1:1-11 "They said, 'Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. And someday, just as you saw him go, he will return!"
Subject: Ascension Sunday is the time that we celebrate Jesus' ascension into heaven. The Bible tells us that just as he went up into heaven, someday he will return to earth and the church in the same way.

Week 4: Tower of Babel
Bible Passage: Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2:11 "And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!"
Subject: In the old testament, God divided the people using language because they were trying to make themselves equal to God by building a tower to heaven. In Pentecost, God used language to unite people so that they could hear and understand the Good News of Jesus Christ so that they church could spred.

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June - Faith:

Week 1: Strong Faith
Bible Passage: Romans 5:1-5 "We can rejoice too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us -- they help us to learn and endure."
Subject: Paul shares in Romans that enduring problems and trials gives us an opportunity to strengthen our faith.

Week 2: God at Work
Bible Passage: Luke 7:11-17 "Great fear swept the crowd, and they praised God, saying, 'A mighty prophet has risen among us,' and 'We have seen the hand of God at work today.'"
Subject: The story of Jesus bringing the widow's son back to life demonstrates Jesus' love and compassion for people.

Week 3: Grateful Faith
Bible Passage: Luke 7:36-50 "Then Jesus said to the woman, 'Your sins are forgiven.'"
Subject: In this parable, Jesus explains that the person with the biggest debt is the most grateful when it is cancelled. How grateful, then, should we be that Jesus died for our sins?

Week 4: Forgiven Sins
Bible Passage: Luke 9:18-24 "Then he asked them, 'Who do you say I am?' Peter replied, 'You are the Messiah sent from God!"
Subject: Jesus taught his disciples who he was and why he came to earth. As we read this passage, Jesus is also teaching us that he came to earth to die for our sins. Christians have faith in this very important message.

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July - Following Jesus:

Week 1: Through Thick and Thin
Bible Passage: Luke 9:51-62 "As they were walking along someone said to Jesus, 'I will follow you no matter where you go.'"
Subject: Jesus describes the kind of commitment that is required of his followers -- steadfast, even through turbulent times.

Week 2: Feeling Joy
Bible Passage: Luke 10:1-12; 17-20; Galatians 6:10 "Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters."
Subject: Before Jesus leaves the earth, he commissions 72 followers to go out and get more workers. They return from this experience filled with joy and excitement. Following Jesus brings great joy!

Week 3: Love Your Neighbor
Bible Passage: Luke 10:25-37 "The man answered, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Subject: Jesus uses the parable of the Good Samaritan to teach us to love one another. Following Jesus means sharing the love that he has shown to us.

Week 4: Choosing to Listen
Bible Passage: Luke 10:38-42 "Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught."
Subject: The story of Mary and Martha shows two women making different choices about how to relate to Jesus. Jesus would rather we listen to his words than get caught up in worldly things.

Week 5: Connect with God
Bible Passage: Luke 11:1-13 "And so I tell you, keep on asking and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened."
Subject: Jesus teaches the disciples about prayer and persistence. He stresses the importance of remaining connected to God through prayer.

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August - Seeking God:

Week 1: Heavenly Wealth
Bible Passage: Luke 12:13-21 "Then he said, 'Beware! Don't be greedy for what you don't have. Real life is not measured by how much we own."
Subject: Jesus tells a parable about a rich fool who dies before he can enjoy his wealth. He uses this story to remind us that the things we own are not as important as our relationship with God.

Week 2: Be Ready
Bible Passage: Luke 12:32-40 "You must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected."
Subject: Jesus explains to his disciples the importance of being ready for his return. God wants us to always think of him and be ready.

Week 3: Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
Bible Passage: Hebrews 12:1-13 "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish."
Subject: The writer of Hebrews encourages us to be strengthened by the lives of the Christian witnesses around us.

Week 4: Seek God
Bible Passage: Luke 13:22-30 "All humanity will come to worship me from week to week and from month to month."
Subject: In this passage, Jesus is explaining the dangers of becoming inattentive to God's word. It is necessary to constantly strive to seek God.

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September - Love Lessons:

Week 1: Christian Love
Bible Passage: Hebrews 13:1-8 "Continue to love each other with true Christian love."
Subject: The writer of Hebrews explains how we are to relate to others with love.

Week 2: Paul's Love
Bible Passage: Philemon 1:(2-9); 10-21 "May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace."
Subject: The letter to Philemon is a tender example of how Paul demonstrated the love that he learned from Christ. We can learn much from this example.

Week 3: The Lost Coin
Bible Passage: Luke 15:1-10 "In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents."
Subject: Jesus uses a parable of the lost coin to illustrate how special each one of us is to God.

Week 4: Learn to Share
Bible Passage: Luke 16:1-13 "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
Subject: Jesus told a story about a shrewd manager who learned how to give up his selfishness in order to gain friends. Sharing what we have is pleasing to God.

Week 5: Love God, Not Money
Bible Passage: Luke 16:19-31; I Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows."
Subject: Jesus gives an example in this passage of a man who was wealthy by the world's standards, but who ignored God's word. God wants us to listen to his words and not be caught up in the pursuit of money.

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October - Christian Behavior:

Week 1: Stand Up for Jesus
Bible Passage: 2 Timothy 1:3-14 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self discipline."
Subject: Paul encouraged young Timothy to speak out about his faith and not worry about his age or experience. He reminds Timothy, and us, not to be ashamed of the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Week 2: Be Grateful
Bible Passage: Luke 17:11-19 "And Jesus said to the man, 'Stand up and go. Your faith has made you well.'"
Subject: On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus healed 10 lepers but only one returned to say thank you. We need to remember to be thankful for what Jesus has freely given us.

Week 3: Pray
Bible Passage: Luke 18:1-8a "One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up."
Subject: Jesus told his disciples a story about a widow to teach them to pray and not give up. God responds to our persistent prayers.

Week 4: Be Humble
Bible Passage: Luke 18:9-14 "I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored."
Subject: Jesus told the story about a proud Pharisee and a humble tax collector to illustrate the value of humility in our lives.

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November - Thankful Attitude:

Week 1: Zaccheaus
Bible Passage: Luke 19:1-10 "And I, the Son of Man have come to seek and save those like him who are lost."
Subject: The much loved story of Zaccheaus demonstrates that Jesus loves us no matter who we are -- especially when, like Zaccheaus we receive him with a joyful and thankful heart.

Week 2: Strength and Comfort
Bible Passage: II Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 "May our Lord Jesus Christ...comfort your hearts and give you strength in every good thing you do and say."
Subject: Paul tells the Thessalonians to be strengthened and comforted by Jesus' love for them.

Week 3: Contribute
Bible Passage: II Tehssalonians 3:6-13 "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we appeal to such people -- no we command them: Settle down and get to work. Earn your own living."
Subject: Paul reminds us that part of the responsibility of church members is to contribute to the work of the church.

Week 4: Thanksgiving
Bible Passage: Phillipians 4:6-20 "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."
Subject: Paul encourages us to develop a thankful attitude.

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