HOW TO USE THE WORDLESS BOOK
Have you ever seen a book without words or pictures? [Fan the pages showing colors]
This book of colored pages tells a wonderful story from the Bible about the true and living God who made the world.
I call my book a wordless book. Each color reminds me of a part of the story. Would you like to hear it? [response]
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
THE GOLD PAGE
The first page reminds me of a very special place.
The gold page reminds me of heaven. Do you know what heaven is? [Allow response]
Heaven is God's home. The Bible tells us that in heaven, the street of the city is pure, clear gold--like glass (Rev. 21:21). God tells us many other things about His home. No one is ever sick there No one ever dies. There is no night there. Every person in heaven will be perfectly happy--always (Rev. 21:4-23). The most wonderful thing about heaven is that God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus, are there.
God made heaven and earth. Can you name some other things He made?
[sun, moon, stars, trees and flowers]
He made you too, and He loves you very much. The Bible says "For God so loved the world.... That means His love is great enough for everyone in the world. Because God made you and wants to love you, He wants you to be a part of His family and be with Him in heaven someday. What a special place heaven is! It is perfect because God is perfect.
But there is one thing that can never be in heaven.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
THE DARK PAGE
[Use this page to stress the spiritual need of the child. As you talk about sin, pray that the Holy Spirit will bring conviction.]
That one thing is sin. This dark page reminds me of sin. Because you and I are sinners we want to have our own way instead of God's way. Wanting our own way is sin. Doing or saying or thinking bad things is sin. Sin is disobeying the rules God has given in His Book, the Bible. Sin causes sadness in our world.
Can you think of some things that are sin? [Allow response]
Do you know you are a sinner? "God's Word says "For all have sinned..." (Rom. 3:23). All means every one of us, including you and me. Sin separates you and me from God because He is perfectly right--without any sin at all. God cannot allow sin where He is.
God has said sin must be punished. The punishment for sin is death--to be separated from God forever (Rom. 6:23). God knew there was nothing you could do to get rid of your sin. He knew you could not be good enough to please Him. But He loves you and wants you to be His child. So He made a way for you to be forgiven.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
THE RED PAGE
[Use this page to stress the way of salvation through the death of Christ.]
The red page shows the way. God loves us so much He sent His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to earth from heaven. He was born as a tiny baby. Do you know when we celebrate His birth? [response] He grew up and became a man. Jesus was different than any other person who lived on the earth. He never did even one wrong thing. He is perfect.
But one day wicked men put a crown of thorns on His head and nailed the Lord Jesus to a cross. The Bible says while He hung there, God put all your sins on Him (Isa. 53:6) All your anger, all your lies and your meanness all your sin was put on the Son of God.
When Jesus was nailed to the cross, what came from His hands and His feet? [blood] The Bible says that without the giving of blood, there is no forgiveness (Heb. 9:22). Jesus took your punishment of death for sin. He suffered so much.
Then He cried out with a loud voice, "It is finished." When you finish a job, how much is left to do? Nothing. The Lord Jesus came to earth to take our punishment for sin. And He finished the work when He died on that cross. The Bible says, "Christ died for our sins and was buried" (I Cor. 15:3).
But after three days the most wonderful thing happened. God gave Him life again. He raised Jesus from the dead.
Jesus is a living Savior (l Cor. 15:4). He wants to be your Savior to save you from your sin.
But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God,
THE CLEAN PAGE
[Use this page to stress the child's part - to believe on the Lord Jesus as his personal Savior.]
This page reminds me that you can be made clean from sin (Psa. 51:7). God tells us about it in the Bible.
[Let children read the verse with you from the visual.] -But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name." (John 1:12). Let's take it one part at a time - Received him...even to those who believe on His name." You need to receive Him, or take Him as your own, by believing on His name. Receiving Him means you believe with all your heart Jesus died on the cross for your sins and rose again. You need to admit you have sinned and believe that only the Lord Jesus can take away your sin and forgive you. He'll put His life in you and make you His own child God's child. That's what the rest of the verse means when it says, - ...to them He gave the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe on His name. If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, He will forgive your sin. And He will be with you always and give you power to obey God.
You can tell Jesus today that you have sinned and that you believe He died for you. Would you like to trust Him right now to forgive your sins and make you His child?
[Trust the Holy Spirit for discernment as you invite the children to trust the Lord Jesus as Savior. If possible ask questions that require more than a yes or no answer. Example: why do you need to believe on the Lord Jesus? What has He done for you? What do you want to tell God right now? If you discern the child's / children's desire to trust the Lord Jesus as Savior, give opportunity for prayer. If the child is hesitant about praying aloud, you may ask if he'd like to pray after you. Sample prayer: "Lord Jesus I know I'm a sinner. I've done wrong things. I believe You died for me. Please forgive my sins right now and make me your child.]
The Lord Jesus is always with you to help you and give you strength to do right. God wants you to get to know Him better.
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
THE GREEN PAGE
[Stress Spiritual growth on this page.]
The color green reminds me of things that grow like leaves, grass, flowers and trees.
This page reminds me of the new life, the everlasting life, you have received as God's child. When you believe on the Lord Jesus as your Savior from sin you are like a newborn baby in God's family. God wants you to grow in a special way. The Bible tells you to "grow in...the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet.3:18).
As you learn more about Jesus from the Bible you will learn how to keep from sinning. "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." (Psa.119:11) Ask Him each day to help you obey Him. When you do sin, tell God you have sinned. He will forgive you right away. The Bible says, "lf we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9). Ask Him to help you not to do that wrong thing again.
[As time permits talk with the child /children about those things which will help him grow as a member of God's family. Explain you are not talking about growing taller or gaining weight but learning to love and please the Lord Jesus more.]
G - Go to Church and Sunday School (Heb.10:25)
R - Read God's Word each day and PRAY about what you're reading. (1 Thess. 5:17)
O - Obey God! (Psalm 119:11)
W - Witness to others, tell about Jesus. (Mk. 16:15)