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Leader Guide

Teaching

Give the volunteer a script or instruction about when to knock during the presentation.

Copy the Lost and Found Booklet and Lost and Found Challenge Scriptures for any children who missed Lesson 1.

Copy the Scripture page for any child who may not have a Bible at home.

The volunteer should stay outside the closed door and knock softly as indicated during the presentation. You will need to speak loudly enough for the volunteer to hear you through the closed door. The knock should be just loud enough for the children to barely hear it.

Let’s say our SuperTruth together: “God waits patiently for us to turn to Him.”

How did the father in the parable today show patience? He let his son go and waited patiently for him to come home again. He also showed patience with the older son and his attitude.

Volunteer knocks softly on the door. We are very busy right now; I’ll answer the door in a few minutes. In our SuperVerse, we see that Jesus waits patiently for us to answer the door of our heart. There is not actually a door to our heart; the door represents opening our hearts and lives to Jesus. This verse is often used to show how Jesus gently calls out to people to accept Him into their hearts. However, this verse is in a letter written to people who were already followers of Jesus, yet they had disobeyed God’s Word. Jesus was calling out to them to return to Him.    

Volunteer knocks softly on the door. Wait a little longer. I have an important question for you. Why do you think Jesus knocks on the doors of our hearts?

As the SuperVerse tells us, He wants to spend time with us as our closest friend. He wants to know our questions, our failures, our frustrations, and disappointments. He wants to share our victories, our successes, our plans and dreams. The question is—do we allow Jesus to come into our lives to share in these personal experiences? Or do we just tell Him, “Jesus, I’m glad You are my Savior, but I don’t have time to spend with You right now”? If we haven’t allowed Him to enter; He keeps knocking until we are ready! 

Volunteer knocks softly on the door. Hold on! I don’t want to be interrupted just yet. In our Bible story today, the father knew his son was making a bad decision, yet still he allowed him to leave home. This must have made the father extremely sad! The father wanted to have his son remain with him and be part of his life every day—both the good times and the difficult times that every family has. He wanted to be able to talk, laugh, give wisdom, and share his son’s life. 

This is very similar to our relationship with God. He created us to be in a close relationship with Him—yet He also gives each of us a free will to make our own choices. If people choose to walk away from God, He allows that, and then waits patiently for their return. While they are gone, Jesus knocks and calls out gently to come home and restore that relationship. 

And when we follow Jesus, He continues to knock and call out to us to open up new areas of our lives so that He may enter. He longs to have an even deeper, closer walk with us in all that we do! The knocking and calling from Jesus never stop.  

Volunteer knocks on door. Choose a child to open the door and let the volunteer in. Welcome! Name of volunteer did not knock down the door or force his/her way in. Jesus will never push the door open and force His way into our lives. He is patient and waits for us to ask Him to enter. However, what did you think about how I treated him/her? Did you think I was rude to keep name of volunteer waiting in the hall so long? 

Let’s not keep Jesus waiting; let’s invite Him into our lives every moment of every day. 

Let’s pray. Dear Jesus, thank You for being our Lord and Savior. We are sorry for times that we have kept You waiting and didn’t invite You be part of our lives. Remind us to keep the doors of our hearts open all the time so we can hear Your voice and obey Your Word. In Your name, Amen!

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Hand out the Lost and Found Pattern and Scripture Patterns to any children who were not present for Lesson 1, and explain how to make the craft at home. 

Have the class discuss the answers to the first “Lost and Found Challenge” from the previous lesson. Ask them to look up the second “Lost and Found Challenge” scripture at home, and then fill in the answers to the four questions before the next lesson. If any child does not have access to a Bible at home, give them the scriptures on a separate page.