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Leader Guide

Teaching

Discipleship Challenge materials for children who missed previous lessons:  

Copy the three Signpost Cards onto cardstock if possible, in color or black and white. 

Have a Discipleship Challenge ready for children who missed Lesson 1.

Make copies of the Spirit Headphones Craft—one per child. Give each child a chenille craft stem. See Lesson 1 for details.

All for Us: Jesus defeated sin and temptation to save us and give us eternal life.

Have a child select the first Signpost card and read it aloud. Tape the card to the wall or prop it up so children can see it. Lead a discussion with the information below. Repeat for the other two Signpost cards. Additional material is included for Grades 4–6 to look up and discuss.

Signpost 1  God’s Word Equips Us

When Mary and Joseph discovered that Jesus wasn’t with them after the Passover celebration, where did they find him? In the Temple.  

What was He doing there? Jesus was discussing the Scriptures with the Jewish leaders.

The Bible tells us that the leaders were amazed at His understanding and answers. Even as a child, Jesus was studying God’s Word, which prepared Him as an adult. At a young age, Jesus gave us an example to follow. The more we know and apply God’s Word, the stronger we will grow spiritually. Psalm 119:11 says:

I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

To hide God’s Word means to actually treasure and place a high value on it. The Word inside us cannot be taken away. We can use it to make wise decisions and choices and to stay on God’s path for our lives. 

When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, what did He use to fight back and have victory over the devil? He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and He quoted Scriptures— God’s Word.

We can also use God’s Word as a shield and a weapon against temptation.

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6   

Luke 3:45–47:   

45When they couldn’t find Him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for Him there. 46Three days later they finally discovered Him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47All who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.

Hebrews 4:15:

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin.

Signpost 2  Focus on Things Above

Jesus knew from the very beginning what God sent Him to Earth to do. God’s purpose and plan were more important than anything in this world. Jesus told His parents that He must be about His Father’s business. This was Jesus’ priority. Satan tried to tempt Him with the power, fame, and material things of this world. Yet Jesus stayed focused on things above—eternal things that will last forever. In Matthew 4:3 (NKJV), Jesus tells Satan:

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”  

Many people believed the Messiah would be an earthly king and would solve their physical problems. Jesus’ own disciples believed that He would establish His kingdom on Earth. When the people saw Jesus’ signs and wonders, they sought to make Him king.    

Satan promised Jesus the glory of the kingdoms of the earth and authority over them if Jesus would only worship him. Eventually, Jesus would be given authority over all people—but not from Satan! God gave that authority to Jesus once He had humbly completed God’s work on the earth. 

Philippians 2:8–11 says:

8He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

As followers of Christ, we must keep our eyes on the things above, and not on the things on the earth. When we follow God’s will for our lives instead of giving in to our own selfish desires, we will share in Christ’s glory! (See Colossians 3:2–4.)

When Jesus was baptized, God spoke from heaven and declared that He was pleased with His Son, Jesus. God is well pleased with us when we choose to obey, serve and worship Him above all else.

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

John 6:14–15:

14When the people saw Him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, He is the Prophet we have been expecting!” 15When Jesus saw that they were ready to force Him to be their king, He slipped away into the hills by Himself.

Colossians 3:2–4:

 2Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory.

Luke 4:5–8:

5Then the devil took Him up and revealed to Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6“I will give You the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. 7I will give it all to You if You will worship me.” 8Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only Him.’”

Signpost 3  Jesus Came to Save Us 

Jesus did not come to rule us as an earthly king. He came to do much more—more than anyone else could ever do. He came to help us and heal us—not just physically, but spiritually, too.

When Jesus was on the cross, He could have easily called on angels to rescue Him. Matthew 26:53 says:

 “Don’t you realize that I could ask My Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and He would send them instantly.”

Jesus did not ask to be saved from death on the cross. He knew He had a higher purpose. He gave His life so that we might be saved. Jesus could have saved Himself, but all people would have been lost. He was willing to pay the price because of His love for us. John 3:16 says:

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Jesus overcame temptation and He overcame sin and death. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we are made right with God and have a wonderfully close relationship with Him, now and forever in heaven.  

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6 

Luke 4:9–12:

9Then the devil took Him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If You are the Son of God, jump off! 10For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order His angels to protect and guard You. 11And they will hold You up with their hands so You won’t even hurt Your foot on a stone.’” 12Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

2 Corinthians 5:21:

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

It’s time for our Discipleship Challenge where you will be challenged to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading to make wise choices in all that you do.


Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application


Give any child who missed Lesson 1 a Spirit Headphones Craft and a craft stem to assemble the craft at home.

Hold up the sample craft. Last time, your challenge was to listen to the Holy Spirit to help you do something—what was it? Make wise choices in what l choose to look at.

Would someone like to share your challenge experience? Children share.  

Another part of the challenge was to learn and possibly memorize Hebrews 12:2 (CEV). Can anyone say it for the class?

We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete.

Tape a #3 ear pad on top of each #2 ear pad. Let’s read the challenge on the #3 ear pads. What I Do—2 Timothy 2:22    

This lesson’s challenge is to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading to make wise choices in all that you do. We need to live wisely and keep in step with the Lord so we can follow His plan for our lives. God does not want us just to avoid temptation; He wants us to be filled with joy and pursue everything that is available to us as His children. Pray and ask for the Holy Spirit’s help to live in a way that pleases God, to show His love to others.

Learn 2 Timothy 2:22, and if possible, memorize it. Discuss the verse with your family if you are able to. 

Optional: read 2 Timothy 2:22 (CEV) now and discuss with the children since this is the last challenge for the course.

Run from temptations that capture young people. Always do the right thing. Be faithful, loving, and easy to get along with. Worship with people whose hearts are pure.