Leader Guide

Teaching

Three Signpost Cards
Three sheets of cardstock or paper
Bibles or the Superbook Bible App

Discipleship Challenge materials:

Disciple Cards for children who missed Lesson 1
Sample craft made in lesson 1

Make double-sided copies of the three Signpost Cards onto cardstock, in color or black and white.

Fold each card in half so the “Announcement” or “Invitation” appears on the front and the Signpost titles appear inside the card when opened.

Stand up the cards on the table in order (1–3), like tents, with the numbers visible to the children.

Have a child select the first Signpost Card and read it aloud. Then, fold the card inside out and place it on the table again so the 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 Jesus Accepts Everyone

Jesus never hesitated to speak the truth. In fact, He called Himself the Way, the Truth, and the Life! (See John 14:6.) When the Pharisees questioned why He ate with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus told them that healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. (See Matthew 9:12.)

Jesus wasn’t just talking about people who were physically ill, what other kind of sickness was He referring to? Sin, people who needed forgiveness and healed from sin.

Jesus accepted everyone who came to Him; that was His mission on Earth. He did not care if others were offended by this. Jesus was often criticized by others for what He should or shouldn’t do; it never swayed or deterred Him from doing God’s will.

Jesus called people who were hated, judged and rejected by others—people like Levi (Matthew) the tax collector and the sinful woman who showed much love by washing His feet with her tears.

Can you name another tax collector in the Bible that Jesus ate a meal with and spent time in his house. Zacchaeus

The people also criticized Jesus for hanging out with Zacchaeus. Because Jesus spent time with Zacchaeus, his life was changed—for all eternity!

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

Matthew 9:9–10:

⁹As Jesus was walking along, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow Me and be My disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed Him.
¹⁰Later, Matthew invited Jesus and His disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.

Luke 7:47–50:

⁴⁷“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown Me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” ⁴⁸Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” ⁴⁹The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this Man, that He goes around forgiving sins?” ⁵⁰And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Signpost 2 God Accepts Everyone

The religious people were surprised by Jesus’ actions. Yet they shouldn’t have been. God always accepted and included the outsider. He told Moses to love foreigners as he loved himself and to treat them like native-born Israelites.

Joshua and the Israelites took in and protected a sinful woman named Rahab who lived in Jericho. In another instance, a woman named Ruth, who lived in the foreign country of Moab, was accepted as one of God’s people. She committed herself to God and His people. It gets even better! Ruth became King David’s great-grandmother!

God is all about accepting anyone and everyone who comes to Him! His desire is for all to be in His Kingdom!

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

Leviticus 19:33–34:

³³“Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land. ³⁴Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”

2 Peter 3:9:

The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

Joshua 6:22–23, 25:

²²Meanwhile, Joshua said to the two spies, “Keep your promise. Go to the prostitute’s house and bring her out, along with all her family.” ²³The men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all the other relatives who were with her. They moved her whole family to a safe place near the camp of Israel. ²⁵So Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute and her relatives who were with her in the house, because she had hidden the spies Joshua sent to Jericho. And she lives among the Israelites to this day.

Ruth 1:15–17a:

¹⁵“Look,” Naomi said to her, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same.” ¹⁶But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. ¹⁷Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.”

Signpost 3 Jesus Came for Sinners

Jesus loved people that others didn’t. He saw the value of everyone. Jesus healed a Roman commander’s servant and said the man’s faith was greater than He had seen in all of Israel! How do you think that made the Jewish people feel when they heard Jesus say this about a man who wasn’t Jewish? Shocked, surprised, mad, confused, humbled, indignant or annoyed.

Jesus healed a man possessed with demons who was forced to live in caves away from everyone. Jesus made him whole again and told him to tell others what happened.

Jesus came for everyone. He invites everyone to be cleansed and to humbly follow Him. Today, He invites us to come to Him then tell others of His love and mercy. Will you accept His invitation?

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

Matthew 8:10:

When Jesus heard this, He was amazed. Turning to those who were following Him, He said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!

Matthew 5:7:

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Micah 6:6–8:

⁶What can we bring to the LORD? Should we bring Him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? ⁷Should we offer Him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? ⁸No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Now, it’s time for the Discipleship Challenge where we will continue to balance our time with God, family, friends, and others!

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Give any child who missed previous lessons the Disciple Card.

Use the model craft as you discuss the challenge. The challenge last time was to learn 1 Thessalonians 5:11. Would someone like to try and say it from memory? 1 Thessalonians 5:11:

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

We will all have ups and downs as we follow Christ. It’s vital for each of us to have likeminded family and friends to encourage us and hold us accountable to our commitment to be a disciple. We should always look for opportunities to lift up and support others, even if it is by being a good listener.

Would anyone like to share a time that they encouraged or supported someone, or a time when someone helped you through a difficult time? Children respond.

Now, let’s see what is next in our final challenge. Hold up the Disciple card. Your challenge is to look up and learn Matthew 5:16:

“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

Optional: If time permits, look up and discuss the verse now since it is the last challenge.

Matthew 5:16:

“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

For this challenge, continue to spend time with God, family, friends, and others. Ask the Holy Spirit to inspire you in ways to show God’s love and mercy rather than judge or avoid others who do not yet know Jesus.