YEA Lesson Library
Keep the Lights On
About This Lesson
Beginning with a concrete example of how important light is, this lesson teaches that Jesus is the Light of the World and has called us to be lights.
Scriptures
Psalm 27:1
Psalm 27:1-4
Psalm 119:105
Matthew 5:14-16
Luke 2:30-32
Luke 8:16
2 Corinthians 4:5-7
Ephesians 5:6-8
1 John 1:5-7
Revelation 21:22-23
Words to Know
SNOWDRIFT - a heap of snow piled up by the wind
The Lesson
Living on the farm was a lot of work and a lot of fun! There were trees to climb and new baby animals born. Bobby and Charlie loved to swim in the pond with their friends. They loved to climb the apple trees. They ate red apples and helped their dad take them to market. But they loved winter best of all.
One night there was a big snow. The next morning, Bobby and Charlie hurried through their chores. They put on coats, boots, and mittens. They met their friends on the big hill. They were ready for an afternoon of fun.
All the children had a great time sledding down the hill. They built a snow fort. They made snowballs and then rolled them into larger balls. They stacked them on top of each other. They made the fort big enough to hide in. They played and laughed and slid down the hill all afternoon.
Snow started falling again. Some of the children headed for home. Charlie and Bobby wanted one more ride down the hill. The snow was packed down hard. The sled went very fast. They hit a bump and the sled turned over. Bobby and Charlie fell into a deep snowdrift. They were covered from head to toe with snow.
The boys were getting cold and hungry. And it was getting dark. It was hard to see as they walked through the woods. Were they going the right way? Both boys were scared. Why hadn’t they started for home sooner?
Off in the distance they saw a light. It was a wonderful sight! Bobby and Charlie followed the light to their own back door. They were glad to be safe at home. Mother had supper on the table. It was warm inside. They were thankful for the light that led them home.
The Bible says that Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus shows us the way to get to our Kingdom home. He will lead us safely, like a light. But we must follow Him. There is no need to be scared, as long as we follow in the way He leads us.
The Bible, God’s Word, is also a light for us to follow. God shows us in His Word how He wants us to live. He tells us that we are to obey our parents. We are to love one another. We must love God with all of our hearts. We must obey His Word. The path that leads to the Father is found In His Word. If we obey God’s Word, we will find the path. It will be like carrying a flashlight to light up your path.
Did you ever think of yourself as a light? The Bible says that you are. Jesus wants each of you to be like the light in the window and show others the way to Him. He wants you to obey God. Other people can learn about God by watching you. They will learn to love God from watching how you love Him. They may never have read the Bible. You will be the light for their path.
What happens if you put a basket over a light? It hides the light! We won’t be able to see if we hide the light. God wants us to keep our light shining—not hide it. He wants us to live for Him so that others will know that we love Him. He wants us to Keep the Lights On!
Student Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending Jesus to be my light. I do not have to be afraid. He shows me how to live now and how I can live with you someday in your Kingdom. Help me let my light shine for others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Psalm 27:1-4
Monday - 1 John 1:5-7
Tuesday - 2 Corinthians 4:5-7
Wednesday - Luke 2:30-32
Thursday - Matthew 5:14-16
Friday - Ephesians 5:6-8
Saturday - Revelation 21:22-23
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Recite the memory verse.
2. Explain how Jesus and the Bible are like a light.
3. Tell how they can be a light to others.
4. Discuss why we are not supposed to hide our light.
Topics & Themes
Bible Study
God’s Protection
Jesus, His Ministry
Light
Light
Loving God
Loving Others
Obedience
Sharing the Gospel
Preparation
Collect enough small baby food jars so that each child will have one. You might ask mothers who have babies to save these for you. Make sure that the jars are washed and dry.
Before class, enlarge and photocopy the following memory verse onto colorful paper, using the pictures to represent the words in italics. Cut the verse into four sections, with one for the reference. Begin by placing the words and pictures in the right order. Have the children read the verse. Then have the children close their eyes as you mix up the words. Allow the children to place them in the proper order. This will help refresh their memory, and will indelibly imprint it in their hearts and minds.
Bring a jar candle or votive candle and a small basket to illustrate to the children that when the basket covers the candle, you cannot see the light. (Be careful with the lighted candle around children.)
How to Teach This Lesson
Since we have never seen God or Jesus, the Bible uses many word pictures to help describe them to us. Jesus is referred to as “the bread of life” because we cannot live without His sustenance. He is called the “living water” because we know that without water we will die. He is described as the “door” because He is the only way into the Kingdom of God. Today’s lesson calls the Lord a “light.” Ask: When it is dark, how do you find your way to your bedroom? Tell them to close their eyes tightly and walk to the far end of the room. When they reach the end of the room, they may open their eyes. Now ask them to walk back with their eyes open. Ask: Which was easier: walking in the light with your eyes open or in the dark with your eyes closed?
A light is used to help us see our way. Jesus was sent here to show us the way to the Father. His life was our example. If we follow the way that He shows us, we will know how we are to live.
Psalm119:105 calls the Bible a lamp and a light. In Bible times there was no electricity. There were no street lights to show the people how to get home at night. There were no electric lights in the houses. People used oil lamps. They would have to light the oil much like we light our candles. Ask: What do you think the people would do if they didn’t have a lamp? The lamp was a necessary part of every home. In the same way, our Bible should be an important part of our lives and homes. In it we have God’s instructions for living. In it we find comfort and encouragement. Ask: According to your memory verse, is there anyone you should be afraid of? Why not? Without the Bible to tell us this, we would not know about God’s salvation.
Finally, Matthew 5:14-16 calls us “the light of the world.” God has given each of us a job—being the light who shows others the way of salvation. We should live our lives in such a way that people know that we are God’s children. We should set a good example for others to follow. And, when they are in trouble or in need, they know that we will be able to help them because we have God’s Word as our guide. We should never be ashamed for others to know that we serve the Lord. That would be like hiding our light under a basket.
Review Questions
1. In what way is Jesus like a light?
2. How is the Bible like a flashlight or a lamp on a dark night?
3. What kind of lights did they have in Bible times?
4. Why does the Bible call us “the light of the world”? How can we light the way for others?
5. When we are ashamed to let others know we are God’s children, what are we like?
Teacher-Directed Activity
Spread a sheet of newsprint on a table. This will protect your table and allow for easier clean up. Give each child a baby food jar and a paint brush. Paint white craft glue all over the outside of the jar (leave bottom dry). Liberally sprinkle glitter over the glue, making sure that all sides are covered. (Avoid getting glitter on the floor.) Allow jars to dry thoroughly. Place a small “tea light” candle inside. When the candle is lit it will give off a beautiful light and remind them that the Lord is our light, that we are a light, and that the Bible is our light.
REACH Activity
Special materials:
candle, matches, flashlight, bowl
1. Sing: “Thy Word is a Lamp” on page 190 of the CEM Hymnal.
2. Using construction paper, make a candle with a flame and a candle holder. Glue the candle onto another piece of construction paper. Write your memory verse around the flame—like the light coming from the flame.
3. Write about a time when you were very glad to see light. Tell why.
4. Has the power ever gone off in your home? How long was it off? Was it night? How did you feel? What did you do to see? Write about the power being off in your home. Do you have an emergency kit? Talk to your family about putting one together. Don’t forget the flashlight and fresh batteries! Then write about how sad it would be if we didn’t have God’s power (and light) in our lives. Then sing: “Shine, Jesus, Shine” on page 154 of the CEM Hymnal.
5. Go into a room or closet that doesn’t have a window. Close the door and turn off the light. How dark is it? How long would you want to stay in a dark room? Why? What could you do in the dark? Now, with an adult to help, light a candle. How bright does the candle seem in a room when there is no other light? Jesus is called the light of the world. How dark our world is without Jesus!
6. Read Matthew 5:14-16. Jesus tells us to be lights as He is light. Go into a room or closet without a window. With an adult to help, light a candle. Turn off other lights. Then put a bowl over the candle. What happens? Matthew 5:14-16 says that our light should shine for everyone to see—so that people praise God. Write down five ways you can let your light shine so that God will be praised.
7. Sing: “Send the Light” on page 157 of the CEM Hymnal. Then write about the message this song gives about shining the light of Jesus in your life so that other people can see it.
8. Have you ever noticed how bugs are drawn by light? They can’t stay away. It’s annoying when they come into your house, if you open the door at night, and they fly around the lights. Are we as drawn to the Light, Jesus Christ, as the bugs are drawn to the lights in our homes? What keeps us from going to Jesus Christ, from looking for Him all the time? Write a prayer in your Bible notebook asking for God’s help in making Jesus a priority in your daily life.
9. Sing: “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning” on page 142 of the CEM Hymnal. Write what message this song gives about shining the light of Jesus in your life so other people can see it.
10. Before the lesson: show students a candle and a light bulb. Ask students how long they think each will burn. Students should record their predictions in their Bible notebooks. Burn the candle and have the students keep track of its burn time in their Bible notebook. Then, use the light bulb until it burns out. Have the students record this information in their Bible notebook. How close were their predictions?
11. Have you ever lost your way? If you have, how did you feel? If you haven’t, ask someone you know if they have ever been lost and how they found the right way. Write feelings and answers in your Bible notebook.
12. In the YEA lesson the boys waited before they started home. Why do you think the boys didn’t start home sooner? If you could give them any advice, what would it be?
13. Jesus is the light we are to follow. Write or draw an example of how you can follow Jesus when you: obey your parents; love God; love one another; obey God’s word; share with family and friends.
14. Can you find other Scriptures with “light”? Use your Bible and concordance to find two more Scriptures and write them in your Bible notebook. Share with family and friends.
15. When you do the wrong thing, you are not walking in the light of Jesus; you are walking in the darkness of sin. Using construction paper, draw two light bulbs, one on yellow paper and the other on black. Cut them out and glue or tape a craft stick to the back of each light bulb. Retell the lesson to someone using the two light bulbs: one is light (yellow—doing the right thing and following Jesus) and the other is burned out and has lost its light (black—making a bad or wrong choice and sinning). Use the examples in activity #14, if necessary.
16. The Bible says that you are a light to others. Others will see Jesus in you when you follow His ways. Do you know how to be a light that others can see? Talk to your family about ways that you can each be a light to others. Write down their suggestions in your Bible notebook. This week choose at least one suggestion and do it. Let your light shine!
17. Use your Bible and concordance to find the meaning of the word “salvation.” Write the meaning in your Bible notebook. Talk to your family about salvation.
18. Remember activity #10? Which burned longer, the candle or the bulb? Practice your memory verse with a flashlight. It loses its light, but Jesus is the light that never burns out!
19. Sing: “Jesus Bids Us Shine” on page 37 of Kids Classics Collection.
Song
“This Little Light of Mine” is on page 49 of the Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Ask one of the older children to lead in prayer, thanking God for the Bible being a light and for Jesus showing us the way to the Father. Ask God to help them be a light to others.
Printable Pages
