
Lesson plans.
Lesson 1: Water into wine.
John 2:1-11 - At a wedding in Cana, Jesus performed his first recorded miracle by turning water into wine. Though initially hesitant to reveal his power, he responded to his mother’s request and quietly carried out the miracle so that only a few were aware of it. This sign revealed Jesus’ authority over creation and gave his disciples a reason to believe in him. It points to his divine identity and the abundant life he brings.
Lesson 5: The lost sheep.
Matthew 18:12-14 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.”
Lesson 4: The pharisee and the tax collector.
Luke 18:9-14 - Jesus tells a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisee prays to God thanking God that he is a good person, while the tax collector prays for forgiveness. Jesus says that it is the tax collector who is right before God, and that everyone who exalts themselves will be humbled while those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Lesson 3: The mustard seed and yeast.
Matthew 13:31-33 - Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a tiny mustard seed that grows into a large tree and to yeast that works through the whole batch of dough. Both show how God’s kingdom starts small but grows powerfully and transforms everything.
Lesson 2: The unfair judge.
Luke 18:1-8 - Jesus told a parable about a persistent widow who kept asking an unjust judge for justice until he finally granted her request. He used this story to teach his followers to always pray and not give up, assuring them that God, who is just and loving, will surely answer them.
Lesson 1: The lost coin.
Luke 15:8-10 - Jesus tells a story of a woman who lost one of her ten silver coins. She searches everywhere for it, and rejoices when she finally finds it. Likewise, there is rejoicing in heaven when one lost person comes back to God, because each of us is special and precious to God.
Lesson 8: Choosing the narrow path.
Matthew 7:13-14 - Jesus taught that there are two paths in life: a wide road that is easy to travel but leads to destruction, and a narrow road that is harder to follow but leads to life. The narrow path is walking in Jesus’ ways and teachings, which may be challenging but leads to true and lasting life.
Lesson 7: Judging others.
Matthew 7:1-5 - Jesus taught his followers not to judge others or they would be judged by the same standard. They should focus on removing the plank in their own eyes before pointing out the speck of sawdust in someone else’s eyes, meaning that we should never judge others because we ourselves are not perfect.
Lesson 6: Trusting in God’s care.
Matthew 6:25-34 - Jesus teaches his followers not to worry about daily needs like food or clothing, because life is more than these things and God knows what we need. He points to the birds, who do not plant or store food yet are fed by God, and to the flowers, which are beautifully clothed though they last only a short time. Instead of being anxious, we are to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness, trusting that our needs will be provided for.
Lesson 5: Heavenly treasures.
Matthew 6:19-24 - Jesus taught his followers to invest in treasures in heaven which last forever, rather than in earthly treasures which can be destroyed or lost. What we treasure shapes our heart. He also explained that healthy eyes (focused on the things of God) fill our lives with light, but eyes clouded by greed or worldly desires fill us with darkness. He concluded that we cannot serve both God and money.
Lesson 4: Doing good in secret.
Matthew 6:1-4 - Jesus taught his followers not to do good deeds just to be noticed by others. When giving to those in need, they shouldn’t show off what they’re doing or loudly announce it for everyone to see and hear. If they do this, then the praise of others will be their only reward. Instead, Jesus taught them to give quietly and privately, because God sees what is done in secret and will reward it.
Lesson 3: Turning the other cheek.
Matthew 5:38-42 - Jesus taught that while the Law of Moses called for justice through the principle of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” his followers are called to a higher standard of non-violence and radical grace. Instead of retaliating against those who wrong them, they should turn the other cheek, give more than what is asked, and go the extra mile when compelled to do so. He also urged his followers to be generous to those who ask and a willingness to lend without refusal.
Lesson 2: Making promises.
Matthew 5:33-37 - Jesus taught that while the Law told people not to break their promises and to keep their oaths, he gave an even deeper teaching: don’t make oaths at all. Don’t swear by heaven, by earth, by Jerusalem, or even by your own head. Instead, Jesus says we should be people of honesty. If you say “yes,” mean yes. If you say “no,” mean no. We don’t need to make big promises—we just need to speak the truth.
Lesson 1: Salt and light.
Matthew 5:13-16 - During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that his followers are the salt of the earth, meant to preserve and enhance the world. He also said that they are the light of the world: a lamp is not hidden under a bowl but placed on a stand to give light to everyone in the house. In the same way, we are called to let our light shine, so that others may see our good works and be drawn to God’s goodness.
Lesson 4: A message from Micah.
Micah 6:6-8 - The prophet Micah asks the question of what he should bring as an offering to please the Lord. He asks if he should bring burnt offerings, thousands of rams, or even his firstborn child. But he concludes that God does not desire any of those things. Rather, God calls people to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord. This passage reminds us that what truly matters to God is how we live and treat others, not religious rituals.
Lesson 3: A message from Amos.
Amos 5:14-15, 24 - Amos urges the people to seek good and not evil so they may live, and so that the Lord will be with them. He calls them to hate evil, love good, and seek justice in their communities. He emphasizes that God desires justice and righteousness to flow continuously and abundantly, like a never-ending stream, more than religious rituals or outward displays.
Lesson 2: Jonah and the fish.
Jonah 1-3 - The prophet Jonah is called by God to go to the city of Nineveh and tell the people to turn away from their wrongdoings. Instead of obeying, Jonah runs away and boards a ship, but God sends a storm. Jonah knows that the storm was because of him and he tells the sailors to throw him overboard to calm the sea. He is then swallowed by a giant fish, and after three days, the fish spits Jonah out and God gives him the command once more. This time, Jonah obeys and delivers God’s message to Nineveh and the people repent.