29 - John Defends the law

References
Matthew 14.

Notes for Servants
- Do you feel that you want to defend the truthinyour life? Many hearts contain lower dark rooms,
where conscience is confined.
- Some people’s outside appearance expressesjoybut their inner hearts are fullof anxiety. Examine
yourself, make sure that inside you have true joy which appears outside and fills all whom are
around you with gladness.

Objectives

General: Courage in declaring the truth.

Specific:
The children will be able to
A. defend what they believe in no matter what.
B. understand that they have to apply the truth on themselves first.
C. know that God support us when we fight for him.

Bible Verse

(Mark 6:18)

Teaching Aids
Felt figure and flannel board.

Instruction
(1) Review last week's lesson.
(2) Who remembers the verse?
(3) Remind the children about the church occasions for the coming week.

Story Time
King Herod who killed the children of Bethlehem, when he knew of the birth of the Lord Jesus,
died. He had a son named Herod. One day John went to him and said: You are committing sin with your
sister Herodias, the wife of your brother Philip when he was alive. This is the commandment of God, It
is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.
John was very brave like Moses, Elijah and the Lord Jesus.
Herod heard him and was afraid of him because, John was a holy man. he said to him: “Your
courage pleases me. I would like to see you again." Herodias encouraged Herod not to leave her and
according to her mother's suggestion, he sent John into prison.
Herod wanted to kill John but he dared not do that as John was loved and respected by people
who considered him a saint Herod intended to setJohn free to rescue himself from the Lord's punishment
and anger. But Herodias was a wicked womanwho feared neither God nor man - She always refused to
let Herod set John free - She made fun of Herod's fear of the Lord's punishment Thus John remained in
prison - John prayed inside the prisonand he grieved, anyway he had told the truth. His disciples visited
him and told him the good news specially what theyheard about Jesus. At that time Jesus was performing
miraculous . He knew that John was in prison and that he would die as a martyr and he would take a
heavenly crown. We know that John is now in heaven putting on the crown of martyrdom.

Discussion
1 - Follow up the story by talking about it with the children.
2 - Continue the discussion while they do the activity.

Learning Activities
Activity Sheet.