The First Fruits

1 Corinthians 15:17-19, NIRV

¹⁷And if Christ has not been raised, your faith doesn’t mean anything. Your sins have not been forgiven. ¹⁸Those who have died believing in Christ are also lost. ¹⁹Do we have hope in Christ only for this life? Then people should pity us more than anyone else.

Candy Heart Word: “Hopeful”

Message

What is a role model? (Allow children to provide answers.) A role model is someone who shows you a good pattern for living your life. Tell me someone in your life who has been an important role model for you? (Allow children to respond.) Those are all good role models. Your parents or grandparents are great role models who have shown you a good way to live your life. A teacher is another great example. Someone in this church is a perfect example of showing you how to live a Godly life. It may even be someone who lived a long time ago.

Jesus is a role model for Christians. We trust Jesus to show us the way to live our lives. We trust in Jesus because he was fully human, and he trusted the Holy Spirit.

Paul says that if we see Jesus only as a good role model and teacher, then we are missing out on the best part of knowing Jesus. Many people can be role models for us, but only Jesus was raised from the dead and offers us new life forever with God. Just as God raised Jesus from the dead and the tomb is empty, so we can also trust that God will raise us from the dead.

Trust and put your hope in Jesus as your role model, but don’t miss out on the best part of God’s promise to Christ followers.

This morning, our candy heart says “hope.” I wonder how you felt when you were thinking about the role models in your life.

I wonder if you feel different about Jesus as a role model than other people in your life.

I wonder how you can show others that you have put your hope in God’s promise.

I wonder how you could be a Christ follower role model to someone else.

Each week for our prayer, instead of praying hands, we will shape our hands like hearts to remind us of love. Can you place your hands in this position? (Position your hands like this:)

Prayer: God of love, my faith gives me hope for living each day. Don’t ever let me forget that in Jesus Christ, you have given me your promise of new life with you forever. That is such an awesome promise! Thank you for that wonderful promise. Amen.

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