Adventurers with Jesus: January- March 2021

By R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation

Adventurers with Jesus (Ages 9-11) is an age-appropriate Christian quarterly lesson guide. Lesson presentations are easily taught and understood and show students how to find salvation through Jesus Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
• Release date: Dec 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781681677828

Book preview

Lesson #1

January 3, 2021

Listen and Be Amazed

Lesson Passage:

Luke 4:14–22

NRSV

THEN Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country.

15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read,

17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor."

20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

21 Then he began to say to them, Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.

22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, Is not this Joseph’s son?

Today’s Lesson Story

Today’s story from Luke finds Jesus in Galilee, preaching boldly with the power of the Spirit (v. 14), having recently been baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. By this time, the news of Jesus had traveled throughout the countryside, and many people praised Him for His teachings in the synagogues (places of worship). Jesus faithfully followed Jewish customs. For example, when He went to Nazareth, He visited the synagogues on the Sabbath. A rabbi (a teacher of Jewish law) would be invited by the leader of the synagogue to teach and to preach; and on this day, Jesus was the rabbi chosen. Jesus was handed a scroll with the words of the prophet Isaiah written on it. In modern terms, we might describe a scroll as a type of book that people could read from. The prophecies that Jesus read were holy messages that God had given His people through Isaiah many years before.

Imagine that the service in the synagogue began with singing, prayer, and praise. Then Jesus unrolled the scroll and began to read. On this day, the Scripture that Jesus read foretold the gift of the Messiah, the Savior of the world. In reciting Isaiah’s words, Jesus declared to the people in the synagogue that He was the Son of God! He was the promised Messiah they had been waiting for.

Jesus’ words were comforting: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because [God] has anointed me to bring good news to the poor (v. 18). We think of the poor as people who lack money, but Jesus also came to encourage the poor in spirit—those who lack physical or mental health, safety or protection, or even friendship. When we are worried, Jesus is there to comfort us. When we are scared or bullied, Jesus is there to protect us. When we need love, the best friend we could ever find is Jesus!

Jesus’ words were filled with power: [God] has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind (v. 18). Some people are prisoners to fear and anxiety; some to poverty; and others to sickness. When we are fearful and nervous, we can lean on Jesus. When we lack material things, we can ask Him to provide for our families. When we are sick, Jesus heals and takes care of us. The Messiah can make a blind man see, and He can also (through the eyes of the heart) bring him to salvation.

Today we often hear adults say, I am stressed, I feel depressed, or I just can’t seem to catch a break. These are the words of someone who is oppressed. The evil in the world is against us, but Jesus promises to set us free! When we trust in Him, we can be sure that we will be okay. In conclusion, Jesus promises that He will take care of us not just today and tomorrow, but until the end of