Opening

New Creation Caterpillars

• Compare the differences in the caterpillars and the butterflies and how they go through a transformation. They go through a beautiful transformation and become “brand new.” Ask the children to count how many differences there are.

• Explain that we are a new creation in Jesus! Ask the children to name the differences between their lives before and after Jesus has come into their lives and list them on the board.

• We all have sin in our lives, bad thoughts, and ungodly habits or ways that probably need to be removed and tossed out. Yet, the coolest part is not that we get to get rid of the old, but God wants us to replace it with the new. He wants us to clothe ourselves in true righteousness and holiness to be more like Him.

Bible Story

• In our lesson today, we will discover one of the most beautiful truths about what happens in the life of a person who has become a follower of Jesus Christ. The changes that happen in a life that belongs to Jesus are so great that the Bible describes it as becoming a brand-new creation. We become a new person in Jesus! Everything becomes brand new. We are a new creation in Jesus!
• The Bible is full of contrasts (or comparing things that are different from one another) such as God’s holiness contrasted with man sinfulness or heaven contrasted with hell.
• In our lesson today, we discover the contrast of our old life apart from Jesus with our new life in Jesus. As Christians, we have been changed from the inside out, from a life that was spiritually dead to a life that is spiritually alive in Christ. We are a new creation in Jesus! Let’s learn more together about this new life.
• 2 CORINTHIANS 5:16-17
  Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
• When someone becomes a Christian, they become a brand-new person inside. They will not be the same anymore but will receive a new life. Just think! We can have the Spirit of the Living God living inside of us. He changes the way we think, what we desire and who we are. We are a new creation in Jesus!
• Our new relationship with Jesus has changed everything. The way we think about the world and everyone around us is completely different. Before we became Christians, we looked at Jesus and thought about Him as to how the world thought of him. Maybe went thought He was a good person or a good teacher, but now, we have a new understanding of who Jesus is. We know that He is God who has come in the flesh so that we could receive eternal life. We do not just worship a baby in a manger; we also worship a glorified Savior who is at the right hand of the Father in heaven.
• The Lord changes everything for us. It is amazing how God can change lives and make them brand new. There are so many good stories and books about people who have come to know Jesus and how their lives change completely. Maybe you have read one of those stories or know someone in your family who has completely changed because they came to Jesus. The Holy Spirit gives us a new life, and we are not the same anymore. Accepting Jesus into your life is the beginning of something new and wonderful, life with Him. He can even change the worst of sinners.
• We also know that new life in Jesus means that every day He desires to guide us and help us with our daily problems. Our relationship with Him will grow as we humbly entrust our lives in His care. The control of our old life of self and sin is gone (Romans 6:6-14). Our new life of devotion to Jesus means that we have new attitudes and actions (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). In Christ, we are new creations!
• 2 CORINTHIANS 5:18-19
  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
• Because of man’s sin and rebellion to God, we (mankind) became His enemies. It is kind of like we declared war on God and wanted nothing to do with Him. As a result, we could no longer enjoy fellowship with Him. God never turned away from man, man turned away from God, but God didn’t want to leave us in that condition.
• Jesus’ death on the cross has brought man and God together again. He made a way for us to have a relationship with God. This is what “reconciliation” is. It means bringing two sides who were once enemies back together again. We have been reconciled to God because Jesus died for us so we would not have to face the judgment of sin. God now has a relationship to all that will turn to Him through His Son Jesus. God blots out our sins and makes us righteous (Ephesians 2:13-18, Romans 5:10-11).
• It is amazing that we are the ones that turned away from God, but He does everything to make it possible for us to return to Him. It would seem like we should be doing things to “make up” for our sin, but that is not how God works. He is so loving and kind that He has done everything for us, even giving His Son for us so that we can have a relationship with Him. We can now enjoy a close relationship with Him, along with all the blessings of His heavenly riches. We are a new creation in Jesus!
• Because of our relationship with God, we have been given the privilege to encourage others to turn to Jesus, so they too can be reconciled to God as we have.
• 2 CORINTHIANS 5:20-21
  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
• An ambassador is an official representative from one country to another. As believers, we are Christ’s ambassadors, sent with His message of reconciliation to the world. As believers, we have an awesome responsibility to share the gospel with others. May we never take this responsibility lightly, for Jesus Himself has commissioned us (Matthew 28:18-20).
• Being an ambassador also means that you represent the king and the kingdom (or country) that you are sent from. As Christians, we represent the Kingdom of God to this world and the King, Jesus. So, we need to only do and say those things that would be a good representation of who He is. It is kind of like when you go out into public.
• If you are a bad example or disobedient to your parents, it is a bad reflection on them. But if you are a good example, obedient and have a good attitude it is a good reflection on your parents. We need to be a good reflection of the light of Jesus Christ in this dark world.
• What is one thing you remember from today’s lesson? (Allow for responses.) My hope is that each one of you will walk away feeling a little more like God and less like your old self. Only you are responsible for getting rid of your old bad habits, sinful ways, evil thoughts, etc. No one else can decide to get rid of them but you. You must ask the Holy Spirit to help you get rid of your old ways and put on the new creation.
• Let’s take a minute for everyone to really focus on what needs to go and get tossed out of their life. (Take a minute of silence.) Now, that God has shown you what needs to go and wants to fill in those spaces with Godly things. Some examples include: Someone might repent of lying and God might replace it with the truth. Someone might repent of stealing and God might replace it with faithfulness or righteousness. Someone else may repent of watching or listening to inappropriate things and God might replace it with time in the Word or worship music.

Questions

1.  Scripture says that the new has come but only when what happens? (We are in Christ. You must be saved and have a relationship with Jesus for Him to make you a new creation.)
2. If the new has come, what is gone? (The old.)
3. Let’s read verses 18-19 again. In your own words, what does it mean that God reconciled us to Himself? (Allow for responses. Example: Restoring our relationship with God to how He intended it to be before sin. Take care of any sin in our hearts and mind so we can be one with God and live in harmony with Him.)
4. God calls us ambassadors. That means He wants us to promote or represent Him on this earth which is why we need to get rid of the old and put on the new to be more like Him. How does that make you feel?
5. Who is the only person who never sinned? (Jesus.)
6. God’s hope is that we would become what? (That in Him and through Him we might become the righteousness of God.)
7. Do you think all that can take place if we leave on our old self, old ways, old thoughts, and old habits? (Allow for responses. We must get rid of the old to make room for the new, so the image of God can shine through us for the world to see.)