This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing in the morning service at Banstead Community Church based on the New City Catechism.

Big Question #23 – What happens after death to those not united to Christ by faith? [NCC Q28]

Powerpoint Pictures: Beautiful Person; Top Footballer; Instagram Follower Count; Clever Person; Top Singer; Shaking Hands

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If you hear the following words, what comes to mind?

Ball [Football, Tennis, Basketball, Kick, Throw].

Juice [Orange, Apple, Drink, Healthy, Breakfast].

Mr [Bean, Blobby, Men, T].

Hell [Fire, Darkness, Bad people, Scary, Nether in Mindcraft].

Hell is what we are going to be thinking about in our next Big Question.

This isn’t a nice subject.  It can be difficult to hear about.

But it is real and it is important to know what the Bible says about hell because if we have been saved by Jesus, we need to know what we have been saved from.

Let’s look at our next Big Question now.

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Q: What happens after death to those not united to Christ by faith?

There’s a famous verse in the Bible, we’re probably familiar with.

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

This verse tells us that: God loves the world; God gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross; God gives eternal life to everyone who believes in Him.

There’s one more thing it says.

In that verse there is an important word we must not miss.  Perish.  Those who don’t believe in Jesus will perish.  What does that mean?

It means they won’t go to heaven.  They won’t enjoy God’s blessings.  They will be punished for their sins.  This is how the answer to our Big Question puts it.

A: They will be cast out from the presence of God, into hell, to be justly punished, forever.

We can’t really imagine what that’s like, but what we do know, is that it is the worst thing that could ever happen to someone, which is why God sent Jesus.  He doesn’t want anyone to perish.  He wants us to trust in Him and be saved.

To help us remember why it is so important that we trust in Jesus and keep trusting in Him, let’s say the question and answer out loud together.

What happens after death to those not united to Christ by faith?  They will be cast out from the presence of God, into hell, to be justly punished, forever.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing in the morning service at Banstead Community Church based on the New City Catechism.

Big Question #22 – Are all people, just as they were lost through Adam, saved through Christ? [NCC Q27]

Powerpoint Pictures: Beautiful Person; Top Footballer; Instagram Follower Count; Clever Person; Top Singer; Shaking Hands

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Who would you choose to do the following things?

Model a new item of clothing? [Someone beautiful].

Play for your team at football? [Someone who is brilliant at football].

Promote something you want people to buy? [Someone who is famous and has lots of followers].

Advise the Prime Minister? [An expert – someone clever].

Sing the national anthem for the Queen? [Someone with a good voice].

Look after something precious? [Someone who is trustworthy].

Generally, people are chosen because of their ability, intelligence, beauty, fame, or goodness.

However, there is someone who does not choose like that.  God.

In an earlier big question, we saw that because of the disobedience of Adam, we are all born in sin and guilt and therefore deserve God’s punishment, which is why we need a redeemer, Jesus, to bring us back to God.

But does Jesus redeem everyone?  Does Jesus bring everyone back to God?  Everybody needs to be saved, but does Jesus save everybody?

That’s what our next Big Question asks.

Let’s look at it now.

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Q: Are all people, just as they were lost through Adam, saved through Christ?

Well, what the Bible teaches is that God choose those He will save and those He has chosen will trust in Jesus and be saved.

“For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.” (Ephesians 1:4)

Who does God choose to be saved?  Those who clever or famous or beautiful or good?

Here’s the incredible thing – God made His choice before anyone was born – in fact, before the world was made.  This means that His choice had nothing to do with how good or clever you are.  It is because God is good and kind.  He didn’t have to choose anybody, but He does.

And if you trust in Jesus to be saved, you can know that He has chosen you.

So, what’s the answer to our Big Question?

A: No, only those who are elected by God and united to Christ by faith.

To help us remember that, let’s say the question and answer out loud together.

Are all people, just as they were lost through Adam, saved through Christ?  No, only those who are elected by God and united to Christ by faith.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing in the morning service at Banstead Community Church based on the New City Catechism.

Big Question #21 – What else does Christ’s death redeem? [NCC Q26]

Powerpoint Pictures: Picture of beautiful places, animals, plants, buildings, artwork

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This world is full of lots of beautiful things.

There are places of beauty.

There are beautiful animals and plants.

There are building, architecture that has a beauty to it.

As well as beautiful pieces of art.

Yet as beautiful as all these things are, they are not as beautiful as they could be.  It is possible for all of these things to be even more beautiful than they already are.  And that’s because, they, like everything in the world, have been affected by sin.

Sin has damaged every single part of God’s creation.  If sin had not entered the world, God’s world and everything He made, would be more beautiful and more wonderful, that anyone can imagine it to be.,

But here’s some incredible news.  One day, creation, this world, will be so much better than it is now.

That’s what the answer to our next Big Question tells us.

Let’s find out now as we look at it.

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Q: What else does Christ’s death redeem?

Is it only people?

Does Jesus’ death only mean that all our sins can be forgiven?

Look at this verses from the Bible.  “Creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay.” (Romans 8:21)

Here we are told that all of creation is under God’s curse because of sin.  However, one day it will be set free.  Jesus’ death is the beginning of all of creation being redeem and re-created and made what it was meant to be.  A new creation that is truly beautiful.

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20)

So, what else does Christ’s death redeem?

The answer.

A: Every part of fallen creation.

And if we trust in Christ we will one day get to enjoy this new creation.

To help us remember that, let’s say the question and answer out loud together.

What else does Christ’s death redeem?  Every part of fallen creation.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing in the morning service at Banstead Community Church based on the New City Catechism.

Big Question #20 – Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven? [NCC Q25]

Powerpoint Pictures: Empty Milk Carton; Empty Biscuit Tin; Empty Wallet or Piggy Bank

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When we say something is all gone – what do we mean?

There is nothing left.

Everything has been used up.

Completely finished.

You might pick up a bottle of milk and go to pour it out on your cereal and nothing comes out.

You go to the biscuit tin, open it up and find there are no biscuits left – no chocolate malted milk, no custard cream – empty – not even a crumb.

Or when you go to your wallet or piggy bank to find out how much money you have in and there is no money in it.

It’s all gone.

Now we’ve been thinking about how we need a redeemer to bring us back into a relationship with God and this redeemer is Jesus Christ.

He is the only redeemer because He is the only one who is both truly human and also truly God.

And because He is, His death is able to take the punishment that our sins deserve so we can be forgiven if we trust in Him.

But when we trust in Jesus, are all our sins forgiven or just some of them?

Let’s find out now as we look at our next Big Question

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Q: Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven?

What does God’s Word tell us?

It says that for those who repent of their sin and put their faith in Jesus, God says: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)

Why?

Because “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

When Jesus died on the cross, every sin that His people will commit, past, present, and future, was put on Him, and He punished for them until there was no sin left to be punished.

Our sins are totally, completely, finally forgiven.

To God there are all gone.

So, does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven?

The answer.

A: Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin, God will remember our sins no more.

Isn’t that wonderful news?

To help us remember that, let’s say the question and answer out loud together.

Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven?  Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin, God will remember our sins no more.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing in the morning service at Banstead Community Church based on the New City Catechism.

Big Question #19 – Why was it necessary for Christ the Redeemer to die? [NCC Q24]

Powerpoint Pictures: Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; Caractacus Potts & Truly Scrumptious

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Some of you may have seen the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

In it there is a horrible character called the Child Catcher.  He captured children for the Baron of Vulgaria and put them in a dungeon.

Those children who were captured needed to be rescued.

They had no way of escaping.

They needed someone to release them from their captivity so they could enjoy freedom again.

Well, help came in the form of Caractacus Potts and Truly Scrumptious, who with the help of the Toy Maker came up with a plan to free them, which is what they do.

This morning in our Big Question we are going to be think about another rescue of people who are being held captive by sin and death.

With the last few questions we been thinking about who Jesus the Redeemer is – that he is truly human and also truly God – and why he needed to be both – both truly human and truly God.

Our next Big Question is not about who Jesus is but what Jesus does.

In particular his death.

Let’s look at it now.

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Q: Why was it necessary for Christ the Redeemer to die?

The reason why Christ had to die was because that was the only way for us to be set free from sin and death.

You see, we all deserve death because of our sin.

Unless that punishment is paid there is no way we can be welcomed and accepted by God.

So we need someone to die for us otherwise we will.

We need someone to die for us otherwise we will remain captive to sin which leads to death.

Well the good news is that:

“For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous that he might bring you to God.” (1 Peter 3:18)

So, why was it necessary for Christ the Redeemer to die?

The answer.

A: Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and bring us back to God.

That’s why Christ had to die.

To help us remember that, let’s say the question and answer out loud together.

Why was it necessary for Christ the Redeemer to die?  Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and bring us back to God.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing in the morning service at Banstead Community Church based on the New City Catechism.

Big Question #18 – Why must the Redeemer be truly human? [NCC Q23]

Powerpoint Pictures: Football Sticker Album; Ordinary Football Sticker; Shiny Football Sticker

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When I was younger I’d loved collecting football stickers.  In fact, I’ve still got one of the albums filled with the stickers I collected. A World Cup ’90 sticker album which is now 30 years old.

Now when it comes to collecting stickers, there is something important you need to know, especially when it comes to swapping them with your friends, which is, that different stickers have different values.

An ordinary sticker is worth another ordinary sticker.

But a shiny sticker, though still a sticker, because of its shinyness is worth lots of ordinary stickers.

A shiny sticker can be swapped for lots of ordinary stickers.

As we come to look at another Big Question that helps is to understand what the Bible teaches, I want you to remember that a shiny sticker can be swapped for lots of regular stickers.

We’ve been thinking about how Jesus is the only Redeemer because He is two things.

He is One who is truly human.  Jesus needed to be human in order to live the life we can never live and to die the death we deserve to die.  That in human nature he might on our behalf perfectly obey the whole law and suffer the punishment for human sin.

But He is also truly God.

He is God and man. He is like the shiny sticker.

Why?  Why did Jesus also need to be truly God as well as truly human?

Let’s find out now as look at our next Big Question…

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Q: Why must the Redeemer be truly God?

Why was it so important that Jesus was God?

There are two big reasons why:

Firstly, in the Old Testament we are told that it is God alone who saves.

Those famous words that Jonah said when he was inside the big fish: “Salvation comes from the Lord” (Jonah 2:9)

Only God can save sinners.  So if Jesus is the Saviour, He needs to be God.

But there’s another reason and that’s where our shiny sticker helps.

If Jesus was only a perfect human, He could die in the place of one other human.  His value would be enough to save only one person, like an ordinary sticker is worth another ordinary sticker.

But because Jesus is truly God as well, He is like the shiny sticker, He is of such a value that because of His perfect life and death He can save not just one other human, but everyone who trusts in Him.

He can save you.

So, why must the Redeemer be truly God?

The answer.

A: That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective.

And that’s what it was.

Let’s say the question and answer out loud together.

Why must the Redeemer be truly God?  That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would one perfect and effective.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

Can you name these different parts of the body? [Elbow; Eyelash; Belly Button; Toe; Heart; Brain; Tongue]

Did Jesus have all these body parts and rest of the parts we have in our bodies?

Yes.

Course He did.

He was truly human.

We saw in our last big question that Jesus is the only Redeemer because He is two things.  He is One who is truly human and also truly God.

But why does He need to be truly human and truly God.  In our next two Big Questions we’re going to find out.

Let’s look at first one now…

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Q: Why must the Redeemer be truly human?

Why was it so important that Jesus was human?

There are two reasons why and these reasons are found in this verse from Hebrews.

“For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17)

One reason that Jesus needed to be truly human was in order to life the live we can never live.  To do what Adam did not do in the Garden of Eden.  To do what no human since Adam has been unable to do, which is being faithful to God and obeying His law, so that we can be made righteous and have a relationship with God.

The other reason that Jesus needed to be truly human was in order to die the death we deserve to die.

Only a human can die in the place of another human and take the punishment their sins deserve so that we can be forgiven by God for all our sins and not be punished by Him.

Why must the Redeemer be truly human?

The answer.

A: That in human nature he might on our behalf perfectly obey the whole law and suffer the punishment for human sin.

And that is what Jesus is has done for us.

He lived a sinless life for us.

He died as a sacrifice for our sins.

Let’s say the question and answer out loud together.

Why must the Redeemer be truly human?  That in human nature he might on our behalf perfectly obey the whole law and suffer the punishment for human sin.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

I wonder, can you tell me what the following are?

What are they?  What is, what we might call, their essence or nature?

First, Olaf.  What is Olaf?  He’s a snowman.

Next, E.T.  What is E.T.?  He’s an extra-terrestrial.

Then, Woody.  What is Woody?  Yes, he’s a toy.  But he’s also a cowboy.

And Chewbacca.  What is Chewbacca?  He is a Wookie.

Last one, (person familiar to them).  What is (person)?  He is a human.

What does the Bible teaches us that Jesus is.  What is Jesus?  What is His essence or nature?

Now this is a really important question because it will tell us whether Jesus can do the job of saving us and reconciling us back to God.

In our last big question, we asked, “Who is the Redeemer?”  And found out that the only Redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus, we’re told, is the only Redeemer.   But why is He the only Redeemer?  Well, our next Big Question tell us.  Let’s look at it now…

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Q: What sort of Redeemer is needed to bring us back to God?

What is it about what Jesus is, that makes Him the only person for the job?

We find out the answer in the book of Isaiah, where we learn the Saviour needs to be two things.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.” (Isaiah 9:6)

He needs to be human.  He is a child who is born.  He is a son.  The Redeemer is fully human.  And that’s what Jesus is.

But the verse in Isaiah goes on.

“And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

These are all titles for God.

Elsewhere God is described as being wonderful and mighty and everlasting and the One who brings peace.

So, the Redeemer needs to be also fully God, which is what Jesus is too.

Back to our question.  What sort of Redeemer is needed to bring us back to God?

The answer.

A: One who is truly human and also truly God.

This is what Jesus is!  Jesus is truly human and truly God, and He alone is – which is why He is the only Redeemer.

Let’s say the question and answer out loud together.

What sort of Redeemer is needed to bring us back to God?  One who is truly human and also truly God.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

I want you to see if you can guess the name of the hero I’m describing from some well-known children’s stories.

Here’s the first hero.  He is a talking lion.  He is the true King of Narnia.  He is killed by the White Witch on the stone table but rises from the dead.  It is ASLAN from the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Here’s the second hero.  She is a 6 and half year old girl.  She likes reading books.  She is able to move objects with her eyes and make them float in the air.  It is MATILDA from the book Matilda.

Here’s the third hero.  He is from Peru.  He loves marmalade sandwiches.  He was discovered in a train station in London.  It is PADDINTON BEAR from the book A bear called Paddington.

One final hero.  He is sometimes referred to as a halfling.  His home is in the Shire.  He goes on adventure which involves a dragon.  It is BILBO BAGGINS from the book The Hobbit.

In the Bible there is also a hero.  The Redeemer.  And this is brilliant news for us.

Because having learned that God will not allow our disobedience and idolatry to go unpunished, that He is righteously angry with our sin and will punish us both in this life and in the life to come, there is a way to escape punishment.

God reconciles us to Himself by a Redeemer.

We can be saved from God’s judgment in hell because there is a Redeemer who has taken what we deserve so that we can be friends with God again.

Who is this redeemer?  That’s the question our Big Question today asks.  Let’s look at it now…

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Q: Who is the Redeemer?

Who is the only one who can reconcile us to God?

Who is the only one who fits the description of what this redeemer will be like found in the Old Testament?

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)

The only person who can take the punishment of God we deserve and make it possible for us to be in right relationship with God is Jesus Christ.

He is the hero of the Bible.

He is the mediator.

The one who can bring us and God together.

So, the answer to the question, ‘Who is the Redeemer?’ is this.

A: The only redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s say the question and answer out loud together.

Who is the Redeemer?  The only Redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

Who do these rescuers save?

Firefighters – people who are trapped in buildings that are on fire.

Lifeboat crew – people who are drowning at sea.

Air rescue – people who are trapped up a mountain.

Doctors and surgeons – people who are hurt or ill and need medical treatment.

Elite Special Forces – people who have been kidnapped and held hostage.

We all need saving from a greater danger than being trapped up a mountain or in a building on fire because God is righteously angry with our sin and will punish us for it.

We are facing God’s judgment of hell and that is not good news for us.

But is that all the Bible teaches?

No, as we’re going to find out as we look at our next Big Question.  Let’s look at it now…

Is there any way for us to be saved from our sins and not be punished by God in hell?

Look at what the Bible says.

“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:10-11)

Now there is a lot in those two verses.  But here’s what they are saying.  These verses tell us that God had a plan to save someone who would be a redeemer.  This redeemer will die and take what our sins deserve so that we can escape punishment and be friends with God again.

So, what is the answer to the question “Is there any way to escape punishment and be brought back into God’s favour?”

It is this:

Who is this redeemer?

You probably know the answer.  But we’ll wait until the next big question to find out.

Let’s say the question and answer out loud together.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

If you brother or sister, or one of your friends, did the following – what should happen to them?

They were rude to you.  They stuck their tongues out at you.  They called you names.  They swore at you.

Or if they stole something or took something they knew they weren’t allowed to have.

Or if they were caught cheating on a test.  Copying what the person sitting next to them put down.

Or if they told a lie.

They should be told off.  They should be punished.

If someone does something wrong, they should not be allowed to get away with it.  If they did, you might say, “That’s not right!  That’s not fair!”

Now with the last two Big Questions we looked at, we learned about something that everyone is guilty of doing.

We are all guilty of sinning and committing idolatry.

Sin is rejecting or ignoring God in the world He created.  It is not being or doing what He requires in His law.

And idolatry is trusting in created things rather than the Creator.

Disobeying God.  Loving what He has made more than Him.  That is what we all have done.

What should God do about this?

Should He let us do whatever we like?  Should He let us carry on rejecting Him and ignoring Him?  Or should He punish us for this?

That’s what our next big question asks.  Let’s look at it now…

What does the Bible say?

“For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person – such a man is an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  Let no-one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.” (Ephesians 5:5-6)

These verses tell us that God will do something about our sin and idolatry.

He sees every sin we commit and He is going to punish us for it.

This is going to happen.

God’s wrath and anger and punishment will come on those who are disobedient and idolaters.

So, what is the answer to the question “Will God allow our disobedience and idolatry to go unpunished?”

It is this:

What do you dream about?  Is about something you’d like to have?  Or you like to do?  Or about someone you’d like to be?

Maybe it is about some of these things?

Being rich and having lots of money.  So you can buy lots of nice things.

Getting good grades at school.  Doing well in your exams.

Being a professional sportsman or woman.  Winning Premier League.  Olympic Gold,  Wimbledon.

Getting married.  Have a husband or wife.  Then a family.

Or travelling the world and going on lots of adventures.  Seeing all the wonderful sights there are to see.

Now all of these things are good things.  But they can be bad things, if they become an idol.

Idolatry is a sin.

Remember what sin is.  Sin is rejecting or ignoring God in the world he created, not being or doing what he requires in his law.

But, what is meant by idolatry?

That’s what our next big question asks.  Let’s look at it now…

What comes into your mind when you hear the word ‘idol’?

It could be a statue that people bow down to.  Like a golden calf which the Israelites worshipped at the bottom of Mount Sinai.

Those aren’t the only kind of idols there are.

An idol can be anything that takes the place of God in our lives.  Anything that we look to, to give us joy and satisfaction, instead of God.

And all of us tempted to look to other things.  To things that are created.

What the apostle Paul writes in Romans 1:25 is true of everyone.  “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is for ever praised. Amen.” (Romans 1:25)

Worshipping and serving created things rather than the Creator.

That’s what idolatry is.

So, what is the answer to the question “What is idolatry?”

It is this: