Kingdom Bound
Children Ministry
Bible Study Texts
A Home For Christ - Part 3
Captain of My Soul (Lesson Suitable for 6 - 12 years old)
Recap
We have had two lessons on the topic 'A HOME FOR CHRIST'. We established that our private place in the Home, is our room. .Jesus would like to come in to dwell in, and own this room (our heart). Revelation 3 v 20
We also discussed that all the desires, cravings and fantasies of our hearts, should be within the boundaries of the love of Christ.
Today we shall conclude this discussion of making our Hearts A home For Christ by discussing – ‘Captain of My Soul’
Matthew 6 v 24
What is the object shown below?
What’s its purpose and how does it move?
Who directs this object as a pilot directs a plane?
If this object is misdirected, what can happen?
· It could go to the wrong destination
· It could sink or capsize
It could hit an ice berg and break
Discussion
Now I would like you to IMAGINE that your soul, your heart, and your life is a SHIP. Whether you like it or not, every life is headed in a direction, and carries many loads aboard, just like a ship.
My question to you today is, WHO is the Captain of your life? The devil, or the Lord?
This is not a question of convenience, you don’t have to tell me the answer. The way you live your life, what comes out of your mouth and how you behave, tells us a lot about whom the Captain of your life is.
Who is a captain and what are his duties?
1. A captain leads a Ship, just as a driver drives a car (pilot: airplane)
2. A captain decides when the ship moves, the speed, the destination and everything else.
3. A Captain is the one in command, he’s the one in charge. He’s the Boss of everyone else on the ship for the time of the trip/voyage.
4. Note that there can be no two Captains in a ship….there may be many co-captains, but ONLY ONE CAPTAIN is permitted per ship/voyage. (you cannot have two masters)
Open to Matthew 6 v 24
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
This means you cannot have Jesus and Satan in your heart at the same time. You must choose one!
Now let us read Romans 8 v 14.
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
This simply means, if the captain leading the ship of your life is the Spirit of God, then you are a child of God.
Some people believe they are the captain of their lives, meaning they believe they can decide what happens to them, they say ‘’It’s my Life!’’ but they are completely wrong.
As children of God, we are just like vessels (ship, boat, canoe, ferry etc) and our lives is directed mostly by the following:
1. God or the devil (as the CAPTAIN)
2. Our parents (as the co-captain)
3. Others around us, e.g. our school teachers, counsellors, church pastors, even myself, teaching you here. We are all co-captains
We take instruction from the CAPTAIN, and he helps you to understand and live your life. In as much as all co- captains can help you, you have the responsibility to decide whom your captain is. Choose wisely, Choose prayerfully. As you grow up, make a decision, to allow Jesus, to dwell in your heart, and be your captain, leading you through life, to eternal glory.
Are you in the Lord’s ship, or the devil’s ship?
Qualities of those who have Lord Jesus as the Captain of their lives
1. You must be born again
2. You must flee from sins and bad behaviour
3. You must fellowship with the Lord, by reading his word and praying to Him
4. You must be full of love. Love God, and love your neighbour as yourself.
5. You must be diligent, hardworking, respectful and obedient to your parents. You cannot claim Jesus as your captain, and behave rudely at home. NO!
Qualities of those who have refused the Lord Jesus as the Captain of their lives
1. They live a sinful life of disobedience to the Lord and their parents
2. They have hatred, pride, and envy in their heart
3. They have wild cravings and evil desires
4. They love money more than God.
5. They are headed for destruction!
6. There are many more.
Know that by their fruit, you shall know them. Matt 7 v 20
By their behaviour, you will recognise those who are led by the Lord, or the devil.
JESUS CAN CALM EVERY STORM
What happens to the lives of those who allow Jesus to Captain their live
1. They have peace and joy and love and wisdom
2. Jesus leads them to salvation. Heb 2 v 10b
3. They will go to heaven
4. They become successful in life, they live a good, healthy and comfortable life
5. They are full of love and fulfilment
6. They have hope of victory, over any temptation that comes like an iceberg.
Don’t you like to have all these?
Let me show you an example of how the Lord can GIVE YOU VICTORY, if you allow him to take control of your ship/life.
Watch the video below, to see how Jesus calms the storm, when a great storm attacked the disciples’ boat.
Do you remember Jonah, God was not in ship, when the storm arose, he ended being thrown into the sea, and was swallowed up by a whale. If not for God’s mercy, he would have perished.
I encourage you to always check that you have the Lord in your life, always. Be his child and fellowship with him daily. Let him take charge!
CONCLUSION
Have you ever wondered how you can live a successful life, amidst all the chaos that are all around in life. There is hunger, war, poverty, sickness and young deaths all around us. Many people have missed it in life, and they are living in suffering, pains and with lack of purpose.
The only way to be free of this, is for you to decide in your heart, that right from a very young age, you will yield your life completely to the Lord, and invite him to be the captain your life. Let him take over. Ask him anything you want in prayer. Believe he is your Lord. And Let the will of the Lord prevail in all that you do, think or say. Respect the opinion of your parents, and always to talk to the Lord in prayer. Be full of love for yourself and others around you.
The Lord will help you!
Let us pray
Now bow down your head and pray
1. Lord I release my life to you, take the wheel and be my Captain. Direct my life Lord.
2. I refuse to be disobedient to your leading. I refuse to board the devil’s ship that heads for destruction.
In Jesus name I pray
Song of the day
I give myself away