11 February 2018

Toddler Class

Coach Ochie

Asst. 1 : Tesa
Asst. 2 : Ruth

Primary Class 1-3

Coach Lily Bun
(Asst. Trista)

Primary Class 4-6

Coach Swanky

A 5-week series on Gospel truths in cartoons/movies.

Week 2: Kungfu Panda: I am Chosen

HOOK

VIDEO: Kungfu Panda

How many of you have watched this movie? Kung fu Panda

What’s the name of the Panda? Po

Po helps his goose father, Mr Ping, in his noodle restaurant. He has big dreams of becoming a kung fu master … but it seems like a faraway dream.

One day, there was a kung fu tournament in town to choose the Dragon Warrior — the one who will be able to defeat the enemy, Tai Lung the Leopard.

Po wanted to go see who would be chosen the Dragon Warrior. He rushed there, but he was too late —the door was closed. So he tried many ways to get in, including sitting on a chair strapped with fireworks, and crashed right in the middle of the arena where Oogway, an old tortoise, proclaims him the Dragon Warrior.

Po couldn’t believe it.

Neither could all the other kung fu masters, including Shi Fu.

They rejected him. Po was no kung fu master. He was a big, fat panda — clumsy and slow. He couldn’t do anything right except eat! How could he be the Dragon Warrior? Shi Fu was convinced it was all a mistake.

Po was very discouraged. He wanted to give up. There was no way he could be a kung fu master and defeat the enemy.

But Oogway believed in him. Po was no coincidence, no accident. He was the Dragon Warrior. And it was up to him to believe that.

And when Po believed that he was the chosen one, the big fat panda was able to defeat Tai Lung the leopard. He was not just a kung fu master, but the Dragon Warrior.

LESSON : I AM CHOSEN

Sometimes, like Po, we think we are too big, too small, too dumb, too cool, too inadequate to achieve those dreams.

We compare ourselves with our sisters and brothers, our cousins and friends, and say we are not good enough.

But I have good news for you. You may have a big dream … but you have a BIGGER God.

  

GOD SEES YOU AS SPECIAL

The world may say you are weak, small, forgotten and loser, but God sees a treasure in you — just like Oogway sees Po as the Dragon Warrior, not as a clumsy, unskilful panda.

Do you remember when God asked the prophet Samuel to anoint a new king for Israel from one of Jesse’s sons? Samuel met seven of Jesse’s sons. They were big, tall and handsome. “Surely this one would be God’s chosen one!” he thought.

But God said no. “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

  

GOD CHOSE YOU FOR BIG THINGS

Finally all seven sons passed Samuel, and each time God said, no. Finally, Samuel found out that Jesse had a youngest son who was taking care of the sheep. He was a young boy, not important enough for the father to bring to meet the prophet.

Samuel asked for him. And God said, “Yes, this is the one I chose.”

David was anointed by Samuel. He went on to defeat Goliath. And he later became the next king of Israel.

When God chooses you, He will use you in great and wonderful ways so that we can bring glory to Him.

We are all God’s chosen people. And we are His princes and princesses. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

LOOK AT JESUS … NOT AT YOURSELF OR YOU LACK

But, but, but … I’m still little old me! I can’t do it on my own!

You can’t. But Jesus can.

On the Cross, Jesus took all our weaknesses, so that we can have His strength. He took all our faults and failings, so that we can have His victory.

When we believe in Jesus, we receive all that He has for us. His Holy Spirit lives in us and gives us all His power and authority — He is our Sifu! He was the one who put in you the skills, talents, intelligent and gifts in you to help you do what you want to do.

When we trust in Jesus’ strengths, we can rely on Him to raise us up and shine in and through us, His chosen ones.

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Phil 4:13)

SUMMARY

God sees you — even if you are a nobody.

God chose you — so He can do great things through you.

Jesus is our strength — we can do all things through Him.

ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS

HUDDLE TIME

Get into small groups. Ask the children to share what their dreams are, and ask Jesus to help them accomplish these.