Main Point: Jesus, as the Everlasting Father, is the source and provider of eternal life.

Bible Verse: For to us a child is born,to us a son is given; and the govern-ment shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father... Isaiah 9:6

Bible Story: The Words of Eternal Life, John 6: 60-69

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Something to think about before teaching:

The name Everlasting Father should not be confused with the Trinitarian, God the Father. In the Old Testament, father is a term used to mean provider or source of. Some transla-tors would call this name Provider of Eternity.

It is through Jesus that we have eternal life. Kids will learn that Jesus is the one who provides eternal life as a gift, however, they have a choice whether to receive this gift or not.

Investigating:The Bible Story Guess the Slimy CreatureSlime Time Lab Slime Bucket

Testing: The Slime LaboratoryCraftGamesBible Memory ActivityExpress YourselfSnackTrading Cards Family Lab Report

This Lesson contains:

Exploring: Slimy Facts Doc Green and Lily, the Apprentice Uncovering the NameDiscovering the Formula

Lesson four: everlasting father

exploringslimy factsEach slide will state a fact about something slimy. Kids will guess if the “fact” is true or not. This can be done with everyone yelling the answer, voting, or dividing into teams. Remember that this activity is a fun way to start the lesson. It is purely optional. If you do not have powerpoint, the facts can eas-ily be read or printed on large posterboard.

Fact #1 PP The green scum that floats on the surface of ponds is actually a slime that is helpful.

Answer: True. It produces oxygen that we breath. Fact #2 PPRed tide is a slimy, smelly red substance that covers water and can wash up on a coastline, however, it is harmless.

Answer: False. Red tide has poisonous blooms that can kill large numbers of sea creatures and make people sick who eat shellfish that has been infected by a red tide.

Fact #3 PPBelieve it or not, there are living molds called living snot mold and dog vomit slime mold.

Answer: True. They are found on rotting wood and plants. The dog vomit slime mold can be found invading homeowner’s lawns.

Fact #4 PPCreeping slime can crawl, shape-change and shows signs of high intelligence.

Answer: True. When the area it lives in is no longer good for it, the slime will form itself into the shape of a slug and crawl to a better location.

Fact #5 PPSlime flux is a frothy, slimy and foul-smelling substance that leaks from trees.

Answer: True. The slime flux starts out from the sap of a tree.

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Doc Green and Lily, the ApprenticeSupplies: Tall, clear container, red liquid (kool-aid, red food coloring in water, etc.), paper, large mark-er, tape, clipboard, penPreparation: Make signs using the paper and large marker saying, “Do not touch” “Warning-danger-ous” “Do NOT clean up” “Stay away.” Fill the clear container with the red liquid and place on a table. Tape the signs around the container and table. Lily walks into the lab with her clipboard. She looks around and checks off a list on the clipboard.

Lily: Wait a minute. (Scans her clipboard.) That (points to the red liquid) is not on this list. This ex-periment is not on the organizational chart. This is a problem. Doc Green? (Looks for him. Goes to the door and yells his name.) DOC GREEN!

Doc Green: (Runs in with an alarmed look on his face.) What?!? What! Is there a problem in the lab?

Lily: There most certainly is.

Doc Green: Oh no. What is it? (Looks frantically around trying to figure out what the problem may be.)

Lily: This. What is this? (Points to the red liquid.)

Doc Green: That is a thing of beauty. You see (gets excited) I was thinking the other day that perhaps my mind was stuck in a rut. That I always work with green slime. Perhaps I needed to expand my thinking. I did.

Lily: Did what?

Doc Green: Expand my thinking. I am now also investigating red slime. And trust me it has some extremely ooey gooey qualities to it. (Rubs hands together with delight.)

Lily: But it isn’t on the list.

Doc Green: What list?

Lily: What list???? The list of experiments. It is not in my organizational grid. It is not recorded here on the clipboard. (Points with index finger and hits the clipboard repeatedly.)

Doc Green: So?

Lily: Doc Green you asked me to help you by organizing this lab. That is what I have done. It is very important that anything going on in this lab be on the clipboard so this lab can run with maximum efficiency and productivity.

Doc Green: Hm. I see. (Takes clipboard from Lily, picks up a pen and writes on the clipboard.)

Lily: What are you doing?

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Doc Green: (Gives clipboard back.) Now the experiment is on the clipboard.

Lily: You can’t do that! There is an organizational pattern. It must be fed through the computer and analyzed and put in its proper place. You can’t just write it in. This is not acceptable. Not. Accept-able.

Doc Green: Fine. Then go put it in your computer and spit out the results and then it will be on the pattern or whatever you call it. Mean time (puts on his lab glasses) I am ready to get creative with some red slime. Let the FUN begin!

Lily: Doc, you know I won’t be here forever.

Doc Green: I am well aware of that Lily. No one lives forever here on this earth.

Lily: I’m not talking about this earth, I’m talking about this lab.

Doc Green: Oh. Well, no one lives forever in this lab either. Although I wish I could... imagine. I do wonder if there will be golden slime in heaven. What do you think Lily? Do you think there might be golden slime there?

Lily: What I mean is that when my apprenticeship is over, I am leaving. For good. Never to see me again.

Doc Green is concentrating so hard on his experiment that he seems to not hear Lily.

Lily: Fine. (Shakes head.) I am so glad I don’t have to work here for forever. (Pauses.) Forever. Hard to even imagine what forever really looks like.

PPUncovering the NameSupplies: For optional display-infinity symbol, Everlasting Father sign

To make an infinity symbol: The infinity symbol ∞ can be made by twisting pipe cleaners or other malleable long ob-jects. It also can be made by taking a long strip of paper and

doing a half twist on one end then taping the two ends together. This is a moebius strip. Google “moebius strip” to find videos on how to make it.

Preparation: If doing the display, print Everlasting Father sign. Fold it into a tent sign.

discover the formulaRead Isaiah 9:6 together:

PP For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father...

Let’s say the verse again with some motions to help us remember it.

For to us (Point to self.)A child is born (Cradle a baby in arms.)To us (Point to self.)A son is given (Place a hand out and put it down to indicate a young child.)And the government shall be on his shoulder (Point with index fingers of both hands to the shoulders.)And his name (Point to sky.) Shall be Wonderful (Put fists out in front then open dramatically.)Counselor (Make circles with hands and place over the eyes.)Mighty (Flex arms to show muscles.)God (Point to sky.)Everlasting Father (Make infinity symbol with right index finger. This is a sideways figure eight.)

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PP As the slime disappears, let’s try to guess what is under it.

(Have all the kids work together, divide into teams or choose two people to compete.)

Have you ever seen this symbol before? Do you know what it means? (Give the kids some oppor-tunities to guess.)

This is a symbol that means infinity. Do you know what infinity means? To go on forever. An-other word for forever or infinity is everlasting.

One of Jesus’ names is Everlasting Father. Everlasting means to never end. Maybe you have heard of eternal life. That means life that never ends. The fact that He is the father of this means that He is the one who provides eternal life for us. We will not have eternal life here on earth, however, we can have eternal life in heaven. Jesus provides a way for us to live forever with Him.

Jesus, as the Everlasting Father, is the source and provider of eternal life.

Options: Display: Place the infinity symbol in the display along with the Everlasting Father sign.

No Power Point: If you do not have access to power point, put the infinity symbol in a box and have the kids guess what might be in the box giving clues.

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InvestigatingKey Bible Story The Words of Eternal LifeJohn 6:60-71

Supplies: Gift wrapped box

John 6 tells us about some amazing things that Jesus did. He performed miracles such as feeding 5000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. He walked on water. Not in wa-ter, but on top of water. The people who saw this were astonished with what He was doing. He had a lot of people following Him who called themselves disciples.

But there came a point where those who were following Him had to make a decision. Did they really believe what He said? Did they really believe who He said He was?

Did Jesus really come from heaven? Was He really the Son of God?

One day some of these disciples were complaining about His teaching. They had heard what He had been teaching in the synagogue. They said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

Jesus knew that these disciples were complaining. He asked them, “Does this upset you? What if you see the Son of Man go up to where he was before? The Holy Spirit gives life. The body means nothing at all. The words I have spoken to you are from the Spirit. They give life. But there are some of you who do not believe.”

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The Son of Man was a name that Jesus often called Himself. The place where He was before was with God. Jesus was letting them know that our bodies in the end are not the impor-tant thing, it is life that is inside us. Jesus was telling them that the words He spoke came from the Holy Spirit, from God.

This was an important moment for them. They had a choice before them. Would they choose to believe now? Or would they continue to complain about Jesus and not believe?

Many of Jesus disciples turned back. They no longer followed Him. The truth was they did not truly believe.

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Jesus turned to the twelve disciples, the ones who were the closest to Jesus, and said, “You don’t want to leave also, do you?”

Peter answered him, “Lord, who can we go to? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Peter believed. Ten others in the group also believed. However, one of them did not. Later he would betray Jesus.

What did Peter mean when he said, “You have the words of eternal life?”

Jesus’ teachings told people how they could live forever. Not here on earth but in heaven. Not only did He tell people how they could live, but it was through Him that they could live forever. He is the one who provides a way to have eternal life.

PP John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus is God’s only Son. Anyone who believe in Jesus, meaning puts their trust in Jesus and makes a decision to turn from their old way of life and follow Him, will live forever in heaven.

Each of us has the same choice that the disciples had. Will we truly believe in Jesus? Will we put our trust in Him?

(Place the gift in front of the kids.) Jesus provided a gift for us. This gift is eternal life. He provided it by coming down to earth as a man and dying on the cross for our sins even though He never sinned. He was resurrected from the grave and lives today. Although He does not walk on earth as a man anymore, His Spirit lives within us when we believe in Him. The thing about a gift is we have to accept that gift. Otherwise, the gift sits waiting to be unwrapped.

Jesus, the Everlasting Father, is the source and provide of eternal life. We only have to accept this gift that He has provided for us.

Prayer PP Lead the children in a prayer to accept the gift of eternal life if they choose to do so. Thank Jesus for this gift and ask Him to help the kids to follow Him.

guess the slimy creature PP

Supplies: Powerpoint or picture of pyrosome slime tube

PP Can you guess what slimy creature is on the screen? (The slide will zoom out slowly until the kids will be able to see the creature.)

Does anyone know what this creature is called? It is a slime tube called a pyrosome.

Pyrosomes live in water and are made up of hundreds and sometimes thousands of small individuals called zooids. These zooids are joined together into a tube that is closed at one end. A coating of semi-solid slime holds them together.

The pyrosome swims through the water by pushing seawater out the open end of the tube. The zooids eat plankton in the water as the pyrosome swims. This tube also makes a flashing light.

The largest pyrosome ever recorded was 66 ft long. It was wide enough that a diver actually swam inside it. Can you imagine swimming in the ocean and coming upon a slime tube as long as a house that was flashing lights? Can you imagine swimming through all that slime?

PP Let’s look at the Slime-O-Meter and decide just how slimy you think the Pyrosome Slime Tube is. Our Slime-O-Meter has a scale of 1-10. When I say go you start cheering. When the meter reaches the number you think represents how slimy the creatures is, stop cheering. (Listen as the kids cheer and try to detect when the cheering starts to come down.) It sounds like the slime tube is (announce the number) on the Slime-O-Meter.

It is amazing how God joins all these little creatures, zooids, together in a slime tube and even makes them light up. He holds them together in a special way (with slime!) in order for them to fulfill their purpose.

Jesus wants those who believe in Him to be held together also. Not with slime, but with His Spirit. We are to live together with a purpose of serving Him and of telling others about Him. He wants us to work together moving in the same direction, not being torn apart by fighting. He, also, wants us to light the path that leads to Him. Together we can tell the world about Him and point people to the Everlasting Father.

Jesus, the Everlasting Father, is the source and provider of eternal life. We do not want to keep that knowledge to ourselves. We need to tell others about Him and the way to eternal life.

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slime time lab: applesauce slime PP

Supplies: Applesauce, cinnamon, bowl, measuring cup

In our Slime Time Lab today, we are going to make some-thing really slimy that smells great.

Measure equal amounts of applesauce and cinnamon into a bowl. Mix together with your hands forming a brown, slimy ball.

This slime is made using only two in-gredients: applesauce and cinnamon. Both contain a special characteristic that makes them stick together well. The applesauce has something in it called pectin which makes the slime thicken. The cinnamon absorbs the wa-ter from the applesauce so that the two ingredients hold together as one.

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We are all made with special characteristics, or strengths also. Can you think of a strength you might have? Some of us enjoy talking to others, some are great at thinking of new ways to do things, some are good at organizing and others work hard to make sure something gets done. God made us to work together with each of us using our strengths.

Today we have learned that Jesus is the Everlasting Father. He is the source and provider of eternal life. We have also learned that we need to share with others that He provides eternal life. By working together, using our strengths, we can tell people about Jesus and his gift of eternal life.

slime bucket PP

Supplies: slime bucket, applesauce, green food coloring, gold (crown, ring, coin, anything that is gold), blindfold

Preparation: Dump applesauce into the slime bucket. Mix a few drops of green food coloring into the applesauce. Hide the gold item in the slime.

It is now time to find out who will be slimed in the slime bucket. One of you will be picked to put your hands and arms inside the bucket while blindfolded. You will need to find whatever is in the slime and bring it out for us all to see.

Messier but oh-so-fun option: Put a plastic rain coat with hood on the person. Have them stand in a baby pool and dump the slide on the head. Then have him/her hunt in the baby pool for the object.

Blindfold the volunteer and place his/her hands in the bucket. Have the kids cheer and encourage them as they hunt for the gold.

What did you find in the slime? Why do you think this was in our slime bucket today? (Give the kids an opportunity to guess.)

Gold is often used to symbolize heaven. It will be a place that is like nothing we can even imagine. However, it will not be things made of gold that will make heaven so unimaginable. It will be Jesus.

When we think about heaven, let’s make a choice to not think about the things we might get there or the way we might get to live. Let’s think about being in the presence of the Everlasting Father, the One who provided eternal life for us. There will be nothing better than hanging out with Jesus.

testingthe slime laboratory: applesauce slimeSupplies: Applesauce, cinnamon (buy in bulk), Ziploc baggies, measuring cup

Measure equal amounts of applesauce and cinnamon into a baggie. Knead the bag until mixed well.

The kids can take the mixture (it will be sticky) out of the baggie, flatten it and shape it. When the shape dries it will be hard and will smell good.

Discuss the strengths that each child has that they can use to tell others about Jesus. How could these strengths work together?

craft: moebius stripSupplies: White cardstock, markers, scissors, tape, yarn

Preparation: Find a video on youtube.com showing how to make the moebius strip if you have not made one before. Practice.

Have the kids cut a strip of cardstock about 1.5 inches wide. Decorate the strip on both sides using the markers. Hold the strip with an end in each hand. Half-twist one end and overlap the other end with it. Tape in place. Tie the piece of yarn to the moebius strip.

Remind the kids that the infinity symbol reminds them of eternal life. Have them hang it somewhere in their room as a reminder of Jesus’ name.

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Option: A moebius strip has only one side to it. If you take a pen and place it in the middle of the strip marking a line down the middle, you will end up in the same place you started from. You will find that you never turned the paper over which shows it has one side. Right now we have two parts to us: a body and a spirit. When we die, our bodies will die, how-ever, our spirits will live forever. We will have one part to us like the moebius strip.

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Game: gift grabSupplies: Gift from the Bible Story

Place the gift in the middle of the room. Divide the kids into two teams and line up on either side of the room. Give each kid a number. Make sure that at least one kid on both sides have the same number.

Call out a number. The kids with that number run toward the gift and try to grab it and bring it back to the group. The kid without the gift tries to tag the one carrying the gift. If successful, the kid with the gift goes to the other team. Continue play as time permits.

Ask the kids how the game is the same and different from the way Jesus offers us the gift of eternal life.

Bible Memory activity: digging for treasureFor to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father... Isaiah 9:6

Supplies: Copy of gold coins for every 6-8 kids, scissors, large open container for each group, newspaper (or other used paper)

Preparation: Fill the containers with strips of newspaper or other recycled paper. Packing peanuts or other filler will also work.

Print the gold coins and cut out. Hide one set of coins in each container.

Divide the kids into teams of 6-8. On go, one member of the team runs to the team’s container, digs for a coin and brings it back to the group. The next member of the team does the same thing. This continues until all the coins are found. Meanwhile, the team can begin to put the verse in order. The first team to complete the verse wins.

Express yourselfSupplies: Copy of questions for each small group

1. What does it mean that Jesus is the Everlasting Father? 2. How does Jesus provide eternal life for us? Do you know a Scripture verse that says that?3. Some people think that if they are really good that they will go to heaven. Is this true? Why or why not? 4. Name some of the strengths that you have that could be used to tell others about Jesus and his gift of eternal life. 5. How could you work together in this group using your strengths to tell others about Jesus?

Snack: string cheeseSupplies: String cheese, plate

Give each child a plate and string cheese. Have them form the infinity symbol using a string of cheese.

Review the meaning of the symbol and how it relates to Everlasting Father.

trading cardsSupplies: printed card for each child, markers or crayons (optional)

Name: Everlasting FatherSymbol: Infinity Symbol Verse: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father... Isaiah 9:6

Give each child the card. If using the coloring cards, use markers or crayons to decorate them. Go over the verse together and review the symbol.

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Supply List

slimy facts: ☐Powerpoint or posterboard with facts printed on it

Doc Green and Lily: ☐Tall, clear container ☐Red liquid (kool-aid, red food coloring in water, etc.) ☐Paper ☐Large marker ☐Tape ☐Clipboard ☐Pen

Uncovering the Name: ☐For optional display-infinity symbol ☐Everlasting Father sign

Key Bible Story: ☐Gift wrapped box

guess the slimy creature: ☐Powerpoint or picture of pyrosome slime tube

slime time lab: ☐Applesauce ☐Cinnamon ☐Bowl ☐Measuring cup

slime bucket: ☐Slime bucket ☐Applesauce ☐Green food coloring ☐Gold (crown, ring, coin, anything that is gold) ☐Blindfold

The slime laboratory: ☐Applesauce ☐Cinnamon ☐Ziploc baggies ☐Measuring cup

Craft: ☐White cardstock ☐Markers ☐Scissors ☐Tape ☐Yarn

Game: ☐Gift from Bible story

Bible activity: ☐Copy of gold coins for every 6-8 kids ☐Scissors ☐Large open container for each group ☐Newspaper (or other used paper)

express yourself: ☐Copy of questions for each small group

Snack: ☐String Cheese ☐Plate

Trading cards: ☐Printed card for each child ☐Markers or crayons (optional)

family lab report 4

Bible Verse: For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall

be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Ever-

lasting Father... Isaiah 9:6

Bible Story:

The Words of Eternal Life, John 6: 60-69

Main Point: Jesus, as the

Everlasting Father, is the source and

provider of eternal life.

Family Debriefing: 1. Read John 3:16. How does Jesus provide eternal life for us?2. How is eternal life a gift from Jesus? For us to have eternal life, what must we do with the gift?3. What do you think heaven will be like?

Family Imaginative Thinking:Place something in a box that makes you think of eternal life. Wrap the box. Place the “gift” somewhere in your house for a few weeks as a reminder that eternal life is a gift from Jesus. We make the choice whether we will accept the gift or not.

Family Activity:Take a walk or a drive through a cemetery. Look for symbols of eternal life (a cross, for instance). If approached in a positive way, this can be a beautiful experience.

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isaiah9:6

everlasting father

Express yourself

1. What does it mean that Jesus is the Everlasting Father?

2. How does Jesus provide eternal life for us? Do you know a Scripture verse that says that?

3. Some people think that if they are really good that they will go to heaven. Is this true? Why or why not?

4. Name some of the strengths that you have that could be used to tell others about Jesus and his gift of eternal life.

5. How could you work together in this group using your strengths to tell others about Jesus?