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🌎 Jesus’ Ministry Continues - August 2026
Key Passage:
Luke 19:10 (NIrV): “The Son of Man came to look for the lost and save them.”

Big Picture Question:
Did Jesus ever sin? No, Jesus never sinned.

Jesus’ First Miracle - John 2:1-12

STORY SUMMARY:

• Jesus visited the temple just before the Passover festival.

• People selling things at the temple made it hard to focus on God.

• Jesus cleared the temple of the things people were selling and buying.

• Jesus showed He had the right to do this with a sign: “I will destroy this temple and raise it in three days.”

• This was picture language, He would die but rises again on the third day—showing He is the promised Savior.

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

• Imagine you are (cleaning your room). What might distract you from (cleaning your room)?

• What was distracting people from worshiping God at the temple?

• Why did Jesus clear out the temple? 

CHRIST CONNECTION:
Nicodemus was a member of the Jewish nation and a teacher of the Scriptures who came to Jesus at night. Jesus showed him that being in God’s family didn’t depend on his ancestors or how well He kept God’s laws, it wholly depended on trusting the Son, who would give up His life to give the gift of eternal life to all who believe.  Jesus’ message to us is the same. Being in God’s family doesn’t depend on our family, church, or what we do. All who believe (which itself is a gift of God’s grace through His Spirit) are His family and have a new and forever life with Him.

STORY POINT:
Jesus taught Nicodemus that all who trust in Him have a new and eternal life. 

Jesus at Passover - John 2:13-25

STORY SUMMARY:

• Jesus visited the temple just before the Passover festival.

• People selling things at the temple made it hard to focus on God.

• Jesus cleared the temple of the things people were selling and buying.

• Jesus showed He had the right to do this with a sign: “I will destroy this temple and raise it in three days.”

This was picture language, He would die but rises again on the third day—showing He is the promised Savior.

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

• Imagine you are cleaning your room. What might distract you from cleaning your room?

• What was distracting people from worshiping God at the temple?

• Why did Jesus clear out the temple? 

CHRIST CONNECTION:
Selling and buying in the temple was crowding out true worship—hearing from and talking with God. This angered Jesus. He came so  people would know, love, and worship His Father. So He powerfully removed those who were selling in the temple. Jesus still wants people to know His Father and doesn’t want anything—not sin or anything else—to distract us from the good news that He took the punishment our sins deserves. He encourages us to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles so that we can follow Him (Hebrews 12:1). His Spirit helps us to focus on Him.

STORY POINT:
Jesus cleared out the temple so people could know, love, and worship God there.

Jesus and Nicodemus - John 3:1-21

STORY SUMMARY:

• Nicodemus, a Jewish leader and teacher came to Jesus at night.

• He saw Jesus’ miracles and wanted to learn more.

• Jesus told Nicodemus not to trust in His flesh but to be “born again.”

• He said God loved the world and sent His Son to save the world from sin.

• Like the bronze serpent, Jesus would be lifted up for all sinners.

• All who trust in Jesus receive a new and forever life through the Spirit.

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

• What’s one of the best gifts you have ever received? 

• What did God give (as a free gift!) because He loved the world?

• What things can’t make us part of God’s family?

CHRIST CONNECTION:
Nicodemus was a member of the Jewish nation and a teacher of the Scriptures who came to Jesus at night. Jesus showed him that being in God’s family didn’t depend on his ancestors or how well He kept God’s laws, it wholly depended on trusting the Son, who would give up His life to give the gift of eternal life to all who believe.  Jesus’ message to us is the same. Being in God’s family doesn’t depend on our family, church, or what we do. All who believe (which itself is a gift of God’s grace through His Spirit) are His family and have a new and forever life with Him.

STORY POINT:
Jesus taught Nicodemus that all who trust in Him have a new and eternal life. 

John Pointed to Jesus = John 3:23-36

STORY SUMMARY:

• Jesus and his disciples taught and baptized near the Jordan River.

• John the Baptist reminded his followers that he was not the Messiah but was sent to prepare the way for Him.

• John was glad  that more and more people were following Jesus.

• John taught that Jesus came from heaven, speaks God’s words, and gives eternal life to all who believe in Him.

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

• What are some things that are important to you?

• Why was John happy people were following Jesus instead of him?

• How can we focus on Jesus each day?

CHRIST CONNECTION:
Just as Gabriel had said, John became a popular and powerful preacher, yet he knew his purpose was to point people to Jesus. (Like a best man at a wedding, he knew the celebration was not about him, but about the groom and bride!) John humbly wanted more and more people to trust and follow Jesus, even if that meant fewer and fewer people came to him. Jesus is still the focus. He is God who came down from heaven to rescue the world from sin. We want to point people to Jesus by our words and actions, too, so more and more people follow Him.!

STORY POINT:
John pointed people to follow their Savior Jesus, the most important thing in life.

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman - John 4:1-42

Story Summary:

• While resting at a well in Samaria, Jesus spoke with a Samaritan woman.

• He asked her for a drink of water and offered her “living water” for her soul.

• Jesus knew her sins had made her thirsty for God’s forgiveness.

• He taught her about worshipping God and showed He is the Messiah.

• The woman believed in Him and shared the news with her town,

• Many believed that He truly is the Savior of the world.

Review Questions:

• When have you been really thirsty? Did you quench your thirst? How?

• How is being thirsty a picture of our relationship with God?

• How does Jesus quench our spiritual thirst?

Christ Connection:
Jesus caught a Samaritan woman’s attention by showing unusual love and respect and talking truthfully about sin. This prepared her to receive the living water of the gospel. Her faith quickly overflowed as she shared the good news about Jesus with her town. The Holy Spirit shows us our sin, too, so that we might “be thirsty” for God’s forgiveness in Jesus. Jesus is the Savior of the world. All who believe are forgiven. He fills us so that we overflow with His love, sharing it with others.

Story Point:
Sin makes our hearts thirsty; Jesus quenches our thirst with His love and forgiveness.