LESSONS AND HANDOUTS FOR THIS WEEK

World Sunday School first appeared on the Internet on May 14, 2003. Since that time, this independent website has supplied weekly graded Sunday School lessons and handouts (and, often, coloring pages) to help Sunday School teachers worldwide. We hope to help preserve the Sunday School movement which had its glory days in the 1930's. In a time when so many churches are downsizing Sunday Schools, we aim to preserve this Christian teaching to enrich the life of children and youth worldwide.

JUNIOR/ADULT LESSON - March 12, 2023

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CURRENT LESSON PLAN
God's Purpose
March 12, 2023

Ever wondered why you are here? Have you ever felt like you had no purpose or reason to live? Today’s lesson focuses on GOD’S plan for each human life. It is my prayer that as you read and look at the scriptures in GOD’S Holy Written Word that you will begin to see that your life was planned and that you are special to GOD. There is and will never be another you, so make your life count now, for the glory of The Father.

GOD Bless You All. : )

CURRENT HANDOUT
God's Purpose
Three Trees 

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world, and hold the most wonderful treasures!" The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. "I want to be a great ship traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world carrying the most important kings!" The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they'll raise their eyes to Heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world."

Years passed. The rain came, the sun’s rays beamed down, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell. "Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said. The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters, thought the second tree, "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!" The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to Heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me," he muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But instead of a beautiful treasure chest, the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered in gold, or filled with treasure at all. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.  She was so disappointed and did not understand.

The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was so small and was not carrying kings at all.  Instead, she carried fishermen back and forth in their work.  Heartbroken, she went day by day not understanding what had happened. 

The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" the once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God.  I just wanted to bring Him glory so that when people saw me, thought of me, they would praise God."  Devastated she just did not understand.

Many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox. "I wish I could make a cradle for him," her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful," she said, as she lay Jesus, the son of God inside. Suddenly, the first tree knew God had given her more than her dream for she was indeed holding treasure, not only treasure, but the greatest treasure that would ever be.  

One evening years later, a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out onto the water. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace Be Still." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew she was carrying Jesus, not just an important king, but King of Heaven and Earth, the King of Kings.  Her heart rejoiced because God had not forgotten her dreams, but had surpassed her desires by far.  What an honor.  

Again years passed and suddenly one morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her. Soon she realized they were using her to kill Jesus.  She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on the third day, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her at the risen Christ, the third tree knew God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of that third tree which became a cross, they would think of God, of Jesus and his gift to the world.  That was better than being the tallest tree in the world. She had been created, for this special task.

Each tree then understood that God in His grace and goodness had created them for very special purposes and had given them the desires of their hearts only in a more vast and wonderful way then they could have ever imagined. 

Just like the trees in the story, each of us as human beings have hopes and dreams for our own lives.  If we pray and ask the Father, He will place the right dreams and desires in our heart that will fit in to his plans for us.