St. John the Evangelist and the Repented Thief

1. St. John the Evangelist and the Repented Thief Grade 4 & 5 Girls Sunday-school St. Mary COC

2. THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT JOHN (1:1-17) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness did not comprehend it.

3. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not the Light, but was sent to bear witness to the Light. That was the true Light that gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world did not know Him. He came unto His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

4. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt in us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only-Begotten of His Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him, and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, `He who comes after me is preferred before me: for He was before me.’ ” And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  Glory be to God forever. Amen.

5. St. John was preaching when he noticed a smart young man in the audience. He called the man and preached to him then left him in the care of the bishop to teach him the faith. This young man was attracted to a group of bad friends who taught him evil deeds, until he became a thief and then a leader of a gang.

6. After many years St. John returned and asked the bishop about the young man but the bishop was very sad to tell him what happened to the man. St John went to see the young man but he was captured by the other group members and brought to the man, and he was very sad and ashamed to see St John. He turned away running from St John but St John told him not to be afraid and that anyone who seeks forgiveness will receive it. Through God’s grace St John was able to convince the weeping man and together they prayed and fasted until the man was able to take part of the Holy Communion again.

7. St. John loved sinners and cared for them which encouraged many to repent and return back to the church.

8. Living in sin will never bring joy to my life • We will feel happy and relieved after we confess, but we must confess very sincerely Feel joy through a relationship with God and through the forgiveness we receive from repentance and confession What Can I Do? • Do a reflection of the bad and good things in our day. • Go to confession and get our SNB signed!

9. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)

10. Questions! What happened when St John was preaching? He noticed a smart young man , that he brought to the Bishop 2. True or False: The man stayed close to God until St John came back. FALSE 3. Complete the verse: “If we ________ our sins, He is _______ and ____ to forgive us our ____ and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John _:_ CONFESS FAITHFUL JUST SINS 1 9