The Deam Team Teacher Zone

Hi, boys and girls! Can anyone tell me what I have in my hand? (Hold up the penny.) That’s right—a penny! This penny has on it the words, “One Cent” (spell C-E-N-T). It reminds me of a person who is a missionary! A missionary is someone who is “sent” (spell S-E-N-T) by God to tell people about the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Before people can become missionaries they must know Jesus as their Savior by admitting they are a sinner, believing Jesus died for their sins and receiving [trusting in completely] Jesus. When someone receives Jesus he or she is cleansed from sin and its punishment. I would like to use this penny to help you understand the idea of being cleansed from your sins.

I have an empty drinking glass in which I have poured some white vinegar. (Hold up the glass for all to see.) The scientific name for vinegar is acetic acid. Did you know that Jesus was given vinegar to drink while on the cross? Listen as I read John 19:28–29. “Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips.” The vinegar had a strong and bitter taste to Jesus. (You could give each child a Popsicle stick that has been dipped in vinegar to taste.)

I also have some table salt here. The scientific name for salt is sodium chloride. Salt is a preservative which is often used to keep meat from spoiling and it makes food taste better. The Bible compares those who know Jesus as their Savior to salt. In Matthew 5:13 we read, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” What do you think will happen when I mix the salt with the vinegar? (Dump the salt into the glass of vinegar and stir).The vinegar becomes cloudy. There’s not much happening is there? However, watch what happens to this tarnished penny when I drop it in the glass. (Swish the penny around in the vinegar and salt mixture then show the penny to the children.) All the tarnish is gone and the penny is shiny and looks new! The vinegar and salt, when mixed together, have made a cleaning mixture.

Remember how a missionary is “One Sent” (spell S-E-N-T)? This penny reminds me how a missionary must first know Jesus as his or her Savior and be made cleansed by Jesus’ blood before the missionary can be sent out to tell others about Jesus. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:22, “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” If you already know Jesus as your Savior you are made clean and are now able to be a missionary, too. You can be “One Sent” (spell S-E-N-T) to tell others about Jesus.

I have a penny for you! It will remind you of the importance of being cleansed from sin and being a missionary (“One Sent”). Keep it—don’t spend it! When you see this penny it will remind you that you are “One Sent” by God to share the Gospel with those who don’t know Jesus as their Savior. The words, “In God We Trust” which are found on the front of the penny, can be another reminder to you! You can trust God to give you boldness to tell your friends about Jesus.