10 Commandments for Kids (and Adults!)

I'm adding a downloadable resource for anyone interested in sharing an effective way to memorize the 10 Commandments using word pictures, and also share the gospel message in a powerful way. The 10 Commandments for Kids is something I got from Living Waters (Ray Comfort), with some text and formatting revisions I thought made it a better and clearer presentation. Here's a picture of how to memorize the first commandment, as an example:

 

It goes on to share a story - an analogy - that brings the moral law to bear on the conscience of the hearer, and makes the gospel really good news. I hope you try this out on your kids, or your neighbor's kids, or really just anyone. I use the word pictures when I'm preaching open air, going through the 10 Commandments, and it really works.

 

You can find the downloadable file by clicking here (LINK), and I'll be adding a tab at the top to make it convenient for anyone who might want this in the future. Let me know if you get a chance to try this out! Paul.

 

Wrapping up 2015 with a Candy Cane Tract

Here's a candy cane gospel message we made to give out over the Christmas holiday season, in hopes of redeeming the time and pointing as many people as possible to the Savior.

I looked up various versions of "The Candy Cane Story" on the internet, and using these as a reference I wrote the story in my own way using Microsoft Publisher. We used a local print shop to make about 200 cards. We donated a bunch for family gift packages for our church's bus ministry children, our friends Aquila & Priscilla Sletten took a box full over the the Iowa Veteran's Home. The rest we've been giving out around town. May the Holy Spirit water this seed sown, that many would come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The text of this message is below:

We Hope You Enjoy this Candy Cane! 

As you take it in your hand, turn it upside down: you will see
the J that reminds us of Jesus, who left Heaven’s glory 2000 years ago, and was born in a lowly stable in Bethlehem, just as the prophets had written many years before.
Turn it back upright, and you will see the shepherd’s crook, that reminds us that he is the Good Shepard who loves and cares for all who will follow him. The stripes remind us that he was wounded for our sins: the red speaks to his blood shed on Calvary’s cross to pay the penalty for our sin, and the white tells us how only he can wash away our sins, and make us white as snow. For all have broken God’s Law, the 10 Commandments, and all deserve the punishment … eternity in Hell. But God wants all to be rescued from this fate, and this is why Jesus came into the world.

We are glad you accepted this candy cane as a gift from us, but even more, I hope you will accept the gift of forgiveness and eternal life that comes, not from religion, a church, your sincerity, or by being a good person, but from trusting in this same Jesus as your own Savior. If you have not done so, why not turn to him today?

Celebrating Freedom in Jesus Christ

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

John 8:34-36

Our new "Liberty Pine"

Friday, July 4th, 2014.
Here in the United States of America, we celebrated our 238th year of independence from British rule, and it was a beautiful summer day here in Iowa.
To commemorate the day, we planted a white pine in our back yard, and christened it "The Liberty Pine." Long may it grow.

Mary and I did some shopping together and enjoyed the holiday. At Younkers, I happened across an LED light set on the yellow-dot sale table, and I put them to use later that evening by putting them on my FREEDOM IN JESUS witnessing cross and hitting the street corner by Wal Mart - my usual Friday afternoon spot - for a little twilight evangelism.

Marshalltown does have 4th of July fireworks at the fairgrounds, but there is no public area close by that you could do public ministry. Traffic was light, but in the hour I was out there, I gave away 6 Bibles, along with some tracts and "God of Wonders" DVD's. Had an excellent gospel conversation with a young woman named Jenny, and her parents Anna Maria and Rudolpho. Jenny walked over as I was packing up, just after this picture was taken, and asked for a Bible. Whenever a Bible goes out, the gospel goes with it. Jenny was of the opinion that most everybody goes to Heaven when they die.  I said, "No Hell?" She thought only really bad people went there, so we went through a few of the 10 Commandments to show how we are all guilty and deserving of Hell. I explained the simple gospel message, and it was a joy for me to show her 1 John 5:11-13 in the Bible I gave her. As a former Roman Catholic, I was taught that it is a sin to say that you know for sure you will go to Heaven when you die. But God's word tells us that, indeed, you can know that you have eternal life in the Lord Jesus Christ. Isn't that just awesome? It is to me.

Please pray for Jenny, Anna Maria, and Rudolpho, that they would truly understand the gospel, and join us who have turned to God and placed our faith in Jesus Christ alone.