“When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my hearts delight.” Jeremiah 15:16
Each resident in the care facility was made by God and for God. And so were you!
God has long-range plans for each of our lives. We are going to spend more time on the other side of life than on this side. The reason we are on this planet is to get ready for the next. It’s a kind of dress rehearsal before the real show begins. The real show that will go on forever and ever is worshiping God in Heaven.
Diana Santos Youth Leader
Getting involved in the Contagious Joy program, I have found renewed zeal, energy and enthusiasm in my ministry.” Diana Santos, Youth Leader
“Contagious Joy has given me an opportunity to guide my children in a new adventure. This has enabled them to witness God’s love and build faith in following Jesus -from the “equipping” phase to the “going” and serving phase.” Rose Reyes, Parent
Many people can get frustrated with the do’s and don’ts and think that following God means having a long set of rules to follow.
Sometimes people can see God this way… “do this, don’t do that.” We may even feel defeated when we fail to keep the rules. God gives us rules to protect us, not to frustrate us. But it is not about the rules. It is about having a relationship with God.
The King’s Love for His People was written so that young people will:
- Go deeper in their relationship with God.
- Seek the truth about Jesus which will most likely generate questions. This communicates that their questions are important, and their search for truth matters.
- Understand we are serving God, in the name of Jesus, by visiting those in care facilities who are isolated, lonely and need to be reminded of God’s love for them.
- Know we are serving God, not to earn salvation, (Salvation is only through the blood shed by our perfect Savior, Jesus) but because we love Him.
- Equip them for this new opportunity to serve others in care facilities and beyond.
The King’s Love for His People” is meant to make the story interactive.
- It is good to create an environment where young people feel safe to ask questions and not feel reluctant in seeking truth. We begin this journey with the questions asked while reading “The King’s Love for His People.”
- Download “The King’s Love for His People – Questions to Ask”
- Download and Print a Prayer Calendar of Bible verses for each youth to follow along with the questions.
The King's Love For His People
Agenda & Prayer Calendar
The King’s Love for His People
There was once a King and His Son. They lived in a big, beautiful palace, and they ruled as King over a town with many people. The King provided for the many people who lived in the town. The King loved them all and desired to spend time with each of them. The people were happy because the King provided them with all they needed.
As you read the rules, have the youth follow along. Ask each youth to consider which of the rules they struggle with the most.
(The rules are also listed on the Prayer Calendar. Days 34 & 35)
The King set rules and guidelines for them like:
- Love Me, and put Me first in your life.
- Listen to me. Only I know and have your best interest at heart.
- Speak to Me with love and respect.
- You will spend one day a week learning about Me.
- Listen and obey your mother and father.
- Do not hurt anyone.
- Do not use your mind or body for wrong intentions.
- Don’t take what belongs to someone else.
- Be honest and tell the truth.
- Don’t be jealous and want what others have.
The King created a chart, and red marks were given to each one who did not follow the rules perfectly.
The people loved the rules and thought they were very fair, but they found they could not keep them all. Some felt the heavy burden and knew they’d never be able to follow the rules perfectly. They fell on their knees before the Son asking for forgiveness. The King and the Son rushed in and received them as their own children. Now everything changed, and they were granted a relationship with the King, and the Son.
Some people began arguing about the rules and thought they were better than others who were messing up all the time. They began judging them saying, “You are nothing but a mess up!” — even though they were messing up too. They also taunted those who were messing up saying, “The King loves us more because we are better than you!”
The ones messing up a lot felt like failures. They thought the King did not love them because they were always messing up, and they were tired of seeing all the red marks next to their names. They were free and didn’t have to stay in that town. They gave up and decided to leave the town to find a place that did not have so many rules.
One of those who left had a friend who lived in another town. The friend said you can come and live with us we have no rules here! So, he went to live with his friend.
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Question # 1 Where do you see yourself? a) Finding it difficult to keep the rules and asking God for forgiveness b) Thinking many people are “mess ups” c) Messing up a lot and feeling like a failure. (See Matthew 22:36-39. Day 16 on Prayer Calendar.)
His friend’s house was very noisy. There were several rooms and the friend told him he could pick any of the rooms he wanted to stay in. As he walked down the long hall he heard crying from one room, and he decided not to go there. Fighting and yelling came from another room, and he stayed clear of that one.
Finally, he came to a room where he heard laughter, so he decided to stay in that room. He heard one of those who were in that room say, “This is the fun room!” and he thought surely, he made the right choice.
They even had a ball in that room that they would throw around. He liked that and started to join in on the fun. The ball came flying fast at him and he caught it. He threw it to someone, and they laughed at him and said, “You look funny.”
Day after day, they poked fun and made jokes about other people. He tried to keep up with them and laugh at all that they thought was funny. But one day he noticed someone sitting and crying. He asked him, “Why are you crying?”
The one crying responded, “They laughed at me because I could not keep up with them. They called me names, made jokes about me, and hurt me.”
Someone said to the one who was crying, “It is time for you to leave this room. You have to go to the crying room!”
The boy who left the King’s town thought to himself “Oh no! Maybe I chose the wrong room after all.
Wait, maybe I chose the wrong town!” He decided to return and ask the King if he could come back to live and tell Him, “I am sorry!”
When he returned, he noticed a new chart on the wall. There was only one name on the chart, and it was covered with red marks! There was another chart next to it that had many names, but that chart was completely white with no red marks. The boy asked the King who the person was that could not keep any of the rules. The King answered, “That is My Son, but He kept all the rules perfectly.”
“Why does He have red marks all over His chart?” the boy asked.
“Because I sent my Son to the people in the town, and He took all the red marks of those who asked and believed in Him.”
The boy replied, “My King, I want to be free of all my red marks!”
The King replied, “If you want to be free, you must believe that My Son died and rose again to take away all those red marks.”
The boy replied, “I do believe!”
“Come, let me show you where My Son is now,” said the King. The King brought the boy into a big palace where the Son was sitting on a Royal Throne.
As the boy came closer, he heard a beautiful melody of voices singing together, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the One who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
The boy fell to his knees before the Son and said “I could not keep all the rules. I felt like a failure, so I left! Please forgive me! Will you take my red marks and let me live in this town with you?”
The Son replied, “My child, trusting in Me is what it is all about. I will take all your red marks and move them to My chart. Your chart will be completely clean. Come, let me show you many who felt the same as you. They were tired and carrying heavy burdens of guilt, regret, and sin. They came to me, and I took their heavy loads and gave them rest. Now, they can see me, learn from me, and know that I am humble and gentle with them.”
The child said to the Son “Thank you for taking all my red marks. I understand now that you have my best interests at heart, and You know everything! Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure,” said the Son.
“Why did you do this for me?”
The Son hugged the child, and with a smile He said, “Because I love you.”
Question # 2: Do you believe God loves you? (See John 3:16-17. Day 1 on Prayer Calendar.)
The Son brought the child to a community in the town where there were many children, and they all had a Helper alongside them. The Helper was there to help them love the King and the Son. He was there to help them serve one another in love. There was a sign on the wall that read, “Love God with all your heart. And love your neighbor as yourself.” Everyone there wanted to treat others the way they wanted to be cared for. And they loved The Son, The King, and The Helper with all their heart.
The Son asked the child, “Do you know who brought you to Me?” “Yes,” the child responded, “Your Father, the King.”
The Son replied, “He is My Father and your Father! I Am Jesus, your Savior, the One who forgives all your sins. Your Helper is The Holy Spirit, your Teacher, and Friend. And Our name is God, your Creator.”
Question # 3: Do you accept Jesus’ sacrifice as payment for your sins, and desire God’s Holy Spirit to help you live God’s way? (See Acts 2:38 & Romans 10:9. Day 19 on Prayer Calendar.)
The children in that community loved one another, but most of all they loved God with all their hearts, and they loved listening to Him, spending time with Him, reading His Word, and the children loved sharing with Him what was on their hearts and minds.
Jesus said to all the children, “In this place you will still struggle, but remember to love others as I have loved you. You will also have troubles, and people will disappoint you. But take heart, you are not a victim. You are victorious! Because I have overcome, and I am with you. So have Peace. Have joy because one day you will live in the palace with Me and My Father.”
Now who will go to the other town and tell the one who was crying everything about Me and that I love him?”
“Here I am. Send me!” the boy replied.
Jesus said, “Yes, go. How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
Question # 4: Do you desire to show God’s Love to others? (See Romans 10:14-15. Day 18 on Prayer Calendar)
Story Explained:
In the story above, the rules are the 10 commandments. The child receives red marks and becomes frustrated because he’s not able to keep all the rules. He also feels judged and makes the decision, “Keeping the rules is not for me.”He leaves, finds friends who feel the same way, and chooses to join the “laughing group.” He recognizes he made the wrong choice and decides to return and say, “I am sorry.”
The King shows him that not keeping the rules is sin. Sin separates him from God, and only by receiving Jesus’ sacrifice can his sins be completely wiped away. (Sin is anything we do, think, or say that does not please God.) The child asks the Son for forgiveness and receives the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps him understand God’s Word and to follow Him. The Holy Spirit also helps him love God with his whole heart and love others as himself.
Now, the boy knows it was never really about the rules, it is about loving God with all your heart, and trusting in Jesus. The rules show us that we are sinners. Only Jesus can keep the rules perfectly, and so He fulfilled the requirement of “keeping the rules” for us. Jesus gave us His perfect life so we can be free from sin and death. Jesus, who did not sin, took the penalty for our sin. He took off His robe of righteousness and gave it to us. When we receive Jesus as Savior, that is how he sees us, clothed in a pure white robe of righteousness.
Now we can be united with God and enjoy a relationship with Him. The child now understands that God is loving, forgiving, gentle, and kind. To make the right choices in life the child knows he can ask, and God will not look at his faults, but will give him all the wisdom and help he needs.
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” James 1:5
Question # 5: Do you own a Bible? a) Yes b) No, but I would like one. (See 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Day 4 on Prayer Calendar)
God’s Word Breaks it Down:
“So the trouble is not with the law (rules), for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.”
Romans 7:14
“So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
He did this so that the just requirements of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.”
Romans 8:3-5
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:13-14
See “Questions Young People Ask” for additional Bible verses based on challenges young people face today.
Question # 1 Where do you see yourself? a) Finding it difficult to keep the rules and asking God for forgiveness b) Thinking many people are “mess ups” c) Messing up a lot and feeling like a failure. (See Matthew 22:36-39. Day 16 on Prayer Calendar.)
His friend’s house was very noisy. There were several rooms and the friend told him he could pick any of the rooms he wanted to stay in. As he walked down the long hall he heard crying from one room, and he decided not to go there. Fighting and yelling came from another room, and he stayed clear of that one.
Finally, he came to a room where he heard laughter, so he decided to stay in that room. He heard one of those who were in that room say, “This is the fun room!” and he thought surely, he made the right choice.
They even had a ball in that room that they would throw around. He liked that and started to join in on the fun. The ball came flying fast at him and he caught it. He threw it to someone, and they laughed at him and said, “You look funny.”
Day after day, they poked fun and made jokes about other people. He tried to keep up with them and laugh at all that they thought was funny. But one day he noticed someone sitting and crying. He asked him, “Why are you crying?”
The one crying responded, “They laughed at me because I could not keep up with them. They called me names, made jokes about me, and hurt me.”
Someone said to the one who was crying, “It is time for you to leave this room. You have to go to the crying room!”
The boy who left the King’s town thought to himself “Oh no! Maybe I chose the wrong room after all.
Wait, maybe I chose the wrong town!” He decided to return and ask the King if he could come back to live and tell Him, “I am sorry!”
When he returned, he noticed a new chart on the wall. There was only one name on the chart, and it was covered with red marks! There was another chart next to it that had many names, but that chart was completely white with no red marks. The boy asked the King who the person was that could not keep any of the rules. The King answered, “That is My Son, but He kept all the rules perfectly.”
“Why does He have red marks all over His chart?” the boy asked.
“Because I sent my Son to the people in the town, and He took all the red marks of those who asked and believed in Him.”
The boy replied, “My King, I want to be free of all my red marks!”
The King replied, “If you want to be free, you must believe that My Son died and rose again to take away all those red marks.”
The boy replied, “I do believe!”
“Come, let me show you where My Son is now,” said the King. The King brought the boy into a big palace where the Son was sitting on a Royal Throne.
As the boy came closer, he heard a beautiful melody of voices singing together, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the One who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
The boy fell to his knees before the Son and said “I could not keep all the rules. I felt like a failure, so I left! Please forgive me! Will you take my red marks and let me live in this town with you?”
The Son replied, “My child, trusting in Me is what it is all about. I will take all your red marks and move them to My chart. Your chart will be completely clean. Come, let me show you many who felt the same as you. They were tired and carrying heavy burdens of guilt, regret, and sin. They came to me, and I took their heavy loads and gave them rest. Now, they can see me, learn from me, and know that I am humble and gentle with them.”
The child said to the Son “Thank you for taking all my red marks. I understand now that you have my best interests at heart, and You know everything! Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure,” said the Son.
“Why did you do this for me?”
The Son hugged the child, and with a smile He said, “Because I love you.”
Question # 2: Do you believe God loves you? (See John 3:16-17. Day 1 on Prayer Calendar.)
The Son brought the child to a community in the town where there were many children, and they all had a Helper alongside them. The Helper was there to help them love the King and the Son. He was there to help them serve one another in love. There was a sign on the wall that read, “Love God with all your heart. And love your neighbor as yourself.” Everyone there wanted to treat others the way they wanted to be cared for. And they loved The Son, The King, and The Helper with all their heart.
The Son asked the child, “Do you know who brought you to Me?” “Yes,” the child responded, “Your Father, the King.”
The Son replied, “He is My Father and your Father! I Am Jesus, your Savior, the One who forgives all your sins. Your Helper is The Holy Spirit, your Teacher, and Friend. And Our name is God, your Creator.”
Question # 3: Do you accept Jesus’ sacrifice as payment for your sins, and desire God’s Holy Spirit to help you live God’s way? (See Acts 2:38 & Romans 10:9. Day 19 on Prayer Calendar.)
The children in that community loved one another, but most of all they loved God with all their hearts, and they loved listening to Him, spending time with Him, reading His Word, and the children loved sharing with Him what was on their hearts and minds.
Jesus said to all the children, “In this place you will still struggle, but remember to love others as I have loved you. You will also have troubles, and people will disappoint you. But take heart, you are not a victim. You are victorious! Because I have overcome, and I am with you. So have Peace. Have joy because one day you will live in the palace with Me and My Father.”
Now who will go to the other town and tell the one who was crying everything about Me and that I love him?”
“Here I am. Send me!” the boy replied.
Jesus said, “Yes, go. How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
Question # 4: Do you desire to show God’s Love to others? (See Romans 10:14-15. Day 18 on Prayer Calendar)
Story Explained:
In the story above, the rules are the 10 commandments. The child receives red marks and becomes frustrated because he’s not able to keep all the rules. He also feels judged and makes the decision, “Keeping the rules is not for
me.” He leaves, finds friends who feel the same way, and chooses to join the “laughing group.” He recognizes he made the wrong choice and decides to return and say, “I am sorry.”
The King shows him that not keeping the rules is sin. Sin separates him from God, and only by receiving Jesus’ sacrifice can his sins be completely wiped away. (Sin is anything we do, think, or say that does not please God.) The child asks the Son for forgiveness and receives the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps him understand God’s Word and to follow Him. The Holy Spirit also helps him love God with his whole heart and love others as himself.
Now, the boy knows it was never really about the rules, it is about loving God with all your heart, and trusting in Jesus. The rules show us that we are sinners. Only Jesus can keep the rules perfectly, and so He fulfilled the requirement of “keeping the rules” for us. Jesus gave us His perfect life so we can be free from sin and death. Jesus, who did not sin, took the penalty for our sin. He took off His robe of righteousness and gave it to us. When we receive Jesus as Savior, that is how he sees us, clothed in a pure white robe of righteousness.
Now we can be united with God and enjoy a relationship with Him. The child now understands that God is loving, forgiving, gentle, and kind. To make the right choices in life the child knows he can ask, and God will not look at his faults, but will give him all the wisdom and help he needs.
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” James 1:5
Question # 5: Do you own a Bible? a) Yes b) No, but I would like one. (See 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Day 4 on Prayer Calendar)
God’s Word Breaks it Down:
“So the trouble is not with the law (rules), for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.” Romans 7:14
“So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
He did this so that the just requirements of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.” Romans 8:3-5
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:13-14
See “Questions Young People Ask” (Hyperlink to Questions Young People Ask) for additional Bible verses based on challenges young people face today.