Lesson: The Ministry of Reconciliation and Atonement (No. CB140

Goal:

Children will gain an understanding of what it means to have a ministry of reconciliation and how the Day of Atonement makes that possible.

Objectives:

1. Children will identify what day and month Atonement occurs.

2. Children will identify where the High Priest went on the Day of Atonement in the temple and why this was significant.

3. Children will identify three ways we can aid in the reconciliation process.

Resources:

The Day of Atonement (No. CB99)

Sanctification of the Children of God (No. CB69)

Law at our Doorposts (No. CB80)

Introduction to the Priesthood of Eloah (No. CB115)

Priesthood of Eloah from Messiah Onwards (No. CB118)

The Garments of the High Priest (No. CB61)

White Linen Garments of the Priest (No. CB63)

Memory Verse:

2Corinthians 5:18-19 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (RSV)

Format:

Open with prayer.

Lesson on The Ministry of Reconciliation and Atonement (No. CB140)

Activity associated with the lesson.

Close with prayer.

Lesson:

1. Read through the paper The Ministry of Reconciliation and Atonement (No. CB140) unless it is read as a sermonette with the children present.

2. Children’s questions are in bold. This is a general review of the material covered in the lesson.

Q1. On what day and what month is the Day of Atonement? (Lev. 23:26-27)

A. We keep the Day of Atonement, as a Sabbath, on the 10^th day of the 7^th month.

Q2. There was only one time in the year that the High Priest would go into the Holy

of Holies and it was the highest of all the Sabbaths of the year. Which holy day was it?

A. The Day of Atonement is referred to as “Shabbath Shabbathown”. Its holiness is

emphasised by combining these two words.

Q3. When the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement to make an atonement for the people, what was the symbolism of this practice? (Mk. 15:38; Heb. 6:19-20)

A. This practice looked forward to the time when Christ died and the temple veil was

torn in two. Because of Messiah’s perfect sacrifice we can pray directly to God in

the name of Jesus Christ. He is now our High Priest.

Q4. In Leviticus 23:32, what does it mean to afflict ourselves on this day?

A. On the Day of Atonement, adults are to fast from dark on the 9^th day to dark on the 10^th day. This means we do not eat or drink anything during that 24 hours. Children and young adults can begin to fast on the day of Atonement as they are able.

Q5. What is the meaning of the word Atonement?

A. Atonement is the reconciliation between God and mankind that comes from the

sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Because sin separates us from God, Christ’s sacrifice was

needed so we could have access to the One True God.

Q6. What are we reminded of when we keep the Day of Atonement?

A. The Day of Atonement reminds us annually that we have been reconciled to God,

and gives us hope of a wonderful future under Messiah’s just and righteous system. Because we all sin, we all need to be reconciled to God which restores our relationship with Him. When we break His law, we need to repent and change our ways and through forgiveness be restored or reconciled back to God. (Rom. 5:10-11)

Q7. What is the meaning of the ministry of reconciliation? (2Cor. 5:17-20)

A. God, through Jesus Christ, has reconciled mankind to Himself. Our duty as citizens of the Kingdom of God is to spread the message of reconciliation by making disciples

of all men.

Q8. What is the first sacrament of the church?

A. Baptism.

Q9. What does an adult need to do before they are baptised? (Acts 3:19)

A. We must repent, which means to change our sinful ways and follow God’s ways.

Q10. When we are baptised, does a minister sprinkle water on us or are we totally

immersed in water?

A. We are totally immersed in water. This is why baptisms take place in rivers, pools, oceans, or even large troughs of water.

Q11. What does baptism symbolise?

A. It is symbolic of death, when the old person dies and our new person comes out

of the water. (Rom. 6:4) We are spiritually cleaned by water, which is the water

of life, or the Holy Spirit.

Q12. After baptism, or being immersed in water, what is the next step that needs

to be done?

A. The laying on of hands follows baptism, and that is when the minister asks God for the gift of the Holy Spirit for the newly baptized person. It is through the Holy Spirit that we are reconciled back to the Father.

Q13. How many times in a year do the baptised members partake of the Lord’s

Supper?

A. Only once a year. It is to renew their baptismal commitment to God the Father.

Q14. What must we do to keep our relationship with the Father?

A. We must live our lives as Christ did and we must obey God’s laws and testimony of Jesus Christ. When we fall short and make mistakes we ask for forgiveness. By doing these things, we can be sure that we are pleasing God.

Q15. Let’s compare the priesthood of ancient Israel to the priesthood of today.

What was the first thing the priesthood in ancient Israel had to do to be

reconciled to God and what do we have to do to be reconciled to God?

A. The priesthood in ancient Israel, which was the Aaronic priesthood, needed

sacrifices to be reconciled to God. We, today, are reconciled to God through

Jesus Christ, who became a sacrifice for all. (Heb 10:10)

Q16. After we have been reconciled to God, what wonderful privilege has been

given to us? (Heb. 4:16)

A. We can now come boldly before the throne of God in prayer.

Q17. Who is our High Priest today? (Heb. 4:14)

A. It is Jesus Christ who, through his sacrifice, replaced the physical Aaronic ministry.

Q18. As priests of God we have a responsibility to do the work of God. What does

does this work require us to do? (Isa. 61)

A. We are to: 1) Bring good news to the world. 2) Heal the broken-hearted.

3) Explain the mysteries of God. 4) Teach people about God’s calendar and why

it is important to keep it. 5) Help in restoring Jerusalem and the Government of God.

Q19. Another function we have as priests is to administer the Law of God. How do

we do that? (Lev. 6:12; 10:11; 24:8; Deut. 17:8-13)

A. LET KJ: 1) We Live by the Law of God. 2) We Explain the Law of God. 3) We Teach the Law of God. 4) We Keep the Law of God. 5) And we Judge by the Law of God.

Q20. In the Bible, what does the colour white represent?

A. The colour white is commonly used to represent being pure or righteous and

following God’s way of life. (Rev 19:7-8)

Q21. When the High Priest entered into the Holy of Holies in white linen, what did that represent?

A. It represented Jesus Christ as the suffering Messiah.

Q22. After the High Priest bathed and put on his garments, what did that

represent?

A. It represented Jesus Christ returning as King Messiah.

Q23. Who else is going to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white? (Rev. 19:7-9)

A. The wedding garments of the elect are going to be of white linen and they are

to keep their garments white by being righteous and obedient. Also the “Great

Multitude” is going to be clothed in white robes. (Rev. 7:14) And those who

have been martyred will also be given white robes. (Rev. 6:11)

Q24. What does the Day of Atonement represent?

A. The Day of Atonement represents our reconciliation to God the Father and

pictures the putting away of Satan for a thousand years.

Activity Options:

Number Ball

Supplies:

● One light colored new playground ball

● One permanent marker

● Q and A from the Lesson CB140_2

Preparation: randomly number the ball with the numbers one thru twenty four with a permanent marker.

How to play: begin with the children sitting in a circle and toss the ball from one person to another with music playing. When the music stops the person with the ball answers the number of the question that their right index finger is pointing too. Continue to review and teach concepts as necessary.

Service Activity

Consider your local area and help the children plan a service activity. The options are almost endless! Ideas include blankets for children experiencing cancer, kindness rocks, visiting the elderly or writing letters to the elderly, a gift for the congregation, writing letters to veterans, helping at an animal shelter or feeding the hungry. The main point is to show the children how to take the gospel to the world through actions.

Close with prayer.

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