Are You Qualified?
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Every car in the race today had to qualify. That means it had to be checked to make sure it was made according to the rules. (You
might show them a silly car that obviously would not qualify, like a remote control car.) The rules make the race fair, and so, more fun for everyone.
Since you wanted to race today, you made sure your car qualified. You carefully read the rules, and you came early enough to check in.
Getting into the race today is important, but it is so much more important that you are qualified to get into Heaven. Did you know there are rules for that?
You won’t qualify if you try really hard to be good---
Or if you go to church every week---
Or if you do your very best on the 10 commandments.
The Bible is our qualification manual, and it says you are not qualified for Heaven because all have done wrong. (Rom 3:23)
It says Jesus is the only one who is qualified because He never did wrong. (1Peter 1:15-16)
The Bible says Jesus took the punishment for our sins or wrong-doing when He died on the cross. (1Pet. 2:24)
Only those who put their trust in what Jesus did on the cross for them are qualified to enter Heaven. (John 1:12)
Have you read the qualification manual? Are you qualified for Heaven?
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Race Flags
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(This message requires you to have a flag of each of the following colors: green, yellow, black, red. white, checkered.)
Hold up each flag as you explain its purpose in the race.
Green - Start the race.
God wants a relationship with each one of us. He starts with John 3:16, His love for all. Our response to His love is
either to accept it and begin a relationship, or reject it and continue doing whatever we want.
Yellow - Caution, watch out.
Be very careful about doing whatever you want. That is sin. The Bible says, “all have sinned” Romans 3:23, so it is
too late. You have already been doing whatever you want, and that means you are in trouble.
Black - Disqualified car or driver.
You may never enter a relationship with Jesus Christ until you agree with Him about how horrible your sin is. It is why He had to suffer a terrible death on the
cross. Your sin keeps you out of the “race”. If you already have a relationship with the Lord Jesus, sin that you
haven’t been forgiven for will stop your relationship until you ask forgiveness and turn away from it. (1 john 1:7-9)
Red - Stop. Stop sinning.
Cry out to the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive you. Thank Him for taking your punishment on the cross, and let red remind you of His blood which
has the power to wash away every trace of your sin, and make you pure in His sight. (1Peter 2:24)
White - One lap to go.
Those who have their sins forgiven are clean inside and as white as snow. (Isaiah 1:18)
Checkered - Race over; winner declared.
When the race is over and the checkered flag comes down, the Winner will be the Lord Jesus Christ, and all who put their trust in Him to forgive their sins.
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Creation
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Preparation: collect ahead of time a large paper bag, block of unfinished car, tires, axles, stickers, sand paper, chisel, small paint brush, and a completely finished car from a past race.
Put the finished car in the paper bag, but carry everything else in a box so they can see it.
Begin your talk by explaining that you are going to build a car by putting all these things in the bag and then shaking it. Work while you talk.
Add interest by occasionally peeking into the bag and gently shaking it as you talk.
I wonder how long I will have to shake this bag before my car is finished? What do you think? Why won’t shaking the bag
make my car? It won’t because it needs someone to design it and make it. Some people think our universe came together by
chance, like someone shaking a gigantic bag, and presto! They think your body came together by chance too, but you are more complicated than this little car.
(So is the universe!)
God designed you and made you to love Him and enjoy Him forever. He loves you very much. John 3:16
But the Bible says we have all sinned and deserve God’s anger and punishment. Romans 3:23, 6:23
So, because of His great love, Jesus took God’s anger on Himself and now you can be free from sin. 1Peter 2:24, 1Cor 15:3-4
You can be God’s child just as He designed you to be. John 1:12
(Remove finished car from the bag. Hopefully, nobody but you knew it was in there.) Just like every car in the race today
has a designer who cares about it, you have a Designer who cares about you. What will be your response to Him today?
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Redemption
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A boy and his father prepared together for the Grand Prix. They drew the design and cut out the shape. The boy spent hours
carving and sanding until the wood was smooth and soft. He carefully painted etc…and finally he carved his initials on the bottom of the car.
(Show a finished car) He was so excited and proud of his car that he decided to ride his bike to his Awana leader’s home to show it to him.
Somehow he lost the car on the way, and although he searched for it for hours and days, he could not find it.
One day, he noticed a car very like his in the window of a toy store. He went in and asked the owner to show it to him. He
immediately turned it over and there were his initials! It was his car! But the store owner insisted he found it, and the boy
would have to pay ten dollars if he wanted it.
The next several days were difficult as he worked and saved, but he finally had enough. After he had paid the man and carefully carried his car home, he said,
“Little car, I love you. You are mine because I made you and you are mine because I bought you. You are twice mine!”
This little story is a picture of redemption. Redemption means to buy back again. The Lord Jesus Christ made us and marked
us in His own image. We belong to Him, but we were lost because of our own pride and rejection of Him. He searched for us in
love until He found us. Then He paid for us, not with money, but with His priceless life on the cross. He made you, and He
bought you. Will you come to Him and admit your wrongdoing? Be redeemed. Be
bought back and belong to Him forever. Hebrews 9:22, 26b-28.
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