Bought back

01 · GATHER ROUND

Start with a question.

“If you lost something special and someone paid to get it back for you, how would you feel?”

Let kids picture the specific thing—a stuffed animal, a bike, a necklace. The feeling is the point.

03 · OPEN THE BIBLE

The bike at the garage sale.

Nora’s red bike went missing from the front yard. She looked everywhere. Weeks later, her dad drove past a garage sale and saw it—her bike, with the same scratched bell and the sticker she’d put on the seat. A price tag dangled from the handlebars. Her dad didn’t argue. He paid, loaded it into the car, and brought it home.

The bike already belonged to Nora. But it had been lost, and someone had to pay to bring it back. That’s what the word redeem means: to buy something back and bring it home. A redeemer is the one who pays.

God made us, so we belong to him. But sin made us lost—far from him and unable to find our way back. Someone had to pay a price to bring us home. The Bible tells us that Jesus is our Redeemer. He paid that price with his own life.

Paul tells his friend Timothy that there is one God and one mediator between God and people: Christ Jesus. A mediator is a go-between who brings two sides together. To bring God and people together, the go-between has to belong to both sides. Jesus does. He is God, and he became a man. We’ll think more about that next week.

The very next verse says Jesus gave himself as a ransom for all—a ransom is the price paid to set someone free. That’s why we can say Jesus is the only Redeemer. Being good, going to church, or growing up in a Christian family can’t buy us back. Only Jesus paid the price, and only Jesus can bring us home. That isn’t narrow in a mean way. It’s good news, because the one way back is open to anyone who trusts him.

His name and titles tell the story. Jesus is his name, and it means “the Lord saves.” Lord means he rules over everything. Christ isn’t a last name—it means “Anointed One,” the King God promised long ago. The Lord Jesus Christ is the one who came to buy you back.

04 · WONDER TOGETHER

Let’s talk about it.

1. How is what Jesus did like Nora’s dad buying back her bike? How is it even bigger?
2. Why do you think people sometimes try other ways to get close to God?
3. Which one—Lord, Jesus, or Christ—means the most to you right now?

Try answering one yourself first. “I don’t know yet” is a fine place to start a conversation.

06 · TALK TO GOD

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for being our Redeemer. We were lost, and you paid the price to bring us home to God. Thank you that you are the one mediator who brings God and people together. Help us trust you alone, and help us tell others that the way home is open to them, too. Amen.

Then invite everyone to add one thing they want to tell God.

07 · MAKE IT STICK

A little truth to learn by heart.

Learn the answer with three motions for Lord, Jesus, and Christ: hands on your head like a crown for “Lord,” a big rescuing scoop with your arms for “Jesus,” and a bow for “Christ,” God’s promised King. Say the answer with the motions until it flows without stopping.