Lord you me help me fly to the distant skies
Leading me by your light,
Oh! Your shining bright light!
Aware of the countless blessings and boons

Lord I see your face and your bright aura
Seated by your side,
Lord I’m happy all the while
Basking in your precious presence

I know that it is a dream, yet a wonderful dream
Gently smiling inside
Lord I know that I am saved
For accepting you as my Saviour, My Lord

Lord you made me your child by my birth again
Helping me to believe
That you died for my sins
Crucified on Calvary’s Cross.

Regards,
Rosh

Inspired by Isiah 42

Lord I sing your praises
To your holy name
Lord I shout from mountaintops
Of your blessed fame

Lord I sing your praises
Lord I shout with joy

From the depth of the seas
To the heights of the clouds
On the mountains and hills
And the land all around

Your majesty (2)
Your Majesty abound.

The Lord will march out
Like a mighty warrior
He’ll stir up the zeal and
Raise the battle cries

And triumph over (2)
And triumph over his enemies

The lord will lead me
Through unfamiliar ways
Turn darkness and night
To light of the days

And I’ll sing (2)
And I’ll sing his praise

Cheers,
Rosh

My God and Saviour Jesus Christ has been an integral part of my life and his presence in my life has made all the bumpy rides smooth. My life has transformed to a beautiful harmonious singsong ever since I invited him into my heart.
May the following song inspire each one of us to open our hearts to him.

My life has been a singsong, O Lord
for you have carried me through -
Hail and Ice and Wind and Snow
Rain and Sun’s warmest glow.

Holding me close;
shielding my fears.
Wiping away
my sorrowful tears.

I sing your praise, Evermore Lord
for you have guided me through -
Brooks and Creeks and Hills and Plains
guiding me through the rugged terrains.

Holding my hand;
blessing my days.
Showing me all
your miraculous ways.

Countless are you blessings, O Lord
for you’ve loved me all-way through -
Sins and Faults and Highs and Lows
forgiving me as you always do.

Lifting my spirits;
with a gentle caress.
Saving my soul
through the light of your face.

Your name shall echo among the nations
for you are the true Living God whose -
Strength and Might and Truth and Glory
Will shine eternally.

Cheers,
Rosh

Christmas is a wonderful season; A season to be happy because Our Saviour was born on Christmas Day. Here’s one more Christmas song composed by me.

That cold Christmas night
When the stars shone bright
God came to the earth,
in a manger born.

O that lovely morn!
That ever-blessed dawn.
All darkness gone
When our Lord was born. - (Repeat stanza)

Angels sang that night
While shepherds watched in fright
"Peace on the earth,
‘Coz the Lord is born"

O that lovely morn!
That ever-blessed dawn.
All darkness gone
When our Lord was born. - (Repeat stanza)

Cheers,
Rosh

Here’s a short Christmas song thats composed by me.

Sing, Sing, Sing; Hallelujah! -(3)
Praise be to Lord, Our King!

Worship, Worship, Worship, Lord we worship you. -(3)
Your word shall lead my way.

Christmas, Christmas, Christmas; Wonderful season -(3)
Our Lord was born this day!

Happy, Happy, Happy; Happy we all are! - (3)
Our Christmas wishes to you.

Cheers,
Rosh

Inspired by Psalm 91

Since I dwell, since I dwell
In the shelter of the Most High
No harm shall come to me.

He’s my refuge, my refuge
My strength and my fortress
My God, in whom I trust.

        I shall sing, I shall sing
        Of the blessing of my Lord
        My heart rejoices in glee.

He’ll save me, he’ll save me
From the fowler’s snare
His love shall be my shield

Every day, every night
When I pray to the Most High
My Lord does answer me.

        I shall sing, I shall sing
        Of the blessing of my Lord
        My heart rejoices in glee.

P.S> Everyone appreciated the skit ‘The Reason for the Season‘ performed by our Church’s Sunday School children. I shall post the pics sometime later.

Cheers,
Rosh

Hi friends.

Here is another skit that I have composed. This is inspired by a short skit, by the same name, composed by Angela and Jessica Simmons.

Characters (in order of appearance):

TREE, STAR, CARD, PRESENT, SANTA

Note ~ If the play needs to be used for small kids who may have difficulty memorizing the lines, have a narrator read out their dialogues and let the kids act. You may also increase the number of characters by adding other Christmas icons like Cracker, Cake, Bell, etc.

Narrator: "Good Evening everyone.
Christmas is a season to be happy and to be merry. But do we actually know why we are happy?
I am sure we all do.
We get a break from our daily monotonous routine - No Work, No studies. Good food to eat - cakes, cookies.
We get to meet our relatives and friends. Some of us get to travel to different places during Christmas. And most of us love giving and receiving gifts.
Isn’t it just a wonderful season?
But, are we not forgetting something very important?
Our theme for the skit today evening reflects on the same - ‘What is the reason for the Christmas season?’"

Tree is standing proudly at center stage, fluffing out his branches and singing to himself.

Tree (sings): "O, Christmas Tree! O, Christmas Tree! How lovely are your branches!!"
Tree: "I have the most important job of the season! One look at me and people are reminded that it is Christmas season."

Star enters glamorously:
Star (sings): "I am the radiant star of the night. All of you glow in my bright light!"
Star: Oh Tree, I am going to sit on your top branches this year, and I shall be the main attraction!

Card enters the scene.
Card (sings): "I am the most important one during Christmas, as I wish everyone Merry Christmas"
Card: "Greetings to one and all! I am the main attraction of Christmas. I bring a smile on everyone’s faces."

Present enters grandly.
Present (sings): "I am the joy of the season, kids see me and smile for a reason"
Present: "My dear card. I think you are mistaken. I am the main attraction of the season. It is not you, but me, who brings smile on children’s faces."

Tree: "Wait a minute. Guys! You know I’m the main attraction!"

Star: "But without us, you’d just be a plain old green tree! You need us!"

Santa enters.
Background song : "You better watch out! You better not cry. Better not pout, I am telling why. Santa Claus is coming to town"
Santa (speaks aloud): "Ho ! Ho ! Ho. I am Santa Claus. Even though I am imaginary, somehow, I have become the icon of Christmas.
Children think that I come though the chimney and place gifts under the Christmas tree. But that is not true."
Santa (turning to Tree, Star, Card & Present): "Don’t fight guys! All of you are important"
Santa (addressing Tree): "Tree, you represent everlasting life because your leaves are green all round the year."
Santa (addressing Star) : "Star, you stand for the great light that led the wise men to Jesus."
Santa (turning to Card): "Dear Card, you share the joy and cheer of the season to all the people around the world."
Santa (finally adressing Present): "And Present, you are not left out. You represent God’s gift to the world - the greatest gift of all!"

Santa (addressing the audience): "Having said all that, let us not forget the actual reason of the season. He is the true gift of the season and the true star of the day. He is the Prince of Peace and the Lord of Lords. It is because of him, and through him, that we receive eternal life. So let’s glorify his name and may baby Jesus be born in each one of our hearts."

Nativity scene can be acted out here. Mary(with baby Jesus), Joseph and few shepherds.

Everyone sings

O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him,
Born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

Everyone sings ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas!"

Narrator: "I take this opportunity to thank each one of us who have contibuted to the skit. Thank you Lord for guiding us and helping us perform the skit. Thank you children for your wonderful performance. Thank you teachers for inspiring the children and leading the way. And thank you all for being such a wonderful audience. We hope that this Christmas be an enjoyable experience for each one of us. Let us all seek Jesus and invite him into our hearts and our lives.

Cheers
Rosh

The following skit teaches (at least thats what the author intends!) the kids the importance of Bible, Sunday School and Christmas. 

This has been inspired by/loosely based on a short skit "Not What I Wanted"

Duration: (5-10 minutes. The number of actors and the dialogues can be refined further to narrow or broaden the duration)

Narrator: It’ a cold winter morning in a small city called Mysore. Three kids walk along the footpath, as they come upon two brothers, Jerome and Jeffrey, playing outside.

Remo: “Hey Jerome! Hey Jeff! Are you both not coming to Sunday School today?”

Jeffrey: “Hello friends. I got this ball as a Christmas present. It is so good. See how high it bounces. Do you guys want to play with me?”

Jerome (flaunting his new walkman): “And papa bought me this walkman. I can hear songs all day long. I had wanted it for so long. What did you all get for Christmas?”

Frank: “Hmm. Come let’s walk. We can discuss this while on our way to the church?”

Narrator: Jeffrey seems reluctant as he is happier playing with the ball and Jerome continues to listen to his walkman. Their Sunday School teacher, Ninu, drives by in her car but stops when she sees the kids. She gets down and walks towards the children.

Ninu: “Good Morning children. Come, Hop on! We are getting late.”

Susan: “But, chechi, Jeffrey and Jerome are not coming as they are playing with their new gifts”

Ninu (addressing Jerome): “Is that your Christmas present, Jerome?”

Jerome: “Yes chechi. Isn’t it nice?”

Ninu: “Do you know children?” Ninu pauses to get attention from the kids.
“When I was 8 years old, I got the best present in world”

Frank: “What was it chechi? Was it a video game? My parents gifted me one last Christmas. It was so good.”

Susan: “No it must be a nice dress. My aunty presented me a beautiful frock when she came from USA to clelebrate Christmas with us. It was the best present I ever got.”

Remo: “My grandparents have bought me a guitar this time for Christmas and my Dad has enrolled me for Guitar Lessons from Wilson uncle. They say he is the best guitarist in the world. Wonderful gift! Isn’t it? Did you also get a musical instrument, chechi?”

Jeffrey: “I like chocolates and cakes. Last Christmas papa had bought me lots of chocolates, and mummy had baked a very delicious cake. Was your gift also – chocolates, Chechi?”

Ninu: “No dear. It is none of these. My special gift was a Bible!”

Jerome: “But, how can Bible be the best gift?”

Ninu: “The Bible my parents gifted me is my best gift ever. In fact it’s a gift that keeps on giving away more gifts every day.”

Narrator: All the children are puzzled. What gift can produce? And that too, everyday!

Susan: “How is that possible chechi? What does Bible give you everyday?”

Ninu: “I read the Bible every day. If fills me with love, joy, peace and wisdom. The stories are real and so exciting; you’ll never get bored of reading them. And when you start understanding the stories, you learn how to build an everlasting relationship with God. Bible also teaches us the importance of the Christmas. Christmas is not about the worldly gifts that we receive each year, but it is about God’s gift to us - Jesus. Yes! Jesus, our saviour was born on Christmas day."

Jeffrey: “Chechi, will you tell me more about Jesus? I want to listen to his stories.”

Jerome: “Me too! I will ask my friends also to attend Sunday School regularly.”

Ninu: “Good choice kids! Is everyone ready to go to church?”

Kids (unanimously) : “Yes Chechi”

Ninu: “So hop on! We shall learn more about Christmas today. Do you all remember the carol - ‘Hark the herald angels’ that we all sung on Christmas day? Let’s sing together.”

Everybody sings - Hark the herald angels (The choir joins too) as the car drives away.

Narrator: The children learnt a very important lesson that day. Christmas is not about presents/gift that they get each year from their friends and family. It is a day to remember the most precious gift to the world from our heavenly father. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus who, by his death on the cross, cleansed us all from sin.
Thanks to Jerome, the next week there were 2 new children who joined the Sunday School. They also wanted to hear about Jesus’ story and the miracles he performed.

The End.

Please feel free to use the contents for non-profit purposes provided you give a link back to this site. In case you use this for any Sunday School plays, and find it useful/not useful, please give an honest feedback on it so that I may refine the contents.

Thanks.
Rosh

Start by understanding the meaning of temptation.

What is temptation?
The dictionary defines temptation as:

• the desire to have or do something that you know you should avoid
• something that seduces or has the quality to seduce

Ask the kids if they have seen how people bait fish or lay mouse traps?

The core idea behind both these acts is temptation. We tempt/lure the fish using worms on a hook. Or, similarly entice a mouse into a trap using cheese.
Both the fish and the mouse know that it might be a bait/trap, but still they fail to resist the temptation and thus get caught.

There will be many times in life when we will be tempted. If we get tempted, surely it will cause us failure in our lives.
So we have to understand very well what temptation is.
Also we need to know who the tempter is.

Children, do you know who the tempter is? He is Satan - the devil. Long time ago he tried to tempt Jesus too.
Did you know that? Do you want to hear the story?

The first temptation:

Reference: Matthew 4:2-3

"And after He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights He then became hungry.
And the tempter came and said to Him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."

Ask the children if they have ever faced extreme hunger. Ask them how it feels. Listen to their experiences.

Jesus had not eaten anything for 40 days and 40 nights. So he was very hungry and weak.
That’s when Satan came up to him and said - "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."

Jesus is God’s beloved son. So he has an authority over all things. He has the power to miraculously make the stone into bread.

Tell the kids briefly about the first miracle performed by Jesus where he turned water into wine. One may also narrate how he fed the hungry five thousand men with few loaves and fishes.

So we know Jesus had the power to perform miracles. As we know every temptation has a trap. The trap here was not in performing the miracle, but it was challenging the authority of God and his Son.
The devil very cunningly tried to place a doubt in the mind of Jesus by saying - "If you are the Son of God…"

Jesus knew he was being tempted, so he replies:

"It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’" - Matthew 4:4

We can find answers to all our troubles, all our problems in the Bible. That’s why our parents always tell us to read the Bible every day.
Similarly Jesus also found the answer to his temptation in the Bible. Jesus responds with a passage from Deuteronomy 8:3.

"He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know,
that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD ."

In that passage, Moses reminded the Israelites that God humbled them in the wilderness when He provided manna from heaven.

The Satan was unhappy that Jesus was able to resist the first temptation, so he presented before Jesus another temptation.

The second temptation:

Reference: Matthew 4:5-6

"Then the devil took Him into the holy city; and he had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If you are the Son of God throw yourself down. For it is written, ‘He will give His angels charge concerning you,’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone."

Devil was very cunning, so he quotes the Bible and asks Jesus to jump from the cliff because in the Bible it is written that God will save everyone who submits to him from all troubles.
Jesus understood that Satan wanted him to test his Father which is wrong. He had planned to make Jesus commit the sin of over-confidence.
We should submit ourselves to God’s loving kindness and have utmost faith in him, but doing something foolish and expecting God to help is not faith. It is only inviting trouble for us.
So we should not continue to sin and say that anyways God will forgive me. This is not the right approach to life.
If we have sinned, we should repent. And then we should not commit the sin again.

Nor coming back to the story,

Jesus answers by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16.

"On the other hand it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’" - Matthew 4:7

Address the children and tell them how wonderful the Bible is. Jesus is able to resist Satan’s temptation because he knew what the Bible scriptures actually meant.
Tell them that they should read the Bible every day, and then ask their parents/Sunday School teachers if they have any questions on it.

Satan was not going to leave easily. He wanted to test Jesus’ resolve one more time.

The third temptation:

Reference: Matthew 4:5-6

"Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. And he said to Him, "All these things will I give you if you fall down and worship me."

There will be many times in our lives when we also are placed in the same position as Jesus was then.
The devil might tell us many things like,

• If you cheat in the exam you can be the topper in your class or,
• If bully your classmates, then everyone will be afraid of you and you can be the strongest person in your class or,
• If you push the person in front of you, you can get ahead in the queue.

The list is endless.

Jesus is tempted by Satan who promises him all the kingdoms of the world, if Jesus bowed before him.

Ask the children, if they remember what is the first commandment. Ask them to repeat after you -

"You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3)

Had Jesus bowed down before Satan, then it would have been equivalent to accepting Satan as God . He would have broken God’s first commandment.
But again, the Bible came to Jesus’s rescue.

Jesus says :

"Begone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only." (Matthew 4:10)

This again is a reference from Deuteronomy 6:13.

"You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name."

So we see that Jesus found all answers to his problems (temptations) in the Bible. The devil could not win because Jesus was aware of the true meaning of contents of the Bible.
We should all learn to identify the temptations that we face, and then turn to God, our saviour, to help resist it.

Teach the chilren a small song or a verse. You may use the following (to be sung on the tunes of "If you’re happy and you know it"):

If you’re tempted and you know it, read the Bible!
Chorus - BIBLE
If you’re tempted and you know it, read the Bible!
Chorus - BIBLE
If you’re tempted and you know ,
Bible will your answer show.
If you’re tempted and you know it, read the Bible!

If the Devil come and tempts you, Run to God!
Chorus - Run to God!
If the Devil come and tempts you, Run to God!
Chorus - Run to God!
If the Devil comes and tempts,
I know rightly whom to run
If the Devil comes and tempts, I’ll run to God!

Ask one of the kids to lead the prayer.
"Thank you Lord, Father Almighty. Thank you for helping us resist all the temptation that we face in our lives.
Thank you for providing the Bible for us to read, understand, and to find answers to all our problems.
We submit ourselves, our family, friends and all our belongings to you - for your unending love, care and protection.
We pray for all the people who have been victims of various temptations. We pray that you give them the strength to overcome all failures and resist further temptation in their lives.
Amen."

Cheers,
Rosh

Reference - John 3:13

When our Loving Lord, Jesus, talks to Nicodemus, a prominent religious leader of those times; he teaches him that in order to reach heaven we must all be born-again.

Ask the children, what born-again means. Definitely expect blank faces!
Change the question and ask them if they think God loves them. Expect unanimous YES.

Why does God love us? Is it because we are his children? Is it because we are Christians who believe in his doctrines/principles?
Are you God’s child? Are you a christian? If YES, the HOW?

Give time for the children to think over it. Ask few of them if they want to answer.

We are not christians just because our parents are christians. By being born into a christian family we do not automatically get a ticket to heaven.

Ask the kids if they have been to a movie, or a concert or circus. Ask them what they/or their parents do in order to get inside. Tell them that they have to buy tickets. Meaning they have to pay the price for the ticket, only then they can get inside and watch the show.

Similar is the case with entering into heaven. We all have to pay a price. The cost of heaven is us - our own very selves. We have to submit ourselves to God in order to get an entry ticket to heaven. When we accept our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ into our lives and submit ourselves to him, only then do we become Christians. That very moment, we are born again. We are absolved of our sins. We are cleansed!

Ask the childern to turn to each other and point and question each other - "Are you God’s child?’
Advice them all to answer unamimously - YES! I am.

Use the following lyric or something similar to help them remember today’s lesson. The following is to be sung on the tune of "King of Kings and Lord of Lords.."

"Nic-o-de-mus told our Lord
You are a teacher from God.

Je-sus answered him;
Truly, I say to you - You have to be BORN AGAIN.

Unless one is born again, 
One cannot see, the kingdom of God."

Pray with the children.

"Father we thank you for accepting us as your children and blessing us. We thank you for providing us guidance and support in the time of need. We thank you for helping us to be born again. We ask forgiveness for all our sins, O Lord. Help us all to continue to be your children and not to get tempted by evil. Everything we ask in your mighty name. Amen."

Cheers,
Rosh