From Abraham to Jesus

Transcription

1 UNIT 19 Session 1 Use Week of: From Abraham to Jesus 1 BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 1:1-17 MAIN POINT: Jesus earthly family included Abraham, David, and others. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. SMALL GROUP OPENING (10 15 MINUTES) PAGE 10 LARGE GROUP BIBLE STUDY (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 12 SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 18 Leader BIBLE STUDY The prophecies concerning Jesus birth are numerous, and many of them refer to Jesus lineage. Old Testament prophecies tell of the promised Messiah being born from the seed of a woman (Gen. 3:15); from the seed of Abraham (Gen. 22:18), Isaac (Gen. 21:12), and Jacob (Num. 24:17); from the tribe of Judah (Micah 5:2); from the line of Jesse (Isa. 11:1); and from the house of David (Jer. 23:5). The prophecies said He would be born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14) and would be the Son of God (1 Chron. 17:13-14; Ps. 2:7). Jesus fulfilled all of these prophecies. In Bible times, Jews took great care to accurately record family genealogies. The family a person belonged to was 6 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 1

2 directly linked to property rights. Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38 both chronicle the genealogy of Jesus. The account in Matthew presents Jesus as the king of the Jews the legal heir to the throne of David. The account in Luke was written to Greek Christians and focuses on Jesus descent from Adam. 1 Jesus was born as a baby in Bethlehem. He had earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, but His true Father is God. Jesus is fully God and fully man. As fully God, in Him the entire fullness of God s nature dwells bodily (Col. 2:9). As fully man, Jesus has a human body, human mind, and human emotions. (See Luke 2:7,52; Matt. 26:38.) He is our sinless representative (2 Cor. 5:21), sympathetic high priest (Heb. 4:15), and substitute sacrifice (1 John 4:10). Use this Bible story with the kids you teach to review Jesus ancestors and their stories in the Old Testament. Help kids recognize that God had been working out His plan to send Jesus over hundreds of years through Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jesse, David, Solomon, and Josiah. God sent Jesus to earth to save people from their sins. Additional resources for each session are available at gospelproject.com. For free training and session-by-session help, visit God the Son 7

3 The BIBLE STORY Bible Storytelling Tips Draw on a chalkboard: With each person s name, draw a stick figure on a chalkboard to help show the large size of Jesus family. Post name tags: Prepare adhesive name tags with the names included in the Bible story. As you mention each name, stick the tag to a focal wall. From Abraham to Jesus Matthew 1:1-17 Jesus is God the Son. God the Son has always existed; no one created Him. God planned to send His Son to earth to save people from sin. Jesus came to earth as a baby. He was born to Mary, who was married to Joseph. Jesus is fully God, and He is fully human too. That makes Jesus different from any other man. Like all people on earth, Jesus family had a history a family tree. Jesus had parents, grandparents, greatgrandparents, and great-great-grandparents all the way back for many generations. Jesus came from the family of Abraham and the family of King David. Abraham had a son named Isaac. When Isaac had a family, one of his sons was named Jacob. Jacob was part of Jesus family. Years later, a man named Salmon (SAL mahn) was born into Jesus family tree. He married Rahab (RAY hab), who hid the Israelite spies when they came to Jericho. Rahab had a baby, and his name was Boaz (BOH az). Boaz was a farmer, and he married Ruth. Boaz and Ruth had a son named Obed (OH bed). Obed s son was Jesse. Jesse had many sons, and the youngest was David. David was just a boy when he was chosen to be Israel s king. King David liked to write. He wrote songs called psalms and some of them were about the time when Jesus would come to earth. Other people in Jesus family were kings too. David s son Solomon was a king. King Jehoshaphat (jih HAHSH uh fat) was part of Jesus family, and so was Uzziah (uh ZIGH uh), Ahaz (AY haz), Hezekiah (HEZ ih kigh uh), 8 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 1

4 and Josiah. Then came Matthan (MAT than). Matthan s son was named Jacob, and Jacob s son was named Joseph. Joseph is the man who took Mary to be his wife. Mary was Jesus mother, and Joseph raised Jesus as his own son. Jesus was truly God s Son the Messiah. Christ Connection: Jesus came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem. Jesus had earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, but His true Father is God. Through Jesus, God kept His promises to Abraham and David. Jesus saves people from their sin and adopts them into God s family. WANT TO DISCOVER GOD S WORD? GET BIBLE EXPRESS! Invite kids to check out this week s devotionals to discover that Jesus had an earthly family, but His true Father is God. God s plan for Jesus was to rescue people from sin. (1 John 4:14) Order in bulk, subscribe quarterly, or purchase individually. For more information, check out devotionals. God the Son 9

5 Small Group OPENING SESSION TITLE: From Abraham to Jesus BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 1:1-17 MAIN POINT: Jesus earthly family included Abraham, David, and others. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. Welcome time Greet each kid as he or she arrives. Use this time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. Invite kids to share about their ancestors grandparents, great-grandparents, and so forth. What do they know about them? Family Tree activity page, 1 per kid pencils or markers LOW PREP paper crayons or markers Activity page (5 minutes) Invite kids to complete the Family Tree on the activity page. Kids should unscramble the letters under each space to reveal the name of a family member. (grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, brother, sister) Encourage kids to draw a picture of each person, suggesting they depict kids and adults in their own families. SAY A family tree is a diagram that shows how people in different generations are related. Did you know that Jesus has a family tree? Today we are going to learn more about the people in Jesus family. Session starter (10 minutes) OPTION 1: Illustrate families Distribute paper and invite kids to use crayons or markers 10 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 1

6 to draw pictures of their families. Suggest that kids include themselves, siblings, parents, grandparents, and other close family members. When kids finish, allow volunteers to share their pictures and briefly describe their families. SAY Isn t it wonderful that God has given us families? Family members love each other and care for one another. Jesus is God s Son, but did you know that when Jesus came to earth as a baby, God gave Him a family on earth? Jesus had brothers and sisters, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and more! Today we are going to hear a story from the Bible about Jesus family. OPTION 2: Alike and different Print and cut apart the Alike and Different Cards printable. If your group is large, print multiple sets and play in smaller groups. Mix up the cards and distribute them to kids. Guide them to work together to arrange the cards in a 4-by-4 grid. Explain that each row and column must contain items that are not alike (different animal and different color). For example, a yellow cat may not be in the same row or column as a red cat; a green dog may not be in the same row or column as a green caterpillar. Allow several minutes for kids to arrange the cards. Then check their work. SAY These things were alike in some ways and different in other ways. When Jesus came to earth, He was like us and yet different. Today we will learn about Jesus family and about how Jesus is like us in many ways but also different from us too. Tip: Be sensitive to different home situations. Alike and Different Cards printable Transition to large group God the Son 11

7 Large Group LEADER SESSION TITLE: From Abraham to Jesus BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 1:1-17 MAIN POINT: Jesus earthly family included Abraham, David, and others. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. room decorations Theme Background Slide (optional) countdown video The Big Story video Suggested Theme Decorating Ideas: Simulate a living room by positioning a large chair or rocker at the front of the room. Cover the back of the chair with a small blanket. Set up a side table and lamp next to the chair and place photo albums or framed photos on the table. Consider hanging family photos on the wall. You may also project the theme background slide. Countdown Show the countdown video as your kids arrive, and set it to end as large group time begins. Then begin the session by showing the video The Big Story. leader attire backpack notebook Bible family photo Introduce the session (3 minutes) [Large Group Leader enters carrying a backpack, notebook, and Bible. Leader sets down the props and picks up a photo of a grandparent to show the kids.] LEADER Hello, everyone! I sure am glad to see you. I cannot wait to tell you about what I am going to be doing later today. First, has anyone here ever sat down and listened to stories from your grandparents about what life was like for them when they were 12 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 1

8 younger? [Allow kids to respond.] I just love hearing from my family members about what life was like long ago. In fact, that is what I am going to do later. My grandmother is coming for a visit, and I plan to ask her all sorts of questions. While I wait for her to arrive, I want to tell you a Bible story about Jesus family. Big picture question (1 minute) LEADER Our Bible story is the first story we are going to hear from the New Testament. These stories will teach us a lot about who Jesus is and what He has done. When you hear the story today, listen carefully to see if you can find the answer to our big picture question: What makes Jesus different? Giant timeline (1 minute) LEADER Let s take look at our giant timeline. As you might remember, the Bible is made up of a bunch of different stories. But we are learning that all of these stories fit together to tell us one big story the story of how God sent Jesus to rescue people from sin. Our story today is about the family that God gave Jesus when Jesus was born on earth. It s called From Abraham to Jesus. Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Open your Bible to Matthew 1:1-17. Use the Bible storytelling tips on the Bible story page to help you tell the story, or show the Bible story video From Abraham to Jesus. LEADER Wow! Did any of the names of people in Jesus Giant Timeline or Big Story Circle Bibles From Abraham to Jesus video Big Picture Question Poster Bible Story Picture Poster God the Son 13

9 family sound familiar? Do you remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? What about Ruth, Boaz, and their son Obed? Today s Bible story tells us that Jesus came from a family of kings! King David and his son King Solomon were part of Jesus family on earth. Our story shows us that God kept His promises. Do you remember all the promises God made in the Old Testament about the Messiah? God promised Abraham that someone would come from his family who would bless the whole world! He promised David that a king would come from his family who would rule forever. The prophet Isaiah said the Messiah would be born of a virgin. Jesus made all of these promises come true! Jesus came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem. Jesus had earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, but His true Father is God. Jesus is different than Abraham, David, or anyone else in His earthly family. What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. That s our big picture question and answer. Say it with me. What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. Tip: Use Scripture and the guide provided to explain how to become a Christian. Make sure kids know when and where they can ask questions. Christ connection LEADER The Bible gives us a list of names of people who were part of Jesus family. We know that God the Son has always existed. Before He came to earth, He was with the Father in heaven. God loved us and sent His Son to earth to be born as a baby. In this way, God kept His promise to Abraham and David. Did you know that you can be part of Jesus family? When we trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior, 14 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 1

10 God forgives our sin and adopts us into His family. Key passage (5 minutes) Show the key passage poster. Read 1 Timothy 1:15 aloud. Then lead boys and girls to read the key passage together. LEADER We will work on memorizing this verse over the next few weeks. This verse comes from 1 Timothy, which is in the New Testament. A man named Paul wrote these words to his friend Timothy. Jesus is God the Son, but He came into the world as a man. Why? To save people from sin! When Jesus became a man, He was still God the Son. That s what makes Jesus different than any other man! Let s say our big picture question and answer. What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. By sending His Son into the world, God kept His promise to Abraham and David. Jesus saves people from their sins and adopts them into God s family. Lead boys and girls to sing This Saying. Key Passage Poster This Saying song Discussion starter video (4 minutes) LEADER If you could have dinner with any person from history, whom would you choose? [Allow a few kids to share their ideas.] Who do you think is the most famous person in history? Watch this. Show the Unit 19, Session 1 discussion starter video. Then guide kids to discuss the following questions: Who is the most important person in history? What makes people famous? Why do we remember some people from history but not everybody? Unit 19, Session 1 discussion starter video God the Son 15

11 LEADER People may or may not agree on who is the most famous person in history, but Jesus is definitely the most important! God planned from before the beginning of time to send His Son into the world. God calls us to be part of His plan to make Jesus famous. Jesus is the most important, and He deserves to be made known. Only Jesus can save people from sin. The Savior We Need song Sing (4 minutes) LEADER Reading the Bible and realizing that God was working out His plan to save sinners all along makes me want to praise Him. Will you sing with me? Sing together The Savior We Need. Pray (2 minutes) Invite kids to pray before dismissing to small groups. LEADER Lord God, thank You for Your Word! Thank You for showing us Your plan from the very beginning. You kept Your promises to Abraham and David, and blessed the whole world by sending Your Son. Help us to tell others about Jesus the most important Person in history! Amen. Dismiss to small groups 16 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 1

12 The Gospel: God s Plan for Me Ask kids if they have ever heard the word gospel. Clarify that the word gospel means good news. It is the message about Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. Use the following guide to share the gospel with kids. God rules. Explain to kids that the Bible tells us God created everything, and He is in charge of everything. Invite a volunteer to read Genesis 1:1 from the Bible. Read Revelation 4:11 or Colossians 1:16-17 aloud and explain what these verses mean. We sinned. Tell kids that since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Romans 3:23) The Bible calls this sin. Because God is holy, God cannot be around sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God s punishment of death. (Romans 6:23) God provided. Choose a child to read John 3:16 aloud. Say that God sent His Son, Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It s something we, as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us. Read and explain Ephesians 2:8-9. Jesus gives. Share with kids that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever! Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:18. We respond. Tell kids that they can respond to Jesus. Read Romans 10:9-10,13. Review these aspects of our response: Believe in your heart that Jesus alone saves you through what He s already done on the cross. Repent, turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that your faith is in Jesus. Offer to talk with any child who is interested in responding to Jesus. Provide I m a Christian Now for new Christians to take home and complete with their families. God the Son 17

13 Small Group LEADER SESSION TITLE: From Abraham to Jesus BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 1:1-17 MAIN POINT: Jesus earthly family included Abraham, David, and others. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. Key Passage Poster Bibles, 1 per kid Main Point Poster index cards marker Key passage activity (5 minutes) Guide the kids to stand in a circle. Display the key passage poster and guide them to read 1 Timothy 1:15. Then choose one kid to say the first word of the verse. Move around the circle; the next kid should say the second word, the next kid should say the third word, and so on. Repeat the key passage several times. SAY A man named Paul wrote these words. Does anyone remember whom Paul was writing to? (Timothy) Spend some time this week learning this verse. Memorizing God s Word helps us remember what is true. Bible story review & Bible skills (10 minutes) Write the following names on separate index cards. Create two sets: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Rahab, Boaz, Ruth, Jesse, David, Solomon, Josiah, Joseph, Mary. Mix up the cards and position them facedown on the floor or a table. Invite kids to play a matching game. The first player will turn over two cards. If the names match, he may collect the cards. Then ask him a review question. If the cards do not match, he should turn over the cards and 18 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 1

14 another player takes a turn. When kids answer all the review questions, repeat questions with multiple answers (names of kings, women in Jesus family, and so forth) until kids match all the cards. 1. Who created Jesus? (God the Son has always existed. No one created Him; Heb. 1:2) 2. Who were Jesus parents on earth? (Mary and Joseph, Matt. 1:20-21) 3. Who is Jesus true Father? (God the Father, Luke 1:35) 4. Name a king in Jesus family. (David, Solomon, Jehoshaphat, Uzziah, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Josiah; Matt. 1:7-10) 5. How is Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. 6. Whom did God promise that his family would be as numerous as the stars? (Abraham, Gen. 15:5) 7. Whom did God promise that a king in his family would rule forever? (David, 2 Sam. 7:16) 8. Name a woman in Jesus family tree. (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba/Uriah s wife, Mary; Matt. 1:3-6,16) SAY Jesus is God s Son, but God gave Him a family on earth. Jesus earthly family included Abraham, David, and others. Over hundreds of years, generation after generation, God had been working out His plan to send Jesus into the world. No one else who was ever born was like Jesus! What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man, and He came to earth to save people from sin. Activity choice (10 minutes) OPTION 1: Bible story relay Form two or three teams of kids. Instruct teams to line up Option: Retell or review the Bible story using the bolded text of the Bible story script. LOW PREP chalkboard or dry erase board chalk or markers stopwatch or timer Bibles, 1 per team God the Son 19

15 single file several feet away from the chalkboard. Draw a column on the board for each team. Explain that teams will play three rounds of a game. R ound 1 Family Names. Give each team a Bible and guide them to find Matthew 1:1-17. Players should take turns running to the board and writing one name of someone in today s Bible story. Award one point for each name written in three minutes. R ound 2 Big Picture Answer. Ask the big picture question: How is Jesus different? The first player on each team will run to the board and write the first word of the big picture answer. Then the second player will write the second word, and so on. Challenge teams to complete the big picture answer: Jesus is fully God and fully man. Award one point for each correct word written in 90 seconds. R ound 3 Speed Round. Players will take turns running to the board and drawing a star in their team s column. Teams earn one point for each star drawn in two minutes. SAY Jesus earthly family included Abraham, David, and others. Jesus is unlike anyone else in His family. How is Jesus different? [Invite kids to respond.] That s right. Jesus is fully God and fully man. Through Jesus, God kept His promises to Abraham and David. Do you remember what God promised Abraham about his family? (God promised that Abraham s family would be as numerous as the stars, Gen. 15:5) 20 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 1

16 OPTION 2: Class family album Instruct kids to open their Bibles to Matthew 1:1-17. Allow kids to work individually or in pairs to create an album about Jesus family tree. Use the Jesus Family Members printable to assign each kid or pair of kids a person from the Bible story. For additional people, use the blank printable. Provide markers or crayons. Encourage kids to refer to their Bibles or the small group timeline to recall details about each person. Instruct kids to write a few sentences and to draw pictures of the people in Jesus family. When kids finish, collect the pages to hang on a wall or display in a folder or notebook. If time allows, invite kids to share their album pages with the rest of the group. SAY God promises that everyone who believes in Jesus can become part of His family too. [See John 1:11-13.] It doesn t matter who your parents are, who your grandparents are, or even who your greatgrandparents are! Jesus said, Whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, that person is My brother and sister and mother (Matt. 12:50). When we look to God as our heavenly Father, He adopts us into His family. Journal and prayer (5 minutes) Distribute journal pages and pencils. Encourage kids to draw themselves in a picture that includes Jesus and any friends or family members who are believers. Pray, thanking God for bringing Jesus into the world so that we can be saved from sin and adopted into His family. As time allows, lead kids to complete The Big Picture on the activity page. Direct kids to move through the maze, passing through words that answer the big picture question. Bibles, 1 per kid Jesus Family Members printable markers or crayons Small Group Timeline or Big Story Circle (optional) Option: Review the gospel with boys and girls. Explain that kids are welcome to speak with you or another teacher if they have questions. pencils Journal Page The Big Picture activity page, 1 per kid Tip: Give parents this week s Big Picture Cards for Families to allow families to interact with the biblical content at home. God the Son 21

17 UNIT 19 Session 2 Use Week of: 2 Mary Praised God BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 1:26-56 MAIN POINT: God chose Mary to be Jesus mother. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. SMALL GROUP OPENING (10 15 MINUTES) PAGE 26 LARGE GROUP BIBLE STUDY (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 28 SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 34 Leader BIBLE STUDY God s people had not heard a clear message from God for hundreds of years. Then one day, Gabriel an angel of the Lord told a man that his wife, Elizabeth, was going to have a baby. The baby s name would be John. Then the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she would have a baby, and her baby would be God s Son. Mary and Elizabeth were relatives. Elizabeth was old and barren; she and her husband, Zechariah, had no children. Mary was a young girl likely in her early teens. She was a virgin, engaged to be married to Joseph. The announcements of these pregnancies were miraculous for both women. Both babies had been foretold by the prophet 22 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 2

18 Isaiah John in Isaiah 40:3 and Jesus in Isaiah 7:14. The angel Gabriel told Mary that Elizabeth was pregnant too, and Mary hurried to see her. The journey would not have been easy. Mary traveled nearly one hundred miles to see Elizabeth, and her arrival brought great joy to both Elizabeth and Elizabeth s unborn baby. In the presence of the unborn Messiah, John leaped in Elizabeth s womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she said, Mary, you are blessed! 2 The story of Mary s visit with Elizabeth gives us a remarkable picture of women living by faith. Being a young, unwed pregnant woman could have caused Mary to worry. Instead, her response is marked by her trust in God. Mary s song reflects her knowledge of God s Word and her understanding of who God is. Mary worshiped God because the coming of the promised Savior was good news! As you teach, remind kids that people had been waiting hundreds of years for the Messiah. Being the mother of Jesus would be no small task, but Mary trusted that God was in charge. Additional resources for each session are available at gospelproject.com. For free training and session-by-session help, visit God the Son 23

19 The BIBLE STORY Bible Storytelling Tips Use dramatic dialogue: Stand in one spot when telling the angel s words. Then turn and face that spot as you speak Mary s words. Move to a third spot when speaking for Elizabeth. Dress like Mary: Ask a small group leader to wear a long dress and a scarf over her head and shoulders. Her facial expressions should show emotion appropriate to the events in the story. Mary Praised God Luke 1:26-56 One day, God sent an angel named Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth. The angel went to visit a young virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to Joseph, a descendant of King David. The angel said to Mary, Rejoice! You have found favor with God. He is with you. Mary was very afraid and puzzled. Why would God find favor with her? She had done nothing special. The angel told Mary to not be afraid. He told Mary that she was going to have a very special and unique baby, and they would call the baby Jesus, which means the Lord saves. The angel explained that the baby would be great He would be God s Son! He would even be a king the King God had promised would come. Mary asked the angel, How can that happen? I am not married yet. The angel replied, The Holy Spirit will come, and a miracle will happen. The baby will be God s Son. The angel Gabriel told Mary, Nothing will be impossible with God! He told Mary that her relative Elizabeth was pregnant, even though she was old and did not have any children. Mary replied, I belong to God. May everything happen just as you said. Then the angel left her. Mary hurried to her relative Elizabeth s house. When she arrived, the baby inside Elizabeth leaped for joy! The Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth and she said, What an honor, Mary! Your baby will be blessed too! Mary was so happy. She praised God with a song 24 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 2

20 about how great God is. Mary knew every family in the future would say she was blessed because God was going to do great things through Jesus. God was keeping His promise to Abraham to bless the whole world through Jesus. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months. Then she went home. Christ Connection: Mary was willing to follow God s plan, even though being Jesus mother would not be easy. Mary wanted to bring praise to God. Likewise, Jesus brought praise to His Father by willingly dying on the cross to save people from sin. WANT TO DISCOVER GOD S WORD? GET BIBLE EXPRESS! Invite kids to check out this week s devotionals to discover that Mary praised God for keeping His promise to send a Savior. Simeon later saw Jesus and praised God for keeping His promises. (Luke 2:30) Order in bulk, subscribe quarterly, or purchase individually. For more information, check out devotionals. God the Son 25

21 Small Group OPENING SESSION TITLE: Mary Praised God BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 1:26-56 MAIN POINT: God chose Mary to be Jesus mother. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. Welcome time Greet each kid as he or she arrives. Use this time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. Invite kids to think about a job they ve been given. Invite them to share the biggest responsibility they have ever had. Did they do a good job? How did they feel about it? What s Different? activity page, 1 per kid pencils or markers LOW PREP Activity page (5 minutes) Invite kids to examine the What s Different? pictures on the activity page. Challenge them to find and circle the 10 differences in the picture. SAY The picture you see is of Mary and Joseph. Mary and Joseph had an important part in God s plan to send Jesus into the world. Today we will hear how Mary reacted when an angel told her she would be the mother of God s Son! Session starter (10 minutes) OPTION 1: Joy scenarios Form two teams of kids. Explain that you are going to announce some good news. Kids should imagine the news 26 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 2

22 is true and react accordingly. If they think the news is good, they should shout and cheer. If they think the news is very good, they should shout and cheer even louder! Announce the scenarios one at a time. Prompt one team to react and then the other team. Sample scenarios: Snow days! School is canceled for a week. The cafeteria is serving your favorite meal today. You received an invitation to a friend s party. You won tickets to see your favorite band in concert. Your parents announced that they are going to have a baby. SAY Today we are going to hear a story from the Bible about a time that Mary praised God. An angel told her good news that brought her great joy. OPTION 2: Impossible or not? Give each kid an index card and a pencil. Instruct kids to write on their cards a special talent or ability they have. Kids should also write their names on the cards. Collect the cards and read them one at a time. After you read a card, ask: Possible or impossible? Allow kids to respond. Challenge them to guess which kid has that talent or ability. Call for the kid to stand. Consider allowing him to perform the talent if he wants to. Continue until you read all the cards. SAY These were some special talents. Some of them even seemed impossible! In today s Bible story, an angel told Mary that something amazing was going to happen. The angel said, Nothing will be impossible with God! Let s find out what happened. index cards pencils Transition to large group God the Son 27

23 Large Group LEADER SESSION TITLE: Mary Praised God BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 1:26-56 MAIN POINT: God chose Mary to be Jesus mother. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. countdown video Countdown Show the countdown video as your kids arrive, and set it to end as large group time begins. leader attire backpack notebook Bible Introduce the session (3 minutes) [Large Group Leader enters carrying a backpack, notebook, and Bible. Leader sets down the props and addresses the kids with a big smile.] LEADER Oh, boy! What a wonderful day! I just received a phone call that one of my relatives is going to have a baby! I am so excited. I just love new life. Little babies are so cute and cuddly. Have any of you ever received news about a new baby coming? How did you feel? [Allow kids to respond.] Whether you were excited or a little worried about what changes a new baby would bring, all babies are a wonderful gift from God. I can t wait for you to hear today s Bible story. In this story, an angel told a young woman named Mary that she was going to have a baby. Even more wonderful was that this baby would be God s Son! Incredible! 28 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 2

24 Big picture question (1 minute) LEADER The big picture question we have been learning is, What makes Jesus different? Does anyone remember the answer? [Allow kids to respond.] That s right. Jesus is fully God and fully man. Jesus is God the Son, and He came to earth on a rescue mission. Remember that as we hear today s Bible story. Giant timeline (1 minute) Point to the giant timeline or big story circle and briefly review previous Bible stories. Then point out today s Bible story. LEADER Much of the Old Testament is about God s people the Israelites. The people faced a big problem; their sin separated them from God. But God had a plan to bring His people back to Himself. He spoke through the prophets and promised to send a Messiah. The people weren t exactly sure how God would keep His promise, but they trusted Him. In the New Testament, we see how God kept His promise. [Point to Mary Praised God. ] Today we will hear what an angel said about how God was going to bring the Messiah into the world. Giant Timeline or Big Story Circle Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Open your Bible to Luke 1: Use the Bible storytelling tips on the Bible story page to help you tell the story, or show the Bible story video Mary Praised God. LEADER Wow! Remember, God s people had been waiting a long time for the promised Messiah. At the end of the Old Testament, the prophet Malachi told God s people that a messenger was coming who would Bibles Mary Praised God video Big Picture Question Poster Bible Story Picture Poster God the Son 29

25 get people ready for the Messiah. After Malachi s message, God was silent for 400 years. The people waited. Some of them probably wondered if God was still with them. Then God spoke through an angel! Mary found out that she was going to have a baby God s own Son! and that her relative Elizabeth was going to have a baby too. Elizabeth s baby would be the messenger whom Malachi told about. He would get people ready for Jesus. Think about how Mary must have felt when she heard that God chose Mary to be Jesus mother. She wondered how God could make this happen, but the angel said, Nothing will be impossible with God! When Mary went to Elizabeth s house and saw that Elizabeth was pregnant, she knew that the angel had been telling the truth. Mary praised God! She believed that God would do what He said He would do. God was going to keep the promise He made long ago to Abraham. Mary s baby was going to be the Savior of the world. Tip: Use Scripture and the guide provided to explain how to become a Christian. Make sure kids know when and where they can ask questions. Christ connection LEADER When the angel Gabriel told Mary that she was going to be the mother of God s Son, how did Mary react? [Invite a volunteer to read aloud Luke 1:38.] Mary was willing to follow God s plan. Being Jesus mother would not be easy, but Mary wanted to bring praise to God. When Jesus grew up, He too brought praise to His Father. Jesus was willing to follow God s plan to save sinners. Following God s plan was not easy. Jesus gave 30 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 2

26 up His own life by dying on the cross to save people from sin. Following Jesus and trusting Him as Lord and Savior won t be easy, but we can bring glory to God when we willingly follow His plan for us. Key passage (5 minutes) Show the key passage poster. Lead boys and girls to read together 1 Timothy 1:15. Ask the following questions: 1. Is 1 Timothy in the Old or New Testament? (New Testament) 2. Who wrote these words to Timothy? (Paul) 3. Why did God send His Son into the world? (to save people from sin) LEADER Try to memorize our key passage this week. Memorizing God s Word helps us remember what is true. Let s sing. Lead boys and girls to sing This Saying. Key Passage Poster This Saying song Discussion starter video (4 minutes) LEADER God chose Mary to be Jesus mother. Being Jesus mother would not be easy! Has anyone ever asked you to do something difficult? Watch this. Show the Unit 19, Session 2 discussion starter video. Lead kids to discuss the following questions: How could Benjamin choose to react to his mom s request? How do you react when you have to do something difficult? How can our response to difficult situations show others what we believe about God? LEADER We can be willing to follow God s plan even through difficulty and suffering. By willingly obeying Unit 19, Session 2 discussion starter video God the Son 31

27 God, we show that we trust that He is good and in control. In this way, we can honor God and show others that He is most important, even more important than our own plans or desires. The Savior We Need song Sing (4 minutes) LEADER God used Mary an ordinary girl as a part of His plan to send Jesus into the world. God loves to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things! Will you sing with me? Sing together The Savior We Need. Pray (2 minutes) Invite kids to pray before dismissing to small groups. LEADER God, thank You for Your Word. We know that You can do great things through anyone who is willing to trust You. We pray that You would help us be willing to follow Your plans, even when that means we will face suffering. Nothing is impossible for You, and we want to honor You with our lives. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, who willingly gave up His life to save us from sin. We love You. Amen. Dismiss to small groups 32 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 2

28 The Gospel: God s Plan for Me Ask kids if they have ever heard the word gospel. Clarify that the word gospel means good news. It is the message about Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. Use the following guide to share the gospel with kids. God rules. Explain to kids that the Bible tells us God created everything, and He is in charge of everything. Invite a volunteer to read Genesis 1:1 from the Bible. Read Revelation 4:11 or Colossians 1:16-17 aloud and explain what these verses mean. We sinned. Tell kids that since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Romans 3:23) The Bible calls this sin. Because God is holy, God cannot be around sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God s punishment of death. (Romans 6:23) God provided. Choose a child to read John 3:16 aloud. Say that God sent His Son, Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It s something we, as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us. Read and explain Ephesians 2:8-9. Jesus gives. Share with kids that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever! Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:18. We respond. Tell kids that they can respond to Jesus. Read Romans 10:9-10,13. Review these aspects of our response: Believe in your heart that Jesus alone saves you through what He s already done on the cross. Repent, turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that your faith is in Jesus. Offer to talk with any child who is interested in responding to Jesus. Provide I m a Christian Now for new Christians to take home and complete with their families. God the Son 33

29 Small Group LEADER SESSION TITLE: Mary Praised God BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 1:26-56 MAIN POINT: God chose Mary to be Jesus mother. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. Key Passage Poster paper circles, 3 marker scissors watch or timer Bibles, 1 per kid Main Point Poster strips of paper pen gift bag Key passage activity (5 minutes) Before small group, write the words of 1 Timothy 1:15 across three paper circles. Cut each circle into four pieces. Mix up the pieces and scatter them on the floor or a table. Start a watch or timer, and challenge the kids to arrange the pieces to assemble the key passage. When kids finish, guide them to read the key passage aloud. Play again as time allows. SAY A man named Paul wrote these words to his friend Timothy. Try to memorize our key passage this week. It tells us exactly why Jesus came into the world: to save sinners! Now that is very good news. Bible story review & Bible skills (10 minutes) Write the following review questions on separate strips of paper. Write the answers and Scripture references on separate strips. Place the strips in a gift bag. Invite each kid to pull a strip from the bag. Then challenge kids to match up the questions and answers. If they need help, encourage them to look up the Scripture reference in the Bible. Make sure each kid gets at least one strip. If you have more than 16 kids, prepare two sets and form two groups to review. 34 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 2

30 When kids finish, ask the questions and invite them to call out the answers. 1. Who told Mary she was going to have a baby? (the angel Gabriel; Luke 1:26-27,31) Mary was engaged to be married to whom? (Joseph, Luke 1:27) 2. How did Mary feel about the angel s announcement? (afraid, deeply puzzled; Luke 1:29) 3. What did the angel say the baby s name would be? (Jesus, Luke 1:31) 4. The angel said the baby would be whose Son? (God s Son; Luke 1:32,35) 5. Who else did the angel say was going to have a baby? (Mary s relative Elizabeth, Luke 1:36) 6. What did Elizabeth s baby do when Mary came to the house? (He leaped for joy, Luke 1:44) 7. How did Mary praise God? (with a song, Luke 1:46-55) SAY God chose Mary to be Jesus mother. This was a great responsibility, but it brought Mary so much joy. Mary praised God with a song. Option: Retell or review the Bible story using the bolded text of the Bible story script. Activity choice (10 minutes) OPTION 1: Humble or prideful? Before small group, write the following on four separate index cards: You have been chosen to host a special guest to your school. (React HUMBLY.) You have been chosen to host a special guest to your school. (React PRIDEFULLY.) You have been chosen to be the next class president. (React HUMBLY.) You have been chosen to be the next class president. index cards marker LOW PREP Tip: If your group is small, select one scenario for two groups to act out. God the Son 35

31 Option: Review the gospel with boys and girls. Explain that kids are welcome to speak with you or another teacher if they have questions. The Savior We Need or This Saying song (React PRIDEFULLY.) Form four groups of kids. Review the meanings of humble and proud. Humble means being modest or meek in spirit or manner, not proud or bold. Prideful means having or displaying excessive self-esteem; or thinking you are better, smarter, or more important than other people. Explain that each group will receive a scenario. Kids should briefly decide how to act out the scenario based on their assigned reaction. Allow kids a couple of minutes to plan. Then invite each group to share its scenario. SAY How did Mary react when the angel said that God chose Mary to be Jesus mother? Mary didn t say, It s about time you showed up! I just knew I was so awesome that God would want to use me in His plan. That would have been a prideful way to react. But Mary reacted humbly. She knew she hadn t done anything special. Mary said, I belong to God. May everything happen just as you said. Mary believed God and was willing to follow His plan. God has shown favor and grace to sinners by sending His Son, Jesus, to rescue us from sin. Salvation is a gift from God; we have done nothing to deserve it. Believers should humbly receive the good news of the gospel and be willing to follow God s plan because He has been so gracious to us. OPTION 2: Make instruments for worship Provide materials for kids to construct simple instruments. Kids may make drums, guitars, or rhythm sticks. As kids work, play the unit theme song or key passage song. When kids finish their instruments, invite them to play along with the music. 36 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 2

32 Drums Allow kids to decorate the sides of containers by covering them with construction paper. Kids may also use markers to draw designs on the containers. Guitars Encourage kids to decorate the sides of an empty tissue box by covering them with construction paper. Show kids how to wrap a few rubber bands lengthwise across the opening of the box. Kids may gently pluck the rubber bands. Rhythm sticks Invite kids to use markers to decorate wooden rulers or paint stirrers. Demonstrate how to string several jingle bells on a chenille craft stem, and then help kids wrap the stems around the wooden sticks to shake along with music. SAY God chose Mary to be Jesus mother, and Mary praised God with a song. Singing songs is one way we can worship God and bring praise to Him. God deserves our worship. Nothing is impossible for Him! Drums: empty cardboard or plastic containers with lids construction paper tape markers Guitars: empty tissue boxes rubber bands construction paper tape Rhythm sticks: jingle bells chenille craft stems wooden rulers or paint stirrers markers Journal and prayer (5 minutes) Encourage kids to list in their journals a few reasons they would be willing to follow God s plan for their lives. SAY God chose Mary to be Jesus mother, and Mary was willing to do God s plan even though it wouldn t be easy. We honor God with our lives when we are willing to follow His plan. Let s pray. God, nothing is impossible for You. Please change our hearts and help us to trust You. We want to honor You and point others to Your Son, Jesus. What an honor it is to live for You. Amen. As time allows, lead kids to complete A Special Purpose on the activity page. pencils Journal Page A Special Purpose activity page, 1 per kid Tip: Give parents this week s Big Picture Cards for Families to allow families to interact with the biblical content at home. God the Son 37

33 UNIT 19 Session 3 Use Week of: Jesus Was Born BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 2:1-20 MAIN POINT: Jesus was born to be God s promised Savior. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. SMALL GROUP OPENING (10 15 MINUTES) PAGE 42 3 LARGE GROUP BIBLE STUDY (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 44 SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 50 Leader BIBLE STUDY Do you think it was just by chance that Caesar Augustus called for a census? Did it just so happen that Mary and Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem the very place the Messiah was prophesied to be born? (Micah 5:2) God is in control of all things, which He showed by using a pagan emperor to bring about His plan. After Jesus was born, Mary laid Him in a manger. A king in a manger! It was so unlikely. But Jesus was no ordinary baby. He was God s Son, sent in the most humble of positions, not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28). 38 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 3

34 Imagine the shepherds surprise when an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared. The Bible says that they were terrified! But the angel brought them good news of great joy. (See Luke 2:10-11.) The people of Israel were well aware of their need for a Savior. They made sacrifices daily to atone for their sin. Finally, a Savior had come who would be the perfect sacrifice for sin, once and for all. Not only did Jesus come into the world as the Savior, He came as our King. Some time after Jesus birth, wise men came to worship Jesus. They brought Him gifts suitable for a king gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Jesus is the King who will rule forever, just as God promised King David. (See 2 Sam. 7.) 3 When you share this story with kids, remind them that Jesus came because we needed Him. The purpose of Jesus birth was twofold: to bring glory to God and to make peace between God and those who trust in Jesus death and resurrection. Celebrating the birth of Jesus is about rejoicing over the greatest gift we could ever receive. God s own Son came to earth to be our Savior and our King. Additional resources for each session are available at gospelproject.com. For free training and session-by-session help, visit God the Son 39

35 The BIBLE STORY Bible Storytelling Tips Use props: Hold up Bible story props one at a time as you tell the Bible story. Suggestions for props include a clipboard, a baby bottle, a receiving blanket or cloth, a toy sheep, a newspaper, a star cutout, a paper crown, and a gift bag. Display art: Cut pictures of Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, shepherds, angels, and other Bible story elements from Christmas cards. Attach double-sided tape to the back and move them around on a focal wall as you tell the story. Jesus Was Born Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 2:1-20 While Mary was pregnant with Baby Jesus, the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, announced that everyone needed to be registered for a census. Every person traveled to the town where his family was from. Since Joseph was a descendant of King David, he and Mary left Nazareth and traveled to Bethlehem, the city of David. While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. Mary and Joseph looked for a safe place for Mary to have her baby, but every place was full. So Mary and Joseph found a place where animals were kept, and that is where Mary had her baby, Jesus. She wrapped Him snugly in cloth, and she laid him in a feeding trough, where the animals ate their food. In the same region, some shepherds were out in the fields watching their sheep. All of a sudden, an angel of the Lord stood before them. A bright light shone around the shepherds, and they were terrified! But the angel said to them, Don t be afraid! I have very good news for you: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. Then the angel said, You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough. Then a whole army of angels appeared, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! The shepherds went straight to Bethlehem to find Baby Jesus. They found Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. The shepherds went and told others about the baby Jesus. Everyone who heard 40 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 3

36 about Jesus was surprised and amazed. The shepherds returned to their fields, praising God because everything had happened just as the angel had said. Some time later, wise men came to visit Jesus. They had seen a star in the east a sign from God that Jesus had been born. The wise men went to King Herod. Where is the king of the Jews? they asked. We have come to worship Him. A new king? Herod was king! Go and search carefully for the child, Herod told the wise men. When you find Him, report back to me so that I can go and worship Him too. But Herod was lying. He didn t want to worship Jesus; he wanted to kill Him! When the wise men found Jesus, they fell to their knees and worshiped Him. Then they gave Him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. When it was time for the wise men to go home, God warned them in a dream not to tell Herod where Jesus was. So they took a different way home. Christ Connection: The birth of Jesus was good news! Jesus was not an ordinary baby. He is God s Son, sent to earth from heaven. Jesus came into the world to save people from sin and to be their King forever. WANT TO DISCOVER GOD S WORD? GET BIBLE EXPRESS! Invite kids to check out this week s devotionals to discover that the wise men recognized Jesus as the King of the Jews. (Matt. 2:2) Jesus is King over all creation and is worthy of worship. (Heb. 1:8) Order in bulk, subscribe quarterly, or purchase individually. For more information, check out devotionals. God the Son 41

37 Small Group OPENING SESSION TITLE: Jesus Was Born BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 2:1-20 MAIN POINT: Jesus was born to be God s promised Savior. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. Welcome time Greet each kid as he or she arrives. Use this time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. Ask kids to talk about the farthest distance they have ever traveled. How did they travel? How long do you think it would take to walk that far? SAY In Bible times, people didn t have cars and they couldn t go to the airport and get on an airplane. Traveling anywhere took a long time! Think about that when we hear today s Bible story. Jesus Was Born Word Search activity page, 1 per kid pencils or markers Activity page (5 minutes) Invite kids to complete the Jesus Was Born Word Search on the activity page. Ask kids if there are any words they do not recognize. Which words have they heard before? Which words are the names of people? (David, Jesus, Joseph, Mary) Which words are the names of places? (Bethlehem) Which words describe Jesus? (baby, King, Lord, Messiah, Savior) SAY All of these words in the word search have something to do with today s Bible story. When we hear the Bible story today, listen carefully to see if you can hear them. 42 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 3

38 Session starter (10 minutes) OPTION 1: Gifts for a king Form groups of four to six kids. Give each group a pencil and a piece of paper. Groups should each choose a kid to write. Instruct groups to make a list of items they might give as a gift to a two-year-old boy. (Examples: blocks, puzzles, toy cars, trains, books, and so forth) Allow a few minutes for kids to work, then invite them to share their answers. List their ideas on a chalkboard or dry erase board. Then give a volunteer a Bible and guide her to read aloud Matthew 2:11. SAY In today s Bible story, some wise men came to visit Jesus when He was about two years old. They brought Jesus some gifts that seem pretty unusual. We are going to find out what they brought and why. OPTION 2: Scavenger hunt Make a list of scavenger hunt items related to the Bible story. Before the session, hide the items around the room. Give the list to kids and challenge them to find and collect the items. Suggested items: clipboard, baby bottle, receiving blanket or piece of cloth, toy sheep, newspaper, star cutout, paper crown, gift bag. SAY Great job finding these items! All of these items are related to today s Bible story about Jesus birth. Listen carefully to the Bible story to see if you can figure out what is important about these items. dry erase board or chalkboard chalk or marker paper pencils LOW PREP paper pencil scavenger hunt items Note: The Large Group Leader will explain the significance of each of these items after the Bible story. Transition to large group God the Son 43

39 Large Group LEADER SESSION TITLE: Jesus Was Born BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 2:1-20 MAIN POINT: Jesus was born to be God s promised Savior. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. countdown video Countdown Show the countdown video as your kids arrive, and set it to end as large group time begins. leader attire backpack notebook Bible gift bag Introduce the session (3 minutes) [Large Group Leader enters carrying a backpack, notebook, Bible, and gift bag.] LEADER Hello, everyone! I m so glad to see you. [Hold up the gift bag.] I have good news; my family is growing! One of my relatives just had a baby, and I am trying to decide what gift to give her. Do any of you have any ideas? [Allow kids to respond.] Interesting thoughts. Thanks! Set down the gift bag and hold up the Bible. LEADER You know, today s Bible story is about Jesus being born, and people brought Him gifts. Maybe I can get some ideas about what to give the baby as we listen to the story. Big picture question (1 minute) LEADER First, let s review our big picture question: What makes Jesus different? That is a very good question 44 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 3

40 because we know that there are a lot of babies born every year. Have you ever thought about why Jesus was born? What makes Jesus different? Does anyone remember the answer? Yes! Jesus is fully God and fully man. God sent His Son from heaven to earth. Jesus became a man, but He did not stop being God the Son. Giant timeline (1 minute) Display the giant timeline map or big story circle. Briefly review previous Bible stories, and then point out today s story, Jesus Was Born. LEADER Remember that the Bible is made up of many smaller stories, but they all fit together to tell one big story the story of how God sent Jesus to rescue people from sin. Last time, we heard about an angel who told Mary that she was going to have a baby who would be God s own Son and the Savior or the world. In today s Bible story, Jesus Was Born, the angel s message came true! Giant Timeline or Big Story Circle Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Open your Bible to Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 2:1-20. Use the Bible storytelling tips on the Bible story page to help you tell the story, or show the Bible story video Jesus Was Born. LEADER Most of you have probably heard this story. What time of year do we celebrate Jesus birth? (Christmas) Let s see how well you remember this story. Hold up Bible story props one at a time as you talk about their significance. Consider calling eight volunteers to the front of the room to hold the props. Bibles Jesus Was Born video Big Picture Question Poster Bible Story Picture Poster Bible story props: clipboard, baby bottle, receiving blanket or piece of cloth, toy sheep, newspaper, star cutout, paper crown, gift bag God the Son 45

41 LEADER Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem to be registered for a census. [Hold up clipboard.] A census is a count of all the people living in a certain area. When they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. [Hold up baby bottle.] When the baby Jesus was born, Mary wrapped Him snugly in cloth. [Hold up receiving blanket.] An angel appeared to some shepherds in the region [hold up toy sheep] and told them the good news A Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David! [Hold up newspaper.] Some time later, wise men came to visit Jesus. They had seen a star in the east a sign from God that Jesus had been born. [Hold up star cutout.] When the wise men found Jesus, they fell to their knees and worshiped Him as King. [Hold up paper crown.] Then they gave Him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. [Hold up gift bag.] Tip: Use Scripture and the guide provided to explain how to become a Christian. Make sure kids know when and where they can ask questions. Christ connection LEADER After the shepherds found Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus, did they just go back to their fields and carry on like nothing had happened? No! The Bible says that they went and told others about Jesus! Everyone who heard about Jesus was surprised and amazed. The shepherds praised God because the birth of Jesus was good news! Just like He had promised, God sent a Savior into the world. Jesus is God s Son, sent to earth from heaven. Jesus came into the world because we needed Him. He came to save people from sin and to be our King. That is worth celebrating! 46 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 3

42 Key passage (5 minutes) Show the key passage poster. Lead the boys and girls to read together 1 Timothy 1:15. LEADER This is such a great verse. If you haven t already memorized it, try to do so this week. We heard in our Bible story today about what happened when Jesus was born, but this verse tells us why He was born. Jesus was born to be God s promised Savior. He came into the world to save sinners! This is how God kept His promise to Abraham. Lead boys and girls to sing This Saying. Key Passage Poster This Saying song Discussion starter video (4 minutes) LEADER Think about how people reacted when they heard that Jesus was born. How did the shepherds and wise men react? How did Herod react? Watch this. Show the Unit 19, Session 3 discussion starter video. Lead kids to discuss which of the gifts was suitable for a king. What would they bring if they were going to meet a king? LEADER The shepherds hurried to find Jesus, and they returned to their fields praising God. Later, the wise men came and brought Jesus gifts. They worshiped Jesus as King. Do you worship Jesus as King in your life? Why or why not? What can we offer to Jesus to show that He is our King? Unit 19, Session 3 discussion starter video Sing (4 minutes) LEADER One way we can worship Jesus is by singing. Let s sing our unit song. Sing together The Savior We Need. The Savior We Need song God the Son 47

43 Pray (2 minutes) Invite kids to pray before dismissing to small groups. LEADER God, thank You for sending Your Son into the world to save us from sin. Your Word tells us that Jesus is fully God and fully man. He gave up His place in heaven to come to earth in the most humble way as a little baby. We needed Jesus, and You gave Him to us because You love us. Father, help us remember why Jesus was born. He is the answer to our greatest problem of sin. We bow before Him as Lord and Savior, and we give You glory. Amen. Dismiss to small groups 48 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 3

44 The Gospel: God s Plan for Me Ask kids if they have ever heard the word gospel. Clarify that the word gospel means good news. It is the message about Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. Use the following guide to share the gospel with kids. God rules. Explain to kids that the Bible tells us God created everything, and He is in charge of everything. Invite a volunteer to read Genesis 1:1 from the Bible. Read Revelation 4:11 or Colossians 1:16-17 aloud and explain what these verses mean. We sinned. Tell kids that since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Romans 3:23) The Bible calls this sin. Because God is holy, God cannot be around sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God s punishment of death. (Romans 6:23) God provided. Choose a child to read John 3:16 aloud. Say that God sent His Son, Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It s something we, as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us. Read and explain Ephesians 2:8-9. Jesus gives. Share with kids that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever! Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:18. We respond. Tell kids that they can respond to Jesus. Read Romans 10:9-10,13. Review these aspects of our response: Believe in your heart that Jesus alone saves you through what He s already done on the cross. Repent, turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that your faith is in Jesus. Offer to talk with any child who is interested in responding to Jesus. Provide I m a Christian Now for new Christians to take home and complete with their families. God the Son 49

45 Small Group LEADER SESSION TITLE: Jesus Was Born BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 2:1-20 MAIN POINT: Jesus was born to be God s promised Savior. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. Key Passage Poster masking tape permanent marker dominoes Bibles, 1 per kid Main Point Poster chairs, 7 red paper blue paper Key passage activity (5 minutes) Write the words of 1 Timothy 1:15 on short strips of masking tape and attach the tape to the backs of dominoes. Position the dominoes words-down on a table. Invite kids to turn over the dominoes and arrange them in order. When kids finish, guide them to say the key passage together. Then allow them to stand the dominoes on end and push them over to create a chain reaction. SAY We heard in our Bible story today about Jesus birth. Our key passage tells us why Jesus was born: Jesus came into the world to save sinners! Every day, hundreds of thousands of babies are born around the world, but Jesus wasn t like other babies. Jesus could save us from our sin because He is different. What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. Bible story review & Bible skills (10 minutes) Position seven chairs side by side. Form two teams of kids and distinguish each team by giving players a colored piece of paper to hold: red for team 1 and blue for team 2. Explain that you will ask each team a review question. 50 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 3

46 If the team answers correctly, a player may sit in one of the chairs. Teams should try to sit three of their own players in a row. For a correct answer, a player may either sit in an empty chair or choose a chair occupied by the other team. The opposing player must stand and return to his team. Begin by asking a question to team 1. Players may discuss before giving a final answer. If a team answers incorrectly, give the other team a chance to answer. If a team gets three players in a row, reset the game and continue until you ask all the review questions. 1. Who announced that everyone needed to be registered? (Caesar Augustus, Luke 2:1) 2. Mary and Joseph traveled to what city? (Bethlehem, the city of David; Luke 2:4) 3. Mary and Joseph came from what city? (Nazareth, Luke 2:4) 4. What happened while Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem? (Mary gave birth to her firstborn Son, Luke 2:6-7) 5. Who appeared to the shepherds in the fields? (an angel of the Lord, Luke 2:9) 6. What good news did the angel tell the shepherds? ( A Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David ; Luke 2:11) 7. Where did the shepherds go when the angels left? (to Bethlehem, Luke 2:15) 8. What did the shepherds do when they left Bethlehem? (They told others about Jesus, glorified God, and praised Him; Luke 2:17-18,20) 9. How did the wise men know Jesus had been born? (They had seen His star in the east, Matt. 2:2) 10. Why did Herod say he wanted to know where Option: Retell or review the Bible story using the bolded text of the Bible story script. God the Son 51

47 Option: Review the gospel with boys and girls. Explain that kids are welcome to speak with you or another teacher if they have questions. Jesus was? (Herod said he wanted to worship Jesus, Matt. 2:8) 11. What gifts did the wise men give Jesus? (gold, frankincense, and myrrh; Matt. 2:11) 12. Did the wise men tell Herod where Jesus was? (No, God warned them in a dream not to tell him; Matt. 2:12) 13. Why was Jesus born? (Jesus was born to be God s promised Savior, Luke 2:11) 14. What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. SAY We celebrate Jesus birth every year at Christmas, but this good news is worth celebrating year-round! Jesus was born to be God s promised Savior. LOW PREP large piece of paper crayons or markers Bibles Activity choice (10 minutes) OPTION 1: Giant storyboard Hang a large piece of paper on a wall or lay it flat on the floor or a table. Use a marker to divide the paper into three sections. Label the sections with these Scripture references: Luke 2:4-7; Luke 2:8-12; Matthew 2:1-2, Form three groups of kids. Assign each group one section of the storyboard. Distribute Bibles and markers. Instruct each group to find their assigned Scripture reference and read it aloud. Then kids should work together to illustrate a scene from their part of the Bible story. Allow several minutes for kids to work. Then call on each group to describe their scene. SAY Great work, everyone. These pictures show what happened in today s Bible story. God kept His promise to send a Messiah. He sent His Son into the world! Jesus was born to be God s promised Savior. 52 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 3

48 OPTION 2: Welcome bags Invite kids to assemble welcome bags for new church visitors. Allow each kid to decorate a paper bag and fill it with a few welcome items. Consider these: card or brochure with information about the church, small notebook, pen or pencil, individually-wrapped candies, small bottled water. Keep the bags in the classroom to be distributed to kids who are visiting for the first time. SAY In today s Bible story, what did the shepherds do after they met the baby Jesus? (They told others about Jesus, Luke 2:17-18) We can invite our friends to church and tell them the good news about Jesus. Jesus was born to be God s promised Savior. paper bags markers various welcome supplies Journal and prayer (5 minutes) Distribute journal pages and pencils. Encourage kids to draw a picture of Jesus as a baby and a picture of Jesus as a king on a throne. SAY Jesus came into the world as a baby. But where is Jesus today? The Bible says that after His death on the cross to pay for our sins, Jesus rose from the dead and returned to heaven. He is alive today and He sits at the right hand of God. [See Eph. 1:20; Rev. 3:21.] Let s pray. God, thank You for keeping Your promises and for showing us through Jesus that You love all people. We are thankful and happy to receive this good news. Amen. As time allows, lead kids to complete Good News! on the activity page. Kids will use words from the same word list used with the word search to fill in the blanks. The completed sentences reveal today s Christ connection. pencils Journal Page Good News! activity page, 1 per kid Tip: Give parents this week s Big Picture Cards for Families to allow families to interact with the biblical content at home. God the Son 53

49 UNIT 19 Session 4 Use Week of: Jesus at the Temple BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 2:40-52 MAIN POINT: Jesus came to earth to do His Father s plan. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. SMALL GROUP OPENING (10 15 MINUTES) PAGE 58 LARGE GROUP BIBLE STUDY (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 60 SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 66 4 Leader BIBLE STUDY The Book of Luke records just two narratives about Jesus childhood: His dedication (Luke 2:21-40) and His time at the temple when He was 12 years old (Luke 2:41-52). Both stories set the stage for Jesus ministry on earth as an adult. Mary and Joseph were faithful Jews. They had dedicated the baby Jesus according to the law of Moses, and they traveled to Jerusalem each year to celebrate Passover. God had commanded the men to appear before Him three times a year to observe certain festivals. (See Deut. 16:16.) Once a year, those who followed God s law would travel to Jerusalem often in large groups to celebrate Passover. 54 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 4

50 In Bible times, a Jewish boy became a man at 13. His father would train him to take on all the responsibilities of adulthood, social and spiritual. Joseph was a carpenter, and he likely trained Jesus in his trade. When Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem, Joseph might have taken Jesus around the city to teach Him the significance of the temple and explain the purpose of the Passover feast. Jesus parents started the journey back home after the feast. They assumed Jesus was among their traveling companions, but He wasn t. Jesus had stayed behind at the temple. Mary and Joseph traveled for a day before they noticed Jesus was missing. They went back to Jerusalem and found Him at the temple. When Mary asked why He had done this, Jesus answered Mary s question with a question: Didn t you know that I had to be in My Father s house? Mary and Joseph did not understand. But Jesus is God s Son, and it was necessary that He honor His true Father. In all this, Jesus did not sin. 4 The Bible does not give many details about Jesus childhood, but we do know that as Jesus got older, He grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people. Jesus carried out God s plan to reconcile the world to Himself. (2 Cor. 5:19) Additional resources for each session are available at gospelproject.com. For free training and session-by-session help, visit God the Son 55

51 The BIBLE STORY Bible Storytelling Tips Display a map: Display a Bible times map and point out the cities of Nazareth and Jerusalem as you tell the story. Use sound effects: Incorporate sound effects as you tell the story. Pat your hands on your lap as Mary and Joseph travel home. Then pat quickly as they hurry back to Jerusalem. Gasp in surprise when Jesus parents saw Him. Jesus at the Temple Luke 2:40-52 Every year, Jesus parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. Passover was the biggest holiday for the Jewish people. Many people would travel to Jerusalem to celebrate and remember when God saved His people from slavery in Egypt. When Jesus was 12 years old, Jesus and His family went to Jerusalem together. When it was time to go home, Mary and Joseph began traveling to Nazareth with a large group of people. They did not notice that Jesus was not with them; they thought He was among the group of travelers. But Jesus was not with the group. He had stayed behind in Jerusalem. Mary, Joseph, and the other travelers had been walking for a whole day when they began to look for Jesus. They looked among their relatives and friends, but they could not find Him. So Mary and Joseph went back to Jerusalem to look for Jesus. They searched everywhere for Him, but they could not find Him. The city was so big, and Jesus was just a boy. Finally, they found Him. Jesus was in the temple complex, sitting among the teachers. Jesus was listening to the teachers and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Jesus could hardly believe how much Jesus understood. When Jesus parents saw Him, they were surprised. Mary said, Son, why have You done this? Your father and I were worried. We ve been looking everywhere for You. Why were you looking for Me? Jesus asked them. 56 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 4

52 Didn t you know that I had to be in My Father s house? But Mary and Joseph did not understand what Jesus was talking about. Then Jesus went back to Nazareth with Mary and Joseph. Jesus was always obedient to them. Mary remembered all of these things. Jesus grew taller and wiser. God was pleased with Him, and so was everyone who knew Him. Christ Connection: Even as a child, Jesus wanted to do His Father s plan. As Jesus grew up, He became strong and wise. God blessed Jesus as He got ready to follow His Father s plan: to die on the cross and rescue people from sin. WANT TO DISCOVER GOD S WORD? GET BIBLE EXPRESS! Invite kids to check out this week s devotionals to discover that people were amazed at Jesus understanding of God s Word. Jesus can help us love and understand God s Word with a whole heart. (Ps. 119:34) Order in bulk, subscribe quarterly, or purchase individually. For more information, check out devotionals. God the Son 57

53 Small Group OPENING SESSION TITLE: Jesus at the Temple BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 2:40-52 MAIN POINT: Jesus came to earth to do His Father s plan. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. Welcome time Greet each kid as he or she arrives. Use this time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. Invite kids to share about their favorite place to spend time. If someone was looking for them, where would they likely be found? Where Was Jesus? activity page, 1 per kid pencils or markers LOW PREP Activity page (5 minutes) Invite kids to complete Where Was Jesus? on the activity page. For each blank, kids should go forward or backward from the letter indicated to fill in the blank. Explain that in today s Bible story, Jesus went missing. When Mary and Joseph found Him, He was at the temple. SAY What did Jesus say to Mary and Joseph? (Didn t you know I had to be in My Father s house?) Today we will find out what Jesus meant when He said that. Session starter (10 minutes) OPTION 1: Where am I? Invite kids to play a game of 20 questions. Explain that you are thinking of a place. Kids may take turns asking up to 20 yes-or-no questions to try to figure out what place you are 58 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 4

54 thinking of. For example, Do you go here every day? Is this place warm? or Is this place crowded? Keep track of how many questions kids ask. If they are unable to guess the place after asking 20 questions, reveal the answer. Play multiple rounds as time allows. (Suggested places: school, church, aquarium, library, and so forth) SAY Great job figuring out the places I was thinking of. Today we are going to hear a Bible story about Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Mary and Joseph couldn t find Jesus, and they looked everywhere for Him. During large group, we will hear where they found Him! OPTION 2: Where does it belong? Write the following words on separate index cards: astronaut, surgeon, basketball player, and taxi driver. Form four groups of kids. Give each group an index card. Instruct them to work together to draw the environment or location where the person on their card would be found. Direct kids to not include the person in their drawing. When kids finish, prompt them to display their drawing for the rest of the kids. Challenge the other groups to guess what person belongs in the place drawn on the poster. Reveal each group s person. SAY You wouldn t be surprised to see each of these people in these environments; that s where they belong! In today s Bible story, Mary and Joseph couldn t find Jesus, but they found Him exactly where He was supposed to be! We will find out soon where He was. index cards crayons or markers large pieces of paper Transition to large group God the Son 59

55 Large Group LEADER SESSION TITLE: Jesus at the Temple BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 2:40-52 MAIN POINT: Jesus came to earth to do His Father s plan. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. countdown video Countdown Show the countdown video as your kids arrive, and set it to end as large group time begins. leader attire backpack Bible Introduce the session (3 minutes) [Large Group Leader enters with a backpack. A Bible is sitting on a small table next to a chair, but the leader does not notice. As the leader greets kids, he or she opens the backpack.] LEADER Hi, everyone! It sure is good to see you. [Reach into the backpack to retrieve a Bible.] I can t wait to tell you about today s Bible Hey! Where is it? [Turn empty backpack upside down.] I thought my Bible was in here, but it s missing! Where could it be? Have any of you seen a Bible around here? [Wait for kids to point out the Bible.] Oh, wonderful! You found it! Of course it would be right here on the table. That s where I usually keep it. I should have thought of that. Thank you for your help. Now we are ready to get started. Big picture question (1 minute) LEADER Does anyone remember our big picture question? 60 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 4

56 How is Jesus different? The Bible stories we have heard about so far have shown us some of the ways Jesus is different. Who knows the answer to our big picture question? [Allow kids to respond.] That s right. Jesus is fully God and fully man. Giant timeline (1 minute) Show the giant timeline or big story circle. Point out previous Bible stories and review the main points. LEADER First, we learned about Jesus family on earth. Jesus earthly family included Abraham, David, and others. Then we heard that God chose Mary to be Jesus mother. Even though Joseph helped Mary take care of Jesus, Jesus true Father is God. Jesus is fully God and fully man. The next story was about Jesus birth. Jesus was born to be God s promised Savior. Every baby is special, but Jesus was unlike any other baby. How is Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. Today s Bible story is called Jesus at the Temple. Let s see what else we can learn about Jesus. Giant Timeline or Big Story Circle Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Open your Bible to Luke 2: Use the Bible storytelling tips on the Bible story page to help you tell the story, or show the Bible story video Jesus at the Temple. LEADER Mary and Joseph were Jewish; it was important to them to follow God s laws. Every year, they traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. The Passover was one of three festivals God commanded His people to observe every year. Can anyone tell me what Passover was a celebration of? (The people Bibles Jesus at the Temple video Big Picture Question Poster Bible Story Picture Poster God the Son 61

57 remembered and celebrated how God rescued His people from slavery in Egypt, Ex. 12) Jesus went to Jerusalem with Mary and Joseph when He was 12 years old. After the festival was over, Mary and Joseph started walking back home. They would have traveled with a large crowd of people, so they assumed Jesus was among the crowd. But Jesus wasn t. He had stayed behind in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph had traveled a whole day when they realized He wasn t with them. Wow, Mary and Joseph must have felt pretty worried when they couldn t find Jesus. They hurried back to Jerusalem. Where did they find Jesus? (at the temple) Jesus was listening to the teachers and asking questions. The people who heard Jesus with the teachers were amazed at how much He understood. Mary didn t seem very happy about Jesus staying behind. But Jesus asked, Why were you looking for Me? Didn t you know that I had to be in My Father s house? Jesus was basically saying, This is where I belong! Where else would I be? Hey, that s kind of like my missing Bible. It was right where it belonged! I should have known to look for it there. Tip: Use Scripture and the guide provided to explain how to become a Christian. Make sure kids know when and where they can ask questions. Christ connection LEADER Even at a young age, Jesus understood why He had come into the world. Jesus came to earth to do His Father s plan. As Jesus grew up, He became strong and wise. God blessed Jesus as He got ready to follow His Father s plan: to die on the cross and rise again to rescue people from sin. Mary and Joseph did not completely understand 62 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 4

58 what was happening, but Jesus did. Jesus never sinned. He obeyed God and died the death that sinners deserve. When we trust in Jesus, God forgives our sin and gives us eternal life. Key passage (5 minutes) Show the key passage poster. Lead the boys and girls to read together 1 Timothy 1:15. LEADER We heard in our Bible story that Jesus came to earth to do His Father s plan. Our key passage reminds us just what God s plan was. Why did Jesus come into the world? (to save sinners) Let s sing. Lead boys and girls to sing This Saying. Key Passage Poster This Saying song Discussion starter video (4 minutes) LEADER Do you remember our big picture question and answer? What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. God sent His Son to earth to show us how to live and to show us what God is like. Let s think about what this story about Jesus at the temple tells us about how we should live. Show the Unit 19, Session 4 discussion starter video. Lead kids to discuss what didn t make sense to the kid in the video. Prompt kids to consider these questions: Do you set aside time to read the Bible and pray? Why or why not? Do you set aside time to volunteer/serve in a local ministry? Why is it sometimes difficult to make these things a priority in our lives? LEADER How believers live won t always make sense to other people. God calls all believers to do His plan. Unit 19, Session 4 discussion starter video God the Son 63

59 God has specific plans for each of us, but He calls all of us to tell others the good news about Jesus and what He has done to rescue people from sin. Jesus came to bring us to God. We can get to know Him more through His Word, the Bible. We can show His love by serving others. The Savior We Need song Sing (4 minutes) LEADER Everybody stand up. Let s sing our unit song. Sing together The Savior We Need. Pray (2 minutes) Invite kids to pray before dismissing to small groups. LEADER God, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for sending Jesus to not only show us how to live but to give up His own life so that we may truly live, forgiven of sin and alive in Him. We confess that our biggest priority is not always to serve You. Forgive us for caring too much about things that are not as important as You. Thank You for Your grace. We want to honor You with our lives. Help us become strong and wise for Your glory. Amen. Dismiss to small groups 64 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 4

60 The Gospel: God s Plan for Me Ask kids if they have ever heard the word gospel. Clarify that the word gospel means good news. It is the message about Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. Use the following guide to share the gospel with kids. God rules. Explain to kids that the Bible tells us God created everything, and He is in charge of everything. Invite a volunteer to read Genesis 1:1 from the Bible. Read Revelation 4:11 or Colossians 1:16-17 aloud and explain what these verses mean. We sinned. Tell kids that since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Romans 3:23) The Bible calls this sin. Because God is holy, God cannot be around sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God s punishment of death. (Romans 6:23) God provided. Choose a child to read John 3:16 aloud. Say that God sent His Son, Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It s something we, as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us. Read and explain Ephesians 2:8-9. Jesus gives. Share with kids that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever! Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:18. We respond. Tell kids that they can respond to Jesus. Read Romans 10:9-10,13. Review these aspects of our response: Believe in your heart that Jesus alone saves you through what He s already done on the cross. Repent, turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that your faith is in Jesus. Offer to talk with any child who is interested in responding to Jesus. Provide I m a Christian Now for new Christians to take home and complete with their families. God the Son 65

61 Small Group LEADER SESSION TITLE: Jesus at the Temple BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 2:40-52 MAIN POINT: Jesus came to earth to do His Father s plan. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. Key Passage Poster index cards marker envelope Bibles, 1 per kid Main Point Poster inflatable ball Key passage activity (5 minutes) Before small group, write each word of 1 Timothy 1:15 on a separate index card. Create two sets. Mix up the cards and place them in an envelope. Display the key passage poster and guide kids to read the key passage aloud. Then form teams of kids and give each team an envelope. The first team to arrange the key passage in the proper order wins. Call on the winning team to read the key passage aloud. Then mix up the cards and play again. SAY Great job. Has anyone memorized our key passage yet? [Allow volunteers to recite 1 Timothy 1:15.] Bible story review & Bible skills (10 minutes) Distribute Bibles and instruct kids to find the Gospel of Luke. Call on a volunteer to name the first four books of the New Testament. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) Explain that Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. Luke was a doctor and a Gentile (a non- Jew). Point out that only Luke s Gospel tells about Jesus as a child. Direct kids to stand in a circle. Toss an inflatable ball 66 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 4

62 to one kid and ask her a review question. If she answers correctly, she may toss the ball to another player who will answer a new question. If she answers incorrectly, she should toss the ball back to you. Toss the ball to another player to answer the question. Encourage kids to toss the ball to players who have not yet answered a question. Ask the following review questions: 1. Why did Jesus family travel to Jerusalem? (to celebrate Passover, Luke 2:41) 2. How often did the Jewish people celebrate Passover? (every year, Luke 2:41) 3. How old was Jesus in today s Bible story? (12 years old, Luke 2:42) 4. How long did Mary and Joseph travel before they realized Jesus was missing? (a whole day, Luke 2:44) 5. Where did Mary and Joseph find Jesus? (at the temple, Luke 2:46) 6. What was Jesus doing at the temple? (listening to the teachers and asking them questions, Luke 2:46) 7. Why did Jesus say He was at the temple? (He had to be in His Father s house, Luke 2:49) 8. Did Jesus sin by staying behind in Jerusalem? (No, Jesus never sinned; Luke 2:51; 2 Cor. 5:21) 9. What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. SAY Jesus came to earth to do His Father s plan. He was in the temple His Father s house because that s where He belonged. As Jesus grew up, He became strong and wise. God blessed Jesus as He got ready to follow His Father s plan: to die on the cross and rescue people from sin. Option: Retell or review the Bible story using the bolded text of the Bible story script. God the Son 67

63 LOW PREP paper pencils chenille craft stems Activity choice (10 minutes) OPTION 1: Mingle game Instruct the kids to move around the room as a large crowd. Explain that you will call out an instruction that kids should follow. Anyone who cannot complete the instruction is out. Play a few rounds and then allow eliminated players to rejoin the game. Consider these sample instructions: Form groups of three. Find someone wearing the same shirt color as you. Form groups with others whose birthdays are in the same month as yours. SAY In our Bible story today, Mary and Joseph could not find Jesus in the crowd. Where did they find Him? (at the temple) We know now that Jesus came to earth to do His Father s plan. OPTION 2: What s the plan? Invite kids to complete a project that requires making a plan. Form groups of three or four kids. Give each group a piece of paper and a pencil. Explain that each group will receive a bundle of chenille craft stems. Groups will have five minutes to build the tallest tower. Encourage kids to spend a couple of minutes making a plan for building the tower. Then give each group an equal number of chenille craft stems. Allow groups to work for about five minutes. Then compare their structures. Ask how closely they followed the plan they made before they began building. SAY God had a plan to save people from their sin. Jesus came to earth to do His Father s plan. Even as a child, Jesus wanted to do His Father s plan. He went to the temple, His Father s house. 68 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 4

64 As Jesus grew up, He became strong and wise. God blessed Jesus as He got ready to follow His Father s plan: to die on the cross and rescue people from sin. Jesus followed God s plan because He loves us. We deserve to die for our sin, but Jesus came to take the punishment in our place. When we trust in Him, God forgives our sin and gives us eternal life. Option: Review the gospel with boys and girls. Explain that kids are welcome to speak with you or another teacher if they have questions. Journal and prayer (5 minutes) Distribute journal pages and pencils. Prompt kids to list questions they have about Jesus, the Bible, or church. Encourage kids to seek out answers to their questions this week through church leaders, their parents, or the Bible. SAY When Jesus was only 12 years old, He stayed at the temple to ask questions about God and grow in His understanding of the truth. Jesus treasured the things of God, and He cared about His relationship with God the Father more than anything else. Even though you are still a kid, you can treasure the things of God too. You might be too young to do certain things in this world, but you are not too young to follow God and be part of His kingdom. God wants to teach you the truth, train you in wisdom, and use you mightily in His kingdom. Lead kids in prayer, thanking God for His Word and for sending His Son. Ask Him to show grace to kids as they grow in wisdom and understanding. As time allows, lead kids to complete the At the Temple Quiz on the activity page. Provide Bibles for kids to look up the Scripture references and check their answers. (Answers: 1. true; 2. False, 12 years old; 3. False, He stayed behind; 4. true; 5. False, Jesus never sinned.) pencils Journal Page At the Temple Quiz activity page, 1 per kid Tip: Give parents this week s Big Picture Cards for Families to allow families to interact with the biblical content at home. God the Son 69

65 UNIT 19 Session 5 Use Week of: Jesus Was Baptized BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:1-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:19-34 MAIN POINT: Jesus obeyed God by being baptized. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. SMALL GROUP OPENING (10 15 MINUTES) PAGE 74 LARGE GROUP BIBLE STUDY (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 76 SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 82 Leader BIBLE STUDY 5 Zechariah s son, John, grew up in the wilderness. John s ministry began when God s word came to him, and he began preaching near the Jordan River. John worked to get the people ready for the coming of Jesus, fulfilling the Old Testament prophecy, A voice of one crying out: Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness (Isa. 40:3). John called the people to repent of their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River. John also instructed the people on right living. (See Luke 3:10-14.) Some of the people suspected that John might be the Messiah, but John insisted, One is coming who is more powerful than I (Luke 3:16). 70 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 5

66 Jesus came from Galilee to be baptized by John at the Jordan River. Wait a second. John was calling people to a baptism of repentance. We know Jesus never sinned (see Heb. 4:15; 2 Cor. 5:21), so why did Jesus come to be baptized? John was right when he said, I need to be baptized by You, and yet You come to me? (Matt. 3:14). Commentators ideas vary about why Jesus was baptized. Perhaps He was affirming John s work. Maybe He was identifying with sinners or showing them how they would be saved through His death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus answered John, Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness (Matt. 3:15). As you teach, allow time for kids to ask questions. Emphasize that baptism is not what saves us; baptism is a way we show that we have been saved. Baptism reminds us that when we trust in Jesus, we die to sin and come into a new way of life a life lived for Jesus. (See Rom. 6:3-4.) 5 Additional resources for each session are available at gospelproject.com. For free training and session-by-session help, visit God the Son 71

67 The BIBLE STORY Bible Storytelling Tips Dress like John: Ask a small group leader to dress like John as you tell the story. He should dress in a fur robe with a leather belt and wear a beard. Provide a jar of honey for him to hold. Demonstrate baptism: At the end of the story, use a person figure in a tub of water to show how a person is baptized. Jesus Was Baptized Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:1-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:19-34 John the Baptist lived in the wilderness. He wore camel s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. John began telling the people around him, Repent and be baptized, for God s kingdom is almost here. Some people asked John, Who are you? John said, I am not the Messiah. John also said he wasn t Elijah, and he wasn t the Prophet that God had promised to send after Moses. Who are you, then? the people asked. John said that he was the person Isaiah the prophet was talking about when he said, There is someone shouting in the wilderness. He says, Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight! John was born with a very important job. He was supposed to get people ready for Jesus, God s promised Messiah. People started to repent; they turned away from their sins and turned to God for forgiveness. Then John baptized them in the Jordan River. Baptism was a picture that the people s sins had been washed away. John preached: Someone more powerful than I will come after me. I am not worthy to bend down and untie His sandals. Then John said, I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. By this time, Jesus was an adult. He was in Galilee, and He left to see John the Baptist at the Jordan River. When John saw Jesus, he said, Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 72 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 5

68 Jesus told John that He wanted to be baptized. But John didn t think he should baptize Jesus, and he tried to stop Jesus. I need You to baptize me, John said. Why do You want me to baptize You? John was confused. He baptized people who confessed their sins; Jesus never sinned! Jesus said, Allow Me to be baptized. God says this is right. So John agreed, and he baptized Jesus. Jesus immediately came up out of the water. Suddenly, the heavens opened for Jesus, and He saw the Holy Spirit coming down on Him. The Spirit was like a dove. And a voice came from heaven. This is My Son, the voice said. I love Him, and I am very pleased with Him! Christ Connection: Jesus never sinned, but He obeyed God and was baptized like sinners are baptized. Baptism reminds us of Jesus death and resurrection. It reminds us that when we trust in Jesus, we turn from sin and start a new life a life lived for Jesus. WANT TO DISCOVER GOD S WORD? GET BIBLE EXPRESS! Invite kids to check out this week s devotionals to discover that Jesus never sinned, but He was baptized like sinners are baptized. Sinners are baptized to show we trust that Jesus is God s Son, our Savior. (Acts 8:37) Order in bulk, subscribe quarterly, or purchase individually. For more information, check out devotionals. God the Son 73

69 Small Group OPENING SESSION TITLE: Jesus Was Baptized BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:1-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:19-34 MAIN POINT: Jesus obeyed God by being baptized. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. Welcome time Greet each kid as he or she arrives. Use this time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. Ask kids to share things their parents might ask them to do. SAY Why do you choose to obey your parents? How do you feel when you obey? How do you think your parents feel? Baptism Dot-to-Dot activity page, 1 per kid pencils or markers LOW PREP small bird figure Activity page (5 minutes) Invite kids to complete the Baptism Dot-to-Dot on the activity page. Encourage kids to fill in the blank to complete the sentence. (Jesus obeyed God by being baptized by John.) SAY I wonder why Jesus was baptized by John. Do you know? We are going to find out when we hear today s Bible story. Session starter (10 minutes) OPTION 1: Are you the one? Choose one volunteer to sit in a chair with his back to the rest of the group. Put a small bird figure under the chair. Instruct the volunteer to close his eyes. 74 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 5

70 Guide another player to sneak up and take the bird and hide it behind her back. Then prompt everyone to pat their laps and chant together, The Spirit came down from above. The Spirit came down like a dove! Then the volunteer will turn around and try to guess who has the bird. If he is correct, he may play again. If he guesses incorrectly, the player who had the bird gets a turn to be the volunteer. SAY Today we are going to hear a Bible story about a time the Holy Spirit came down like a dove. This was a sign that Jesus is the One God promised to send. OPTION 2: Uses for water Give each kid a piece of paper and a pencil. Consider displaying a large cup of water at the center of each table. Explain that you will set a timer for four minutes. Kids should list as many uses for water as they can think of. When the timer ends, tell kids to put down their pencils. Call on kids one at a time to read something from their list. Challenge them to name something that no one else has read yet. Continue until kids share all of their uses. Sample answers: drinking, preparing food, bathing, washing clothes and dishes, brushing teeth, watering yards and gardens, washing pets or cars, and so forth. SAY Did anyone write down baptism? Today s Bible story is about Jesus baptism. John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. paper pencils stopwatch or timer large cups of water (optional) Transition to large group God the Son 75

71 Large Group LEADER SESSION TITLE: Jesus Was Baptized BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:1-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:19-34 MAIN POINT: Jesus obeyed God by being baptized. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. countdown video Countdown Show the countdown video as your kids arrive, and set it to end as large group time begins. leader attire backpack Bible Introduce the session (3 minutes) [Large Group Leader enters carrying a backpack and a Bible. Leader sets down the backpack and opens the Bible.] LEADER Hello, everyone! I am so glad to see you. I want to share something really neat with you. This is my family s Bible. My parents used it, my grandparents used it, and even my great-grandparents used it! They all recorded important dates in here like births, deaths, marriages, and baptisms. As I was looking through this, I noticed that it was exactly 55 years ago today that my grandfather was baptized! You know, today s Bible story is also about a baptism Jesus baptism! Big picture question (1 minute) LEADER You might remember that our big picture question is, What makes Jesus different? The Bible stories we have been hearing about the early years of 76 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 5

72 Jesus life on earth teach us many things about who Jesus is and why He came to earth. God the Son has always existed, and when He came to earth, He took on the form of a human. Jesus didn t stop being God the Son when He came to earth. So, what makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. Giant timeline (1 minute) Show the giant timeline or big story circle. Point to previous Bible stories as you review. LEADER Let s review what we ve learned so far. Remember, all the stories in the Bible fit together to tell one big story the story of how God saves sinners through His Son, Jesus. First, we heard about the people who were in Jesus family. By sending Jesus, God kept His promise to people like Abraham and David that the Savior would come into the world through their family. Jesus is God s Son, but God chose Mary to be Jesus mother. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. He came into the world to save sinners. Even at a young age, Jesus knew that He had an important job to do, and He spent time at the temple. Here is today s Bible story, Jesus Was Baptized. Giant Timeline or Big Story Circle Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Open your Bible to Matthew 3: Use the Bible storytelling tips on the Bible story page to help you tell the story, or show the Bible story video Jesus Was Baptized. LEADER John the Baptist had been telling everyone who would listen to get ready; the Lord was coming! As people confessed their sins, John baptized them in Bibles Jesus Was Baptized video Big Picture Question Poster Bible Story Picture Poster God the Son 77

73 the Jordan River. But when Jesus came to John to be baptized, John didn t understand why. Jesus didn t have any sins that needed to be washed away! But Jesus knew that this was what God wanted Him to do. Jesus obeyed God by being baptized. As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, God spoke from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him! Jesus obedience pleased God; His people s obedience pleases God too. Baptism is a symbol of a really important message. Baptism represents what God has done for us by saving us and bringing us from death to life. It also represents turning from sin and beginning a brandnew life with God. This is why John the Baptist was confused when Jesus wanted to be baptized. Jesus had never sinned. He didn t need to turn from anything. Jesus was already living His life in a perfect relationship with God the Father. Why would Jesus want to be baptized? Jesus was baptized so He could identify with us and set an example for us. Jesus was also baptized as a symbol of what was to come. He went into the water to represent His death and burial. He came back out of the water to represent His resurrection. [See Rom. 6:3-11.] Tip: Use Scripture and the guide provided to explain how to become a Christian. Make sure kids know when and where they can ask questions. Christ connection LEADER Today, when we are baptized, we are declaring this message loud and clear: God saves us through faith in His Son who died and rose again for us. Baptism represents dying to self and sin, living for Jesus, and being party of His family the Church. 78 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 5

74 Jesus never sinned, but He obeyed God and was baptized like sinners are baptized. Baptism reminds us of Jesus death and resurrection. It reminds us that when we trust in Jesus, we turn from sin and start a new life a life lived for Jesus. Key passage (5 minutes) Show the key passage poster. Lead boys and girls to read together 1 Timothy 1:15. Then cover the poster and challenge kids to say the key passage from memory. LEADER Our Bible story today reminds us that Jesus never sinned. Only a sinless Savior could rescue people from sin. That is why Jesus came into the world. He took our sins upon Himself when He died on the cross. He took the punishment we deserve so that we could live forever with God. Lead boys and girls to sing This Saying. Key Passage Poster This Saying song Discussion starter video (4 minutes) LEADER If you ve been baptized or want to be baptized, think about why. Remember, baptism isn t how a person is saved from sin. Watch this. Show the Unit 19, Session 5 discussion starter video. Lead kids to talk about whether wearing all that pilot gear made the girl a true pilot. Why or why not? Point out that pilots wear their gear not to become pilots, but to show that they have already become pilots. In a similar way, baptism doesn t save us. Baptism is a way we show that we have been saved by trusting in Jesus. LEADER Jesus obeyed God by being baptized. God wants us to repent and be baptized to show others that we trust in Jesus. Unit 19, Session 5 discussion starter video God the Son 79

75 The Savior We Need song Sing (4 minutes) LEADER Let s take a moment to sing and praise God together. Sing with me. Sing together The Savior We Need. Pray (2 minutes) Invite kids to pray before dismissing to small groups. LEADER Dear God, thank You for Your Son, Jesus, who never sinned and who came into the world to save sinners. We confess that we have sinned and need to be made clean. Help us turn away from ourselves and turn to Jesus, who died in our place so that we can be forgiven. We love You. Amen. Dismiss to small groups 80 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 5

76 The Gospel: God s Plan for Me Ask kids if they have ever heard the word gospel. Clarify that the word gospel means good news. It is the message about Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. Use the following guide to share the gospel with kids. God rules. Explain to kids that the Bible tells us God created everything, and He is in charge of everything. Invite a volunteer to read Genesis 1:1 from the Bible. Read Revelation 4:11 or Colossians 1:16-17 aloud and explain what these verses mean. We sinned. Tell kids that since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Romans 3:23) The Bible calls this sin. Because God is holy, God cannot be around sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God s punishment of death. (Romans 6:23) God provided. Choose a child to read John 3:16 aloud. Say that God sent His Son, Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It s something we, as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us. Read and explain Ephesians 2:8-9. Jesus gives. Share with kids that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever! Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:18. We respond. Tell kids that they can respond to Jesus. Read Romans 10:9-10,13. Review these aspects of our response: Believe in your heart that Jesus alone saves you through what He s already done on the cross. Repent, turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that your faith is in Jesus. Offer to talk with any child who is interested in responding to Jesus. Provide I m a Christian Now for new Christians to take home and complete with their families. God the Son 81

77 Small Group LEADER SESSION TITLE: Jesus Was Baptized BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:1-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:19-34 MAIN POINT: Jesus obeyed God by being baptized. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. Key Passage Poster chalkboard or dry erase board marker or chalk Bibles, 1 per kid Main Point Poster large piece of paper marker tape Key passage activity (5 minutes) Show the key passage poster. Call on the girls to read the key passage together. Then call on the boys. Remove or cover the poster. Write the first letter of each word in 1 Timothy 1:15 on a chalkboard or dry erase board. Let kids verbally complete as many words as they know. Fill in the words as kids say them. If kids master the key passage, erase several words and challenge them to recite 1 Timothy 1:15 from memory. SAY If you haven t yet memorized our key passage, keep working on it! Next week we will see if you all can say 1 Timothy 1:15 from memory. Bible story review & Bible skills (10 minutes) Hang a large piece of paper on a focal wall. Draw a Venn diagram by sketching two side-by-side circles that overlap in the middle. Label the first circle Jesus baptism and the second circle Our baptism. Distribute Bibles. Guide kids to find Matthew 3: Consider retelling or reviewing the Bible story using the bolded text of the Bible story script. Prompt kids to compare and contrast Jesus baptism 82 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 5

78 with our baptism. List details that describe Jesus baptism in the first circle. List details that describe our baptism in the second circle. If a detail describes both Jesus and our baptism, write it in the area where the circles overlap. You may ask the following questions to prompt kids as they think about Jesus baptism and our baptism: Who was baptized in the Bible story? (Jesus, who never sinned) What kind of people are baptized today? (repentant sinners) Where was Jesus baptized? (in the Jordan River) Where are people baptized today? (in water, like in a baptistry) Why was Jesus baptized? (to obey God, to set an example for us) Why are people baptized today? (to follow Jesus example, to show others that we have trusted in Jesus) Who baptized Jesus? (John) Who baptizes us? (a pastor or church leader) Whose baptism is pleasing to God? (Jesus and ours) SAY Jesus obeyed God by being baptized. We can follow Jesus example by being baptized as a sign that we trust in Jesus and want to live for Him. Remember, baptism is a way we show that we have been saved by Jesus. Baptism is not what saves us from sin; faith in Jesus saves us. Activity choice (10 minutes) OPTION 1: Baptism Q&A Before small groups, arrange for the pastor or another church leader to visit your classroom and answer questions LOW PREP God the Son 83

79 Option: Tour the church s baptistry with the church leader. Ask the leader questions about the baptism process. white paper plates, 1 per kid pencils scissors tape string or ribbon crayons or markers kids have about baptism. Allow kids to ask their own questions, but consider addressing these questions as well: Why do people get baptized? What happens when a person is baptized? Who should be baptized? When should I be baptized? SAY Thank you, [pastor s name] for answering our questions today. Today we learned that Jesus obeyed God by being baptized. Baptism reminds us that when we trust in Jesus, we turn from sin and start a new life a life lived for Jesus. OPTION 2: Paper plate dove Give each kid a white paper plate. Guide boys and girls to follow these instructions: 1. Cut the paper plate into thirds. The two outer strips will be the dove s wings. 2. On the center third, draw the body of a dove: a small circle head on top of a large oval body (like a snowman). Extend the bottom of the body outward to form a tail. 3. Cut out the body shape. Tape the wings to the body. 4. Use crayons or markers to add feet, a beak, and eyes. As kids work, talk about the Bible story. SAY John the Baptist s job was to get people ready for the Messiah. God told John that he would know who the Messiah was because the Holy Spirit would come down and rest on Him. [See John 1:33.] In today s Bible story, Jesus obeyed God by being baptized. When Jesus came out of the water, the Holy Spirit came down like a dove and rested on 84 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 5

80 Him. Jesus never sinned, but He obeyed God and was baptized like sinners are baptized. Baptism reminds us of Jesus death and resurrection. It reminds us that when we trust in Jesus, we turn from sin and start a new life a life lived for Jesus. Journal and prayer (5 minutes) Distribute journal pages and pencils. Instruct kids to imagine someone who has never heard of baptism before. Encourage them to write how they would describe baptism and what it means. SAY Jesus obeyed God by being baptized. His baptism was an example for us, but it also pointed to what He was going to do. Jesus died on the cross for our sins. On the third day, He rose from the dead! When we are baptized, we show that we have trusted in Jesus dying to ourselves and our sinful ways and being raised up to live a new life for Him. Let s pray. Dear God, thank You for giving us baptism so we have a way to show the world the beauty of Your salvation. Thank You, Jesus, for identifying with us and being baptized even though You didn t have to. Most importantly, thank You for what baptism represents. You rescue us from sin and death and raise us up to new life. We love You. Amen. As time allows, lead kids to complete the Key Word Crossword Puzzle on the activity page. Encourage kids to use their Bibles to match key words with the clues to fill in the puzzle. (Across: 2. John, 3. repent, 6. Jordan River, 8. dove, 9. baptism, 10. sinned; Down: 1. Holy Spirit, 4. Lamb of God, 5. Messiah, 7. water) Option: Review the gospel with boys and girls. Explain that kids are welcome to speak with you or another teacher if they have questions. pencils Journal Page Key Word Crossword Puzzle activity page, 1 per kid Tip: Give parents this week s Big Picture Cards for Families to allow families to interact with the biblical content at home. God the Son 85

81 UNIT 19 Session 6 Use Week of: Jesus Was Tempted BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 4:1-11 MAIN POINT: Jesus was tempted and never sinned. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. SMALL GROUP OPENING (10 15 MINUTES) PAGE 90 LARGE GROUP BIBLE STUDY (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 92 SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 98 Leader BIBLE STUDY After Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness. Jesus fasted for 40 days, and He was hungry. There in the wilderness, the Devil, who is the agent of temptation and father of lies, appeared to Jesus. The Devil said to Him, If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. 6 If You are the Son of God? The Devil knew who Jesus was. He challenged Jesus to prove it. The Devil wanted to ruin God s plan of redemption which was set in motion in Genesis 3. In the garden of Eden, Satan used a seemingly innocent question to arouse doubt in Eve: Did God really say, You can t eat from any tree in the garden? (Gen. 3:1). 86 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 6

82 Adam and Eve ate the fruit God had forbidden them to eat, and sin entered the world. Jesus came to reverse the curse, to succeed where Adam failed. The Devil s aim was to use a similar trick as in Eden to get Jesus to sin, to disqualify Him from the role of sinless Savior. The Devil targeted Jesus in His weakness. He tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread, to put Himself in danger, and to worship him as a way to fulfill His mission without going to the cross. Go away, Satan! Jesus replied. The writer of Hebrews said that Jesus, our High Priest, can sympathize with our weaknesses because He was tested in every way we are, yet He never sinned. Jesus actions are an example for believers, but what happens when we do give in to temptation? Emphasize to kids that we can boldly approach God s throne to receive grace to help us through temptation, and mercy and forgiveness when we sin. (See Heb. 4:14-16.) We have hope because Christ died for sinners. 6 Additional resources for each session are available at gospelproject.com. For free training and session-by-session help, visit God the Son 87

83 The BIBLE STORY Bible Storytelling Tips Use dramatic dialogue: Stand in one spot when telling Jesus words. Then turn and face that spot as you speak the Devil s words. Emphasize repetition: After each time the Devil tempted Jesus, pause and ask, Do you think Jesus gave in to temptation? Kids should reply, No! Jesus Was Tempted Matthew 4:1-22 After Jesus was baptized, He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. Jesus did not eat for 40 days and 40 nights. He prayed and thought about God s plan for His life. When those days were over, Jesus was hungry. Then the Devil, who tempts people to sin, came up to Jesus. He said, If You are really God s Son, prove it. Tell these stones to become bread. If Jesus used His power to turn the stones into bread, He could eat them so He wouldn t be hungry anymore. But Jesus refused. Instead of using His own power, Jesus chose to trust God to meet His needs. Jesus said, God s Word says: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. The Devil tempted Jesus again. He took Jesus to Jerusalem, which was called the holy city. The Devil took Jesus up to the top of the temple. Jesus stood on the roof, and the Devil said, If You are really God s Son, prove it. Jump off this temple and trust God to protect You. Then the Devil said: God s Word says: God will order His angels to keep You safe, and they will protect You so that You will not even strike your foot against a stone. The Devil had used words from Scripture, but Jesus knew the Devil s command was foolish. Jesus reminded him, God s Word also says: Do not test the Lord your God. Finally, the Devil took Jesus to a high mountain. He showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and how 88 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 6

84 great they were. The Devil said to Jesus, I will give You all the riches and power of these kingdoms. They belong to me, and I can give them to anyone I want. If You want them, all You have to do is fall down and worship me. Jesus resisted temptation again. He replied, Go away, Satan! God s Word says: Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only. The Devil left Jesus, and angels came right away to serve Jesus. Throughout all these temptations, Jesus never sinned. After that, Jesus began His ministry. He preached and said, Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near! Jesus called some fishermen to follow Him. Peter, Andrew, James, and John left their nets and followed Jesus. Christ Connection: Jesus was tempted, but He trusted God and never sinned. Jesus is perfect and righteous. A perfect sacrifice was required to take away sin. Jesus was that perfect sacrifice. He died on the cross to free us from sin and to give us the power to say no to temptation. WANT TO DISCOVER GOD S WORD? GET BIBLE EXPRESS! Invite kids to check out this week s devotionals to discover that Jesus was tempted and never sinned. As a result, Jesus is the perfect sacrifice to take away sin. Jesus is Lord of all. (Acts 10:36) Order in bulk, subscribe quarterly, or purchase individually. For more information, check out devotionals. God the Son 89

85 Small Group OPENING SESSION TITLE: Jesus Was Tempted BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 4:1-11 MAIN POINT: Jesus was tempted and never sinned. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. Welcome time Greet each kid as he or she arrives. Use this time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. Invite kids to share about a time this past week they did something they knew they weren t supposed to do. Prompt kids to also consider a time they did not do something they should have done. It Is Written activity page, 1 per kid pencils or markers LOW PREP paper bag empty egg carton Activity page (5 minutes) Invite kids to complete It Is Written on the activity page. Demonstrate how to use the code to fill in the words Jesus said when He was tempted to sin. When kids finish, invite volunteers to share their answers. SAY These are all things Jesus said when He was tempted to sin. Do you think Jesus ever gave in and sinned? We will hear more about this in today s Bible story. Session starter (10 minutes) OPTION 1: No peeking! Instruct kids to close their eyes. Explain that you are going to tell them a story. They may hear some unusual noises as 90 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 6

86 they listen, but tell them not to peek! Hold a paper bag containing an empty egg carton. As you begin to tell the story, open the paper bag slowly. SAY Oh, wow! You won t believe what I have here in my bag. This is the coolest thing ever. You all will be so surprised when you see it. Let me describe it to you. Rustle the bag and describe the item inside to pique kids curiosity. Tell kids about the item s shape, color, purpose, and so on. Then invite kids to open their eyes. SAY Raise your hand if you were tempted to peek while I was talking about the object. Did any of you actually peek? Today s Bible story is about a time Jesus was tempted. Do you think He gave in to temptation? OPTION 2: A good fight Write the following on separate index cards: fire, bear attack, the flu, shark attack, bullies, a bad grade. Form up to six groups of kids and give each group an index card, markers or crayons, and a large piece of paper. Instruct kids to imagine they are facing the scenario on their card. How would they fight it? Encourage kids to discuss within their groups possible solutions and then draw a picture of the best defense. After several minutes, lead groups to share their solutions. SAY Those are some good solutions to some tricky problems. In today s Bible story, we are going to hear about how Jesus fought against something we all face temptation. We will find out what Jesus did when He was tempted. index cards markers or crayons large pieces of paper Transition to large group God the Son 91

87 Large Group LEADER SESSION TITLE: Jesus Was Tempted BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 4:1-11 MAIN POINT: Jesus was tempted and never sinned. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. countdown video Countdown Show the countdown video as your kids arrive, and set it to end as large group time begins. leader attire backpack Bible large box with lid Introduce the session (3 minutes) [Large Group Leader enters carrying a backpack, Bible, and large box with lid. Leader sets down the backpack and Bible.] LEADER Hello, everyone! It is good to see you. You see this box here? My grandma sent it to me, and I can t wait to find out what s inside! The only problem is that she gave me very clear instructions. She said, Do not open the box until your birthday! And my birthday isn t for awhile. I really want to peek inside! Have any of you ever been tempted to peek at a present before you were supposed to open it? It is so hard not to. [Set the box aside.] But I know my grandma will be happy if I wait, so I will wait until my birthday to open that box. Big picture question (1 minute) LEADER Let s review our big picture question. We have been learning this question the last several weeks. 92 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 6

88 I ll say the question, and you shout out the answer. What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. Remember, Jesus who is God the Son came to earth and took on the form of a man. But Jesus didn t stop being God the Son. Let s find out how today s Bible story shows us that Jesus is fully God and fully man. Giant timeline (1 minute) LEADER First, we heard how Jesus came to earth as a baby. Jesus earthly family included Abraham, David, and others. We heard about His humble birth in Bethlehem and how He went to the temple as a boy. Jesus came to earth to do His Father s plan. When He grew up, Jesus obeyed God by being baptized. Today s Bible story is called Jesus Was Tempted. We will see how Jesus experienced life like we do. He was tempted to sin like you and I are tempted. Listen closely to this story. Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Open your Bible to Matthew 4:1-22. Use the Bible storytelling tips on the Bible story page to help you tell the story, or show the Bible story video Jesus Was Tempted. LEADER After Jesus was baptized, He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. For 40 days and 40 nights, Jesus ate nothing. The Devil knew Jesus was hungry, so he came to Jesus and tempted Him to turn stones into bread. But Jesus refused, using God s Word to defeat the Devil. Next, the Devil told Jesus to throw Himself off the top of the temple; surely the angels would save Him. Giant Timeline or Big Story Circle Bibles Jesus Was Tempted video Big Picture Question Poster Bible Story Picture Poster God the Son 93

89 Again, Jesus refused. The Devil tempted Jesus a third time by offering Him all the riches and power of the world, if only Jesus would worship him. Does that sound like a good idea? No! Jesus refused again and answered with the Word of God. Three times the Devil tempted Jesus, and three times Jesus defeated him by using the Word of God. Incredible! I think if I had been in Jesus situation, I would have sinned. I can hardly go one day without food. Imagine 40 days! And the promise of a big earthly kingdom wow. What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. I am so thankful that we have this story in the Bible. Jesus was tempted and never sinned. Giant Timeline or Big Story Circle Tip: Use Scripture and the guide provided to explain how to become a Christian. Make sure kids know when and where they can ask questions. Key Passage Poster This Saying song Christ connection Refer back to the giant timeline or big story circle. Point out the Bible story Sin Entered the World. LEADER Do you remember anyone else who was tempted by the Devil? Adam and Eve were tempted, and they did sin. When sin entered the world, everything was affected. We are all sinners too. That is why we need Jesus. Jesus was tempted and never sinned. Because Jesus is perfect and righteous, He is the only One who could free us from sin. A perfect sacrifice was required to take away sin, and Jesus gave up His life by dying on the cross for our sin. When we trust in Jesus, God forgives our sin and gives us the power to say no to temptation. Key passage (5 minutes) Show the key passage poster. Lead the boys and girls to read 94 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 6

90 together 1 Timothy 1:15. Divide the room in half; call for kids on the right half of the room to say the key passage together. Then call for kids on the left half to say it. LEADER Great job! Our key passage tells us why Jesus came to save sinners! Jesus was able to take the punishment for our sin because He lived the perfect life we failed to live. That makes me want to sing! Lead kids to sing together This Saying. Discussion starter video (4 minutes) LEADER What kinds of things tempt you? Think about that as we watch this video. Show the Unit 19, Session 6 discussion starter video. Guide kids to talk about what Benjamin was tempted to do. (disobey his mom by eating a cookie) If Benjamin did choose to eat the cookie, what should he do next? LEADER The Bible says that God gives us power to resist temptation. When we say no to sin, we show God that He is most important in our lives more important that doing what we want to do. Open your Bible to 1 Corinthians 10:13. Choose a volunteer to stand and read the verse aloud. LEADER Jesus was tempted and never sinned. Jesus answered the Devil s temptations with God s own Word. Jesus gave us a good example for how to say no to sin, but we also know that we are all sinners. Jesus was tempted in every way that we are tempted, but He never sinned. Jesus is perfect and righteous, and He took the punishment we deserve for our sin. When we do sin, we can repent or turn away from our sin and turn back to God. God will forgive us! Unit 19, Session 6 discussion starter video God the Son 95

91 The Savior We Need song Sing (4 minutes) LEADER The Bible says that before we trust in Jesus, we are slaves to sin. Sin has power over us. Jesus came to be the perfect sacrifice required to take away sin. He died on the cross and rose again to free us from sin and to give us the power to say no to temptation. That is such great news! Let s sing to Him. Sing together The Savior We Need. Pray (2 minutes) Invite kids to pray before dismissing to small groups. LEADER Dear God, thank You for Your Word. We look to You for help to fight temptation and say no to sin. Thank You for Jesus who was tempted but never sinned. We trust in Him alone to save us. We love You. Amen. Dismiss to small groups 96 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 6

92 The Gospel: God s Plan for Me Ask kids if they have ever heard the word gospel. Clarify that the word gospel means good news. It is the message about Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. Use the following guide to share the gospel with kids. God rules. Explain to kids that the Bible tells us God created everything, and He is in charge of everything. Invite a volunteer to read Genesis 1:1 from the Bible. Read Revelation 4:11 or Colossians 1:16-17 aloud and explain what these verses mean. We sinned. Tell kids that since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Romans 3:23) The Bible calls this sin. Because God is holy, God cannot be around sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God s punishment of death. (Romans 6:23) God provided. Choose a child to read John 3:16 aloud. Say that God sent His Son, Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It s something we, as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us. Read and explain Ephesians 2:8-9. Jesus gives. Share with kids that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever! Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:18. We respond. Tell kids that they can respond to Jesus. Read Romans 10:9-10,13. Review these aspects of our response: Believe in your heart that Jesus alone saves you through what He s already done on the cross. Repent, turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that your faith is in Jesus. Offer to talk with any child who is interested in responding to Jesus. Provide I m a Christian Now for new Christians to take home and complete with their families. God the Son 97

93 Small Group LEADER SESSION TITLE: Jesus Was Tempted BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 4:1-11 MAIN POINT: Jesus was tempted and never sinned. KEY PASSAGE: 1 Timothy 1:15 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. Key Passage Poster Key passage activity (5 minutes) Display the key passage poster. Invite a volunteer who thinks he has memorized 1 Timothy 1:15 to stand at the front of the room with his back to the poster. Challenge him to say the key passage backwards, one word at a time. Other kids may check for correctness. Then prompt him to say the key passage from beginning to end. Allow additional volunteers as time allows. Lead all the kids to say the key passage backward and forward together. SAY I love this key passage! If you haven t already, memorize 1 Timothy 1:15. This verse reminds us why Jesus came into the world. Our Bible story tells us that Jesus was tempted and never sinned. Jesus came into the world to save sinners. All of us are sinners! We can trust in Him for our salvation. Bibles, 1 per kid Main Point Poster Bible story review & Bible skills (10 minutes) Form three groups of kids. Distribute Bibles and assign a passage of today s Bible story to each group: Matthew 4:1-4; Matthew 4:5-7; and Matthew 4:8-10. Ask a volunteer from each group to read its assigned passage aloud. After a group reads its passage, ask the 98 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 6

94 following questions. Repeat for each group: 1. Where was Jesus? Group 1: in the wilderness, Matt. 4:1 Group 2: at the top of the temple, Matt. 4:5 Group 3: on a mountain, Matt. 4:8 2. What did the Devil tempt Jesus to do? Group 1: turn stones into bread, Matt. 4:3 G roup 2: throw Himself down from the temple, Matt. 4:6 Group 3: worship the Devil, Matt. 4:9 3. How did Jesus respond? (with God s words) G roup 1: It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes form the mouth of God (Matt. 4:4). G roup 2: It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God (Matt. 4:7). G roup 3: It is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him (Matt. 4:10). SAY Raise your hand if you have ever been tempted. Keep your hand raised if you have ever said no to sin. Now put your hand down if you have ever failed and sinned. The Bible says that Jesus was tempted and never sinned. Jesus is different than us. What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man. Jesus knows how hard it can be to say no to sin. When we are tempted to sin, we can pray and ask Him to help us say no to sin. Reassure kids that when we do fail and sin, we can repent and turn to Jesus for forgiveness. Jesus lived the perfect life we cannot live and died the death we deserve to die so that we could have forgiveness and eternal life. Option: Retell or review the Bible story using the bolded text of the Bible story script. God the Son 99

95 LOW PREP Bibles, 1 per kid large index cards markers stapler Option: Allow kids to choose another Bible passage. Option: Review the gospel with boys and girls. Explain that kids are welcome to speak with you or another teacher if they have questions. Activity choice (10 minutes) OPTION 1: Act it out Form three groups of kids. Assign each group a scenario and give them a few minutes to plan how they will act it out: Someone is tempted to cheat. Someone is tempted to hit another person. Someone is tempted to lie. Call on groups one at a time to act out their scenario. Before the scene resolves, direct the actors to freeze. Prompt the rest of the kids to talk about how the person could react to say no to temptation. Repeat for each scenario. SAY Jesus is fully God and fully man. When He came to earth, He experienced temptation just like we do. Jesus was tempted and never sinned. We can turn to God for help to say no to sin. OPTION 2: Bible memory book Invite each kid to make a book to help them memorize a passage of Scripture. Give each several large index cards. Kids should fold the cards in half and stack them to form a book. Staple the fold to bind the cards together. Provide markers for kids to write the key passage reference, 1 Timothy 1:15, on the front cover of the book. On the first page, kids should write out the entire verse. On the next page, they should write it again but leave out the first two words. On each following page, kids will rewrite the verse, leaving out more words. SAY Jesus was tempted and never sinned. He trusted God and responded to the Devil s temptations by saying God s words. Jesus is perfect and righteous. A perfect sacrifice was required to take away sin. Jesus was that perfect 100 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 19 Session 6

96 sacrifice. He died on the cross to free us from sin and to give us the power to say no to temptation. Journal and prayer (5 minutes) Distribute journal pages and pencils. Prompt kids to list in their journal pages some temptations they face. Remind kids that what is tempting to one person might not be tempting to someone else. SAY Just like the Devil tried to trick Jesus to sin, the Devil wants us to sin too. But the Bible says that when we resist the Devil, he will go away. [See James 4:7.] God gives us power through the Holy Spirit to say no to sin. Let s pray. Dear God, thank You for giving us the Bible to show us what You are like and to help us fight temptation. Thank You for telling us about Jesus temptation. Jesus showed us how to use Scripture and faith to fight against the Devil s temptations. Most of all, Jesus never sinned. We trust in Him as our perfect sacrifice to take away sin. Please forgive us when we give in to temptation, and give us strength to follow You. We love You. Amen. As time allows, lead kids to complete What Happened Next? on the activity page. Kids should number the pictures in the order the events happened. Then encourage them to label each picture with the Scripture reference describing the scene. Allow volunteers to briefly retell what happened in today s Bible story. (Answers: 3. Matt. 4:5-6; 4. Matt. 4:8-9; 2. Matt. 4:3; 1. Matt. 4:2) pencils Journal Page What Happened Next? activity page, 1 per kid Tip: Give parents this week s Big Picture Cards for Families to allow families to interact with the biblical content at home. God the Son 101

97 UNIT 21 Session 1 Use Week of: Jesus Met Nicodemus 1 BIBLE PASSAGE: John 3:1-21 MAIN POINT: Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born again. KEY PASSAGE: John 14:6 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Who did Jesus say He is? Jesus said He is the Messiah. SMALL GROUP OPENING (10 15 MINUTES) PAGE 142 LARGE GROUP BIBLE STUDY (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 144 SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 150 Leader BIBLE STUDY Jesus ministry had begun. His first miracle was at a wedding, turning water into wine. He cleansed the temple in Jerusalem and performed signs, and many trusted in His name (John 2:23). Jesus likely spent a large part of His day teaching. When the day was done, He spent time alone or with His disciples. One night, however, a man named Nicodemus approached Jesus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews; that is, he was a religious leader who taught God s law, and he was a member of the Sanhedrin a Jewish governing body. Nicodemus was part of an exclusive group of apparently moral men. He held to the belief that if a person was a 138 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 21 Session 1

98 law-abiding Jew, he would be accepted by God. Jesus gave Nicodemus a lesson that would turn his belief system on its head. Jesus was a carpenter (Mark 6:3), so the religious teachers likely assumed He didn t know theology. But they had seen Jesus miraculous signs in Jerusalem. Nicodemus had to conclude, You are a teacher come from God (John 3:2). 1 Nicodemus initiated the conversation, but Jesus chose the subject. His words perplexed Nicodemus: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). Jesus explained that spiritual birth is not unlike physical birth in that a person cannot do it himself. It is something that happens to him. Jesus reminded Nicodemus of an Old Testament account, the disobedient Israelites and the bronze snake. The Israelites could not help themselves, but when they trusted in God and looked to the bronze snake lifted up on the pole, they were healed. (Num. 21:4-9) Emphasize with kids that every person is born a sinner spiritually dead and alienated from God. It is by God s Spirit not our own effort that we are born again. We look to Christ and His finished work on the cross for our salvation. Additional resources for each session are available at gospelproject.com. For free training and session-by-session help, visit God Among Us 139

99 The BIBLE STORY Bible Storytelling Tips Set the scene: Dim the lights in the room to simulate nighttime. Speak softly and hold a submissive posture as Nicodemus may have done. Use dramatic dialogue: Stand in one spot when telling Jesus words. Then turn and face that spot as you speak Nicodemus s words. Jesus Met Nicodemus John 3:1-21 Jesus had traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. One night, a religious man came to see Jesus. The man s name was Nicodemus (NIK uh DEE muhs). Nicodemus was a Pharisee. He studied and taught God s law, and he tried very hard to obey the law. Nicodemus wanted to know more about Jesus. Rabbi (RAB igh), he said, we know that You have come from God. You are a teacher, and no one could do the miracles You do unless God is with him. Nicodemus had that right. Jesus said, I tell you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Now Nicodemus was confused. He thought that keeping all God s laws was how a person got into heaven. Besides, what Jesus said didn t make any sense! How can anyone be born when he is old? Nicodemus asked. Jesus said, A man cannot enter God s kingdom unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. When a baby is born, he gets physical life from his parents. Physical life doesn t last forever. But the Spirit gives people spiritual life so they can live with God forever. Jesus said, Don t be surprised I told you that you must be born again. Nicodemus still didn t understand. How is this possible? he asked. Jesus replied, We talk about what we know, and we tell others about what we have seen. But you don t believe what I m telling you! When you don t believe what I say about 140 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 21 Session 1

100 things I ve seen on earth, how will you believe what I say about the things I ve seen in heaven? No one has ever gone up into heaven, except the Son of Man. He came down from heaven. Do you remember how Moses raised up the bronze snake in the wilderness? Everyone who looked at it was healed. Like that, the Son of Man will be raised up, so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life. Then Jesus told Nicodemus about God s great plan. Jesus said, God showed His love in this way: He sent His One and Only Son to save the world. Everyone who believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. God didn t send His Son to declare the world guilty, but to save the world. Anyone who believes in Him is found not guilty, but anyone who does not believe in Him is guilty already. Christ Connection: Nicodemus needed new life eternal life but he could not do anything to earn it. Eternal life is a gift that comes only from God. God showed His love in this way: He sent His One and Only Son to save the world. Everyone who believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. WANT TO DISCOVER GOD S WORD? GET BIBLE EXPRESS! Invite kids to check out this week s devotionals to discover that Jesus told Nicodemus about God s plan. Later, Jesus promised to give believers those who have been born again the Holy Spirit. (John 14:26) Order in bulk, subscribe quarterly, or purchase individually. For more information, check out devotionals. God Among Us 141

101 Small Group OPENING SESSION TITLE: Jesus Met Nicodemus BIBLE PASSAGE: John 3:1-21 MAIN POINT: Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born again. KEY PASSAGE: John 14:6 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Who did Jesus say He is? Jesus said He is the Messiah. Welcome time Greet each kid as he or she arrives. Use this time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. Ask kids to share about a time they met someone new. Where did they meet? How did they feel? What did they say? SAY Those are some interesting experiences. Today s Bible story is about a man who met Jesus. I wonder what the man said to Jesus. The Way to Jesus activity page, 1 per kid pencils or markers LOW PREP Activity page (5 minutes) Invite kids to complete The Way to Jesus maze on the activity page. Kids should complete the maze to help Nicodemus get to Jesus. SAY Today we are going to hear a story from the Bible about a man named Nicodemus. Nicodemus went to visit Jesus at night. Why do you think he did that? Session starter (10 minutes) OPTION 1: Question pairs Instruct kids to stand. Explain that you will ask a question. Kids should share their answers with each other, trying to 142 Older Kids Leader Guide Unit 21 Session 1

102 find a partner who shares the same answer. When a kid finds a partner, the pair should stand back to back. Allow time for several more pairs to form, and then ask another question. Play several rounds as time allows. What is your favorite color? How old are you? How many brothers and sisters do you have? What is your favorite school subject? SAY One of the best ways to find out new information is to ask questions. Today we are going to hear a Bible story about a man who asked Jesus some questions because he didn t understand what Jesus said. OPTION 2: One way Before the session, prepare a paper for each kid: First, fold the square paper into fourths. Then unfold the paper and cut away one of the squares to form a wide L-shape. Give each kid a pencil and a prepared paper shape. Challenge kids to draw lines to divide the shape into four identical pieces. Allow several minutes for kids to work. If a kid figures out the answer, check his work and encourage him to keep his paper hidden. Finally, reveal the answer as shown in the margin. SAY Did you feel frustrated if you couldn t figure out the answer? This was a tough challenge because there was only one correct way to divide the shape. Today we are going to hear a Bible story about a man named Nicodemus. Nicodemus found out that there is only one way to enter God s kingdom. We will find out what that way is. square paper pencils scissors Transition to large group God Among Us 143