A voice from heaven said, This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him. (Matthew 3:17) Gather: CD player offering. Explore: DVD player

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1 PLAN Supplies Deep Blue Resources: Large Group Small Group Sunday School Kit: CD-ROM Leader Guide Adventure DVD Additional Deep Blue Resources: Deep Blue CEB Kids Bible Deep Blue Bible Storybook Deep Blue Kids Bible Dictionary Gather: CD player offering basket crayons pencils paper chairs computer projector Explore: DVD player television or projector and screen computer CD player Respond: pencils Before You Teach I n today s lesson, we will explore the familiar Bible story of Jesus blessing the little children. We are not told why the parents were bringing their children to Jesus. In those days, the infant mortality rate was high. Thirty percent of children did not make it to the age of six, and sixty percent of children died before reaching the age of sixteen. It is likely that the parents had heard of Jesus healing miracles and wanted him to bless and protect their children. When the disciples attempted to discourage the parents from bringing their children to see Jesus, they weren t intentionally being mean to children. They were acting in a way consistent with the social norms and expectations of the time. At the time Jesus lived, children were not viewed as persons in their own right. Children were considered to be their father s property. Thus, children should not be allowed to disturb Jesus while he was teaching. When Jesus reprimanded the disciples for keeping the children away, he made a clear statement that access to him and to God s love was for everyone. There are no non-persons in God s kingdom. By blessing the children, Jesus showed that they were full members in God s family. Use this week s lesson as an opportunity to affirm to the children in your class that they are an integral part of God s family and of your church family. Jesus also used children as an example to teach the disciples about the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like children. The kingdom of heaven can be a difficult concept for children (and adults) to understand. Some people refer to the coming kingdom of heaven, alluding to a time in the future when Jesus will return. However, during his ministry, Jesus taught that the kingdom of heaven is a present reality. The Spirit of God is within us and among us. Fall deepbluekids.com

2 GATHER Note The following activities are planned to introduce today s theme. Depending on your setting, you may set up the gathering activities as centers and let the children choose, OR you may select one or more of the activities for all the children to participate in. You may also choose to use one or more of the activities during the Small Group Time at the end of the lesson. Greeting Play, Tell Me the Stories of Jesus (CD-ROM), as you welcome each child. Show the children where to place their offerings. SAY: Today our Bible story is about Jesus and the children. A Day with Jesus (Art Activity) SAY: Today we are going to hear a Bible story about Jesus spending time with some children. Use your imagination to think about what would happen if Jesus were to come and spend a day with you. ASK: What do you think it would be like to spend a day with Jesus? What would you do together? What would you talk about? Invite each child to draw a picture in response to the following prompt: If Jesus were here to spend an entire day with me, we would... Stories of Jesus Review (Musical Activity) Before class: Set up a circle of chairs facing to the outside of the circle, using one less chair than the number of children playing. Have the children form a circle around the chairs. Start playing, Tell Me the Stories of Jesus (CD- ROM), and have the children begin walking around the circle. Stop the music and have each child find a seat. SAY: You are not out of the game if you are left standing. Rather, you will tell us a story about Jesus. It could be a story we have heard this month or another story you remember. Invite the child left standing to tell a brief story about Jesus. Continue playing the game, removing one additional chair each round. Encourage the children to name stories that have not been shared already. Fall deepbluekids.com

3 GATHER Then and Now (Research Activity) Before class: Photocopy Then and Now (Leader Guide p. 55) for each child. SAY: At the time Jesus lived, children were treated differently than they are now. Children were considered to be property of their parents. There are many things that have changed in the nearly two thousand years since Jesus lived. Have the children work individually or in small groups to complete the Then and Now worksheet. Discuss the information together as a group. Let the children explore the information about A Kid s Life in Bible Times (pp ) in the Deep Blue Kids Bible Dictionary. A Modern Story (Visual and Reflection Activity) Before class: Preview the following video about the Kinnick Wave: youtube.com/watch?v=4cnb4nhjed4 SAY: Being in the hospital can be an upsetting experience, especially for children. Invite any children who have been in the hospital to share about how they felt when they were in the hospital. Remind the children that sharing is always optional. Tell the children the following story: In 2017, the University of Iowa finished building a new children s hospital. The new hospital is twelve stories high and is across the street from the university s football stadium (Kinnick Stadium). The hospital was designed with windows on the top floor that overlook the stadium so patients would be able to watch the football games. Thanks to an idea that was posted by a fan on social media, a new tradition was started. Now at the end of the first quarter of each football game, all the players and fans usually around 65,000 people turn and wave at the patients and families watching from the children s hospital. Show the children the video. OR ASK: How do you think it makes the children in the hospital feel to see so many people waving at them? How do you think it feels to be in the large crowd of people waving at the children in the hospital? Have you had an experience that made you feel special and important? Transition to Explore Sacred Conversations Ring a bell to indicate to the children that it is Large Group Time. ASK: How do you feel when you are not allowed to do something, even if there is a good reason you may not do it? How does it feel when you get to do something you had previously not been allowed to do? Have the children move to the large group area. Fall deepbluekids.com

4 EXPLORE See the Bible Story Watch the Deep Blue Adventure for Session 5 (DVD) with the children. ASK: How do you think the children in the story felt when they met Jesus? Hear the Bible Story SAY: All month we have been hearing stories about Jesus. These stories are found in the New Testament of the Bible. Today s story is from the Gospel of Matthew. Read the children Matthew 19:13-15 from the CEB Kids Bible. Interact with the Bible Story Before class: Photocopy Jesus and the Children (Leader Guide p. 54) for each child. Recruit nine children to read today s story. Give each reader a copy of Jesus and the Children. Assign a line of the story to each reader. Invite your volunteers to read the story from Jesus and the Children. ASK: Why were the parents bringing their children to Jesus? (So that Jesus could touch them and bless them.) Why did the disciples try to stop the children? (They didn t want them to bother Jesus.) How do you think that made the children feel? How do you think the children felt when Jesus told the disciples to let them come to him? SAY: At the time Jesus lived, children were treated more like property than people. The disciples did not think children should be disturbing Jesus. The disciples weren t trying to be mean; they were simply acting in a way consistent with how children were treated at the time. Jesus, however, taught us that God s love is for everyone. Review the Bible Verse Show the Bible verse (Graphic 1a CD-ROM). SAY: This month s Bible verse reminds us that Jesus is God s Son. Encourage the children to read the verse together with you. ASK: Do you remember the Bible story we heard this month that contained this verse? (the story of Jesus baptism) Show the children the signs for the Bible verse from American Sign Language (Graphic 1b CD-ROM). Invite the children to sign and say the Bible verse with you several times. Fall deepbluekids.com

5 EXPLORE Praising Time Play the song, Tell Me the Stories of Jesus (CD-ROM). Let the children dance as the music plays. SAY: We are going to join in a litany. Your response is: Thank you, God, for Jesus! Invite the children to practice their response before leading the children in the following litany. LEADER: Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem, and while they were there Jesus was born. ALL: Thank you, God, for Jesus! LEADER: Jesus grew up in a family that loved and supported him. ALL: Thank you, God, for Jesus! LEADER: When Jesus was baptized, a voice from heaven spoke, claiming Jesus as God s Son. ALL: Thank you, God, for Jesus! LEADER: Jesus chose followers to help him with his ministry. ALL: Thank you, God, for Jesus! LEADER: Jesus reminded his followers that people of all ages are important to God. ALL: Thank you, God, for Jesus! PRAY: God, thank you for your Son, Jesus, and for stories that help us learn about you. Amen. Faith Family Missions SAY: By welcoming children, Jesus taught that people of all ages are important to God. As followers of Jesus, we want to make sure we are following Jesus example of loving and including persons of all ages. Let s think of some things we could do as a class or you could do with your family to show love toward children who are younger than you. ASK: What are some ways we could help younger children? What are some things we could do to let young children know they are loved and welcome? Allow the children an opportunity to share their ideas. TIP: Some possibilities include reading to a younger child, helping their family provide childcare for a family with young children, or making welcome bags for children in worship. Transition to Respond Have the children line up by height, from the shortest to the tallest, without speaking. SAY: No matter how tall you are or what age you are, you are important to God. Dismiss the children to their small groups. Fall deepbluekids.com

6 RESPOND Younger Elementary Small Group Reflect and Connect SAY: Today we heard the story of Jesus and the children. ASK: Why didn t the disciples want the parents to bring their children to Jesus? (They didn t want Jesus to be bothered.) SAY: There are some things that require you to be a certain age to be able to do them. ASK: How old do you have to be to go to kindergarten? (5) How old do you have to be to vote? (18) How old do you have to be to get a driver s license? (16) How old do you have to be to run for President of the United States? (35) How old do you have to be to be loved by Jesus? (no age requirement) How old do you have to be to share God s love with others? (no age requirement) SAY: Jesus teaches us that there is no age requirement to be loved by God or to share God s love! ASK: What are some ways that you, at the age you are right now, can share God s love with others? Invite the children to share their ideas. Blessings Have the children sit in a circle. SAY: Today we heard about parents bringing their children to Jesus for a blessing. Each week during our Small Group Time, you will receive a blessing. Blessings help remind us that we are important and loved by God. Today when I give you a blessing, I will place my hand on your shoulder. Bless each child in turn by placing a hand on the child s shoulder. SAY: (Child s name), you are important to God, and God loves you. At Home with God SAY: When you go home today, tell each person in your family that he or she is loved by God. Send a copy of Jesus and the Children home with each child. Fall deepbluekids.com

7 RESPOND Older Elementary Small Group Reflect and Connect Before class: Photocopy Imagine a Kingdom (Leader Guide p. 56) for each child. SAY: In today s Bible story, Jesus talked about the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven was the way Jesus described what it would be like if everyone were living as God wants us to live. ASK: Whom did Jesus say the kingdom of heaven belonged to? (people like children) What are some differences between children and adults? Which of the characteristics of children do you think Jesus meant when he told the disciples they must be like children? Encourage the children to work individually or in pairs to complete the activity, Imagine a Kingdom. Invite the children to share their stories with the group. ASK: Would you like to live in a world like that? What could we do to make our world more like the kingdom of heaven? Blessings Have the children sit in a circle. SAY: Today we heard about parents bringing their children to Jesus for a blessing. Each week during our Small Group Time, you will receive a blessing. Blessings help remind us that we are important and loved by God. Today when I give you a blessing, I will place my hand on your shoulder. Bless each child in turn by placing a hand on the child s shoulder. SAY: (Child s name), you are important to God and God loves you. At Home with God SAY: When you go home today, tell each person in your family that he or she is loved by God. Send a copy of Jesus and the Children home with each child. Fall deepbluekids.com

8 Jesus and the Children Parents were trying to bring their children to to Jesus so he could place his hands on them and pray. The so he disciples could place tried his to hands stop parents on them from and bringing pray. their children to Jesus. The disciples tried to stop parents from bringing Jesus told the disciples to let the children come to him. their children to Jesus. Jesus said, The kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these children. Jesus told the disciples to let the children come to Then him. Jesus blessed the children and sent them on their way. Jesus was said, trying The kingdom to teach of his heaven disciples belongs that the to kingdom of heaven does not belong to those who are people powerful, like these but that children. it is available to everyone. Then kingdom Jesus blessed of heaven the children refers to and what sent the them world on would be like if everyone were living as God wants their them way. to. When Jesus was you trying share to God s teach love his with disciples others, that you the are living out the kingdom of heaven. Everyone kingdom of is heaven important does in not the belong kingdom to of those heaven. who This are powerful, includes children! but that it is available to everyone. The (Based kingdom on Matthew of heaven 19:13-15) refers to what the world would be like if everyone were living as God wants them to. When you share God s love with others, you are living out the kingdom of heaven. Everyone is important in the kingdom of heaven. This includes children! At Home with God (Based on Matthew 19:13-15.) DO THIS WITH YOUR FAMILY AT HOME: Bless Each Other Find a time when you can sit down with everyone in your family. Sit in a circle around a table. Give each family member a piece of paper. DO THIS WITH YOUR FAMILY AT HOME Have each family member write his or her name at the top of the paper. Bless Each Other Pass the papers around the circle. Find a time when you can sit down with everyone in your family. Write Sit in a circle sentence around on a each table. person s paper telling at least one thing you value about him or her. Continue Give each passing family member the papers a piece around of paper. the circle until each person has had an opportunity to write on each paper. Have each family member write his or her name at the top of the paper. Allow each family member to read what has been written about them. Pass the papers around the circle. Pray together, thanking God for each person in your family. Write a sentence on each person s paper telling at least one thing you value about him or her. Continue passing the papers around the circle until each person has had an opportunity to write on each paper. Allow each family member to read what has been written about them. Pray together, thanking God for each person in your family. Fall deepbluekids.com

9 Then and Now [page divided into two columns label the left column Life at the Time of Jesus and put the listed Life at the Time of Jesus Now items in a bulleted list underneath label the right column Now put bullet points across from each bulleted item on the left but leave blank for children to fill in] Usually only sons received formal education, though girls received instruction at home from Life at the Time of Jesus their parents. Usually only sons received formal education, though girls received instruction at home from their parents. School was held at the synagogue. School was held at the synagogue. Children learned to read by reading the Torah Children learned to read by reading the Torah (the Jewish scriptures). (the Jewish scriptures). Scriptures were written on parchment scrolls. People Scriptures sat on the were floor written or on mats on parchment to eat their scrolls. meals. Meat was only eaten on the Sabbath and only rich people ate meat every Sabbath. People sat on the floor or on mats to eat their Walking meals. was the main form of transportation, even for long distances. Meat was only eaten on the Sabbath and only Now rich people ate meat every Sabbath. Walking was the main form of transportation, even for long distances. Fall deepbluekids.com

10 Imagine a Kingdom The kingdom of heaven refers to what the world would be like if everyone lived the way God wants The kingdom of heaven refers to what the world would be like if everyone lived the way God wants us to live. us to live. How does God want us to live? How does God want us to live? [space or lines for children to write] What would the world be like if everyone followed Jesus teachings all the time? [space or lines for children to write] Write a story describing what it would be like to live in the kingdom of heaven. [space or lines for children to write] What would the world be like if everyone followed Jesus teachings all the time? Would you like to live in a world like that? Write a story describing what it would be like to live in the kingdom of heaven. Would you like to live in a world like that? Fall deepbluekids.com