Luke is the only Gospel to give us a story from Jesus boyhood. Though we may wish

Talk With the Teachers Bible Verse God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. (John 3:16) Did You Know? Luke is the only Gospel to give us a story from Jesus boyhood. Though we may wish for more stories of Jesus childhood, at least the presence of this story in the Bible assures us Jesus did not transform miraculously from an infant to an adult. Sent to earth as a human, Jesus grew up, just as we do. The story we are told from Jesus childhood is the story of the boy Jesus, at age twelve, visiting the temple with his parents. According to Jewish law, all male Israelites were required to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. The distance from Nazareth, where Joseph and Mary were living, to Jerusalem is a little over sixty miles. To us, that distance could be traveled in about an hour. For Joseph and Mary and Jesus traveling on foot in the midst of many others making this annual pilgrimage, the journey would have taken four or five days. At first, we may find it difficult to understand how Joseph and Mary didn t realize Jesus was left behind in Jerusalem. By Jewish custom, at the age of thirteen a male child becomes a man. Therefore, at the age of twelve, although Jesus was still a child, he was close to being regarded as a man. Remember also that Joseph and Mary and their family were not the only ones making this journey. They were traveling with many others who were making this pilgrimage. The Bible tells us Jesus parents assumed he was with their relatives and friends. When Joseph and Mary returned to Jerusalem, they found Jesus at the temple. Try out the new augmentedreality zipper pulls! SESSION 6 January 8 Bible Story Luke 2:39-52 Anchor Point Jesus is God s Son. Your Lesson q Welcome q Looking for Jesus q Finding Jesus in the Temple q Make a Scroll q Imagine Jesus' Childhood q Mission Moment Every Girl Counts q Deep Blue Bible Adventure q Talk With the Teachers q Bible Verse in Two Parts q Worship q Younger Elementary Small Group q Older Elementary Small Group Scan this QR code to download the Deep Blue Kids App. Or visit deepbluekids.com. Requires preparation. Winter 2016 17 Session 6 deepbluekids.com 57

Jump In! The following activities are planned to introduce today s theme. Be sure there is a leader to welcome and direct the kids to the interest groups of their choice. An adult will be needed at each group to lead the activity with the children. WELCOME Supplies: CD-ROM, CD player Greet each parent and child as they arrive. Play music (CD-ROM) to make your room cheerful. TIP It is not necessary for the children to be hidden completely out of sight. This game can be played without the children hiding if there is no room to hide. Simply have the children scatter around the room and let Mary and Joseph guess which child is Jesus. LOOKING FOR JESUS (MOVEMENT ACTIVITY) Choose two children to be Mary and Joseph. Have Mary and Joseph step outside the room with an adult. While Mary and Joseph are outside the room, choose a child to be Jesus. Have the remaining children, including the child chosen to be Jesus, hide somewhere in the room. Have Mary and Joseph return and search for Jesus, asking, Jesus, is that you? as they find each child. If the child is not Jesus, he or she will respond, No, keep searching. When Mary and Joseph find the child chosen to be Jesus, that child will respond, Yes, I ve been in my Father s house. Choose a new Mary and Joseph, and a new Jesus, and continue playing the game. FINDING JESUS IN THE TEMPLE (LOGICAL ACTIVITY) Supplies: Leader s Guide pp. 65 & 66, construction paper, crayons, scissors, tape, glue Make a photocopy of Jesus in the Temple Part 1 (p. 65) and Jesus in the Temple Part 2 (p. 66) for each child. SAY: In our Bible story today, we will hear about a time when Jesus was a boy and his parents found him in the temple. A temple is similar to a church. Give each child a copy of Parts 1 and 2 of Jesus in the Temple (pp. 65 & 66), and encourage them to color the pictures. Have each child cut out the temple, and carefully cut on the dotted/dashed lines of the doors and windows so they may be folded open. Encourage each child to cut out the smaller pictures and tape them to the back of the temple, lining them up so they show through when the doors and windows are folded open. When the temple picture is assembled, let each child glue it onto a piece of construction paper to provide stability. 58 Deep Blue Large Group/Small Group Leader s Guide January 8

MAKE A SCROLL (BIBLE VERSE ACTIVITY) Supplies: CD-ROM, computer, projector and screen, lunch-size paper sacks, scissors, markers, rubber bands SAY: In our Bible story today, we will hear about Jesus reading Scripture. In Jesus time, there were no books. Scripture was read from scrolls. Today you will make a scroll of this month s Bible verse. Show the children the Bible verse (Graphic 5a CD-ROM). Give each child a paper sack. Have each child follow these instructions to make a scroll: Cut down one side and around the bottom of the sack. This will remove the bottom of the sack and result in a piece of paper that can be laid flat. Crumple the paper into a ball and then smooth it flat. Repeat the crumpling and smoothing of the paper several times. Use a marker to write the Bible verse on the paper. Begin rolling up the paper from both sides. Continue rolling both sides until they meet in the middle. Use a rubber band to keep the scroll together. IMAGINE JESUS CHILDHOOD (WRITING ACTIVITY) Supplies: paper, pencils SAY: The Bible does not tell us much about Jesus childhood. In fact, there is only one story in the Bible about Jesus as a boy. Even though we don t know much about Jesus childhood, we know he began life as a baby and grew up, just as you are growing up. Let s use our imaginations to think about what Jesus might have done when he was a child. Think about the things you do. We can imagine that Jesus helped with chores, played games, learned how to do new things, and spent time with his family, just as you do. Give each child a piece of paper and a pencil. Encourage the children to work individually or in small groups to imagine and write stories about Jesus as a boy. Invite the children to share their stories with each other. Winter 2016 17 Session 6 deepbluekids.com 59

Dive Deeper Bring the children together to experience the Bible story and worship. Use a bell to alert the children it is Large Group Time. MISSION MOMENT EVERY GIRL COUNTS Supplies: Leader s Guide pp. 55 & 56, scissors, gluesticks, basket, computer and screen Make photocopies of Mission Letter (p. 55) and Mission Offering Envelope (p. 56) for those children who were not present last week. SAY: This month we are collecting money for Every Girl Counts. Invite children who have brought a mission offering to place it in the basket. Show the children the video about Every Girl Counts found at http://www. everygirlcounts.com/about/. DEEP BLUE BIBLE ADVENTURE Supplies: DVD, DVD player, television or projector and screen Play the Deep Blue theme song, Let s Go Deep Blue Remix (DVD). SAY: Today Asia, Kat, Caleb, and Edgar are looking for Indie. This reminds Asia of a time when Mary and Joseph were searching for Jesus. Show the children the Deep Blue Bible Adventure video for today s session. ASK: How old was Jesus in today s story? (twelve years old) Where did Mary and Joseph find Jesus? (in the temple) TALK WITH THE TEACHERS Supplies: Leader s Guide p. 64 Photocopy Talk With the Teachers (p. 64) for each child to take home. SAY: Last week we heard the story of the magi visiting Jesus when he was a toddler. Today we will hear a story that happened when Jesus was twelve years old. ASK: What can you do or what will you be able to do at age twelve that you couldn t do when you were two years old? (Some examples might be: ride a bike, read, help with cooking, walk to a friend s house, and so forth.) SAY: You learn to do many things as you grow older. Jesus grew up, too, and learned new things, just like you. Let s hear what happened to Jesus when he was twelve years old. We are going to hear today s story from Mary s point of view. Last month we heard Mary tell us about finding out she was going to have a baby. This month she is going to tell us about Jesus as a boy. Read the story from Talk With the Teachers. ASK: When Joseph and Mary found Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem, what was he doing? (listening and teaching) 60 Deep Blue Large Group/Small Group Leader s Guide January 8

SAY: Jesus was teaching others, even though he was only twelve years old. People of all ages can be teachers. ASK: If Jesus were sitting in our classroom today, what do you think he might say? What questions would you ask him if he were here? Allow the children an opportunity to share their ideas. BIBLE VERSE IN TWO PARTS Supplies: CD-ROM, computer, projector and screen Review the sign language for the Bible verse (Graphic 5b CD-ROM). Show the Bible verse (Graphic 5a CD-ROM). Encourage the children to read the verse together with you. Show the children the signs for the Bible verse from American Sign Language with the children. Encourage the children to sign and say the Bible verse with you. Divide the class into two groups. SAY: Now we are going to divide our verse into two parts. The first part will be, God so loved the world. The second part will be, That he gave his only Son. When I point to your group, you will sign and say the first part of the Bible verse. The other group will then sign and say the second part. Point to each group several times, and encourage the children to sign and say the Bible verse. WORSHIP Supplies: DVD, DVD player, television or projector and screen SAY: We have a new song today. It talks about Jesus as God s Son. Play this month s song, Down to the River (DVD), and encourage the children to sing and move along with the music. SAY: If you are seven years old, stand up. Jesus was once seven years old. Jesus grew and learned about God. You are growing and learning about God too. TIP If you have children younger than seven in your class, begin the list of ages with the age of the youngest child. Repeat the above sentences, adding one year each time until all children are standing. SAY: Jesus was once a child, just like you. He grew up, just like you are growing up. Have all the children sit down. PRAY: God, thank you for Jesus who was a child once, just as we are children. Be with us as we continue to grow and help us to learn more about you and to teach others what we learn. Amen. Dismiss the children to their small groups. Winter 2016 17 Session 6 deepbluekids.com 61

Grow Stronger Divide the children into small groups based on age levels. Keep the groups small, with a maximum of ten children in each group. You may need to have more than one of each group. YOUNGER ELEMENTARY SMALL GROUP Supplies: index cards, marker Use a marker to write each of the letters in the word KING on a separate index card. Shuffle the cards together. Make a second set of index cards, writing each of the letters in the word TEACHER on a separate card. Shuffle the cards together. SAY: Today we heard a story about Jesus in the temple when he was twelve years old. When Joseph and Mary found Jesus in the temple, he was listening to the teachers, but he was also asking questions and teaching. Children can be teachers as well as learners. ASK: Can you think of a time when you taught someone about something? Allow the children an opportunity to share their experiences of being teachers. Spread the index cards that spell KING out on the floor. SAY: Last week I asked you the question, Who is Jesus? When arranged correctly, these cards will spell out the answer you gave me last week. Encourage the children to work together to put the cards in order to spell KING. ASK: Who is Jesus? (Jesus is a king.) SAY: Today s story taught us something else about who Jesus is. Spread the index cards that spell TEACHER out on the floor. Encourage the children to work together to put the cards in order to spell TEACHER. ASK: Who is Jesus? (Jesus is a teacher.) SAY: Jesus is God s Son. Jesus is also a king and a teacher. Save the sets of index cards to be used next week. PRAY: God, thank you for stories that teach us about your Son, Jesus. Help us remember that we can teach people about you, just like Jesus did. Amen. 62 Deep Blue Large Group/Small Group Leader s Guide January 8

OLDER ELEMENTARY SMALL GROUP Supplies: Bibles, mural paper chart begun last week (p. 53) SAY: Last week we began making a chart about Jesus. Have the children unroll the chart. ASK: What did we learn last week about who Jesus is? (Jesus is a king.) SAY: This week we heard the story about Jesus in the temple at age twelve. Have the children find Luke 2:39-52 in their Bibles. SAY: This is the Bible story we heard today. Invite a child to read Luke 2:46-47 aloud. SAY: Even at age twelve, Jesus was teaching others. During his life, Jesus taught many people. Invite the children to write the words, Jesus is a teacher, on the mural paper underneath the words, Who Is Jesus? ASK: What did Jesus teach people about? (about God s love, about how God wants us to live) SAY: You can teach others, too, just like Jesus did. ASK: What are some things you can teach other people? How can you teach other people about God? Allow the children an opportunity to share their ideas. Invite a child to read Luke 2:52 aloud. SAY: When we read, Jesus matured in wisdom, that means Jesus learned things and gained more knowledge. How are you maturing in wisdom as you grow? SAY: When we read that Jesus matured in years, that means he grew older. How do you celebrate that you are growing older? SAY: You are continuing to grow up, just like Jesus grew up. As you grow, your relationship with God will continue to grow too. Have the children roll up the mural paper and secure it with the rubber band. Keep the mural paper to use next week. PRAY: God, thank you for those who teach us. Thank you for opportunities to share our knowledge with others. Amen. Winter 2016 17 Session 6 deepbluekids.com 63

Talk With the Teachers Every mother has memories of her children. As the mother of Jesus, I have a lot of different memories of my son. From the time the angel appeared to tell me I was pregnant with God s Son, I knew this child would be special. Today I want to tell you about the time Joseph and I thought Jesus was lost. Joseph and I had traveled with Jesus to Jerusalem, and we were on our way home. We had gone there to celebrate the festival of Passover. We made this journey every year with many of our family and friends to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem. This particular year, Jesus was twelve years old. In one more year, he would be all grown up. In the big group of travelers making the pilgrimage to and from Jerusalem, the women and children usually went on ahead of the men. Jesus was getting old enough that he sometimes traveled with me, and sometimes traveled with Joseph and the other men. So on the trip back, I thought Jesus was with Joseph, and Joseph thought he was with me. That s why we didn t realize Jesus wasn t with us until we had traveled for almost an entire day. When Joseph and I realized Jesus wasn t with either of us, we searched among our relatives and friends. When Jesus couldn t be found, we knew we had to go back to Jerusalem to look for him. As you can probably imagine, I was worried about what might have happened to Jesus. Once we got back to Jerusalem, we searched all over town. When we finally walked into the temple and saw Jesus sitting there among the teachers, I was filled with a mixture of relief and exasperation. I was so happy we had found him and he was safe. On the other hand, I was mad at him for causing us so much worry! When I asked Jesus why he had caused us so much worry, his reply was unusual. He said, Why were you searching for me? Didn t you know I must be in my Father s house? At the time, I didn t really understand his answer. Looking back, I know Jesus was saying that God was his Father, so of course he would be in God s house learning and teaching since he was God s Son. Those who were in the temple that day were amazed at how wise Jesus was for a boy who was only twelve years old. After we found Jesus in the temple, he came with us and we had to hurry to catch up with our fellow travelers. When we got back to Nazareth, Jesus continued to grow and to become closer to God. I ve always remembered that day when we thought Jesus was lost and we found him in his Father s house. (Based on Luke 2:39-52.) 64 Deep Blue Large Group/Small Group Leader s Guide January 8

Jesus in the Temple Part 1 Winter 2016 17 Session 6 deepbluekids.com 65

Jesus in the Temple Part 2 66 Deep Blue Large Group/Small Group Leader s Guide January 8