Bible Reference: Matthew 26:57-75 Key Verse: 1 Peter 2:21-24 SERIES: JESUS, OUR EXAMPLE LESSON 6 OUR EXAMPLE OF SACRIFICE, part 1 OVERVIEW -Introduction Video -Prayer Part -Opening Activity -Bible Story -Key Verse -Small Group Activities ITEMS NEEDED: Signs that say: Sanhedrin, Peter, Servant, Another Woman and Those Standing There -Key Verse signs that say: For I / am not / ashamed / of the / Good News / of Christ, / for it / is the / power / of God / for salvation / for everyone / who believes. / Romans 1:16 -Items for the Cross Trick Illusion (by www.gospelmagic.com) -1 Bean Bag per class -3 Psalm 23 Posters -Items for the Rooster Wycinanki cut out including scissors and items with which to color. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRAYER PART Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death SAY: Today we re going to begin with a Bible drill. When I say Go, I want you to find the book of Psalms 23 as fast as you can. Get your Bibles ready get set Go! Review for any newcomers an easy way to find Psalms. Choose three volunteers to hold the Psalm 23 signs. Ask your students to read Psalm 23 with you. SAY: Look at verse 4. ASK: What are some valleys, or rough times in your life, that you or your family have gone through? How did God help in these times? Was it hard not to worry? SAY: This isn t death It s just the shadow of death but it looks and feels like it. As the sun would set the shepherd would lead the sheep to a sheepfold because with the darkness comes the greatest dangers. ASK: When you re afraid, what can you do or pray? How can God help you with your fears? Prayer Take prayer requests and pray with your students.
OPENING ACTIVITY (Optional) The CROSS TRICK Illusion (To do this illustration, you need to set it up in advance. On the back of the cross is two pieces of tape. Before this illustration begins, stick this tape into the package of white powder, so that some of the powder is stuck on the tape. Make sure you are ready with a small, clear glass of water and a bottle of Iodine. VERY IMPORTANT Keep all of these items away from your kids. The white powder is sodium sulfate, so be sure to wash your hands if you get any on you.) SAY: I want to show you something amazing today that is a perfect picture of why Jesus died for us. -Take a clear glass of water. Explain that the water is pure but that none of us are perfect. -Add the black liquid (Iodine) and explain that every one of us has done wrong things. These wrong things are called sin. The black represents our sins and how our lives are separated from God. -Pick up the cross. (On the back of the cross are two pieces of tape. Before this illustration begins, stick this tape into the package of white powder, so that some of the powder is stuck on the tape.) Explain that Jesus died and was punished for our sins to make a way to take our sins away. This is the reason that only Jesus can forgive us and that Jesus is the only way to go to Heaven. Put the cross into the water and gently stir it The black will completely vanish, representing how Jesus takes away the sins of those who give their lives to Him. SAY: Jesus died to make a way for us to be forgiven and to spend forever in Heaven. We have all done wrong thing and that s why we all need a Savior. (NOTE: You will need to use new water every time you do this illusion. Next week, we will do this illustration again but with a second part showing how salvation is eternal.)
BIBLE LESSON (Based on Matthew 26:57-75) ASK: Who remembers what happened in our Bible stories the past few weeks? Take a few moments to review previous lessons with an emphasis on last week s Bible Story in the Garden of Gethsemane. Control Tool: Leader: How should you be? / Students: Just Like Jesus! Choose one volunteer Give him the Sanhedrin sign. Read Matthew 26:57-68. SAY: The Sanhedrin was the court of Jesus time. It was made up of religious leaders. ASK: Did these religious leaders believe in Jesus? What did they want to happen to Him? SAY: These men wanted Jesus to be killed. They didn t believe He was God s Son and they even called false witnesses to lie about Him. ASK: What happened after Jesus claimed to be God s Son? SAY: These men spit at Him and beat Him and said He deserved to die. Choose four more volunteers Give them the Peter, Servant, Another Woman and Those Standing There signs. Read Matthew 26:69-75. Lead your volunteers to say their parts throughout the dialogue. ASK: Why do you think Peter denied Jesus? ASK: How many times did he deny Jesus? ASK: What happened after the third time? (He heard a rooster crow.) ASK: What was significant about the rooster crowing? SAY: Last week we read that Jesus warned Peter that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed that evening (Matthew 26:34). Everything Jesus said came true. ASK: How did Peter respond when he heard the rooster crow? (He left and wept greatly.) SAY: Today s story brings us to the beginning of Jesus death. We ve seen Him in the Garden. Now we ve seen the trial before the Sanhedrin and Peter denying Him. Next time we ll see what happens to Jesus as He dies and is buried and soon we ll celebrate that Jesus defeated death and is alive. PRAY and thank Jesus for dying in our place and coming back to life.
KEY VERSE Control Tool: Leader: How should you be? / Students: Just Like Jesus! SAY: In today s story we see how Peter denied Jesus. ASK: What are some ways that people deny Jesus today? SAY: Today s verse is one that can help us to remember to totally and unashamedly live for Jesus every day. Place the memory verse signs (one phrase from today s verse on each sign) upside down on the floor. From a distance, have a student toss a bean bag. Turn over whatever sign it lands on (or is closest to). Tell your kids the word and keep playing until every word is shown and the entire verse is revealed. While some words are still missing, ask the kids to guess the meaning of today s verse. Read Romans 1:16 from your Bible. SAY: Never be ashamed that you know Jesus. Be bold and live for Him every day and share Him with others.. Have your students repeat Romans 1:16 after you. Ask your students to close their eyes. SAY: Think about how Peter denied knowing Jesus. He even cursed and swore to prove his point. By how you act, people will know if you know Jesus too. Be sure to always follow Christ in everything you do and to keep yourself far from sin. Control Tool: Leader: How should you be? / Students: Just Like Jesus! Dismiss to Small Groups SAY: Right now it is time for our small groups, so I m going to dismiss you one row at a time. Dismiss rows of chairs to the tables in the rooms. Give them specific directions where to go.
SMALL GROUPS OPTION #1 Rooster Wycinanki* SAY: Today we re going to make a Wycinanki (vy-chee-nan-kee). Wycinanki is a style of Polish art where you make a paper fold, then cut out a design on one side to have the same design duplicated on the other side. Give each student a pattern there is an easy pattern and a more difficult one. Instruct your students to fold on the line and then to cut out the pattern. After cutting out the pattern, they can use bright colors to complete the design. In Poland (where Wycinanki art originated) there was a time where Christians were persecuted for their faith in Christ. Many who lived boldly for Jesus were punished. Now Poland has much more freedom and there are missionaries there and Polish believers who unashamedly share about Jesus. Explain to them to take the Wycinankis home as a reminder to live for Jesus and to never be ashamed. Let the rooster remind them of Peter s mistake and how we can boldly live for Jesus every day. OPTION #2 Be Bold Tag (For inside or outside) Create a rectangle. Make sure the boundary lines are clearly marked either using cones or tape. Choose one person to be in the middle and put everyone else on the outside. Tell the students that this is a test of their boldness. When the game begins, their goal is to see how many times they can cross the rectangle without being tagged. For a practice, during the first game, when they are tagged, they are out of the game. Use this to warm them up. After a few minutes begin a new game and make a change: Anytime you are tagged, you join the person in the middle and try to tag others as well. See who can be the last person. Then have a conversation about boldness Were they the last person because they didn t take risks? Who crossed the rectangle the most? Who crossed the least? What does it take to be brave? What could Peter have done differently? Why do you think he denied Jesus? What kind of boldness does it take from someone to live for Jesus even when they re afraid? If you have time, play the game again. Choose a new volunteer to be in the middle and for variety, make adjustments to the game: Everybody hops on one leg or the person tagging is blindfolded would they sneak across or dart across? How did it feel to not be able to see? How did it feel to be all alone? Do you think Peter felt alone? Sometimes in life you can t see the outcome, but you can always keep trusting God. You might even mention the boldness that Peter later shows when he preaches on the Day of Pentecost and maybe even read or explain Acts 4:13-31 after Peter and the disciples are told they can t preach or teach in Jesus name but they pray for boldness and continue following Christ and sharing Him everywhere. OPTION #3 Small Group Discussion For OLDER STUDENTS -How many students in your school would you say are saved? (More than half, less than half, most, not very many ) Why do you feel this way? -How many students in your school are totally and unashamedly living for Jesus?
-What would someone look like who lives totally and unashamedly for Jesus? -On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being poor and 10 being perfect), how well do you totally and unashamedly live for Jesus? What would need to change in your life for this rating to be stronger? -How do many Christians live in a way that denies they know Jesus? What would you say to these people? Prayer Take prayer requests and pray with your students. Ask specifically what you can pray for their school and also pray for them to have boldness. OTHER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS PSALM 23 part 6 You prepare a table before me Throughout the day the Shepherd would gather berries and other treats for the sheep to eat at night. After they entered the sheepfold, the shepherd would share these treats among his sheep. In what ways does God go overboard in blessing us? How has God gone above and beyond to show His love for you? How much do you think God loves you? Why does God love you? What plans do you think God has for your life? What do you think God wants to do in your life right now? in the presence of my enemies. As the sheep would eat their treats in the sheepfold, they were safe. Even though one could see the yellow eyes of their enemies in the dark, they had nothing to fear. How is this like you and God? Read John 10:10-11 to your students. How did Jesus stand between us and death? How DOES Jesus still stand between us and the dangers of this world? What was the purpose of the thief in these verses? What is Jesus plan for you according to these verses? Would you describe your life like this? Why or why not? What would need to change in your life for you to experience abundant life? Prayer Take prayer requests and pray with your students. EXTRA TIME Play any of the imitation games that we ve used earlier in this series i.e., Simon Says, Follow the Leader, etc. *Craft idea and template came from: http://www.dltk-kids.com/p.asp?b=m&p=http://www.dltkkids.com/world/pbirdwycinanki.asp