Lesson 12 The Life of Jesus Ages 8-11 Unit 3: The King Who Rose Jesus is Risen: The Victory KINGS AND KINGDOMS PART 1 THE WORSHIP, THE WORD, & THE WAY THE WORSHIP Who God is: The King Who Rose THE WORD Bible Story: Colossians 2:13b-15, Mark 15:37-39, John 19:40-42, Matthew 28:2-6 What He has done: King Jesus triumphs over sin and death. Key Verse: Matthew 28:6 THE WAY Aim: To know the true meaning of Easter. Christ Connection: Psalm 16:9-11 BIBLE MEMORY VERSE I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And I will see God. I myself will see Him with my own eyes. Job 19:25, 27 (Grades 3-5) To The Teachers For your own encouragement this week, read 1 Corinthians 15:54-57. Please join us in praying this week s Teacher s Prayer: Thank you for winning the victory over sin and death. Help the children know and worship You as the Risen King. Amen. PREPARE (Before arrival) [] Highlight Colossians 2:13b-15, Mark 15:37-39, John 19:40-42, Matthew 28:2-6, Psalm 16:9-11 in your Bible. [] Read this Teacher s Guide. [] Each week, be sure to reserve adequate time to cover THE WORD, THE WAY, and The Golden Bowl. Then, as time allows, choose a Got Time? activity or create your own activity to illustrate the Bible Story, the Aim, or the Bible Memory Verse Song. PRESET [] Chairs in a semi-circle or rows, preset pencils, note cards, Bibles, highlighters, Daily Way Lesson 12 [] Bible Memory Verse Song: I Know That My Redeemer Lives Job 19:25, 27 [] Scripture references 1 & 2 hidden behind curtain, secret door, etc. [] Map: Jerusalem [] Treasure Treat: Plastic egg containing four Easter symbols: cross, purple-red cloth, white cloth scented with myrrh, stone [] Got Time?: Two stones, two wood spoons or sticks, cupcakes, juice, napkins, plates, cups, soup spoons, plastic egg, any colored sturdy paper, pencils, markers, scissors, glue, pebble, adhesive backed magnets, Unit 3 Bible Memory Verse poster [] Apostles Creed Study and take-home copies of Apostles Creed [] Worship Leader Elements: Kingdom Adventures Sketch Lesson 12 or Storybook Lesson 12 Seven Stars of Lent Activity: Easter egg, Lent Reminder Poster Music Resources: The additional resources referred to in this lesson and supplemental materials are available at www.childrensministrywarehouse.net. Contents include the drama sketches and storybook chapters, Bible Memory Verse Songs, seasonal materials and so much more. To be a resource yourself, click on the Teacher s Blog tab to share your ideas with teachers worldwide. 1
1. THE WORSHIP (15 minutes) Worship Theme: The King Who Rose Use arrival time to connect with the children, creating an environment where they feel welcome. Use the Meet & Greet question to spark anticipation for today s focus. Meet & Greet Question: What is the most unbelievable thing you ve seen? Happy Easter! Today we celebrate the victory of Easter. The final star of the Seven Stars of Lent will help us worship the King who rose from the dead. (Please see following page for Seven Stars of Lent worship activity.) Worship theme: On the very first Easter, King Jesus won the victory over sin and death. He won life forever with God for every person who would believe in Him. We can celebrate that victory every day! Volunteer reads prayer from 1 Corinthians 15:57: Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Collect offering, sing songs with themes of victory, resurrection, eternal life.) Worship Elements: Collect and lead prayer for an offering. Read storybook: Kingdom Adventures, Lesson 12; or perform drama: Kingdom Adventures, Lesson 12. Song Suggestions: Unit 3 Bible Memory Verse Song: I Know That My Redeemer Lives Select songs that focus on remembering Jesus: Christ The Lord Is Risen Today Lord, I Lift Your Name On High Seven Reasons To Celebrate Lion Of Judah Power In The Blood Bible Memory Verse Song I Know That My Redeemer Lives Job 19:25, 27 (NIV) Verse I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And I will see God. I myself will see Him. With my own eyes I will see God. I will see God. Repeat Verse I will see God. I myself will see Him. With my own eyes I will see God. I will see God. I will see God. I will see God. Sheet music and recordings available at www.childrensministrywarehouse.net This is the children s opportunity to worship God with you. Designate a special corner or area for worship. As their role model for worship, lead by example, fully participating with the children as they worship. 2
THE WORSHIP continued Kings & Kingdoms: Seven Stars of Lent The Star of Life Lent Week 7: Lesson 12 Participants: Adult leader, one or two children to reveal symbol and read Prep Steps: Preset symbol covered so it can be revealed Supplies: Easter egg, Bible turned to John 11:25-26 SAY> It s time to celebrate Easter with the Seven Stars of Lent. (Show visual of stars.) For the past 40 days, we have been focusing our hearts on who Jesus is and what He has done for us. All believers celebrate Easter because after Jesus died for us, God raised Him from the dead. Jesus is alive forever! That s why our final star is The Star of Life. John 11:25-26 (Child reveals symbol: Easter egg.) SAY> Our secret symbol for Easter is an egg. It stands for new life. Just as a baby chick begins its life from an egg, our new life with God begins when we first believe in Jesus. (Child or Leader reads John 11:25-26 from the Bible.) Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this? SAY> Let s say our Lent Reminder together: (Have visual with words for children to say along.) Jesus so loved us that He gave His life for us. We so love Jesus that we give our hearts to Him. SAY> Each time you see an Easter egg, celebrate that Jesus lives forever. Think about how Jesus gives forever life to all who believe in Him. That s something to celebrate! (Sing a song to celebrate Easter. For example: Christ The Lord Is Risen Today, Seven Reasons To Celebrate, Lord, I Lift Your Name On High, etc.) 3
2. THE WORD (5 minutes) Battle at the Cross; Victory at the Tomb Transition: As you move from worship to instruction, change rooms or locations within a room to help children mentally and physically prepare for the lesson. For additional transition ideas and games see Got Time? at the end of this lesson or go to www.childrensministrywarehouse.net and click on Lesson 12, 2008. >Write your name on your card and place it in the Golden Bowl. Before we read God s Word, let s go over our Class Covenant. A covenant is an agreement. Just as God made a covenant with His people, I ask each of you to make this covenant promise with me today. Listen as I read our Class Covenant. (Read Class Covenant.) Class Covenant I will keep my on my teacher, my in control, my s on God s Word; knowing God is my goal. Last time we learned what happened to Jesus before He died. When King Jesus laid down His life for us, He won the victory in the battle over sin and death. Today we ll use our symbols inside the Easter egg to learn more about this Easter victory. *Teacher Tip: As an optional addition to this lesson, create two different places for the children to gather. One focusing on a cross and the temple curtain, the other focusing on the burial cloth and tomb. Let s play Find It First! Bring out your Bible; keep it right in front of you. (Hand out spare Bibles.) Today we have four scripture verses behind the curtain. (Or secret door, secret window, etc. Child unveils scripture #1: Colossians 2:13b-15.) We ll start with Colossians 2:13b-15. Let s see who can Find It First! Ready? Set? Go! (Children race through the pages to find it first. The winner helps others find it.) Before we read, let s stand and ask God to open our eyes, ears, hearts and minds to His Word today. Who d like to pray that for us? (Child prays aloud.) Be seated. (Option: Move to an area focused on cross and curtain.) Let s read about the first part of the Easter story. It happened at the cross. The written code said that God s final punishment for sin, doing wrong in God s eyes, was death. Jesus died to cancel that code for us. (Read Colossians 2:13b-15. Child unveils scripture #2: Mark 15:37-39.) Now let s read Mark 15:37-39. (Help students locate and read Mark 15:37-39.) (Option: Move to an area focused on the burial cloth and tomb. Child unveils scripture #3: John 19:40-42.) The second part of the Easter story happened at the tomb. It began with John 19:40-42. (Help students locate and read John 19:40-42. Child unveils scripture #4 Matthew 28:2-6.) For the rest of the story, we ll read Matthew 28:2-6. (Help students locate and read Matthew 28:2-6.) Let s highlight our Key Verse: Matthew 28:6. Lift up God s Word: To create anticipation, conceal scripture references for Bible Story and Christ Connection in a place of honor. Then unveil references for Find It First and scripture reading. For more information, click on the Resources tab at www.childrensministrywarehouse.net. 4
3. THE WAY (13 minutes) Jesus Gave Us a Way to Remember Him Volunteer holds Treasure Treat Egg (plastic egg containing four symbols) displaying each symbol as it is discussed. Option: Begin in an area designated for the cross and the curtain. CROSS: Jesus gave His life in the battle to win something for us. What did Jesus win for us? (He won God s forgiveness for our sins. He won a way for us to be close to God again.) TEMPLE CURTAIN: (Purple-red fabric.) Before Jesus died, no one but the High Priest could go beyond the temple curtain to be close to God. What happened to that curtain at the moment Jesus died? (It tore from top to the bottom.) If the top of the curtain stood for heaven and the bottom of the curtain stood for earth, what did tearing the curtain open from top to bottom stand for? (Jesus death making the only way for God in heaven to be close with His people on earth.) BURIAL CLOTH: (White linen cloth scented with myrrh.) What does the scent and feel of this cloth remind us? (After Jesus died, His friends wrapped His body and head in linen cloth with good smelling spices and placed it in the tomb.) Since God s final punishment for our sin is death, why is it important to know many witnesses saw Jesus had really died? (If Jesus had not actually died, our sins would not have been paid for.) STONE: How does the stone remind us of Jesus victory over death? (When the giant stone was rolled away from the tomb entrance, His body was not there. He had risen from the dead.) On the cross, Jesus made a way for us to be forgiven and come close to God. By raising Jesus from the dead, God showed what He would do for all who are close to Him. What does this mean will happen to all believers when they die? (That one day, they ll be raised to life forever close to God.) CHRIST CONNECTION Connecting the Old Testament, the New Testament and Us EGG: Why do you think we use the Easter egg as a symbol of new life? (Just as a baby chick s new life begins with the egg, our new life with God begins when we first believe in Jesus.) For hundreds of years before the first Easter, God s people were waiting for a king to win the victory of eternal life a new life forever close to God. Let s see what David said about celebrating this victory. FIND IT FIRST> Everyone place your Bibles closed on your laps. (Choose a child to unveil scripture #2: Psalm 16:9-11.) Let s see who can Find It First! Ready? Set? Go! Find it and highlight it. (Read Psalm 16:9-11.) New life forever with God is something to celebrate! (Enjoy a Got Time activity such as the Easter Egg Relay, or enjoy refreshments together.) 5
THE WAY continued GOLDEN BOWL Revelation 5:8 The Golden Bowl cont ains names of classmates, a local church leader and a child in another nation. The Bible says that our prayers are like sweet smelling incense in the golden bowls at God s throne. So I m going to lift each one of you up to God s throne out loud as you pray for each person silently. Then we ll pray out loud the Lord s Prayer. (Matthew 6:9-13.) Let s pray. Lord God, we lift up to Your throne the name of each child here. We trust You to watch over us and our needs: the ones we say out loud and the ones hidden in our hearts. First, we lift up to You,, (read names in Golden Bowl). Now, we pray the prayer Your Son taught us. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. FINAL FIVE When only 5 minutes remain, begin this segment. TREASURE TREAT Today, your Treasure Treat is an Easter egg. Inside are the symbols of Jesus victory at Easter. Tell your family what each symbol means in the victory Jesus won on the first Easter. To help you remember, the meaning of each item is explained in this week s Daily Way. DAILY WAY CHALLENGE Did anyone bring in their completed Daily Way from last time? (Praise or reward those who returned Daily Way; collect in basket.) Take home this week s Daily Way. (Distribute Lesson 12 Daily Way 5-day Bible study.) Complete this at home and let God speak to you through His own words in the Bible. Return it and place it in our class basket. When we fill the basket, we ll celebrate with a class surprise! OFFERING OF ART That s it for today. Thank you all for coming. Until your parent arrives, make an Offering of Art. For your offering, draw a picture of the empty tomb. (The Offering of Art can be finished at home or given as an offering to the teacher for display.) BIBLE MEMORY VERSE SONG Play the Unit 3 Bible Memory Verse Song in the background as children wait for their parents. Encourage them to sing along. PRAYER REQUESTS How can I pray for you this week? (As students work on their Offering 0f Art, write individual requests in your teacher s prayer notebook.) 6
4. GOT TIME? If time remains, choose from the connected activities below. LESSON ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES ROLL THE STONE AWAY GETTING STARTED ACTIVITY PURPOSE: Children will play a relay game to think about how the stone in front of the tomb was rolled away when Jesus came back to life. SUPPLIES: Two stones (weight and shape should be easy for children to roll), two wooden spoons or sticks ASK> What holiday are we celebrating today? (Easter.) Who can tell me why we celebrate Easter? (Jesus came back to life.) Jesus died and was buried on a Friday. Some of His friends went early on Sunday morning to visit His tomb. Who knows what they found? (The stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty.) Jesus had come back to life! He is alive! The stone in front of Jesus tomb was very heavy, but not too heavy for God to roll away. Let s race to see how quickly you can roll stones. These stones don t weigh as much as the stone in front of Jesus tomb, but you may still have trouble rolling them! 1. Form two teams of equal number. (If a team has one more player than the other team, choose a player on the other team to take two turns.) 2. Have each team form a line behind a starting line. Show the children the end line. Give a stone and spoon to the first player in each line. 3. On your signal, the first player in each line is to put the stone on the ground, roll it to the finish line, and roll it back to the next person in line. The first player sits down at the back of the line. 4. The next person in line will repeat step three. Continue until all players have had a turn. 5. The goal is to be the first team to have all players sitting down. *Teacher Tip: The stones will probably be difficult to roll. Encourage children to have fun with the challenge. Caution them to play safely by keeping the stones on the ground and pushing them carefully. 7
GOT TIME? continued GET UP TAG GETTING STARTED ACTIVITY-OPTION 2 PURPOSE: Celebrate that Jesus came back to life by playing this version of tag. SUPPLIES: None ASK> What holiday are we celebrating today? (Easter.) Who can tell me why we are celebrating Easter today? (Jesus came back to life on this day.) Jesus was dead for three days and then came back to life to take our sins away. And now He is alive! Let s play a game of tag. When you are tagged, you must lie down on the floor until a friend touches your shoulder and says Get up! When you get up, think about how excited Jesus friends must have been when they discovered that Jesus was not in the tomb. He had gotten up and was alive! 1. Choose a child to be It. 2. On your signal, the child who is It tries to tag the other children. 3. When a child is tagged, he or she must lie down on the floor. 4. Children who have not been tagged may free the children who have been tagged by touching them on the shoulder and saying, Get up! The freed child may then rejoin the game. 5. After a few minutes of playing, choose another player to be It. *Teacher Tip: Caution children to walk carefully around the tagged children lying on the ground or instruct the tagged children to lie down on the side of the playing field. CELEBRATE! JESUS HAS RISEN SNACK PURPOSE: Connect with your students while enjoying a snack to celebrate the true meaning of Easter. SUPPLIES: Cupcakes, juice, napkins, plates, cups SAY> Jesus came back to life on Easter morning! He died for our sins, but He did not stay dead! Let s celebrate the fact that Jesus is alive with a yummy snack. 1. Give each child a snack and juice. 2. Ask a child to pray and thank God for the snack. 3. As you eat, ask the children to answer the Meet & Greet question: What is the most unbelievable thing you have ever seen? and/or talk about their families Easter traditions. *Optional: Hang Easter party decorations and hand out party favors. 8
GOT TIME? continued EASTER EGG RELAY: HE IS RISEN INDEED! APPLICATION PURPOSE: Celebrate the new life won at Easter with a relay race carrying a plastic egg on a spoon. SUPPLIES: One plastic egg per relay team, one soup spoon per child SAY> On the first Easter, Mary ran to tell Peter and John about the empty tomb. Then, Peter and John ran back to the tomb to see it for themselves. Years later Peter wrote, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. In this celebration relay, run as fast as you can without dropping the egg from your spoon. Then say the good news He is risen! and pass the egg onto the next runner s spoon. DIRECTIONS 1. Divide children into three or more relay teams with an equal number of children on each team. 2. Have each team form a large circle. 3. Give each child a soup spoon. 4. Give one child on each team the plastic egg to balance on their spoon. 5. On your signal, the child with the egg will run to the next child in the circle. Before transferring the egg onto the next child s spoon, the child says, He is risen! 6. The child receiving the egg responds, He is risen indeed! and receives the egg onto his/her spoon. 7. Once the egg has been transferred, the first child will sit down. 8. Repeat the race around the circle. The goal is to be the first team sitting down. JESUS IS RISEN MAGNETS APPLICATION PURPOSE: For children to create magnets to remember the true meaning of Easter. SUPPLIES: Any colored sturdy paper, pencils, markers, scissors, glue, adhesive-backed magnets PREPARE: Precut several simple egg-shaped templates (approximately 2 inches in diameter) from sturdy paper. Create a sample craft. ASK> Why do we celebrate Easter? (It is the day Jesus came back to life after dying to save us from our sins.) Jesus is alive! We want to remember He is alive and tell others. We can tell others about Jesus by showing them our Treasure Treat Eggs. Let s also make a magnet to help us remember Jesus is alive and that s why we celebrate Easter. 1. Use a pencil to trace the egg template onto a sheet of any colored sturdy paper. 2. Use scissors to cut out egg shape. 3. Draw and color something to remind you that we celebrate Easter because Jesus is alive. 4. Press the sticky side of a magnet (or glue one side of the magnet) onto the back of your egg. 5. Take your magnet home to share the true meaning of Easter with your family or give the magnet to a friend. *Optional: Punch a hole in the top of the egg and thread with string to hang instead of making magnets. 9
GOT TIME? continued BIBLE MEMORY VERSE ACTIVITIES Unit 3 Bible Memory Verse: I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And I will see God. I myself will see Him with my own eyes. Job 19:25, 27 STANDING ON THE EARTH OBJECT: Children will hop from country to country to learn the Unit 3 Bible Memory Verse. SUPPLIES: Sturdy white paper, a marker, and the Unit 3 Bible Memory Verse poster PREPARE: Display the poster where the children can see it. Write a country name on each sheet of paper and place around the floor. ASK> Today we celebrate that Jesus is alive. He came back to life! Let s learn our new Bible Memory Verse. (Read the Unit 3 Bible Memory Verse together.) This verse from the Bible tells us Jesus is alive. He is our Redeemer. That means He took the punishment we deserve for sinning. Where will He stand one day when He returns? (Upon the earth.) Who will see Him? (We will.) Let s practice our Bible Memory Verse by hopping onto some of the countries across the earth that Jesus will stand on when He returns. 1. Have the children each stand on a country name. 2. Say the Bible Memory Verse together again. On each word, each child should hop onto another country name. *Teacher Tip: Challenge older children by having them think of countries and create their own country papers to step on as they say the Bible Memory Verse. THE WAVE PURPOSE: To help children memorize the Unit 3 Bible Memory Verse. 1. Assign one phrase from Job 19:25, 27 to each child or group. 2. As helper directs, each child/group quickly stands, says assigned phrase while raising both hands up to the sky and then down to thighs and sits down. 3. Repeat three times, faster each time. BIBLE TIMELINE REVIEW NOTE: The Bible Timeline Review activities will resume in Kings & Kingdoms Lesson 34 when we complete our semester study of the life of Jesus and the summer study of Kingdom Parables. *Teacher Tip: For Lessons 1-33, the previous week s lesson will always be reviewed briefly in the Teachers Guide. To help students keep visual track of the stories, preprint the lesson title on a paper footprint cut-out. The children can follow in Jesus footsteps as they review past weeks in the study of His life and teachings. 10
THE APOSTLES CREED Statement 5, Part 1: The Father and The Son On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, This statement is key to the Christian faith. In Romans 10:9, the Apostle Paul states, If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Today, let s say the opening five statements together: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, (Students repeat the fifth statement.) The statement He rose again, means as Christians, we believe God, the Father, raised Jesus from death to life. Jesus Himself proved this by appearing to over 500 witnesses during the 40-day period between God raising Him from the dead and God lifting Him up to heaven. (Volunteer reads Paul s list of eyewitnesses in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8.) He ascended into heaven, refers to the time when God lifted Jesus up to heaven. (Read Acts 1:8-11.) Where do Christians believe Jesus is living now? (Heaven.) Does anyone have questions about this statement of the Christian faith? (Discuss what it would have been like to be one the people who watched Jesus disappear into the clouds. Recite The Apostles Creed together.) THE APOSTLES CREED (Modern English Version) I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. 11