Preschool July 12, 2015 8:45am
Leader BIBLE STUDY July 12, 2015 1 Jesus had set out on a journey. He and His disciples were likely heading to Jerusalem. (See Mark 10:32.) Suddenly, a man ran up to meet Jesus. The man knelt before Jesus and asked Him a question. Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus reminded the rich young ruler of the commandments. Perhaps the man had kept the commandments relating to others, but Jesus revealed the man s failure to keep the first commandment Do not have other gods besides Me by asking him to give up his wealth. The man went away sad because his wealth was his god. Jesus said, How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! The disciples were surprised. Wasn t wealth a sign of God s favor? Wealthy people could freely give in the synagogue and make sacrifices. If a rich person could not enter God s kingdom, who could? Jesus said, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. What was Jesus saying? Pushing a piece of thread through the eye of a needle is hard enough, but a several hundred-pound mammal? Impossible! Being wealthy is certainly not a sin in itself; everything we have is a gift from God. But as the rich young ruler shows, wealth can be a great hindrance when a person loves his wealth more than he loves the One who gave it to him. But Jesus pointed out that all things are possible with God. God has the power to change people s hearts. Salvation comes by His grace, which enables sinners to repent and follow Jesus. Then Peter said, We have left everything and followed You. The disciples sacrificed a lot to follow Jesus, but Jesus assured them that anything they left behind would pale in comparison to the fellowship of believers and the treasures that awaited them in heaven. Jesus is better than anything He asks us to give up to follow Him. Not only does He offer us Himself, He offers eternal life. Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 31 Session 1 1
Preschool BIBLE STUDY OVERVIEW Session Title: The Rich Young Ruler Bible Passage: Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30 Big Picture Question: Why was the rich young ruler sad? He loved other things more than he loved Jesus. Key Passage: Luke 18:31 Unit Christ Connection: Jesus life and teachings are examples for His followers of true holy living. U N I T 31 1 Small Group Opening Large Group Bible Study Small Group Activities Snack and Transition 2
The BIBLE STORY The Rich Young Ruler Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30 One day, Jesus was leaving to go on a trip. All of a sudden, a young man ran up to Jesus. The man was a leader for the Jewish people. The man rested on his knees in front of Jesus and said, Good Teacher, I want to live forever with God. What do I have to do? Jesus said, Why do you say I am good? Only God is good. Jesus was testing the young man to see if he believed Jesus was just a good man, or if he believed that Jesus is God s Son. Then Jesus reminded the man of God s commandments. Long ago, God gave rules to Moses: Do not kill; do not steal; do not lie; honor your father and mother. The man said, I have obeyed all of these rules since I was a boy. Jesus said that the man still needed something. Jesus told the man, Sell everything you have. Give the money you earn to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me. The young man was very sad. He was very rich, and he owned a lot of things. He would have to give up a lot to follow Jesus. Jesus looked at the man and saw that he was sad. The young man decided not to follow Jesus. Then Jesus told His friends, It will be hard for people who have a lot of money and things to enter God s kingdom. In fact, Jesus said, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God s kingdom. Jesus friends were surprised! Camels are too big to go through the eye of a needle! They said to each other, Then who can be saved? Jesus said, With men it is impossible, but not with God. All things are possible with God. Then Peter, one of Jesus friends, said, Look, we have left everything and followed You. Jesus made a promise. He said, Anyone who gives up things to follow Me like his house or his family will get more than he left behind. He will get eternal life: life forever with God. Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 31 Session 1 3
Christ Connection: The rich young ruler loved his things more than he loved Jesus. Jesus wants us to be happy to give up anything to follow Him. Jesus is better than any treasure on earth. When we trust Jesus, we get eternal life. 4
Small Group OPENING Session Title: The Rich Young Ruler Bible Passage: Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30 Big Picture Question: Why was the rich young ruler sad? He loved other things more than he loved Jesus. Key Passage: Luke 18:31 Unit Christ Connection: Jesus life and teachings are examples for His followers of true holy living. Lift My Life Up song Welcome and Session Starter Play the unit theme song in the background as you greet preschoolers and follow your church s security procedures. LOW PREP Happy or Sad? activity page, 1 per kid crayons Activity Page: Happy or Sad? Give each kid an activity sheet. Help them examine the pictures. Lead kids to circle the faces of kids who look sad. Ask kids to demonstrate what they look like when they are sad. Encourage kids to share things that make them feel sad. Say A rich young man wanted to know how to have life forever with God. The man was a ruler of the Jewish people. The man met Jesus as He was on His way to Jerusalem. The man asked Jesus what he needed to do to to get to heaven. The rich young ruler didn t like Jesus answer, so he walked away from Jesus feeling sad. The rich young man loved his stuff more than he loved Jesus. Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 31 Session 1 5
Follow the leader Direct the children to line up in a straight line. Explain to the children that they must stay in a straight line behind you. They will then follow you as you walk around room, going exactly where you go and doing exactly what you do. Move around the room in a variety of ways, skipping, hopping, crawling, and so forth. You can also stop and perform hand motions clapping, waving, shaking hands, doing jumping jacks. Select a child to be the leader. Give different children a chance to be the leader. Say Today we are going to learn about what it means to follow Jesus, the one true leader. A man wanted to live forever with God, so he asked Jesus what he should do. Jesus told the young man what to do, but the young man was not willing to do as Jesus said. To love Jesus is to obey Him and be willing to give up anything for Him. coins in various sizes masking tape unwrapped crayons paper Make coin rubbings Gather a collection of different sized coins. Fold a small piece of masking tape underneath each coin and tape it to the table. Give each child a piece of white paper and an unwrapped crayon. Guide the children to place the sheet of paper on top of the coins and rub against the coin with the side of the crayon. Say A young man in our Bible story had lots of money and things. He was happy with his money, but he wanted to have eternal life with God. Jesus told this young man, Sell all your things and give your money to the poor. Then follow Me. We ll see what the young man did. Transition to Bible study Line up the children and proceed to large group. Explain to the class that you are going to large group where you will sing songs to God and hear a Bible story. 6
Large Group BIBLE STUDY Session Title: The Rich Young Ruler Bible Passage: Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30 Big Picture Question: Why was the rich young ruler sad? He loved other things more than he loved Jesus. Key Passage: Luke 18:31 Unit Christ Connection: Jesus life and teachings are examples for His followers of true holy living. Large Group Bible Study Bible Timeline Map Key Passage Slide or Poster We re Going Up to Jerusalem song Introduce the Bible story Open your Bible to Luke 18:31 and show the kids where the key passage is located. Point to the timeline map to review previous Bible stories about Jesus ministry. Say Jesus and His friends had traveled all over Judea, Samaria, and the surrounding places. Jesus helped people who were sick and hurting, He taught people about God, and He showed His power as God s only Son. Jesus did all of those things in three years. Now Jesus was getting ready to do the special job that God had sent Him to earth to do. Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem because He was going to die on the cross and come back to life after three days to save people from their sins. Read the key passage from the poster using any hand motions you create to help kids remember it. Remind kids that the prophets were people who told God s messages to people on earth. The prophets said that God would send Jesus. Say the key passage twice, and then sing the key passage song, using any hand motions you created. Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 31 Session 1 7
Bible Story Picture Poster Tell the Bible story Open your Bible to Matthew 19; Mark 10; or Luke 18. Remind kids that these books are found in the New Testament. Say Jesus and His friends were traveling to Jerusalem when a rich young man ran up to Jesus. The young man had lots of money and lots of things, but he wanted to know how to have life forever with God. Let s see what Jesus said to him. Tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. Big Picture Question Slide or Poster Tip: Make sure kids understand that the young man did not receive eternal life because he did not trust Jesus, not because he did not sell his things. Salvation is a free gift that we receive when we trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior. (Eph. 2:8-9) Talk about the Bible story Invite kids to answer the following review questions: 1. What did the young man ask Jesus? (what he needed to do to live with God forever) 2. What did Jesus tell the young man to sell? (everything) 3. To whom did Jesus tell the young man to give his money? (to the poor) 4. How did the man feel when Jesus told him to give everything away and follow Him? (very sad) 5. Why was the rich young ruler sad? He loved other things more than he loved Jesus. Say The rich young ruler loved his things more than he loved Jesus. Jesus wants us to be happy to give up anything to follow Him. Jesus is better than any treasure on earth. We cannot earn life forever with God. When we trust Jesus, we get eternal life. Transition to small groups Return to small groups, where kids will do activities to reinforce the teaching. 8
Small Group ACTIVITIES Session Title: The Rich Young Ruler Bible Passage: Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30 Big Picture Question: Why was the rich young ruler sad? He loved other things more than he loved Jesus. Key Passage: Luke 18:31 Unit Christ Connection: Jesus life and teachings are examples for His followers of true holy living. Small Group Activities Talk about the big picture question and answer, Christ connection, or details from the Bible story in each activity to reinforce God s big story. LOW PREP Race like camels Invite kids to form two teams and line up on one side of the room. The first kid in each line will get on his hands and knees and lift up to form a hump on his back. He must crawl to the other side of the room like a camel. When he reaches the other side, the next kid in each line will race like a camel to the other side. Continue until every kid reaches the other side. Play again as time allows. Say Jesus told His friends it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God s kingdom. Jesus did not mean that people with a lot of money cannot go to heaven. Jesus wanted to show how hard it is for people who love their money to put their trust in Him for salvation. Only God can help a person love Jesus more than anything else. Why was the rich young ruler sad? He loved other things more than he loved Jesus. Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 31 Session 1 9
Lacing Cards, 1 per kid yarn plastic crochet needles hole punch strips of paper paper bag markers Lace cards Give each child a lacing card, some yarn, and a plastic needle. Demonstrate to the children how to use the plastic needle to thread the yarn through the lacing card. Then invite kids to lace the cards. Read the big picture question and answer on the back of the card. Say A needle s eye is really small. [Point out the eye of the needle.] A camel is really big. What did Jesus say about a camel and a needle? [Invite kids to respond.] A camel fitting through the eye of a needle is impossible, but Jesus said, All things are possible with God. God can change a person s heart to love Jesus more than anything else. Why was the rich young ruler sad? He was sad because he loved other things more than Jesus. Paper bag choices Before the session, think of some choices preschoolers make daily (eat vegetables or sneak them to the dog, clean up toys or stuff them under the bed, obey Mom and Dad or disobey). Place the strips of paper with choices written on them in a paper bag. During the activity, talk about choices. Allow the preschoolers to choose a strip. Read the strip for the preschooler and invite her to decide which choice is best. Remind other kids to wait quietly for their turn. Say The rich young ruler was given a choice: he could follow Jesus and live with God forever or he could keep all of his stuff. He chose to keep all of his money and stuff. The rich young ruler was sad. Why was the rich young ruler sad? He loved other things more than he loved Jesus. 10
construction paper pictures from magazines glue sticks Make a book Place pictures from magazines of things that preschoolers would love. on the table. The pictures could be of toys, video games, dolls, books, stuffed animals, and so forth. Give each child a piece of construction paper folded in half. Allow them to select a few pictures of things that they love. Help the children use glue sticks to glue the pictures into their books. Say It s OK to enjoy our toys, video games, books, and other things, but we should not love those things more than Jesus. God gave us everything we have even His Son, Jesus, who died to take away our sin. Only God can make us love Jesus more than we love the stuff He gives us. Why was the rich young ruler sad? He loved other things more than he loved Jesus. Do the Hokey Pokey Arrange the boys and girls into a circle around the room. Lead them in the Hokey Pokey song. Begin with put your right hand in and add individual limbs with each additional verse. Finish with put your whole self in. Say Jesus wants our whole selves in. That is what it means to follow Jesus: to love Him more than anything else. Jesus friends gave up everything to follow Him their jobs, their homes, time with their families, and more. The rich young ruler was not willing to do that. Why was the rich young ruler sad? He loved other things more than he loved Jesus. Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 31 Session 1 11
Snack and Transition Take a restroom break and invite kids to wash their hands. Serve the snack. Remind the preschoolers to wait to eat so that you can pray together. Remind the kids to say please and thank you. Thank God for the snack. Journal Page crayons The Big Picture Cards for Families: Preschool Transition - Journal Page When a child finishes his snack and throws away any trash, offer the journal page and invite kids to draw a picture of their favorite toy. Talk about why that toy is their favorite. Was it a birthday gift? Was it a Christmas gift? Did they save up money to buy it? Encourage the kids to tell their parents why they love Jesus more than their favorite toy. Pray for the kids. Say Dear Jesus, thank You so much for giving everything even Your life to rescue us from sin. Thank You for the safe homes, loving families, good food, and wonderful church friends that You give us. Help us to love You more than the wonderful things You give us. Help us to trust in You so we can live with You forever. Amen! If parents are picking up their children at this time, tell them something that their child enjoyed doing or did well during the session. Distribute the preschool big picture cards for families. 12
Journal Page July 12, 2015 Key Passage: Luke 18:31 Session 1: The Rich Young Ruler Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30 Session 2: Jesus Was Anointed Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8 Session 3: Jesus Cleansed the Temple Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-48 Session 4: The Widow s Gift Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4 OK TO PRINT
We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man will be accomplished. Luke 18:31 Unit 31 Key Passage Poster (ESV) OK TO PRINT
Why was the rich young ruler sad? UNIT 31 Session 1 Big Picture Question OK TO PRINT
Why was the rich young ruler sad? He loved other things more than he loved Jesus. UNIT 31 Session 1 Big Picture Question OK TO PRINT
Unit 31 Session 1 The Rich Young Ruler OK TO PRINT
Happy or Sad? Instructions: Look at the faces below and circle the kids who are sad. Unit 31 Session 1 Preschool Activity Pages
The Rich Young Ruler Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30
Lacing Cards Instructions: Print and use as directed in the leader guide. Why was the rich young ruler sad? He loved other things more than he loved Jesus. UNIT 31 Session 1 Preschool Bible Study OK TO PRINT