List things you can do on your own and things you need others to do for you. Is being born again something you can do for yourself? Jesus Met Nicodemus John 3:1-21 MAIN POINT: JESUS TOLD NICODEMUS HE MUST BE BORN AGAIN. FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS Why was Nicodemus confused when Jesus said he must be born again? What kind of birth was Jesus talking about? How can we be born into God s family? FOLD Jesus had traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. One night, a religious man came to see Jesus. The man s name was Nicodemus. Rabbi, he said, we know that You have come from God. You are a teacher, and no one could do the miracles You do unless God is with him. Jesus said, I tell you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Now Nicodemus was confused. How can anyone be born when he is old? Nicodemus asked. Jesus said, A man cannot enter God s kingdom unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Jesus said, Don t be surprised I told you that you must be born again. Nicodemus still didn t understand. How is this possible? he asked. Jesus replied, No one has ever gone up into heaven, except the Son of Man. He came down from heaven. Do you remember how Moses raised up the bronze snake in the wilderness? Everyone who looked at it was healed. Like that, the Son of Man will be raised up, so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life. Then Jesus told Nicodemus about God s great plan. Jesus said, God showed His love in this way: He sent His One and Only Son to save the world. Everyone who believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. Christ Connection: Nicodemus needed new life eternal life but he could not do anything to earn it. Eternal life is a gift that comes only from God. God showed His love in this way: He sent His One and Only Son to save the world. Everyone who believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. 17
The Way to Jesus Nicodemus went to see Jesus at night. Complete the maze to help Nicodemus get to Jesus. Use the words below to fill in the missing words of John 14:6. Tip: Not all of the words will be used. 18
Write what you would tell someone who asked about who Jesus is. Why is Jesus great? Jesus and John the Baptist John 3:22-36 MAIN POINT: JESUS CAME FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH. FOLD Jesus and His disciples left Jerusalem, and they went out into the countryside. Jesus spent time with His disciples, and people came to them. Jesus taught the people, and the people were baptized. Nearby, John the Baptist was baptizing people too. Some of the people who followed John got into an argument. Teacher, they said, remember the man you talked about, the One who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River? He is baptizing people, and people are starting to follow Him. John answered them, You heard me say that I am not the Messiah. I am the messenger who goes before Him to announce that He is coming. John tried to explain by talking about a wedding. John felt like a groom s friend because he was happy that Jesus, the Messiah, had come. John said, Jesus must become greater, and I must become less. John also said, The Father loves the Son and has given Him power over everything. Whoever believes in the Son will have eternal life. Christ Connection: John the Baptist had told people to get ready for Jesus, the promised Messiah. Now that Jesus was on earth, John s mission was complete. John the Baptist joyfully stepped aside as Jesus began His earthly ministry. FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS Why did Jesus deserve the spotlight instead of John? Why is it hard to see someone else in the spotlight? How can we show that Jesus is most important in our lives? 19
Great, Greater, Greatest! For each row, number the items from 1 to 3. (3 = great, 2 = greater, 1 = greatest) Then compare your answers with a partner. Do you agree on what is great, greater, and the greatest? Draw a line to match the first part of each phrase or sentence with the second part. 20
Write a few sentences about who you believe Jesus is. Write about why you believe what you do. Jesus Met a Samaritan Woman John 4:1-42 MAIN POINT: JESUS TOLD THE SAMARITAN WOMAN HE IS THE MESSIAH. FOLD Jesus began traveling back to Galilee. He traveled through Samaria and stopped in a town at the well. Jesus disciples went into town to buy food. While Jesus was at the well, a Samaritan woman came to get water from the well. Give Me a drink, Jesus said to the woman. The woman was surprised. You re a Jew, she said. Why are You talking to me? I m a Samaritan. Jesus said, You don t know who I am. If you did, you would have asked Me for a drink, and I would give you living water. The woman was confused. Jesus said, Anyone who drinks this well water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks from the water I give will never, ever get thirsty again! Sir, she said, give me this water. If I m not thirsty, I won t have to keep coming to this well to get water. I see You are a prophet, the woman said. I know the Messiah is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us. Then Jesus said, He is talking to you now. I am the Messiah. The woman left and told the people in her town, Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could this be the Messiah? Many Samaritans believed in Jesus because of what the woman said. FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS What is living water? How can we get living water? Who can we tell about this amazing living water? Christ Connection: Jesus offered the woman something no one else could give her living water. Jesus wasn t talking about water that she could physically drink; Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit who would satisfy her spiritual thirst. Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to those who come to Him by faith. 21
Well Words List the words you can spell from the letters in the well. Use the letters to complete the main point of today s Bible story. Never Thirst Again Jesus offered the woman something no one else could give her. Color the 1 spaces blue and the 2 spaces yellow. What did Jesus say He could give the woman? 22
Think about how you feel when someone rejects you. Write a short prayer, thanking God for always accepting us through His Son, Jesus. Jesus Rejected in Nazareth Luke 4:14-30 MAIN POINT: JESUS EXPLAINED THAT THE SCRIPTURES TELL ABOUT HIM. FOLD Jesus went to His hometown, Nazareth. On the Sabbath day, Jesus went to the synagogue like He usually did. Jesus stood up to read Scripture. He unrolled the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and read: The Spirit of the Lord is on Me. He has chosen Me to tell good news to the poor. He has sent Me to tell the captives that they are free, to tell the blind that they can see, to free people who have been treated badly, and to announce that the Lord s favor is on us. Then Jesus rolled up the scroll. He gave it back to the attendant and sat down. Jesus said, Today as you listened to Me reading these words, they came true. The people said good things about Jesus, and they were amazed at Him. But some of the people in Nazareth had known Jesus from His youth. Isn t this Joseph s son? they asked. Jesus said, No prophet is accepted in his hometown. Jesus reminded the people of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. When there was a terrible famine in Israel, God sent Elijah to help a widow in another land. And when Elisha was a prophet, many people in Israel had leprosy. But Elisha did not heal them. Instead, he healed a man named Naaman from Syria. The people listening to Jesus in the synagogue became angry. They forced Jesus out of town. FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS Why do you think the people of Nazareth wanted to see miracles? Why do you think they rejected Jesus? Christ Connection: Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah wrote about God s plan to send a Messiah. He would bring good news and redeem people who were broken and hurting. Jesus read Isaiah s words and told everyone who was listening that He is the promised Messiah. 23
Match each quotation to the person who said it. Look up the Scripture references in the Bible to check your answers. How can anyone be born when he is old? (John 3:4) The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. (Luke 4:18) Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could this be the Messiah? (John 4:29) He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30) Face Time Draw a face that shows each emotion. Then listen to the Bible story to hear how people felt when Jesus spoke. 24