Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 Kidzone 2nd- 4th Grade Small Group TEACHER BIBLE STUDY Preparation for Passover Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-23 As the Passover celebration drew near, Jerusalem hummed with excitement. Everyone wondered if Jesus teacher, miracle- worker, and prophet would come for Passover. (John 11:56-57) The Passover meal was a permanent statute God intended for every Israelite family to observe each year. (See Ex. 12:1-28; Lev. 23:5-8.) But it was no secret the religious leaders were determined to kill Jesus. Jesus had warned His disciples what would happen this Passover. (Mark 10:33-34; Luke 18:31) On the first day of Unleavened Bread, the disciples asked where Jesus wanted to prepare the Passover. Jesus sent Peter and John to sacrifice the lamb and told them to look for a man carrying a water jug. The man with a water jug would lead them to a large upstairs room. Carrying the water from the well was woman s work in Jesus day. But Jesus already knew that Judas had agreed with the religious leaders to betray Him for money (Matt. 26:14-16), so He privately made the arrangements for Passover. Jesus wanted to share the Passover with His disciples before He suffered and died. (Luke 22:14-15) Peter and John took the unblemished lamb to be sacrificed at the temple as required by the law of Moses, then brought the portion that was to be eaten to the upper room. They prepared the traditional Passover of roasted lamb, bitter herbs dipped in salt water, unleavened bread, and wine. Jesus broke the bread and gave it to His disciples, This is My body, which is given for you (Luke 22:19). Then He passed the cup and said, This cup is the new covenant established by My blood; it is shed for you (Luke 22:20). Jesus told His disciples to eat in remembrance of Him. What was Jesus saying? What the sacrifice of the Passover lamb could not do take away sins once and for all the perfect Lamb of God was going to do. Jesus, the perfectly sinless Son of God, was going to take the punishment for sin upon Himself. (See Heb. 10:1-10.) Emphasize that as Jesus disciples prepared for Passover, Jesus prepared to die. In His death on the cross, Jesus made the sacrifice to take the punishment for sin. Jesus protects from God s wrath those who trust in Him. OLDER KIDS BIBLE STUDY OVERVIEW Session Title: Preparation for Passover Bible Passage: Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-23 Key Passage: Romans 6:9 Big Picture Question: What did Jesus tell His disciples about the bread and cup at supper? Jesus said to eat the Lord s Supper to remember Him. Unit Christ Connection: God s plan for redemption is fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Unit 32 Session 1 Older Elementary 1
Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 Kidzone 2nd- 4th Grade Small Group Welcome time Activity page (5 minutes) Session starter (10 minutes) Key passage activity (5 minutes) Small Group Time Bible story review (10 minutes) Activity choice (10 minutes) Journal (5 minutes) Prayer (5 minutes) THE BIBLE STORY Preparation for Passover Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-23 Jesus and His disciples were in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. Long ago, God delivered His people from slavery in Egypt. He sent ten plagues to Egypt. During the tenth plague, the firstborn of the Egyptians died. The Israelites smeared the blood of a lamb on their doorposts, and God kept them safe; He passed over their houses. God gave His people special instructions so they would remember the great things He had done for them. God told Moses that once a year, the Israelites should celebrate the Passover. God told His people when they should sacrifice a lamb for the Passover meal, how long they should eat bread without yeast, and when to give an offering to the Lord. The day came when the Jewish people were supposed to kill a lamb for the Passover meal. This day was the first day of a special time called the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Jesus sent two of His disciples, Peter and John, to get the meal ready. Jesus said to them, Go and get the Passover meal ready for us so we can eat it. Where do You want us to prepare the meal? Peter and John asked. Jesus told His disciples exactly what to do. Go into the city, He said, and you will meet a man carrying a jug of water. Follow him. Jesus said that the man would go to a house. He told Peter and John to talk to the man who owned the house and say, The Teacher wants you to show us the guest room where He can eat the Passover meal with His disciples. Jesus said that the homeowner would show Peter and John a large room upstairs with furniture in it. That was the place Jesus wanted them to get the Passover meal ready. So Peter and John did as Jesus said. They went into town, followed the man with the water jug, and they went to the upstairs room to get the Passover meal ready. When the Passover meal was prepared, Jesus and His disciples reclined to eat. I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, Jesus said. For I tell you, I will not eat it again it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. Unit 32 Session 1 Older Elementary 2
Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 Kidzone 2nd- 4th Grade Small Group Then Jesus took the bread, gave thanks to God for it, broke it, and then gave it to His disciples. This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me, Jesus said. Then He took the cup after supper and said, This cup is the new covenant established by My blood; it is shed for you. Jesus showed His disciples with the bread and the drink that He is the true Passover Lamb. Jesus was going to be betrayed by one of His disciples. He would be arrested, and He would suffer. Then He would die on the cross to take the punishment for the sins of the world. On the third day, He would rise from the dead. The new covenant says that anyone who turns away from sin and trusts in Jesus death and resurrection will be forgiven of his sins and will have eternal life with Jesus. Christ Connection: Passover is a special meal to celebrate how God delivered His people from Egypt. Only God s covenant people could observe Passover. (Ex. 12:43-49) But God s people did not keep the covenant. God sent Jesus to earth to make a new covenant. As Jesus disciples prepared for Passover, Jesus prepared to die. On the cross, Jesus brought forgiveness and made the way for people to know and love God again. SMALL GROUP OPENING Session Title: Preparation for Passover Bible Passage: Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-23 Big Picture Question: What did Jesus tell His disciples about the bread and cup at supper? Jesus said to eat the Lord s Supper to remember Him. Key Passage: Romans 6:9 Unit Christ Connection: God s plan for redemption is fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Welcome time strips of paper wide- mouth plastic pitcher marker Greet each kid as he or she arrives. Use this time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. Before the session, write simple commands on strips of paper and place them in a wide- mouth plastic pitcher. Invite kids to pick out a command as they arrive and do the command right away. Mention that in today s Bible story, Jesus gave two disciples specific instructions to look for a man. (Sample commands: Greet someone you don t know well, give an adult helper a high- five, fist bump someone wearing brown shoes, rub elbows with someone you see outside of church.) Unit 32 Session 1 Older Elementary 3
Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 Kidzone 2nd- 4th Grade Small Group Activity page (5 minutes) Follow Instructions Carefully activity page, 1 per kid pencils crayons or colored pencils (optional) Invite kids to complete the Follow Instructions Carefully activity page. When kids finish drawing, they will have a black- and- white outline of the Bible story picture. Kids may color it if they wish. Say In today s Bible story, Jesus gave Peter and John specific instructions to look for someone in our picture. Who do you think they were looking for? Session starter (10 minutes) Option 1: Make a water jug modeling clay toothpicks (optional) Give each kid a palm- sized chunk of modeling clay. Demonstrate how to make a miniature water jug by pinching the clay upward or by stacking rolled coils to form a vessel. Provide toothpicks for kids to carve designs into their water jugs. They may also write the key passage reference, Romans 6:9, in the clay. Set the jars aside to dry during the session. Say People in Bible times did not have running water like we have today. They had to carry large clay water jugs to a nearby well and it was usually a job for women. In today s Bible story, Jesus told two of His disciples to look for a man carrying a water jug. We ll find out why in just a moment. Option 2: Musical squares paper strips paper squares tape cup markers Lift My Life Up song (optional) Tape numbered paper squares onto the floor. Place numbered paper strips in a cup. Draw a star on one strip. Play music and direct the kids to walk around the squares. Pause the music and direct each kid to stand on his own square. Draw a number from the cup. The kid standing on the Unit 32 Session 1 Older Elementary 4
Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 Kidzone 2nd- 4th Grade Small Group corresponding square is out. If you select the starred strip, everyone is back in the game. Continue play until only one kid is left standing. The last player standing wins. Say While this game came down to the luck of the draw, you only had one way to win the game. God had a plan to provide salvation to sinners. Jesus obeyed God s plan. We can be forgiven for our sin by turning away from sin and trusting in Jesus, who died on the cross and rose again to save us. SMALL GROUP LEADER Session Title: Preparation for Passover Bible Passage: Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-23 Big Picture Question: What did Jesus tell His disciples about the bread and cup at supper? Jesus said to eat the Lord s Supper to remember Him. Key Passage: Romans 6:9 Unit Christ Connection: God s plan for redemption is fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Key passage activity (5 minutes) Key Passage Poster brown paper circles markers basket Before class, cut 9 or 10 circles out of brown paper. Write two words from the key passage and the Scripture reference on the unleavened bread. Mix up the circles and place them in a basket. Invite kids to sit in a circle. Each kid will take a piece of bread as he passes the basket to the kid on his right. When all the kids have their bread, challenge them to put the key passage in order. Read the key passage together. If you have more than 10 kids in your group, form teams and prepare an extra basket of bread. The first team to place the bread in the correct order and stand to say the key passage together wins. Say The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23) Someone had to die to pay the punishment for sins. We deserve to die for our sin, but Jesus died on the cross in our place even though He never sinned, not even once. But Jesus didn t stay dead. God raised Jesus from the dead three days later, proving that God accepted His sacrifice. Jesus will never die again, and when we trust in Him, we will live forever with Him too. Unit 32 Session 1 Older Elementary 5
Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 Kidzone 2nd- 4th Grade Small Group Bible story review & Bible skills (10 minutes) Bibles, 1 per kid Small Group Visual Pack Option: Retell or review the Bible story using the bolded text of the Bible story script. Invite kids to open their Bibles to Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-16; or Luke 22:7-23. Briefly review the Bible story. Guide kids to retell the story from the perspective of the disciples, Peter and John. Ask for volunteers to read a few Scripture passages about sacrificial lambs: Genesis 22:8 (Abraham offering Isaac) Exodus 12:1-5 (instructions for Passover meal) Isaiah 53:7 (prediction of Jesus trial) John 1:29,34 (John the Baptist describing Jesus) Hebrews 10:1-7 (Jesus better covenant) 1 Peter 1:18-19 (Jesus blood purifies) Revelation 5:6; 7:17; 15:3-4 (referring to Jesus) Say Throughout the Old Testament, God instructed His people to offer an unblemished lamb as a sacrifice for sin. These unblemished sacrifices of an animal pointed to the perfect sacrifice once and for all take away the sins of the world. Jesus is the Lamb of God! If you choose to review with boys and girls how to become a Christian, explain that kids are welcome to speak with you or another teacher if they have questions. God rules. God created and is in charge of everything. (Gen. 1:1; Rev. 4:11; Col. 1:16-17) We sinned. Since Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Rom. 3:23; 6:23) God provided. God sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. (John 3:16; Eph. 2:8-9) Jesus gives. Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again so we can be welcomed into God s family. (Rom. 5:8; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 3:18) We respond. Believe that Jesus alone saves you. Repent. Tell God that your faith is in Jesus. (Rom. 10:9-10,13) Unit 32 Session 1 Older Elementary 6
Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 Kidzone 2nd- 4th Grade Small Group Activity choice (10 minutes) Option 1: Work a puzzle jigsaw puzzle duct tape Challenge kids to complete a simple jigsaw puzzle with the pieces turned facedown. Once kids complete the puzzle, tape the pieces in place and carefully turn over the picture. Relate how completing the puzzle without knowing the picture is similar to reading about the Jewish Passover sacrifices without knowing that Jesus is the true sacrifice. The Old Testament makes more sense to us when we see how Jesus was God s plan to rescue people from sin. Say After Jesus crucifixion and resurrection, many of Jesus followers were able to better understand the new covenant that Jesus made in His blood. Jesus death on the cross was always God s plan to save sinners. Never forget it! What did Jesus tell His disciples about the bread and cup at supper? Jesus said to eat the Lord s Supper to remember Him. Option 2: Make a lamb red construction paper markers glue scissors canister lids black heavyweight paper cotton balls googly eyes clothespins, 2 per kid Demonstrate how to cut out a heart from red construction paper and write on the heart Lamb of God. Guide kids to use a canister lid as a stencil to trace a circle on black heavyweight paper. Cut out the circle to be the body of the lamb. Cut out a small oval to be the lamb s face. Kids will glue cotton balls to the circle to make the wool of the lamb. Glue the bottom half of the red heart to the underside of the lamb. Once the glue is dry, attach the two clothespins securely to the bottom of the lamb as its legs. Say Jesus told Peter and John to prepare the Passover lamb for sacrifice. Passover is a special meal to remember how God delivered His people from Egypt. Only God s covenant people could observe Passover. (Exodus 12:43-49) But God s people did not keep the covenant. God sent Jesus to earth to make a new covenant. As Jesus disciples prepared for Passover, Jesus prepared to die. On the cross, Jesus brought forgiveness and made the way for people to know and love God again. Unit 32 Session 1 Older Elementary 7
Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 Kidzone 2nd- 4th Grade Small Group Journal and prayer (5 minutes) pencils Bibles Journal Page, 1 per kid What Is Missing? activity page, 1 per kid Give each kid his journal page and a pen. Invite kids to write Remember Me on their journal page. Guide kids to write what details they remember of the last supper that Jesus shared with His disciples. Kids may also draw Jesus and His disciples eating the Passover meal together. Say What did Jesus tell His disciples about the bread and cup at supper? Jesus said to eat the Lord s Supper to remember Him. Today, people who have repented of their sins and who trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior eat the Lord s Supper to remember His sacrifice for sin. As time allows, lead kids to complete the activity page What Is Missing? (Answers: Deuteronomy 16:3 unleavened bread; Numbers 9:11 bitter herbs; Exodus 12:3-5 roasted lamb; Matthew 26:27 cup of the fruit of the vine) Dismiss to parents Make sure to check security tags when dismissing children. Unit 32 Session 1 Older Elementary 8
Unit 32 Session 1 Preparation for Passover 2014 LifeWay OK TO PRINT Easter
C1 C4 D4 B4 E1 A2 D1 B1 A1 A4 Instructions: The Bible story picture is scrambled. Starting with square A1, re-draw the Bible story picture one square at a time. Hint: Use your big picture cards, the small group visual pack, or the timeline map to check your progress. E4 C2 A1 A2 A3 A4 B3 B2 B1 B2 B3 B4 E3 E2 C1 C2 C3 C4 D3 D2 D1 D2 D3 D4 A3 C3 E1 E2 E3 E4 Unit 32 Session 1 Older Kids Activity Pages Easter
Instructions: The table is set for the Passover meal, but the food is missing! Look up the Scripture references for each serving dish, and then draw the Passover item. Unit 32 Session 1 Older Kids Activity Pages Easter