Author: Elaine Briefman

You’re Not in the Driver’s Seat

Matthew 16:

^21-22 Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, “Impossible, Master! That can never be!”

²³ But Jesus didn’t swerve. “Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works.”

Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

Jesus came to die for our sins.

OBJECTIVE:

– For kids to make an emotional connection to the sacrifice that Jesus made for them, and understand that His death was part of God’s plan.

KEY PASSAGE:

– Matthew 16:21-23, John 18:1-14: Jesus is arrested, and the disciples scatter

MEMORY VERSE:

-John 15:13 (NIV)

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

SUMMARY:

The last thing the disciples expected was for Jesus to die. How could Jesus save his people if he was dead? But dying was the only way to save us from our sins, and Jesus was the only person who could make the ultimate sacrifice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJTr3dcDS0A

Word Scramble

Memory Verse

Kids will learn, there’s nothing sweeter than living the life God wants you to live – and sharing his love with others!

Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

Jesus wants us to love others as he loved us.

OBJECTIVE:

– Kids will recognize that Jesus wants us to love others the way he loved us.

KEY PASSAGE:

John 13:1-5. Jesus washes the disciples’ feet.

MEMORY VERSE:

– John15:13 (NIV)
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

SUMMARY:

Many people believed the Messiah would be a conquering king, coming to claim what was his. Instead, Jesus humbled himself, made himself nothing, and poured himself out for our sake. Jesus wants us to follow his example; to feed the hungry, care for the sick, and love the least of these.

Object Lesson

ITEMS NEEDED:

White jelly beans

Today we’re starting an Easter series, and jelly beans are a big part of that series. I want everyone here to taste and see what a white jelly bean tastes like.

Hand out white jelly beans to the kids.

What do the white jelly beans taste like?

White jelly beans don’t look as pretty or tasty as the colorful beans, and they usually get left behind with the black ones, but they still have a sweet flavor to them. They’re a good reminder of the example Jesus set and the life he wants us to lead. Jesus didn’t live a life of luxury. He was a poor carpenter who humbled himself to go to those in need. Very few people would choose that life for themselves, but that’s just the kind of life God wants us to have.

When we make ourselves servants, we are not only being obedient to Christ, we are sharing his love through our actions. We show that Jesus was not a man of mere words. He was God’s son, and we believe he wants us to live as he did.

White jelly beans aren’t flashy on the outside, but they still taste sweet. There’s nothing sweeter than living the life God wants you to live – and sharing his love with others!

Trivia

Craft-Coloring

Sing Along

Hey Kids, its test your parents day. See if you can get them to play along!

Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

The Bible is God’s Word.

OBJECTIVE:

Kids will be able to say what the Bible is and why we can trust it.

KEY PASSAGE:

2 Timothy 3:16-17

MEMORY VERSE:

“We know that “We all have knowledge.” But knowledge makes people proud, while love builds them up. Those who think they know something still don’t know as they should. But whoever loves God is known by God.” 1 Corinthians 8:1b-3 (NIRV)

SUMMARY:

In this lesson kids will learn trivia about the Bible itself, how many books are included, who wrote it, and why it can be trusted.

Play Jeopardy

Grab your microphone and sing along!

Object Lesson

ITEMS NEEDED:

A stack of reference or how-to books

Begin this lesson by going through the books. Ask the kids to read the titles and then guess what the books teach you.

People read books to learn everything: how to deal with the loss of a loved one, how to repair a motorcycle, how to perform magic tricks. Books can teach us a lot about life, skills, the world around us, sports, anything you can imagine.

God gave us a very special book we call the Bible. The Bible is God’s Word, given to men throughout ancient history. He gave these men the words to write so that we could know who God is and that God loves us. The Bible is filled with history, poetry and stories, all of which help us get to know our Creator.

The more we know our Bible, the more we know God. And the more we know God, the more we will know how God wants us to live. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to live a life that honors God.

Make sure the Bible isn’t just a book sitting on your shelf. Make the Bible the book you read the most!

Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

God can help us overcome any challenge.

OBJECTIVE:

Kids will identify and ask God to help them through a challenge they are currently facing.

KEY PASSAGE:

Romans 8:31-39 More Than Winners

MEMORY VERSE:

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Ro- mans 8:37 (NIV)

SUMMARY:

Championship teams rarely win their titles with ease. They endure hardships, setbacks, injuries, and more. As Christians, we will face challenges and oppositions to our faith, but we can rest assured that the victory is already won.

Trivia

Object Lesson

ITEMS NEEDED:

A keyboard with some sheet music

Ask for a kid who does not know how to play the piano to come up. Have him sit at the keyboard. Ask him to do his best to read the music and play it. After the first attempt, see if there’s a kid or parent who has played for years, and is willing to take the challenge.

It takes hard work to master the piano. It takes hours of drills and practice to learn the keys, learn how to read the sheet music, and put it all together.

The same amount of training and hard work goes into winning a football championship. True champions practice hard every day. They endure all sorts of trials and hardships and pain. They lift weights, run drills, study film, and prepare every second they can for the big game.

Sometimes we go through struggles in life, and not by choice. Those hard times and struggles can still lead us to victory. Whatever happens to us, as Christians, we are never alone. God is with us, and God will use those hard times the same as football players use their hard work. All the pain, all the suffering, all the hardship makes us stronger, and when we overcome the odds, it makes the victory that much sweeter.

Whatever hard times you are facing, now or in the future, God is bigger. Let God help you. Let him be your strength. He will give you victory.

Sing-Move-Dance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEhg6vcbrt4

Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

Love isn’t just words; it’s action.

OBJECTIVE:

Kids will think of a specific way they can serve someone to show God’s love.

KEY PASSAGE:

John 13:1-17, Jesus Washes the Disciple’s Feet

MEMORY VERSE:

“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34b (NIV)

SUMMARY:

Valentine’s Day is a day that uses the word “love” a lot. Jesus also used that word
a lot, but he also showed us what it looks like to truly love others by his actions. This Valentine’s Day when kids are excited about heart shaped chocolate, challenge them to think about what Jesus said it should really look like when we love one another.

Sing Along-Memory Verse

Game