Category: Children’s Sunday School

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.

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

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

Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

We should pray for those who hurt us to know the love of Jesus.

OBJECTIVE:

Kids will be encouraged to pray for someone by name who has hurt their feelings or been unkind to them.

KEY PASSAGE:

Acts 7:54-60, The Stoning of Stephen

MEMORY VERSE:

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

SUMMARY:

Jesus told his disciples that those who follow Him would have to suffer for it. When Stephen preached to the people about Jesus, they dragged him away and killed him by stoning him. Even as he was dying, Stephen did not hold anger against the men who were hurting him, but he kept his eyes firmly on Jesus.

Game

Object Lesson

ITEMS NEEDED:

Name tags

When you go to school on the first day, your teacher probably gave you a name tag. That was to help them learn your name. When you get to be adults, you’ll find that many times you are asked to put on name tags at parties or other special events so that people can learn your name as well. Not everyone needs a name tag, but

sometimes these can be helpful tools to making new friends and acquaintances when you’re around new people.

Today, as we end our Non-Avengers series, we’re asking you to put name tags on people who are hard to love, people you need to forgive, people who need our prayers. Just as Stephen prayed for the men who put him to death, we want to begin praying for the kids and even adults who make life hard on us. Let’s pray for forgiving hearts, so we can show them God’s love, and let’s pray that God uses us to show them the love of Jesus.

We’re not asking you to put actual name tags on people. We’re just asking you to put a name in your prayer. Let’s begin praying specifically for those difficult people, and let’s expect God to do wonders in their lives.

Video Dance Song

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

Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

Only Jesus can forgive our sins.

OBJECTIVE:

Kids will know that forgiveness of sins comes from God through Jesus.

KEY PASSAGE:

Luke 23:32-43, The Crucifixion

MEMORY VERSE:

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

SUMMARY:

We received the perfect example of what forgiveness looks like when God sent his son Jesus to earth. The ultimate forgiveness – the forgiveness of sins – comes from the Father through Jesus. He took the punishment our sins deserved and died for you and for me. But, he rose again so that we could have eternal life and live with him forever. Because God has forgiven us so much, he wants us to forgive others who wrong us.

Game

Let’s Learn A New Song

Craft

Give each child a black piece of construction paper. Have them dip their hands in white paint and make a handprint on the page. Paint a red circle in the middle of the palm. Below the hand, write, “Only Jesus Saves.”

Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

We can set an example for our friends in being kind to others.

OBJECTIVE:

Kids will be challenged to set an example for their friends this week by not talking bad about others or joining in making fun of others.

KEY PASSAGE:

1 Samuel 25:4-33, David, Nabal and Abigail

MEMORY VERSE:

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

SUMMARY:

Nabal had treated David and his men badly. David went out to get his revenge and kill Nabal. But Nabal’s wife, Abigail, pleaded with David to have compassion; reminding him that vengeance belongs to God, not men.

Object Lesson

ITEMS NEEDED:

None

For today’s object lesson, I did not bring anything from home. That’s because today, the object I want to talk about is your hand. I want all of you to put your hand up. Open your hands, and spread your fingers wide. Fold your pointer finger in. Good. Now stretch it out with the others. Now, who can fold in just their pinky finger, anyone? Can you fold your pinky in without also folding in your ring finger?

You can’t fold in your pinky without folding in your ring finger. Where one goes, the other follows. That’s a lot like how we are with our friends, isn’t it? When our friends watch a new show, we want to watch. When our friends are playing a new video game, we want to try.

Most of the time, there’s no problem going along with our friends, but when our friends make fun of other people, that’s when we need to stand strong. We need to set the example so instead of us folding to peer pressure, they will stand against it with us.

We all have the choice to fold up, or to set an example, and if we set the example, it will encourage our friends to do the right thing too. Let’s make the right choice. Let’s stand strong so our friends will stand with us against gossip, name calling, and bullying!

Game

Now Get Up Offa That Thing And Dance Cause You’ll Feel Better

Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

We need to love people who are hard to love.

OBJECTIVE:

Kids will be challenged to think of someone who is difficult to love and be encouraged to look for a way to be kind to them this week.

KEY PASSAGE:

1 Samuel 24:1-19, David Spares Saul’s Life

MEMORY VERSE:

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

SUMMARY:

God chose David to be the new king himself. This made the current king, Saul, very angry. Saul tried to kill David. When David had the chance to get the jump on Saul, he chose compassion rather than anger.

Object Lesson

ITEMS NEEDED:

A pair of scissors

Avengers always have their weapons ready. Iron Man has his suit. Thor has his hammer. Captain Marvel has her fists ready to shoot lasers. David was armed and ready to fight as well when he was hiding in that cave. We don’t know whether he had a knife, a sword, or heck – a pair of scissors, but when he saw Saul come into the cave, he cut off a piece of the king’s robe – and felt very guilty about it.

It’s one thing to say we should love our enemies, but it’s another thing to actually do it. We can’t actually do it until we put away our weapons. We must put aside our anger by forgiving them for the things they have done to us. Only when we put down our weapons can we reach out an open hand and try to be friends with them.

I know it isn’t easy to love someone who is always mean, but you can’t shake someone’s hand when you have something in it. Let’s put away our weapons so we can befriend the people who probably need friends the most. Let’s choose love over anger.

Trivia

Lesson Snapshot

BOTTOM LINE:

We should choose forgiveness over revenge.

OBJECTIVE:

Kids will discuss a time they were tempted to try to get even with someone and how they would handle the same situation in light of Joseph’s example.

KEY PASSAGE:

Genesis 45:1-15, Joseph Makes Himself Known

MEMORY VERSE:

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

SUMMARY:

Joseph’s brothers had treated him cruelly, selling him into slavery. Joseph ended up in Egypt, where God was able to use him greatly. When Joseph was reunited with his brothers, he chose forgiveness rather than revenge.

Object Lesson

ITEMS NEEDED:

A colorful coat

Imagine being so jealous of your brother or sister over a coat, that you would sell them. Not the coat, but your own brother or sister. Have any of you ever been mad enough you’d try to sell your brother or sister?

A colorful coat, much prettier and brighter than this one, was the last straw for Joseph’s brothers. They sold him to some slave traders and figured they would never see them again. I can only imagine how Joseph felt seeing the men who had sold him into slavery bowing at his feet begging for food.

Joseph still felt the pain of that betrayal, but he chose forgiveness over revenge. He knew God had used his situation to save his family, and he rejected the temptation to strike back.

Joseph is a Non-Avenger who shows us we can resist the temptation for payback. Let’s repay evil with good. Let’s forgive instead of avenge.

Test Your Knowledge

Craft Activity

Have the kids make a super hero mask (to represent how Joseph’s identity was masked from his brothers). Tell the kids the mask is a reminder of how Joseph chose to forgive his brothers instead of getting payback.