August 25, 2013

NT 19 Jesus Raises Lazarus

Reference: John 11:1-44

Big Idea and Motions: Believe in Jesus and you’ll rise again on the last day.
Believe - pretend to grasp a rope in front of you with both hands
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
You’ll - point to someone else
Rise again - reach low with your hands, then raise them to the sky
Last day - pound the bottom of your fist onto your open palm on each word

Story Summary:
   Mary and Martha sent Jesus a letter. It said, "Lord, the one you love is sick." They were talking about their brother, Lazarus. Jesus said, "This sickness will not end it death." However, by the time Jesus reached Mary and Martha's house, Lazarus had been dead for four days!
   Martha told Jesus, "If you had been here, Lazarus would not have died." Jesus told Martha that Lazarus would rise again. Martha thought that Jesus meant Lazarus would be raised on the last day. But Jesus said, "Anyone who believes in me will live, even if he dies." Martha said, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God."
   Jesus went to Lazarus' tomb and had them roll back the stone. He said, "Lazarus! Come out!" Dead Lazarus came to life and walked out of the tomb, still wrapped up in cloths like a mummy! Many of the people who saw this amazing miracle put their faith in Jesus.

Verse / Motions: John 11:25, ESV - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.”
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
I am - point to yourself with two thumbs
Resurrection - reach low with your hands, then raise them to the sky
Life - hold a fist, palms up, then open it (like an opening flower)
Believes - pretend to grasp a rope in front of you with two hands
Die - cross your arms in an X over your chest
Live - hold a fist, palms up, then open it (like an opening flower)

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who became sick and died in today’s story? // Lazarus.
Who were Lazarus’ sisters? // Mary and Martha.
Who did Mary and Martha send a message about Lazarus to? // Jesus.
When Martha came out to meet Jesus, what did Jesus say would happen to Lazarus? // He’d rise from the dead.
When did Martha think Lazarus would rise again? // At the last day, when God raises all believers.
How long had Lazarus been dead? // Four days.
What happened after Jesus said, “Lazarus, come out!”? // Lazarus came back to life.
What kinds of bodies will Jesus give believers on the last day? // Strong, beautiful bodies that will live forever
What is today’s big idea? // Believe in Jesus and you’ll rise again on the last day.
What is today’s Bible verse? // John 11:25, ESV - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.”

Google Docs Links:
Lesson
Resources

August 18, 2013

NT 18 Jesus Heals Jairus' Daughter

Reference: Luke 8:41-56

Big Idea and Motions: Put your faith in Jesus to be saved from sin.
Put - pretend to push something away with two hands
Faith - pretend to grab a rope in front of you like it’s a rescue line
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Saved - make the baseball “safe” sign
Sin - two thumbs down
*This is the ASL sign for faith/trust. Follow this link to watch a video: http://goo.gl/4cHz3

Story Summary
   Jairus, a ruler at the synagogue, came to Jesus because his 12-year-old daughter was dying. He begged Jesus to come to his house and heal his daughter.
   As they walked to Jairus' house, the crowd pressed in on Jesus. A woman who had a disease that made her bleed touched Jesus and was healed instantly. Jesus asked, "Who touched me?" Reluctantly, the woman told Jesus that she had touched him. Jesus said, "Go in peace. Your faith has healed you."
   On the way to Jairus' house, a messenger said that Jairus' daughter had died. Jesus said, "Just believe. She will be healed."
   At the house, Jesus grabbed the little girl by the hand and said, "Little girl, get up!" Immediately, her spirit returned and she got up. Her parents were amazed!

Verse / Motions: Romans 10:9, ESV - ...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Confess - make your hands talk like puppets
Mouth - point to your mouth
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Believe - pretend to grab a rope in front of you like it’s a rescue line
Heart - point to your heart
Raised him - reach down low with your hands, then raise them to the sky
Saved - make the baseball “safe” sign
*This is the ASL sign for faith/trust. Follow this link to watch a video: http://goo.gl/4cHz3

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Note: these are written as first-person statements. Each answer is the character from the story whom the statement describes.
We had a daughter who was dying. // Jairus, Jarius’ wife
Jairus asked me to help his dying daughter. // Jesus
We walked together to Jairus’ house. // Jesus, Jairus, Peter, James, John, Crowd
I touched Jesus and was healed of my bleeding disease. // Bleeding woman
I died. // Jairus’ daughter
I told Jairus that his daughter had died. // Messenger
Jesus talked to us about having faith or believing. // Jairus, Bleeding Woman
We laughed at Jesus when he said the girl was sleeping. // Crowd
We went into the room with the dead girl. // Jesus, Jairus, Jairus’ wife, Peter, James, John
Jesus told me to get up and I did. Then my parents brought me some food. // Jairus’ daughter
In today’s story, Jesus told us to have faith. // Bleeding Woman, Jairus, Jairus’ wife

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/N8ZMmz
Resources - http://goo.gl/jegbVs

August 11, 2013

NT 17 Jesus Walks on Water

Reference: Matthew 14:22-33

Story Summary:
   Jesus sent the disciples to sail across the Sea of Galilee. Jesus stayed behind, went up a mountainside, and prayed into the evening. The disciples' boat was pounded by waves because the wind was blowing against it.
   Early in the morning, Jesus walked upon the lake towards the disciples. The disciples thought Jesus was a ghost. Jesus said, "Be brave! It is I," but Peter, one of the disciples wasn't so sure. "If it is you," he said, "tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus told Peter to come. Peter stepped out onto the waves and walked on water toward Jesus. But seeing the waves, Peter became afraid and started to sink.
   Jesus grabbed Peter and helped him into the boat. Right then, the wind died down. Back in the boat, the twelve disciples worshipped Jesus, saying, "You really are the Son of God!"

Big Idea and Motions: Repent and put your faith in Jesus to be saved.
Repent - pretend to turn a steering wheel 180°
Faith - pretend to grab a rope in front of you with two hands
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Saved - make the baseball “Safe!” sign

Verse / Motions: Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. (ESV)
Grace - place one hand on your heart and reach out to help with the other
Saved - make the baseball “safe” sign
Faith - pretend to grab a rope in front of you like it’s a rescue line
This is not - wag your index finger “no”
Gift - pretend to hold a present and give it to someone else
God - point up
*This is the ASL sign for faith/trust. Follow this link to watch a video: http://goo.gl/4cHz3

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
As the story began, what did Jesus tell the disciples to do? // Sail their boat across the Sea of Galilee
What did Jesus do on the mountain? // He prayed alone.
What problem did the disciples have on their boat trip? // A windstorm kept pushing them back
How did Jesus get to the disciples’ boat? // He walked on the water
What did the disciples think Jesus was? // A ghost
What did Peter want Jesus to do to prove he wasn’t a ghost? // Call Peter to walk on the waves
What happened when Peter first stepped on the water? // He walked on it
What happened when Peter looked at the wind and waves? // He began to sink
What are the two other words that are like faith? // Believe and trust
What is today’s big idea? // Repent and put your faith in Jesus to be saved
What is today’s Bible verse? // Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. (ESV)

Google Docs Links:
Resources

August 4, 2013

NT 16 Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man

Reference: Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:18-26

Big Idea and Motions: Because Jesus is God, he can forgive our sins.
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
God - point up
Forgive - hold one hand palm up; pretend to brush something off it with the fingertips of your other hand
Sins - two thumbs down

Verse and Motions: Psalm 32:1 - Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (ESV)
Blessed - point to your cheeks and smile
One - hold up one finger
Transgression - form a “T” with your hands
Forgiven - Forgive - hold left palm up, brush it off twice with the fingertips of your other hand 1
Sin - two thumbs down
Covered - form a roof over your head with your arms

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What was Jesus doing in the house? // Teaching people God's Word
How crowded was it? // So crowded, no one could get inside
What problem did the man with four friends have? // He couldn't walk
How did the four friends get their friend inside the house with Jesus? // Made a hole in the roof, lowered their friend down
What was the first thing Jesus said when he saw the man and their friends? // Son, your sins are forgiven
How did the Bible teachers feel when Jesus told the man his sins were forgiven? Why? // Upset because only God can forgive sins
What happened when Jesus told the man to pick up his mat and walk? //His legs were healed and he could walk
How did the people in the crowd feel when Jesus healed the man’s legs? // Amazed.
What is today’s big idea? // Because Jesus is God, he can forgive our sins.
What is today’s Bible verse? // Psalm 32:1 - Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (ESV)

Google Docs Links:
Lesson
Resources