Reference: Matthew 27
Story Summary:
The chief priests and elders, the leaders of the people of Israel, decided to put Jesus to death, even though Jesus had not done anything wrong. They took him to Pilate, the governor of the land. Pilate listened as many spoke evil of Jesus, but Jesus didn’t say anything.
It was Pilate’s tradition to let a prisoner go free during the Passover feast. Pilate gave the people two prisoners to pick from: Jesus and Barabbas, a murderer. The people asked for Barabbas to go free. When Pilate asked them what they wanted to do to Jesus, they said, “Crucify him!” Pilate agreed to crucify Jesus, even though he had done nothing wrong.
After being beaten and mocked by soldiers, Jesus walked to the place where they crucified him. After being nailed to a wooden cross, Jesus hung there until he died. A rich man named Joseph asked Pilate for Jesus’ body. He wrapped his body in cloths and buried him in a tomb.
Big Idea and Motions: Jesus died to pay for our sins.
Jesus - make a cross with your forearms
Died - make an “X” with your forearms over your chest
To pay - pretend to swipe a debit/credit card
Sins - two thumbs down
Verse and Motions: John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)
God - point up
Loved - place your hands over your heart
World - draw a big circle in the air with your hands
Gave - cup your hands together and gesture away
Son - pretend to cradle a baby
Believes - fold your hands together, fingers interlocked
Perish - cross your arms over your chest
Eternal life - twirl your finger in an ∞ shape
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
How does God feel about sin? // He hates it
How many times did Jesus sin? // Zero. He never sinned
Who was Pilate? // The governor
What did Pilate ask Jesus? // Are you the king?
Who did the people let go instead of Jesus? // Barabbas
What did the soldiers do to Jesus? // Whipped and made fun of him
What was Jesus nailed to? // A cross
What happened to Jesus because he was nailed to a cross? // He died
Where was Jesus buried? // In a stone tomb
What did Jesus pay for on the cross? // The punishment for our sins
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/9XbxFM
Resources - http://goo.gl/OzZGar
March 29, 2015
March 22, 2015
NT 36 Peter Denies Jesus
Reference: Luke 22:54-62
Story Summary:
Before Jesus was arrested, he told his disciples that God's enemies wanted to get them. But one of the disciples, Peter, said that he was willing to go to prison and death with Jesus. But Jesus said to Peter, "Before the rooster crows today, you'll say three times that you don't know me."
When Jesus was arrested, the disciples ran away, but Peter followed Jesus from far away. He sat in a courtyard near where they were holding Jesus. A female servant said of Peter, "This man was with Jesus." But Peter said he didn't know him. A little while later, someone said to Peter, "You're one of Jesus' disciples." But Peter yelled, "No, I'm not!"
Still later, another person said about Peter, "This fellow must have been with Jesus!" But Peter cursed at the man and said, "I don't know what you're talking about!" After Peter denied Jesus for a third time, a rooster crowed. Jesus looked at Peter, and Peter began to weep.
After Jesus rose from the dead, he went to Peter. He forgave Peter for the three times he said he didn't know Jesus.
Big Idea and Motions: Believe in Jesus to be forgiven.
Believe - Pretend to grab a rope in front of you with both hands.
Jesus - Make a cross with your forearms
Forgiven - hold one palm facing up and pretend to brush something off that palm with the fingertips of your other hand
Verse and Motions: Ephesians 4:32, ESV - ...forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Forgiving - hold one palm facing up and pretend to brush something off that palm with the fingertips of your other hand
One another - hold up one finger
God - point up
Christ - make a cross with your forearms
Forgave - same as above
You - point to another person
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who was Peter? // One of Jesus’ disciples.
What did Jesus say Peter would do? // Say he didn’t know Jesus three times.
What happened to Jesus at the beginning of the story? // He was arrested.
How many times did people ask Peter if he knew Jesus? // Three.
What did Peter say to these people? // I don’t know him, I don’t know what you are talking about.
What happened after Peter said he didn’t know Jesus the third time? // A rooster crowed.
What did Peter do after Jesus looked at him? // Began to cry.
Did Jesus forgive Peter for saying he didn’t know him three times? // Yes.
What did Jesus do to pay our punishment? // Died on a cross.
How can we be forgiven by God? // Believe that Jesus died and rose again for our sins.
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/agGWbB
Resources - http://goo.gl/mjN8Bi
Story Summary:
Before Jesus was arrested, he told his disciples that God's enemies wanted to get them. But one of the disciples, Peter, said that he was willing to go to prison and death with Jesus. But Jesus said to Peter, "Before the rooster crows today, you'll say three times that you don't know me."
When Jesus was arrested, the disciples ran away, but Peter followed Jesus from far away. He sat in a courtyard near where they were holding Jesus. A female servant said of Peter, "This man was with Jesus." But Peter said he didn't know him. A little while later, someone said to Peter, "You're one of Jesus' disciples." But Peter yelled, "No, I'm not!"
Still later, another person said about Peter, "This fellow must have been with Jesus!" But Peter cursed at the man and said, "I don't know what you're talking about!" After Peter denied Jesus for a third time, a rooster crowed. Jesus looked at Peter, and Peter began to weep.
After Jesus rose from the dead, he went to Peter. He forgave Peter for the three times he said he didn't know Jesus.
Big Idea and Motions: Believe in Jesus to be forgiven.
Believe - Pretend to grab a rope in front of you with both hands.
Jesus - Make a cross with your forearms
Forgiven - hold one palm facing up and pretend to brush something off that palm with the fingertips of your other hand
Verse and Motions: Ephesians 4:32, ESV - ...forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Forgiving - hold one palm facing up and pretend to brush something off that palm with the fingertips of your other hand
One another - hold up one finger
God - point up
Christ - make a cross with your forearms
Forgave - same as above
You - point to another person
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who was Peter? // One of Jesus’ disciples.
What did Jesus say Peter would do? // Say he didn’t know Jesus three times.
What happened to Jesus at the beginning of the story? // He was arrested.
How many times did people ask Peter if he knew Jesus? // Three.
What did Peter say to these people? // I don’t know him, I don’t know what you are talking about.
What happened after Peter said he didn’t know Jesus the third time? // A rooster crowed.
What did Peter do after Jesus looked at him? // Began to cry.
Did Jesus forgive Peter for saying he didn’t know him three times? // Yes.
What did Jesus do to pay our punishment? // Died on a cross.
How can we be forgiven by God? // Believe that Jesus died and rose again for our sins.
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/agGWbB
Resources - http://goo.gl/mjN8Bi
March 15, 2015
NT 35 Jesus is Betrayed
Reference: Matthew 26:47-56
Story Summary:
The chief priests, elders, and Pharisees wanted to arrest Jesus. Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, came to them. He agreed to betray Jesus for 30 silver coins.
Judas thought this was secret, but at the last supper, Jesus made it clear that he knew what Judas had done. Sometime during that meal, Judas left. He went and got a crowd of men with swords and clubs. Jesus and the rest of the disciples went to the garden of Gethsemane.
After Jesus prayed in the garden, Judas arrived with the men to arrest Jesus. Peter pulled out a sword to protect Jesus. He swung his sword and chopped off one of the men’s ears. Jesus healed the man and told Peter to put his sword away. "Don't you know I could call my Father and he'd send 70,000 angels to fight these men?" Jesus hadn't come to fight these men or even run away.
Judas' men arrested Jesus and Jesus let them. All of the eleven other disciples, including brave Peter and his sword, ran away, leaving Jesus all alone.
Big Idea and Motions: Jesus bravely went to the cross to save us from our sins.
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Bravely - put your hands on your hips and stand boldly
Cross - form a cross with your forearms
Save - do the baseball “safe” sign
Us - point to yourself with two thumbs
Sins - two thumbs down
Verse / Motions: Mark 10:45, ESV - For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Son of Man - form your arms into a cross (because Jesus is the Son of Man)
Not - wag your index finger “no” with your other hand on hip
Be served - point to yourself with two thumbs
Serve - point to another with two index fingers
Give - pretend to hand a box to another
Ransom for many - cross your wrists (like they’re in handcuffs), then break them apart and gesture your arms in a wide circle
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who wanted Jesus arrested and killed? // The Pharisees, Chief Priests, and Elders
Who secretly agreed to betray Jesus? // Judas
How much did they pay Judas to betray Jesus? // 30 silver coins
What signal did Judas use to show the men who Jesus was? // A kiss
Who did Judas come with? // A crowd with swords and clubs
What did the men come to do? // Arrest Jesus
What did Peter do? // Use his sword, chopped on a guy’s ear
What did Jesus do with the ear? // Healed the man
What did Jesus say he could do if he wanted to escape? // Call for 70,000 angels
What did the disciples do when Jesus was arrested? // Ran away
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/ppFe3U
Resources - http://goo.gl/H3dEGL
Story Summary:
The chief priests, elders, and Pharisees wanted to arrest Jesus. Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, came to them. He agreed to betray Jesus for 30 silver coins.
Judas thought this was secret, but at the last supper, Jesus made it clear that he knew what Judas had done. Sometime during that meal, Judas left. He went and got a crowd of men with swords and clubs. Jesus and the rest of the disciples went to the garden of Gethsemane.
After Jesus prayed in the garden, Judas arrived with the men to arrest Jesus. Peter pulled out a sword to protect Jesus. He swung his sword and chopped off one of the men’s ears. Jesus healed the man and told Peter to put his sword away. "Don't you know I could call my Father and he'd send 70,000 angels to fight these men?" Jesus hadn't come to fight these men or even run away.
Judas' men arrested Jesus and Jesus let them. All of the eleven other disciples, including brave Peter and his sword, ran away, leaving Jesus all alone.
Big Idea and Motions: Jesus bravely went to the cross to save us from our sins.
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Bravely - put your hands on your hips and stand boldly
Cross - form a cross with your forearms
Save - do the baseball “safe” sign
Us - point to yourself with two thumbs
Sins - two thumbs down
Verse / Motions: Mark 10:45, ESV - For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Son of Man - form your arms into a cross (because Jesus is the Son of Man)
Not - wag your index finger “no” with your other hand on hip
Be served - point to yourself with two thumbs
Serve - point to another with two index fingers
Give - pretend to hand a box to another
Ransom for many - cross your wrists (like they’re in handcuffs), then break them apart and gesture your arms in a wide circle
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who wanted Jesus arrested and killed? // The Pharisees, Chief Priests, and Elders
Who secretly agreed to betray Jesus? // Judas
How much did they pay Judas to betray Jesus? // 30 silver coins
What signal did Judas use to show the men who Jesus was? // A kiss
Who did Judas come with? // A crowd with swords and clubs
What did the men come to do? // Arrest Jesus
What did Peter do? // Use his sword, chopped on a guy’s ear
What did Jesus do with the ear? // Healed the man
What did Jesus say he could do if he wanted to escape? // Call for 70,000 angels
What did the disciples do when Jesus was arrested? // Ran away
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/ppFe3U
Resources - http://goo.gl/H3dEGL
March 8, 2015
OT 41 The Sun Stands Still
Reference: Joshua 10
Story Summary:
Adoni-Zedek, the king of Jerusalem, heard about how God was with Joshua and the Israelites. He heard they had defeated the cities of Jericho and Ai and destroyed their kings. He also heard that the people of Gibeon made a deal with the Israelites to let them live in their land, as long as the Israelites promised to keep them safe.
Adoni-Zedek approached four other kings. He asked them to attack Gibeon with him and they agreed. When the attack began, the people of Gibeon sent a messenger to Joshua asking for help. Joshua and his men marched through the night to Gibeon, to surprise their enemies. God said to Joshua, “Don’t fear. I’ve handed them over to you.
God made Adoni-Zedek’s army panic. They ran away as the Israelites battled them. God sent hailstones to fall upon the men as they ran. But night began to come and Joshua feared the army would escape. He prayed that God would make the sun and moon stand still in the sky. And God did just that. The sun and moon stopped, leaving daylight for Joshua and his men to defeat Adoni-Zedek and the four kings.
Big Idea and Motions: God is in control of the whole universe.
God - point up
Control - pretend to use a video game controller
Whole - gesture widely with your arms
Universe - hold your hands above your head and wiggle your fingers (the twinkling of the stars)
Verse / Motions: Psalm 115:3, ESV - Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
God - point up
Heavens - hold both hands up and wiggle your fingers
He does - pound the bottom of your fist into your upward-facing palm a few times
All - gesture your arms in a wide circle
Pleases - fold your arms, nod your head, and smile
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who was the king of Jerusalem? // Adoni-Zedek
What did he hear about Joshua and the Israelites? // God helped them defeat Jericho and Ai
What deal did Joshua make with the people of Gibeon? // Israel can live there if Joshua kept the people safe
How many other kings did Adoni-Zedek find to help him? // Four
What did Adoni-Zedek and the kings do? // Attack the city of Gibeon
How did Joshua surprise the enemy’s army? // They marched all night
What did Adoni-Zedek’s men do as the Israelites attacked? // They ran away
What did God send from the sky to strike Adoni-Zedek’s men? // Hail
What did Joshua pray? // That God would make the sun and moon stand still so they could finish the battle
What happened after Joshua prayed? // God made the sun and moon stand still so the Israelites could win
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/gk1ewQ
Resources - http://goo.gl/oiJBw7
Story Summary:
Adoni-Zedek, the king of Jerusalem, heard about how God was with Joshua and the Israelites. He heard they had defeated the cities of Jericho and Ai and destroyed their kings. He also heard that the people of Gibeon made a deal with the Israelites to let them live in their land, as long as the Israelites promised to keep them safe.
Adoni-Zedek approached four other kings. He asked them to attack Gibeon with him and they agreed. When the attack began, the people of Gibeon sent a messenger to Joshua asking for help. Joshua and his men marched through the night to Gibeon, to surprise their enemies. God said to Joshua, “Don’t fear. I’ve handed them over to you.
God made Adoni-Zedek’s army panic. They ran away as the Israelites battled them. God sent hailstones to fall upon the men as they ran. But night began to come and Joshua feared the army would escape. He prayed that God would make the sun and moon stand still in the sky. And God did just that. The sun and moon stopped, leaving daylight for Joshua and his men to defeat Adoni-Zedek and the four kings.
Big Idea and Motions: God is in control of the whole universe.
God - point up
Control - pretend to use a video game controller
Whole - gesture widely with your arms
Universe - hold your hands above your head and wiggle your fingers (the twinkling of the stars)
Verse / Motions: Psalm 115:3, ESV - Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
God - point up
Heavens - hold both hands up and wiggle your fingers
He does - pound the bottom of your fist into your upward-facing palm a few times
All - gesture your arms in a wide circle
Pleases - fold your arms, nod your head, and smile
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who was the king of Jerusalem? // Adoni-Zedek
What did he hear about Joshua and the Israelites? // God helped them defeat Jericho and Ai
What deal did Joshua make with the people of Gibeon? // Israel can live there if Joshua kept the people safe
How many other kings did Adoni-Zedek find to help him? // Four
What did Adoni-Zedek and the kings do? // Attack the city of Gibeon
How did Joshua surprise the enemy’s army? // They marched all night
What did Adoni-Zedek’s men do as the Israelites attacked? // They ran away
What did God send from the sky to strike Adoni-Zedek’s men? // Hail
What did Joshua pray? // That God would make the sun and moon stand still so they could finish the battle
What happened after Joshua prayed? // God made the sun and moon stand still so the Israelites could win
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/gk1ewQ
Resources - http://goo.gl/oiJBw7
March 1, 2015
OT 40 Achan's Sin
Reference: Joshua 7-8
Story Summary:
When the Israelites battled Jericho, God warned them to destroy the items in the city and to give the gold and silver treasures to God. Anyone who disobeyed would bring destruction on themselves and on the Israelites. But Achan took some gold and silver and hid them under this tent.
Joshua sent some men to check out the next city in the promised land: Ai. The men came back saying that Ai was small and only a few thousand men were needed for the battle. So Joshua sent 3000 men. But the men of Ai roundly defeated the Israelites and chased them away.
Joshua cried out and asked God why this happened. God explained that somoene had disobeyed his command to destroy the things of Jericho and had brought trouble on the Israelites. God told Joshua to destory those things that had been stolen.
God went through the tribes of Israel and eventually directed Joshua to Achan. Achan finally admitted his sin, but it was too late. Both Achan and the things he had taken were destroyed. After this, the men of Israel went to Ai a second time, and this time, God helped the win the battle.
Big Idea and Motions: Don’t hide; confess your sins and be forgiven.
Hide - cover your face with your hands
Confess - make your hand talk like a puppet
Sins - two thumbs down
Forgiven - hold left palm up, brush it off twice with the fingertips of your other hand*
* This is the ASL sign for “forgiven.”
Verse / Motions: 1 John 1:9, ESV - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins...
We - point to yourself
Confess - make your hand talk like a puppet
Sins - two thumbs down
Faithful - cross your fingers on both hands
Just - pound the bottom of your fist on your up-facing palm (like a judge’s gavel)
Forgive - hold left palm up, brush it off twice with the fingertips of your other hand
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What were the Israelites supposed to do with the treasures of Jericho? // Give them to God.
What was Achan’s sin? // He stole some of the treasures of Jericho.
Which city was bigger and stronger: Jericho or Ai? // Jericho.
Did Joshua send all the army men to Ai? // No, just 3000
What happened at the first battle of Ai? // The Israelites lost and were chased away.
Why didn’t God help the Israelites win the first battle of Ai? // Because Achan sinned.
What did Achan do with his treasures? // Hid them under his tent.
How did Joshua find out who sinned? // God helped him find Achan
What happened to Achan and the treasures? // They were destroyed
What happened in the second battle with Ai? // God helped the Israelites win
Instead of hiding our sins, what does God want us to do? // Confess our sins
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/AqpsjA
Resources - http://goo.gl/EVI91F
Story Summary:
When the Israelites battled Jericho, God warned them to destroy the items in the city and to give the gold and silver treasures to God. Anyone who disobeyed would bring destruction on themselves and on the Israelites. But Achan took some gold and silver and hid them under this tent.
Joshua sent some men to check out the next city in the promised land: Ai. The men came back saying that Ai was small and only a few thousand men were needed for the battle. So Joshua sent 3000 men. But the men of Ai roundly defeated the Israelites and chased them away.
Joshua cried out and asked God why this happened. God explained that somoene had disobeyed his command to destroy the things of Jericho and had brought trouble on the Israelites. God told Joshua to destory those things that had been stolen.
God went through the tribes of Israel and eventually directed Joshua to Achan. Achan finally admitted his sin, but it was too late. Both Achan and the things he had taken were destroyed. After this, the men of Israel went to Ai a second time, and this time, God helped the win the battle.
Big Idea and Motions: Don’t hide; confess your sins and be forgiven.
Hide - cover your face with your hands
Confess - make your hand talk like a puppet
Sins - two thumbs down
Forgiven - hold left palm up, brush it off twice with the fingertips of your other hand*
* This is the ASL sign for “forgiven.”
Verse / Motions: 1 John 1:9, ESV - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins...
We - point to yourself
Confess - make your hand talk like a puppet
Sins - two thumbs down
Faithful - cross your fingers on both hands
Just - pound the bottom of your fist on your up-facing palm (like a judge’s gavel)
Forgive - hold left palm up, brush it off twice with the fingertips of your other hand
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What were the Israelites supposed to do with the treasures of Jericho? // Give them to God.
What was Achan’s sin? // He stole some of the treasures of Jericho.
Which city was bigger and stronger: Jericho or Ai? // Jericho.
Did Joshua send all the army men to Ai? // No, just 3000
What happened at the first battle of Ai? // The Israelites lost and were chased away.
Why didn’t God help the Israelites win the first battle of Ai? // Because Achan sinned.
What did Achan do with his treasures? // Hid them under his tent.
How did Joshua find out who sinned? // God helped him find Achan
What happened to Achan and the treasures? // They were destroyed
What happened in the second battle with Ai? // God helped the Israelites win
Instead of hiding our sins, what does God want us to do? // Confess our sins
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/AqpsjA
Resources - http://goo.gl/EVI91F
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