NT 38B Thomas Doubts

Reference: John 20:19-31

Story Summary:
   On the evening of the day he rose from the dead, Jesus' disciples were gathered together in a room. They had locked the door for fear that the same people who killed Jesus would want to get them.
   Suddenly, Jesus appeared among them. He show them the scars in his hands and his side to prove that it was really him. Then Jesus left them.
   One of the twelve, Thomas, wasn't there when Jesus appeared. "We've seen the Lord!" they told Thomas. But Thomas wouldn't believe them. "Unless I see the scars in his hands," said Thomas, "and put my finger in the hole in his hands and side, I won't believe!"
   Seven days later, all the disciples were gathered again. Thomas was there with them this time. Once again, Jesus appeared to them. "Put your hands in my hands and my side," Jesus said to Thomas. When Thomas saw Jesus, he said, "My Lord and my God!"
   Jesus said to Thomas, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen me and still believe."

Big Idea and Motions: Blessed are those who haven’t seen Jesus and believe.

• Blessed - smile and place two thumb’s up by your cheeks
• Those - point away from you
• Haven’t seen - put your hands over your eyes
• Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
• Believe - pretend to hold a rope in front of you with both hands

Verse / Motions: John 20:20, ESV - Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

• Said - make your hand talk like a puppet
• Believed - pretend to grasp a rope in front of you with two hands
• Seen - pull your eyes open with your fingers
• Blessed - smile, then put two thumb’s up next to your cheeks
• Not seen - put your hands over your eyes
• Believed - pretend to grasp a rope in front of you with two hands

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week

• Why did the disciples lock themselves in the room? // They were afraid of the Jews
• Who appeared to them in their locked room? // Jesus
• What did Jesus show them to prove it was really him? // His scars
• Who wasn’t there with them when Jesus? // Thomas
• What did Thomas say would have to happen for him to believe? // See and touch Jesus
• How many days later did Jesus appear again? // Seven
• What did Thomas say when he saw Jesus? // My Lord and my God
• Who did Jesus say was “blessed”? // Those who believe and haven’t seen
• Name some other people who saw Jesus after he rose from the dead. // Mary and Mary, Paul, James, Peter, 500 others

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/35tdFf
Resources - http://goo.gl/VKnX0Q

NT 38 Jesus Rises From the Dead

Reference: Matthew 28, Luke 24

Story Summary:
   On a Friday, Jesus was nailed to a cross and died. He was buried in a tomb closed with a large stone. Two guards were placed there to keep everyone out of Jesus’ tomb.
   Early on Sunday, two women named Mary went to the tomb to mourn for Jesus. As they arrived, there was an earthquake and an angel appeared! The angel rolled the stone away and said, “Jesus isn’t here! He has risen from the dead! Go tell his disciples!” So the women ran back to the disciples.
   On the way, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They bowed down and worshipped Jesus. Jesus told them to keep going to tell the good news to the disciples. When the women finally got there, they told the men what had happened. But Most of the disciples thought these women weren’t making any sense. But Peter got up, ran to the tomb, and saw that it was empty.
   Later that evening, Jesus appeared to the disciples as they met together. They thought he was a ghost, so Jesus showed them his hands and feet. He let them touch him and even ate a piece of fish. The disciples were filled with joy!

Big Ideas and Motions: Jesus rose from the dead
Jesus - make a cross with your forearms
Rose - Gesture upward with both palms
Dead - cross your forearms in an “X’ over your chest

Verse and Motions: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, ESV - ....Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day...
Christ - make a cross with your forearms
Died - cross your forearms in an “X’ over your chest
Sins - two thumbs down
Scriptures - pretend to open a book
Buried - pretend to dig with a shovel
Rose - gesture upward with both palms
Third - hold up three fingers

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Where was Jesus buried? // In a tomb, with a stone in front
On what day of the week did Jesus die? // Friday.
On what day of the week did Jesus rise from the dead? // Sunday.
Who were the first people at the tomb? // The two Marys.
What happened when the Marys went to the tomb? // An earthquake, an angel rolled the stone away
What did the angel say? // Jesus has risen, Go tell his disciples.
Who did the Marys meet on the way to tell the disciples? // Jesus.
Did the disciples believe when the women told them Jesus had risen? // No.
Who ran to the tomb to check it out? // Peter.
When Jesus appeared to the disciples, who did they think he was? // A ghost.
What did Jesus do to prove he wasn’t a ghost? // Let them see his hands and feet, ate a fish.
What is today’s big idea? // Jesus rose from the dead.
What is today’s Bible verse? (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - “....Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day...”)

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/FYV8SM
Resources - http://goo.gl/k9mj