Reference: Mark 10:13-16
Story Summary:
People began bringing their little children to Jesus. They wanted Jesus to place his hands on them and pray a prayer of blessing. Jesus' disciples gruffly sent the people away and told them to stop coming.
Jesus was upset with the disciples for doing this. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me. Don’t keep them away. God’s kingdom belongs to people like them. Anyone who will not receive God’s kingdom like a little child will never enter it."
We learn two things from what Jesus said. First, God's kingdom (living with God as our king and one day spending forever with him) isn't just for adults; it belongs to kids to. Second, we must become like children to enter God's kingdom. Just like a little child trusts their parents for everything, we need to trust in Jesus completely to be saved from our sins and enter God's kingdom.
Big Idea and Motions: Trust in God like a child trusts their parents.
Trust - pretend to grab a rope with two hands
God - point up
Child - pretend to rock a baby
Parents - with your palm facing out, touch your thumb to your forehead, then your chin*
* This the ASL sign for “parents.” See a video demo at https://goo.gl/CJvApd
Verse / Motions: Proverbs 3:5, ESV - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Trust - pretend to grab a rope with two hands
Lord - point up
All - gesture your arms in a wide circle
Heart - hand over your heart
Lean - cross your arms and pretend to lean against something
Understanding - tap your temple
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What were parents bringing to Jesus? // Their little children
What did they want Jesus to do? // Place his hands on them and bless them
What does it mean to bless someone? // To ask God to take care of them and give them good things
What did the disciples do? // Tell the parents and kids to go away
How did Jesus feel when the disciples sent the kids away? // Angry with them
Who did Jesus say the kingdom of heaven also belonged to? // Little kids
What did Jesus mean when he said, “the kingdom of heaven belongs to them?” // God came to rescue all sinners, even kids
What does “the kingdom of God” mean? // Living with God as our king, both now and forever
How did Jesus say one can enter God’s kingdom? // By becoming like a child, totally trusting in God to save
What does it mean to “become like a child”? // To trust in God like a little kid trusts their parents
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/Ok2d1P
Resources - http://goo.gl/H84dly
July 31, 2016
July 24, 2016
NT 29 Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
Reference: John 9:1-34
Story Summary
Jesus met a man who had been blind his whole life. Jesus made some mud, rubbed it into the blind man's eyes, then told him to go wash in a pool. When the man did what Jesus asked, he could see! But by then, Jesus was gone, and the blind man didn't know who it was who healed him.
The Pharisees asked the man many questions. They were trying to find out if Jesus was a sinner or someone sent by God. They thought Jesus broke God's Sabbath command (don't work on the seventh day) when he made mud with his hands. They even wanted the man to lie about Jesus and say that Jesus was a sinner. But the man told the truth about Jesus. Because of this, the Pharisees kicked the man out of the synagogue!
Jesus found the man and told him that it was he, Jesus, who had healed him. Jesus asked the man if he believed in him. The blind man said, "Lord, I believe." Then he bowed down and worshipped Jesus.
Big Idea and Motions: Jesus came to find and save lost sinners.
Jesus - form a cross with your arms
Find - pretend to scan around the room with binoculars
Save - do the baseball “safe” sign
Sinners - two thumbs down
Verse / Motions: Luke 19:10 - For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost...
For - hold up four fingers
Son - pretend to cradle a baby
Man - flex your muscles
Seek - pretend to scan the room using binoculars
Save - do the baseball “safe” sign
Lost - scratch the top of your head and look around, confused
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What problem did the man in today’s story have? // He was blind
How long had the man been blind? // Since birth
What did Jesus do to heal the man’s eyes? // Rub mud on them, then had him wash
What did the crowd think about the blind man who had been healed? // They weren’t sure it was him
Who asked the blind man questions about what happened? // The Pharisees
Why did the Pharisees think Jesus broke the Sabbath rule? // He made mud, which they thought was work
After talking to the man, what did the Pharisees do to the blind man? // Threw him out
When Jesus found the blind man, what did the blind man do? // Worshipped Jesus
What did Jesus ask the blind man? // Do you believe in the Son of Man?
Who is the Son of Man? // Jesus
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/kuxhcB
Resources - http://goo.gl/tNDLrV
Story Summary
Jesus met a man who had been blind his whole life. Jesus made some mud, rubbed it into the blind man's eyes, then told him to go wash in a pool. When the man did what Jesus asked, he could see! But by then, Jesus was gone, and the blind man didn't know who it was who healed him.
The Pharisees asked the man many questions. They were trying to find out if Jesus was a sinner or someone sent by God. They thought Jesus broke God's Sabbath command (don't work on the seventh day) when he made mud with his hands. They even wanted the man to lie about Jesus and say that Jesus was a sinner. But the man told the truth about Jesus. Because of this, the Pharisees kicked the man out of the synagogue!
Jesus found the man and told him that it was he, Jesus, who had healed him. Jesus asked the man if he believed in him. The blind man said, "Lord, I believe." Then he bowed down and worshipped Jesus.
Big Idea and Motions: Jesus came to find and save lost sinners.
Jesus - form a cross with your arms
Find - pretend to scan around the room with binoculars
Save - do the baseball “safe” sign
Sinners - two thumbs down
Verse / Motions: Luke 19:10 - For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost...
For - hold up four fingers
Son - pretend to cradle a baby
Man - flex your muscles
Seek - pretend to scan the room using binoculars
Save - do the baseball “safe” sign
Lost - scratch the top of your head and look around, confused
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What problem did the man in today’s story have? // He was blind
How long had the man been blind? // Since birth
What did Jesus do to heal the man’s eyes? // Rub mud on them, then had him wash
What did the crowd think about the blind man who had been healed? // They weren’t sure it was him
Who asked the blind man questions about what happened? // The Pharisees
Why did the Pharisees think Jesus broke the Sabbath rule? // He made mud, which they thought was work
After talking to the man, what did the Pharisees do to the blind man? // Threw him out
When Jesus found the blind man, what did the blind man do? // Worshipped Jesus
What did Jesus ask the blind man? // Do you believe in the Son of Man?
Who is the Son of Man? // Jesus
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/kuxhcB
Resources - http://goo.gl/tNDLrV
July 17, 2016
NT 28 Jesus and Nicodemus
Reference: John 3:1-21
Story Summary:
There was a member of the Pharisees named Nicodemus. He came to meet with Jesus secretly one night. Jesus told him something that sounded very strange: “No one can see God’s kingdom unless they are born again.” Nicodemus knew that a person can only be born once. He knew it was impossible to crawl back inside his mother and be born again. So he asked Jesus to explain what he meant.
Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to be born of water and spirit to enter God’s kingdom. This means that we need to have our sins washed away and have our spirits made alive by Jesus if we ever want to enter God’s kingdom.
The Bible teaches us that we are all born dead in sin. Our bodies are alive, but our spirits are dead. Only God's Holy Spirit can make our spirits alive again. When God makes our spirits alive again, we can believe the good news that Jesus died and rose again for our sins, and enter God's kingdom, where one day we'll live with God forever!
Big Idea and Motions: Because our spirits are dead in sin, to enter God’s kingdom, we must be born again.
Because our spirits - hover your hand in a circular motion above your chest
Are dead in sin - cross your arms over your chest and bow your head
To enter God’s kingdom - swing your arms and march in place
We must be born again - pretend to cradle a baby
Verse / Motions: John 3:3, ESV - Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Truly - fold your arms and nod your head
I say - make your hands talk like a puppet
Born again - pat your belly
Cannot - hold your palms out and shake your head “no”
See - pretend to look through binoculars
Kingdom of God - pretend to put on a crown, then point up
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who was the man who came to talk to Jesus? // Nicodemus
What was Nicodemus? // A Pharisee
At what time of day did Nicodemus come to talk with Jesus? // Night
What are the two parts God gives each person when he makes us? // Body and spirit
Jesus said, "No one can enter God’s kingdom unless"... what? // He is born again
When we’re born, what is wrong with our spirits? // They are dead in sin
Who is the only one who can make our spirits Live again? // God
What did Jesus do so that our spirits can be made alive again? // Died on the cross and rose from the dead
What must we do to be saved from our sins and enter God’s forever kingdom? // Believe in Jesus
What does it mean to be born again? // To have God make our spirits come alive so we can believe in Jesus
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/qEKSjv
Resources - http://goo.gl/zBXqes
Story Summary:
There was a member of the Pharisees named Nicodemus. He came to meet with Jesus secretly one night. Jesus told him something that sounded very strange: “No one can see God’s kingdom unless they are born again.” Nicodemus knew that a person can only be born once. He knew it was impossible to crawl back inside his mother and be born again. So he asked Jesus to explain what he meant.
Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to be born of water and spirit to enter God’s kingdom. This means that we need to have our sins washed away and have our spirits made alive by Jesus if we ever want to enter God’s kingdom.
The Bible teaches us that we are all born dead in sin. Our bodies are alive, but our spirits are dead. Only God's Holy Spirit can make our spirits alive again. When God makes our spirits alive again, we can believe the good news that Jesus died and rose again for our sins, and enter God's kingdom, where one day we'll live with God forever!
Big Idea and Motions: Because our spirits are dead in sin, to enter God’s kingdom, we must be born again.
Because our spirits - hover your hand in a circular motion above your chest
Are dead in sin - cross your arms over your chest and bow your head
To enter God’s kingdom - swing your arms and march in place
We must be born again - pretend to cradle a baby
Verse / Motions: John 3:3, ESV - Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Truly - fold your arms and nod your head
I say - make your hands talk like a puppet
Born again - pat your belly
Cannot - hold your palms out and shake your head “no”
See - pretend to look through binoculars
Kingdom of God - pretend to put on a crown, then point up
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who was the man who came to talk to Jesus? // Nicodemus
What was Nicodemus? // A Pharisee
At what time of day did Nicodemus come to talk with Jesus? // Night
What are the two parts God gives each person when he makes us? // Body and spirit
Jesus said, "No one can enter God’s kingdom unless"... what? // He is born again
When we’re born, what is wrong with our spirits? // They are dead in sin
Who is the only one who can make our spirits Live again? // God
What did Jesus do so that our spirits can be made alive again? // Died on the cross and rose from the dead
What must we do to be saved from our sins and enter God’s forever kingdom? // Believe in Jesus
What does it mean to be born again? // To have God make our spirits come alive so we can believe in Jesus
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/qEKSjv
Resources - http://goo.gl/zBXqes
July 10, 2016
NT 27 The Wise and Foolish Builders
Reference: Matthew 7:24-27
Story Summary:
At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told a story about wise and foolish builders. The wise man built his house upon rock, while the fool built his on sand. When the storm came, the fool's house fell down, but the wise man's house was still standing.
Jesus said that one who hears his words and does them is a wise man. Someone who hears the words of Jesus and doesn't do them is a fool.
In Jesus' story, the storm reminds us of God's judgment. When our life is over, we'll have to stand before God and be judged for what we've done. The wise man, who hears the words of Jesus, repents of his sin, and believes in Jesus to save him will remain standing on this day of judgment, just like the wise man's house in the story.
But the fool, who heard Jesus' words but didn't believe in him, will fall on the day of judgment. He will be like the fool in Jesus' story, whose house fell with a great crash.
Big Idea and Motions: A wise person believes in Jesus and follows his commands.
Wise - tap your brain
Believes - pretend to grasp a rope in front of you with both hands
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Follows - march in place
Commands - pretend to open and read a Bible
Verse / Motions: John 3:16, ESV - For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
God - point up
Loved - put your hands over your heart
World - trace a large circle in the air with your hands
Gave - pretend to hold a box and give it away
Son - pretend to cradle a baby
Whoever - gesture your arms to both sides of you
Believes - pretend to grasp a rope in front of you with both hands
Him - point up
Perish - fold your arms over your chest in an X and bow your head
Eternal life - trace a ∞ symbol with your finger
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who told the story about the two houses? // Jesus
What did the foolish man build his house upon? // The sand
What happened to the foolish man’s house when the storm came? // It fell with a great crash
What does a foolish person do when he hears Jesus’ words? // Nothing
What did the wise man build his house upon? // The rock
What happened to the wise man’s house when the storm came? // It kept standing
What does a foolish person do when they hear Jesus’ words? // Doesn’t believe or obey
What does a wise person do when they hear Jesus’ words? // Obeys them, believes him, does what he says
What did the storm stand for? // God’s judgment after we die
How do we keep from perishing when we’re judged by God? // Trusting in Jesus to save us
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/4qd04B
Resources - http://goo.gl/0PSOjD
Story Summary:
At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told a story about wise and foolish builders. The wise man built his house upon rock, while the fool built his on sand. When the storm came, the fool's house fell down, but the wise man's house was still standing.
Jesus said that one who hears his words and does them is a wise man. Someone who hears the words of Jesus and doesn't do them is a fool.
In Jesus' story, the storm reminds us of God's judgment. When our life is over, we'll have to stand before God and be judged for what we've done. The wise man, who hears the words of Jesus, repents of his sin, and believes in Jesus to save him will remain standing on this day of judgment, just like the wise man's house in the story.
But the fool, who heard Jesus' words but didn't believe in him, will fall on the day of judgment. He will be like the fool in Jesus' story, whose house fell with a great crash.
Big Idea and Motions: A wise person believes in Jesus and follows his commands.
Wise - tap your brain
Believes - pretend to grasp a rope in front of you with both hands
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Follows - march in place
Commands - pretend to open and read a Bible
Verse / Motions: John 3:16, ESV - For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
God - point up
Loved - put your hands over your heart
World - trace a large circle in the air with your hands
Gave - pretend to hold a box and give it away
Son - pretend to cradle a baby
Whoever - gesture your arms to both sides of you
Believes - pretend to grasp a rope in front of you with both hands
Him - point up
Perish - fold your arms over your chest in an X and bow your head
Eternal life - trace a ∞ symbol with your finger
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who told the story about the two houses? // Jesus
What did the foolish man build his house upon? // The sand
What happened to the foolish man’s house when the storm came? // It fell with a great crash
What does a foolish person do when he hears Jesus’ words? // Nothing
What did the wise man build his house upon? // The rock
What happened to the wise man’s house when the storm came? // It kept standing
What does a foolish person do when they hear Jesus’ words? // Doesn’t believe or obey
What does a wise person do when they hear Jesus’ words? // Obeys them, believes him, does what he says
What did the storm stand for? // God’s judgment after we die
How do we keep from perishing when we’re judged by God? // Trusting in Jesus to save us
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/4qd04B
Resources - http://goo.gl/0PSOjD
July 3, 2016
NT 26 Jesus, Mary, and Martha
Reference: Luke 10:38-42
Story Summary:
Jesus and his disciples went on their way. Jesus came to a village where a woman named Martha lived. She welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary.
Mary sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was busy with all the things that had to be done. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, my sister has left me to do the work by myself. Don’t you care? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered. “You are worried and upset about many things. But only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better. And it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42, NIrV)
Big Idea and Motions: Nothing is more important than Jesus
Nothing - wag your finger “no”
Important - cross your arms and nod your head
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Verse / Motions: Psalm 119:72, ESV - The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Law - pretend to open a Bible
Mouth - point to your mouth
Better - hold your palms together, then pull them far apart
Me - point to yourself with two thumbs
Thousands - gesture your arms in a wide circle
Gold and silver - reach into your pockets and pretend to pull out coins
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What were the two girls’ names in today’s story? // Mary and Martha
Who came to visit them? // Jesus
Which sister invited Jesus to their home? // Martha
What did Mary do while Jesus was there? // Sat at his feet and listened to him
What did Martha do while Jesus was there? // She was busy with all the things that had to be done
Does the Bible tell us exactly what Jesus said to Mary // No
What did Martha ask Jesus to do? // Tell Mary to help her
What did Jesus say to Martha? // Mary has chosen the better thing
Why was it better to spend time with Jesus than spend time cooking and cleaning? // Jesus never told Martha she had to do all those things, Jesus is God’s Son who died and rose again to save us
What is today’s big idea? // Nothing is more important than Jesus.
What is today’s Bible verse? // Exodus 20:3, ESV - You shall have no other gods before me.
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/7xuz0j
Resources - http://goo.gl/sVquN5
Story Summary:
Jesus and his disciples went on their way. Jesus came to a village where a woman named Martha lived. She welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary.
Mary sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was busy with all the things that had to be done. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, my sister has left me to do the work by myself. Don’t you care? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered. “You are worried and upset about many things. But only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better. And it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42, NIrV)
Big Idea and Motions: Nothing is more important than Jesus
Nothing - wag your finger “no”
Important - cross your arms and nod your head
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Verse / Motions: Psalm 119:72, ESV - The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Law - pretend to open a Bible
Mouth - point to your mouth
Better - hold your palms together, then pull them far apart
Me - point to yourself with two thumbs
Thousands - gesture your arms in a wide circle
Gold and silver - reach into your pockets and pretend to pull out coins
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What were the two girls’ names in today’s story? // Mary and Martha
Who came to visit them? // Jesus
Which sister invited Jesus to their home? // Martha
What did Mary do while Jesus was there? // Sat at his feet and listened to him
What did Martha do while Jesus was there? // She was busy with all the things that had to be done
Does the Bible tell us exactly what Jesus said to Mary // No
What did Martha ask Jesus to do? // Tell Mary to help her
What did Jesus say to Martha? // Mary has chosen the better thing
Why was it better to spend time with Jesus than spend time cooking and cleaning? // Jesus never told Martha she had to do all those things, Jesus is God’s Son who died and rose again to save us
What is today’s big idea? // Nothing is more important than Jesus.
What is today’s Bible verse? // Exodus 20:3, ESV - You shall have no other gods before me.
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/7xuz0j
Resources - http://goo.gl/sVquN5
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