NT 30 Jesus and the Children

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