NT 08 The Baptism of Jesus

Reference: Matthew 3:13-17

Story Summary:

     John the Baptist preached in the wilderness. He told the people to repent of their sins and be baptized. One day, Jesus came to John and asked to be baptized.

     John couldn't believe this. "I shouldn't baptize you," he said. "In fact, I need to be baptized by you!" But Jesus told John that it was important for him to be baptized, to fulfill all the righteous and good things God wanted him to do. So, John agreed to baptize Jesus.

     When John brought Jesus out of the water, the heavens opened. The Spirit of God came down from heaven and rested on Jesus' shoulders like a dove. And God the Father spoke from heaven, "This is my Son; I am very pleased with him."

     All of the other people John had baptized were sinners who needed to repent of the times they had disobeyed God. But Jesus never sinned, so he didn't have anything to repent of. But Jesus was baptized because he came to save us. And to save us, he needed to do two things. He needed to obey God perfectly in our place and die to pay the punishment for our sins.

Big Idea and Motions: Jesus came to obey perfectly and die for sinners.

Jesus - form a cross with your forearms

Obey - form an O with your arms above your head

Perfectly - make the A-Okay sign with the thumb and index finger of one hand

Die - cross your forearms in an X over your chest and tip your head forward

Sinners - two thumbs down

Verse / Motions: 1 Timothy 1:15, ESV - ...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Christ Jesus - form a cross with your forearms

Came into - gesture with your arm like you’re waving someone over

Save - make the baseball “safe” sign

Sinners - two thumbs down

I am - point to yourself with two thumbs

Foremost - hold up 1 finger (since “foremost” means “number one”)

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week

Who did Jesus go to in today’s story? // John the Baptist

What did Jesus ask John to do? // Baptize him

What did John say to Jesus when he asked to be baptized? // I can’t baptize you; you should baptize me

What did Jesus say after John said ‘No.”? // It’s the right thing to do; it’s part of God’s holy plan

What did the heavens do when Jesus was baptized? // They opened

What did the Holy Spirit do when Jesus was baptized? // Came down and rested on him like a dove

What did God the Father say when Jesus was baptized? // This is my Son, I love him, I’m pleased with him

Did Jesus need to repent of his sins or be forgiven? Why or why not? // No, because he never sinned

What special word means that God is three persons in one? // Trinity

Who are the three persons who are God? // The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

Google Docs Links:

Lesson - https://goo.gl/j71BqI

Resources - https://goo.gl/iXqST3

NT 07 John the Baptist

Reference: Matthew 3:1-12, Mark 1:1-8

Story Summary:
     Before John was born, an angel told his father that he would be a messenger who would prepare the way for the Lord. Hundreds of years before John was born, the prophets Isaiah and Malachi wrote about John, that he would be God's messenger, who would prepare the way for the Lord.
     When John grew, he lived in the wilderness and people came to hear him preach. He wore camel-skin clothes, and ate locusts and honey. When John preached, he told the people to repent, or turn from, their sins. When they did, he would baptize them in the Jordan River, dipping them under the water and bringing them out again.
     One time when John was preaching, he said that someone greater than him was going to come, someone who was so great that he wouldn't be worthy of untying his shoes. That person was Jesus, God's Son, who came to earth to die for our sins.
     Because John baptized so many people, we call him John the Baptist. He was a messenger who helped prepare the way for Jesus by telling people to repent of their sins.

Big Idea and Motions: Repent of your sins and be baptized.
Repent - take a step in one direction, pivot your feet and turn around
Sins - two thumbs down
Baptized - pretend to take hold of a person’s body, dunk them under the water, and bring them back up

Verse / 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 Died - form a cross with your forearms
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 did John preach? // In the wilderness.
What did John wear? // Camel-hair clothes.
What did John eat? // Honey and locusts.
What did John tell the people to do? // Repent, be baptized.
What did John say God would do if people repented? // Forgive their sins.
What does it mean to be baptized? // Dunked under water in God’s name.
What special name do we give to John? Why? // John the Baptist, because he baptized people
What does baptism show us? // Our sins have been washed away, Jesus died and rose again for our sins.
Who is baptism for? // People who’ve repented of their sins and believe in Jesus.
What does baptism show us? // Our sins have been washed away, we’ve died and risen with Jesus

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/w00CLX
Resources - http://goo.gl/aQzML5

NT 06 Young Jesus at the Temple

Reference: Luke 2:39-52

Story Summary:
     When Jesus was twelve, he left his hometown of Nazareth with his family. They travelled to the city of Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. When the celebration was over, the family headed back to Nazareth. However, they accidentally left Jesus behind.
     When Mary and Joseph realized their mistake, they headed back right away to Jerusalem. They searched for three days until they found Jesus. He had been at the temple, talking with the teachers there. The answers Jesus gave amazed the people at the temple.
     Mary said to Jesus, "Son, why have you treated us like this?" Jesus replied, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" Jesus was talking about the temple, the special place where God promised to meet with the Israelites. He was reminding his mother Mary that his father was God himself.
     Jesus returned to Nazareth with his family. There, he obeyed his parents. He grew stronger and wiser. And he grew in favor with God and with people.

Big Idea and Motions: Jesus came in human skin to save us from our sins.
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Human skin - pinch some skin on your arm or neck
Save - make the baseball “Safe!” sign
Sins - two thumbs down

Verse / Motions: John 1:14, ESV -  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory
Word - form a cross with your arms
Flesh - squeeze some part of your body
Dwelt - rest your head on your hands like a pillow
Among us - point to yourself with both thumbs
Seen - put your hand above your eyes and look round
Glory - wiggle your hands above your head

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What town did Jesus grow up in? // Nazareth
How old was Jesus in today’s story? // 12
What city did Jesus’ family travel to? // Jerusalem
Who did Mary and Joseph forget on the way back from Jerusalem? // Jesus
What was Jesus doing in Jerusalem by himself? // At the temple, asking questions of the teachers
Did Jesus disobey his parents? // No
How many days did it take Mary and Joseph to find Jesus? // 3
What did the teachers think of Jesus’ answers? // They were amazed
Who was Jesus’ father? // God
Did Jesus have to grow, learn, and obey his parents like a regular kid? // Yes

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/bV3Zat
Resources - http://goo.gl/U6z4cx

NT 01 Zechariah and Elizabeth

Reference: Luke 1:5-25, 57-75

Big Idea and Motions: God always means what he says.
God - point up
Always - throw your arms in a wide circle
Means - hold one palm facing up; pound the bottom of your other fist into your palm.
Says - make your hand talk like a puppet

Verse/Motions: Numbers 23:19a, ESV - God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
God - point up
Is Not - wag your finger “No”
Man - flex your muscles to look “manly”
Lie - point to your lips
Son of man - pretend to cradle a baby
Mind - tap your brain

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who were the two old people in today’s story? // Zechariah and Elizabeth.
As the story began, how many kids did Zechariah and Elizabeth have? // Zero
What was Zechariah’s job? // Priest
What was Zechariah going to do in the temple? // Light incense
Who appeared to Zechariah in the temple? // The angel Gabriel
What was Gabriel’s message? // You’ll have a son
What happened when Zechariah didn’t believe the angel? // He couldn’t speak
Who came to visit Elizabeth when she was pregnant? // Mary, Jesus’ mother
What did baby John do in Elizabeth’s belly when Mary came? // Leaped for joy
What did John grow up to be? // A prophet who helped people get ready for Jesus

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/1e72kR
Resources - http://goo.gl/PkAayB

OT 45 Ruth

Reference: Ruth 1-4

Story Summary: 
     Naomi and and her daughter-in law, Ruth, lived in Moab. Sadly, both of their husbands died. Naomi decided to return to Israel, to Bethlehem, and Ruth pledged to go with her.
     Since they were widows and had no money, Naomi sent Ruth to work in a field, gathering the grain that was left behind by the workers. Ruth ended up in the field of Boaz, a family member of Naomi's husband who had died.
     As Ruth worked, Boaz spoke to her kindly. He told her she could continue to take the leftover grain in his field and to take whatever water she needed. That night, Boaz sent Ruth with extra food to bring back to Naomi.
     When Ruth told Naomi about Boaz, Naomi said that he was one of their relatives. She told Ruth to keep working in his field because Boaz would keep her safe.
     Later, Naomi told Ruth that she wanted to find a home for her. She told her to lay at Boaz' feet in the night and she did. When Boaz heard her in the night, Ruth asked Boaz if he would marry her. Boaz was happy and
agreed. He paid the price to marry Ruth. Later, they had a son named Obed, who was the grandfather of King David.

Big Idea and Motions: Jesus, our Redeemer, died to save us.
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Redeemer - cross the first two fingers of each hand, cross your forearms in an “X”, then pull apart for hands until they are even with your shoulders, facing out, with fingers still crossed*
Died - cross your arms over your chest and hang your head
Save us - do the baseball “safe” sign
*This is the ASL sign for “redemption”. See a demonstration.

Verse / Motions: Titus 2:13-14, ESV - …our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness...
God - point up
Savior - do the baseball “safe” sign
Jesus Christ - form a cross with your forearms
Gave himself - pretend to hand a gift to someone else
Redeem* - cross the first two fingers of each hand, cross your forearms in an “X”, then pull apart for hands until they are even with your shoulders, facing out, with fingers still crossed*
Lawlessness - two thumbs down
*This is the ASL sign for “redemption”. See a demonstration.

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What happened to Naomi’s sons and husband? // They died.
Who went with Naomi to Bethlehem? // Ruth
What was life like for widows back then? // They were poor
How did Ruth and Naomi get food to eat? // Ruth gathered grain from the field
Whose field did Ruth go to? // Boaz
What did Ruth ask Boaz to her? // Marry her and redeemer
What was the name of Ruth and Boaz’s child? // Obed
Who was Ruth and Boaz’s great-great-great-great etc. grandson? // Jesus
What does it mean that Jesus is our redeemer? // He died to pay the price for our sins.
What is today’s big idea? // Jesus, our Redeemer, died to forgive our sins

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/aML6gy
Resources - http://goo.gl/3vxpUi

OT 44 Samson

Reference: Judges 13-16

Story Summary: 
     After doing evil in God's sight, the Lord handed Israel over to be conquered by the Philistines. An angel told an Israelite woman she'd have a child. who would rescue the Israelites from their enemies. But the child was to never, ever cut his hair. She had a boy and named him Samson.
     Samson was incredibly strong because God's Spirit was with him. He once defeated a lion with his bare hands. When his enemies tied him up with ropes, he ripped them apart and defeated 1000 of them with a donkey's jawbone.
     But then Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah. The Philistines asked her to help them discover the secret of Samson's strength. Samson tricked Delilah several times, but eventually told her he'd become weak if his hair was cut. When Samson was asleep, Delilah cut his hair. The Philistines grabbed hold of Samson, who was now weak because God's Spirit left him, poked out his eyes, and threw him to work in prison, where his hair started to grow again.
     The Philistines had a feast and brought out Samson. Samson prayed to God for his strength again, to defeat his enemies. God answered him. Samson pushed down the building's supporting pillars. It fell on Samson and the Philistines and all who were inside.

Big Idea and Motions: Because Jesus saved us, we can have God’s Spirit.
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Saved us - do the baseball “safe” sign
We - point to yourself with two thumbs
God’s Spirit - point up

Verse and Motions: 1 Corinthians 3:16, ESV - Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
Do you not - shake your finger “no”
Know - tap your brain
You - point to another person
Temple - form a “roof” over your head with your arm
Spirit - hover your palm over your heart and make a circular motion
Dwells - hug yourself

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who were the people who conquered the Israelites? // The Philistines
What were God’s rules for Samson? // No wine, special foods, no hair cuts
Why was Samson able to defeat the lion with his bare hands? // Because God’s Spirit made him super strong
What did Samson use to defeat 1000 men? // A donkey’s jawbone
Who was the girl Samson fell in love with? // Delilah
When did Samson lose God’s Spirit, and his strength? // When he let his hair be cut
What did the Philistines do to Samson? // Poked out his eyes, put him in prison
What did Samson do to the temple? // Knocked it down by pushing over the pillars
Who died to take away our sins? // Jesus, God’s Son
What does Trinity mean? // There is one God who exists in three persons.

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/lM0Ohn
Resources - http://goo.gl/R5e9Tw

OT 43 Gideon

Reference: Judges 6-7

Story Summary: 
     The people of Israel did evil in God's eyes. They worshiped the false gods of Asherah and Baal. God allowed them to be conquered by the nation of Midian, who treated the people very badly. But then God chose a man named Gideon to rescue them. God had Gideon knock down the poles and altars the people used to worship these gods.
     God told Gideon that he would defeat the Midianites. But Gideon wasn't sure. He asked God for a sign: Gideon would set out some wool at night. In the morning, if the wool was wet with dew and the ground dry, he'd know God was with him. And that's what happened! But Gideon still wasn't sure, so he asked God to do the opposite another night: to cover the ground in dew, but keep the wool dry. And God did that, too. Gideon know God was with him.
     God told Gideon to send all but 300 of his soldiers home. Gideon and his small army snuck at night to the enemy's camp. They blew trumpets and smashed jars to scare the enemy. God caused the Midianites to panic and
fight each other. They ran away in fear and Gideon and the Israelites won the battle. They won because God was on their side.

Big Idea and Motions: If God is on our side, nobody can be against us!
God - point up
Side - poke your sides
Nobody - wave your hands and shake your head
Against - punch your fist
Us - point to yourself

Verse / Motions: Romans 8:31, ESV - What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
What then - hold your hands out and shrug
Say - make your hand talk like a puppet
These things - poke your index finger into your upward-facing palm
God - point up
For us - point to yourself with two thumbs and nod your head
Against us - punch your palm

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who conquered the Israelites? // Midian
Why did God let the Midianites defeat Israel? // They disobeyed God and worshipped pretend Gods
Who did God send to rescue Israel from the Midianites? // Gideon
Why didn’t Gideon think he could rescue Israel from Midian? // He was the least important member of his family
What two things did Gideon destroy at night? // The altar of Baal and the pole of Asherah
What two miracles did Gideon ask God to do? // Make the wool wet and the ground dry, then the opposite
Why did Gideon ask God to do miracles? // So he’d know that God would keep his promise
How many soldiers did Gideon have to fight with? // 300
What happened at the battle? // The Israelites smashed jars and blew trumpets
Why did Gideon and the Israelites defeat the Midianites? // Because God was on their side
How do we know God is on our side? // He sent Jesus to save us from sin

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/h8lNTV
Resources - http://goo.gl/zwD7Tl