Reference: Matthew 6:9-13
Story Summary:
Jesus' disciples asked him to teach them how to pray. So Jesus gave his disciples a special prayer to pray. Many people call this prayer “The Lord’s Prayer” because it was given to us by the Lord Jesus. It’s made up of seven parts: an opening and seven requests.
Jesus taught us to begin our prayers by calling God “our Father in heaven.” This reminds us that God loves and wants to take care of us even better than our fathers do.
Then Jesus gave us six things to ask for. One, we pray that God’s name would be hallowed, or treated with special honor and respect.
Two, we pray that God’s kingdom would come and the good news about Jesus would be believed by many people.
Three, we pray that God would be obeyed on earth as the angels obey him in heaven.
Four, we pray that God would give us what our bodies need.
Five, we pray that God would forgive our sins and help us forgive others.
And six, we pray that God would keep us from sinning and protect us from evil.
Verse and Motions: Matthew 6:9-13, ESV - Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Father in heaven - hug yourself, then point up
Hallowed be your name - Place your palms together, then close your eyes and bow your head
Your kingdom come -Pretend to place a crown on your head
Will be done - pretend to open a Bible (where we find God’s will)
Earth - pat the floor with your hands
Heaven- reach up high with both hands
Daily bread - Pretend to take a bite from a sandwich
Forgive us - hold one hand palm up; pretend to brush something off it with the fingertips of your other hand
Forgiven our debtors - gesture to others
Temptation - Pretend to take a cooke from a plate, then swat that hand with your other hand
But deliver us from evil - Pretend to reach down and help someone up (“deliver”), then two thumbs down
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Why is it called the Lord’s Prayer? // Because the Lord Jesus gave it to us to pray.
What should we remember when we pray, “Our Father in heaven...”? // God is our Father and loves us.
How many times do we ask God for things in the Lord’s prayer? // Six.
What does “hallowed be your name” mean? // Father, help us and others treat your name with special honor.
What does “your kingdom come” mean? // Father, help us and others believe the good news about Jesus and come into your kingdom.
What does “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” mean? // Father, help us obey you like the angels obey in heaven.
What does “give us this day our daily bread” mean? // God, give us what we need for our bodies.
What does “forgive our debts as we have also forgiven our debtors” mean? // God, forgive our sins and help those who have sinned against us.
What does “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” mean? // God, help us obey you and help us when we’re tempted to sin.
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/kLg0SJ
Resources - http://goo.gl/KJSEvz
June 26, 2016
June 19, 2016
NT 24 Jesus Teaches About Praying
Reference: Matthew 6:5-8
Story Summary:
One day, Jesus taught his disciples about prayer, which is talking with God. He told them about something things they should do when they pray, as well as some things they should definitely not be doing.
First, he told them not to pray to be seen by others. Some people, like the Pharisees, loved to pray where others could see how holy and special they were. That's the kind of reward those people were looking for. Instead, Jesus told his disciples to go off and pray in secret because God the Father can hear what is said in secret.
Second, Jesus told them to not go babbling on and on when they pray. Some people thought God would only listen to them if they went on and on and on when they prayed. But Jesus taught that God isn’t impressed when we use lots and lots of words when we pray. In fact, he knows what we need even before we ask him.
Big Idea and Motions: Prayer is talking with God.
Prayer - bow your head and fold your hands
Talking - make your hand talk like a puppet
God - point up
Verse / Motions: James 5:13, ESV - Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
Anyone - point away from you with both index fingers
Suffering - hold out two fists
Pray - place your hands palms together
Anyone - point away from you with both index fingers
Cheerful - point to your cheeks and smile
Sing praise - place one hand over your heart and the other in the sky and sing these words
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What is prayer? // Talking with God.
Why did some people love to pray in synagogue and street corners? // For others to see them.
What “reward” do you get when you pray to be seen by others? // People will think you’re important and that’s it
Instead of praying to be seen by others, what did Jesus say to do? // Go into your room and pray to God.
Does God hear us when we’re praying alone? Why? // Yes, because God is everywhere and all-powerful.
Why do some people use lots of words when they pray? // They think God will hear them if they use many words.
When does God know what we need? // Before we even ask.
When should we pray? // At all times.
Where can we pray? // Everywhere.
Who were some people who prayed to God when they were in trouble? // Jonah, Disciples, Tax Collector
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/bJjRZK
Resources - http://goo.gl/VCBcgk
Story Summary:
One day, Jesus taught his disciples about prayer, which is talking with God. He told them about something things they should do when they pray, as well as some things they should definitely not be doing.
First, he told them not to pray to be seen by others. Some people, like the Pharisees, loved to pray where others could see how holy and special they were. That's the kind of reward those people were looking for. Instead, Jesus told his disciples to go off and pray in secret because God the Father can hear what is said in secret.
Second, Jesus told them to not go babbling on and on when they pray. Some people thought God would only listen to them if they went on and on and on when they prayed. But Jesus taught that God isn’t impressed when we use lots and lots of words when we pray. In fact, he knows what we need even before we ask him.
Big Idea and Motions: Prayer is talking with God.
Prayer - bow your head and fold your hands
Talking - make your hand talk like a puppet
God - point up
Verse / Motions: James 5:13, ESV - Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
Anyone - point away from you with both index fingers
Suffering - hold out two fists
Pray - place your hands palms together
Anyone - point away from you with both index fingers
Cheerful - point to your cheeks and smile
Sing praise - place one hand over your heart and the other in the sky and sing these words
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What is prayer? // Talking with God.
Why did some people love to pray in synagogue and street corners? // For others to see them.
What “reward” do you get when you pray to be seen by others? // People will think you’re important and that’s it
Instead of praying to be seen by others, what did Jesus say to do? // Go into your room and pray to God.
Does God hear us when we’re praying alone? Why? // Yes, because God is everywhere and all-powerful.
Why do some people use lots of words when they pray? // They think God will hear them if they use many words.
When does God know what we need? // Before we even ask.
When should we pray? // At all times.
Where can we pray? // Everywhere.
Who were some people who prayed to God when they were in trouble? // Jonah, Disciples, Tax Collector
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/bJjRZK
Resources - http://goo.gl/VCBcgk
June 12, 2016
NT 23 Jesus and Zacchaeus
Reference: Luke 19:1-10
Story Summary:
When Jesus came to city of Jericho, a great crowd gathered to meet him. One of the people excited to see Jesus was a dirty, rotten, good-for-nothin' tax collector named Zacchaeus. But Zacchaeus was a short man. The only way he could see through the crowd was to climb up a sycamore tree.
Jesus saw Zacchaeus in the tree and said, "I'm coming to your house today." The crowd was amazed that Jesus was going to the house of a "sinner."
The Bible doesn't tell us what Jesus said to Zacchaeus at his house, but afterwards, Zacchaeus was a changed man. He gave half of his money to the poor and paid back the people he stole from four times the amount he took!
Why was Zacchaeus different? Because he repented of his sins and trusted in Jesus to save him. When he did this, God forgave all of his sins and made him a brand new person on the inside!
Big Idea and Motions: When Jesus saves us, he makes us into brand new people..
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Saves - make the baseball “safe!” sign
Us - two thumbs pointing to yourself
Brand new - cover your face with both hands
People - uncover your face and thrust your hands into the air in celebration
Verse / Motions: 2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Anyone - gesture your arms in a wide circle
Christ - form a cross with your forearms.
Creation - pretend to hammer a nail
Old has passed away - pretend to pick up a box from the floor and toss it over your shoulder
Behold - cup your hands around your mouth
New has come - two thumbs up, then point to yourself with those two thumbs
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who was the man from today’s story? // Zacchaeus
What job did Zacchaeus have? // Tax collector
Describe what Zacchaeus’ body was like. // Short
Who came to Zacchaeus’ city, the city of Jericho? // Jesus
Why couldn’t Zacchaeus see Jesus? // He was short and the crowd was in his way
When he couldn’t see over the crowd, what did Zacchaeus do? // Climb a tree
What did Jesus say to Zacchaeus? // I’m coming to your house today
How did the people feel about Jesus going to Zacchaeus’ house? // They were amazed he was visiting a sinner
After the meeting, what did Zacchaeus say he’d do? // Give ½ his money to the poor, pay back 4x what he stole
Why did Zacchaeus change into a new person? // After repenting/believing in Jesus, God made him a new person
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/pJl6Tq
Resources - http://goo.gl/H1iAxj
Story Summary:
When Jesus came to city of Jericho, a great crowd gathered to meet him. One of the people excited to see Jesus was a dirty, rotten, good-for-nothin' tax collector named Zacchaeus. But Zacchaeus was a short man. The only way he could see through the crowd was to climb up a sycamore tree.
Jesus saw Zacchaeus in the tree and said, "I'm coming to your house today." The crowd was amazed that Jesus was going to the house of a "sinner."
The Bible doesn't tell us what Jesus said to Zacchaeus at his house, but afterwards, Zacchaeus was a changed man. He gave half of his money to the poor and paid back the people he stole from four times the amount he took!
Why was Zacchaeus different? Because he repented of his sins and trusted in Jesus to save him. When he did this, God forgave all of his sins and made him a brand new person on the inside!
Big Idea and Motions: When Jesus saves us, he makes us into brand new people..
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Saves - make the baseball “safe!” sign
Us - two thumbs pointing to yourself
Brand new - cover your face with both hands
People - uncover your face and thrust your hands into the air in celebration
Verse / Motions: 2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Anyone - gesture your arms in a wide circle
Christ - form a cross with your forearms.
Creation - pretend to hammer a nail
Old has passed away - pretend to pick up a box from the floor and toss it over your shoulder
Behold - cup your hands around your mouth
New has come - two thumbs up, then point to yourself with those two thumbs
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who was the man from today’s story? // Zacchaeus
What job did Zacchaeus have? // Tax collector
Describe what Zacchaeus’ body was like. // Short
Who came to Zacchaeus’ city, the city of Jericho? // Jesus
Why couldn’t Zacchaeus see Jesus? // He was short and the crowd was in his way
When he couldn’t see over the crowd, what did Zacchaeus do? // Climb a tree
What did Jesus say to Zacchaeus? // I’m coming to your house today
How did the people feel about Jesus going to Zacchaeus’ house? // They were amazed he was visiting a sinner
After the meeting, what did Zacchaeus say he’d do? // Give ½ his money to the poor, pay back 4x what he stole
Why did Zacchaeus change into a new person? // After repenting/believing in Jesus, God made him a new person
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/pJl6Tq
Resources - http://goo.gl/H1iAxj
June 5, 2016
NT 22B The Lost Coin, Sheep, and Son
Reference: Luke 15:1-24
Story Summary:
The Pharisees wanted to know why Jesus spent time with "sinners." To answer this question, Jesus told them three stories.
In the first story, a shepherd with 100 sheep lost one of them. He left the 99 behind and rescued the lost sheep. When he found it, he celebrated.
In the second story, a woman lost one of her 10 coins. She swept and searched for it. When she found it, she gathered her friends around and celebrated with them.
In the third story, a father lost one of his sons. His youngest son took his inheritance early and ran away, only to blow the money away on wild living. But when his son came back, the father was thrilled to have his lost son back.
Just like the shepherd, the woman, and the father celebrated when their lost things were found, God and the angels celebrate when a lost sinner is saved. Jesus spent time with sinners because he came to save them from sin!
Big Idea and Motions: Jesus came to find and rescue lost sinners.
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Find - pretend to look through binoculars
Rescue - pretend to reach down and help someone up
Sinners - two thumbs down
Verse / Motions: Luke 19:10, ESV - 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 look through binoculars
Save - make the baseball “safe!” sign
Lost - scratch your head and look confused
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What did the Pharisees and Bible teachers want to know about Jesus? // Why he spent time with sinners.
How many stories did Jesus tell to explain why he spent time with sinners? // Three
When the shepherd who had 100 sheep lost one, what did he do? // Left the 99 to go look for it.
What did the woman lose? // One of her ten coins
How did she find her coin? // She put on a candle and swept her house
What did the younger son ask his father for? // His inheritance before his dad had even died.
What happened to the money the son got from his father? // He wasted it all
How did the father feel when he saw his lost son come back? // So happy, he ran to him
In the stories, who did the shepherd, the woman, and the father stand for? // God
Why did Jesus come to earth? // To find and rescue lost sinners
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/DNOQte
Resources - http://goo.gl/TxKxvs
Story Summary:
The Pharisees wanted to know why Jesus spent time with "sinners." To answer this question, Jesus told them three stories.
In the first story, a shepherd with 100 sheep lost one of them. He left the 99 behind and rescued the lost sheep. When he found it, he celebrated.
In the second story, a woman lost one of her 10 coins. She swept and searched for it. When she found it, she gathered her friends around and celebrated with them.
In the third story, a father lost one of his sons. His youngest son took his inheritance early and ran away, only to blow the money away on wild living. But when his son came back, the father was thrilled to have his lost son back.
Just like the shepherd, the woman, and the father celebrated when their lost things were found, God and the angels celebrate when a lost sinner is saved. Jesus spent time with sinners because he came to save them from sin!
Big Idea and Motions: Jesus came to find and rescue lost sinners.
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Find - pretend to look through binoculars
Rescue - pretend to reach down and help someone up
Sinners - two thumbs down
Verse / Motions: Luke 19:10, ESV - 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 look through binoculars
Save - make the baseball “safe!” sign
Lost - scratch your head and look confused
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What did the Pharisees and Bible teachers want to know about Jesus? // Why he spent time with sinners.
How many stories did Jesus tell to explain why he spent time with sinners? // Three
When the shepherd who had 100 sheep lost one, what did he do? // Left the 99 to go look for it.
What did the woman lose? // One of her ten coins
How did she find her coin? // She put on a candle and swept her house
What did the younger son ask his father for? // His inheritance before his dad had even died.
What happened to the money the son got from his father? // He wasted it all
How did the father feel when he saw his lost son come back? // So happy, he ran to him
In the stories, who did the shepherd, the woman, and the father stand for? // God
Why did Jesus come to earth? // To find and rescue lost sinners
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - http://goo.gl/DNOQte
Resources - http://goo.gl/TxKxvs
May 29, 2016
NT 22A The Good Samaritan
Reference: Luke 10:25-37
Story Summary:
An authority on the law, a Bible expert, asked Jesus a question, "What must I do to receive eternal life?" Jesus asked him what God's Law said. The authority said, "To love God with all my heart and to love my neighbor as myself."
Jesus said, "If you do this, you will live." But the authority wanted to make himself look good, so he asked, "Who is my neighbor."
To answer the question, Jesus told a story. A traveller was beaten by robbers and left all alone. Two men, a priest and a Levite, passed by him without helping. But a third man, a Samaritan, stopped and did all he can to help the man.
After the story, Jesus asked, "Who was a neighbor to the traveller." The authority said, "The one who helped him." Jesus replied, "Go and do as he did."
With his story, Jesus taught us that everyone is our neighbor. When God tells us to love our neighbors, he is telling is to love everyone we meet.
Big Idea and Motions: Be a good neighbor to everyone.
Be - put one hand on your hip; wag the index finger of your other hand
Good - two thumbs up
Neighbor - pretend to put your arm around someone next to you
Everyone - gesture your arms in a wide circle
Verse / Motions: Matthew 7:12, ESV - So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them...
Whatever - gesture your arms in a wide circle
Wish - press your palms together and close your eyes
Others - gesture your arms out in front of you
Do to you - point to yourself with two thumbs
Do also - twirl your finger in circles
Them - point to others with both index fingers
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who asked Jesus a question in today’s story? // An Authority on the Law (a Bible Expert)
How did Jesus say the man could get eternal life? // Obey the two great commandments
What was the Authority on the Law’s second question? // Who is my neighbor?
How did Jesus answer the man’s second question? // He told a story
What happened to the traveller in Jesus’ story? // Robbers beat him up
Who did people think would probably be the good guys in Jesus’ story? // The priest and Levite
Who did people think would probably be the bad guy in Jesus’ story? // The Samaritan
Who didn’t help the man in Jesus’ story? // The Levite and the Priest
Who was a good neighbor in Jesus’ story? // The good Samaritan
How was Jesus a good neighbor to us? // He died for our sins and rose from the dead
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/McSCDZ
Resources - https://goo.gl/ODcNqA
Story Summary:
An authority on the law, a Bible expert, asked Jesus a question, "What must I do to receive eternal life?" Jesus asked him what God's Law said. The authority said, "To love God with all my heart and to love my neighbor as myself."
Jesus said, "If you do this, you will live." But the authority wanted to make himself look good, so he asked, "Who is my neighbor."
To answer the question, Jesus told a story. A traveller was beaten by robbers and left all alone. Two men, a priest and a Levite, passed by him without helping. But a third man, a Samaritan, stopped and did all he can to help the man.
After the story, Jesus asked, "Who was a neighbor to the traveller." The authority said, "The one who helped him." Jesus replied, "Go and do as he did."
With his story, Jesus taught us that everyone is our neighbor. When God tells us to love our neighbors, he is telling is to love everyone we meet.
Big Idea and Motions: Be a good neighbor to everyone.
Be - put one hand on your hip; wag the index finger of your other hand
Good - two thumbs up
Neighbor - pretend to put your arm around someone next to you
Everyone - gesture your arms in a wide circle
Verse / Motions: Matthew 7:12, ESV - So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them...
Whatever - gesture your arms in a wide circle
Wish - press your palms together and close your eyes
Others - gesture your arms out in front of you
Do to you - point to yourself with two thumbs
Do also - twirl your finger in circles
Them - point to others with both index fingers
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who asked Jesus a question in today’s story? // An Authority on the Law (a Bible Expert)
How did Jesus say the man could get eternal life? // Obey the two great commandments
What was the Authority on the Law’s second question? // Who is my neighbor?
How did Jesus answer the man’s second question? // He told a story
What happened to the traveller in Jesus’ story? // Robbers beat him up
Who did people think would probably be the good guys in Jesus’ story? // The priest and Levite
Who did people think would probably be the bad guy in Jesus’ story? // The Samaritan
Who didn’t help the man in Jesus’ story? // The Levite and the Priest
Who was a good neighbor in Jesus’ story? // The good Samaritan
How was Jesus a good neighbor to us? // He died for our sins and rose from the dead
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/McSCDZ
Resources - https://goo.gl/ODcNqA
May 22, 2016
NT 21 The Great Commandments
Reference: Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-34
Story Summary:
A group of Pharisees asked Jesus this question: what is the most important commandment in the law?
We find God's Law in the first five books of the Bible. Many times, when people talked about the law, they were talking about the Ten Commandments. Other times, they were talking about all of the rules God gave his special people, the Israelites, including rules about what to wear and what not to eat.
Jesus said the most important commandments were: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as you love yourself. The reason these commandments are the most important is because, if we obey these two great commandments, we'll end up obeying all the others.
After hearing Jesus' answer, the Pharisees agreed with him. From then on, the Bible says, no one dared to ask Jesus any more "tricky" questions.
Big Idea and Motions: If we obey the two great commandments, we obey all commandments.
Obey - make an O above your head with your arms
Two - hold up two fingers
Great commandments - two thumbs up
Obey - same as above
All - gesture your arms in a wide circle
Verse / Motions: Mark 12:30-31, ESV - And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Love - hands over your heart (do this each time you say “love”)
Lord your God - point up on each word
Heart - thump your chest
Soul - move your hand in a circular motion an inch or so over your chest
Mind - tap your head
Strength - flex your muscles
Neighbor - mime putting an arm around a friend
Yourself - point to yourself with two thumbs
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who asked Jesus a question in today’s story? // The Pharisees
What question did they ask Jesus? // What is the most important commandment
What list of God’s rules did we talk about in the story? // The Ten Commandments
What did Jesus say is the most important commandment? // Love God with all your heart
What does the most important commandment mean? // To love God with 100% of your live, love him with everything
What did Jesus say is the second most important commandment? // Love your neighbor as yourself
What does the second most important commandment mean? // To love and treat others like you’d want to be loved and treated
Why are these commandments so important? // If you obey then, you’ll obey all the other ones, too
How did the Pharisees feel about Jesus’ answer? // They were so impressed, no one dared to ask another question
Who is the only person to obey both great commandments perfectly? // Jesus
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/e9NsSL
Resources - https://goo.gl/XgpfgZ
Story Summary:
A group of Pharisees asked Jesus this question: what is the most important commandment in the law?
We find God's Law in the first five books of the Bible. Many times, when people talked about the law, they were talking about the Ten Commandments. Other times, they were talking about all of the rules God gave his special people, the Israelites, including rules about what to wear and what not to eat.
Jesus said the most important commandments were: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as you love yourself. The reason these commandments are the most important is because, if we obey these two great commandments, we'll end up obeying all the others.
After hearing Jesus' answer, the Pharisees agreed with him. From then on, the Bible says, no one dared to ask Jesus any more "tricky" questions.
Big Idea and Motions: If we obey the two great commandments, we obey all commandments.
Obey - make an O above your head with your arms
Two - hold up two fingers
Great commandments - two thumbs up
Obey - same as above
All - gesture your arms in a wide circle
Verse / Motions: Mark 12:30-31, ESV - And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Love - hands over your heart (do this each time you say “love”)
Lord your God - point up on each word
Heart - thump your chest
Soul - move your hand in a circular motion an inch or so over your chest
Mind - tap your head
Strength - flex your muscles
Neighbor - mime putting an arm around a friend
Yourself - point to yourself with two thumbs
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who asked Jesus a question in today’s story? // The Pharisees
What question did they ask Jesus? // What is the most important commandment
What list of God’s rules did we talk about in the story? // The Ten Commandments
What did Jesus say is the most important commandment? // Love God with all your heart
What does the most important commandment mean? // To love God with 100% of your live, love him with everything
What did Jesus say is the second most important commandment? // Love your neighbor as yourself
What does the second most important commandment mean? // To love and treat others like you’d want to be loved and treated
Why are these commandments so important? // If you obey then, you’ll obey all the other ones, too
How did the Pharisees feel about Jesus’ answer? // They were so impressed, no one dared to ask another question
Who is the only person to obey both great commandments perfectly? // Jesus
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/e9NsSL
Resources - https://goo.gl/XgpfgZ
May 15, 2016
NT 20 Meet the Pharisees
Reference: Matthew 9:9-13, 12:9-14, Mark 7:1-8, Luke 18:9-14
Story Summary:
The Pharisees were a group of Bible teachers that lived during the life of Jesus. They were very concerned with obeying God's Law. To make sure they obeyed it, they even made extra rules that they and their followers had to obey.
Some of these extra rules included special handwashing, not helping and healing on the Sabbath day, not eating with sinners. The Pharisees hated Jesus because he didn't teach others to follow their extra rules. Even worse, Jesus did follow their extra rules. They were so angry with Jesus that they planned to kill Jesus.
The Pharisees had a big problem. They thought that their obedience to the law would save them. But we know from the Bible that no one can ever be good enough to save themselves, because everyone sins!
Jesus told the Pharisees that he didn't come to save people who thought they were good. He came to call sinners to believe in him and have their sins forgiven.
Big Idea and Motions: We can’t be good enough to save ourselves.
We - point to yourself with both thumbs
Can’t - wag your finger “No!” and put your other hand on your hip
Good - two thumbs up
Save - make the baseball “Safe!” sign
Ourselves - point to yourself with two thumbs again
Verse / Motions: Romans 6:23, ESV - For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Wages - pretend to swipe a credit/debit card
Sin - two thumbs down
Death - cross your forearms over your chest and bow your head
Free gift - pretend to hold a box and give it away
Eternal life - trace an ∞ with your finger
Christ Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What group did we talk about in today’s story? // The Pharisees
What were the two big problems with the Pharisees? // Made extra rules, thought they could save themselves
Name one of the extra rules the Pharisees had.* // Washing hands, avoid sinners, no healing on the Sabbath
What did Jesus do for the man with a weak hand on the Sabbath? // Healed his hand
What did the Pharisees want to do to Jesus after he healed the man on the Sabbath? // Kill him
How did the Pharisee pray in our story? // He thanked God that he wasn’t a sinner like the tax collector
How did the Tax Collector pray in our story? // Said he was a sinner and asked God for mercy, to forgive him
Whose sins were forgiven by God, the tax collector or the Pharisee? Why? // The tax collector because he asked God to save him and the Pharisee didn’t
Who/what should we trust in to be saved: being good and obeying God, or Jesus, who died and rose again? // Jesus
* You can ask this question multiple times.
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/LVNK66
Resources - https://goo.gl/aDyi35
Story Summary:
The Pharisees were a group of Bible teachers that lived during the life of Jesus. They were very concerned with obeying God's Law. To make sure they obeyed it, they even made extra rules that they and their followers had to obey.
Some of these extra rules included special handwashing, not helping and healing on the Sabbath day, not eating with sinners. The Pharisees hated Jesus because he didn't teach others to follow their extra rules. Even worse, Jesus did follow their extra rules. They were so angry with Jesus that they planned to kill Jesus.
The Pharisees had a big problem. They thought that their obedience to the law would save them. But we know from the Bible that no one can ever be good enough to save themselves, because everyone sins!
Jesus told the Pharisees that he didn't come to save people who thought they were good. He came to call sinners to believe in him and have their sins forgiven.
Big Idea and Motions: We can’t be good enough to save ourselves.
We - point to yourself with both thumbs
Can’t - wag your finger “No!” and put your other hand on your hip
Good - two thumbs up
Save - make the baseball “Safe!” sign
Ourselves - point to yourself with two thumbs again
Verse / Motions: Romans 6:23, ESV - For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Wages - pretend to swipe a credit/debit card
Sin - two thumbs down
Death - cross your forearms over your chest and bow your head
Free gift - pretend to hold a box and give it away
Eternal life - trace an ∞ with your finger
Christ Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What group did we talk about in today’s story? // The Pharisees
What were the two big problems with the Pharisees? // Made extra rules, thought they could save themselves
Name one of the extra rules the Pharisees had.* // Washing hands, avoid sinners, no healing on the Sabbath
What did Jesus do for the man with a weak hand on the Sabbath? // Healed his hand
What did the Pharisees want to do to Jesus after he healed the man on the Sabbath? // Kill him
How did the Pharisee pray in our story? // He thanked God that he wasn’t a sinner like the tax collector
How did the Tax Collector pray in our story? // Said he was a sinner and asked God for mercy, to forgive him
Whose sins were forgiven by God, the tax collector or the Pharisee? Why? // The tax collector because he asked God to save him and the Pharisee didn’t
Who/what should we trust in to be saved: being good and obeying God, or Jesus, who died and rose again? // Jesus
* You can ask this question multiple times.
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/LVNK66
Resources - https://goo.gl/aDyi35
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