Christmas: Shepherds heard the Good News!

1. Lesson

• Last week, we talked about a special visitor for Mary and Joseph and how a government ruling made them travel all the way from Nazareth to Bethlehem. This was done so God’s prophecy would be fulfilled — the Saviour will be born in Bethlehem.
• Let’s find out what happened the night Jesus was born, according to Luke 2:8-20.

• The lowly shepherds heard the good news first
• The first people to find out about Jesus’ birth were not important dignitaries or VVIPs. They were lowly shepherds who had to spend the night in the fields to keep watch over their flocks and ensure their safety. 
• We don’t know why God decided to announce the birth to the shepherds first. Perhaps He wanted them to know that the Good Shepherd of the world has come! Do you remember Psalm 23? The Lord is my Shepherd …

Prophecy: Jesus will be born in Bethlehem

1. Lesson

• Last week, we talked about a special visitor for Mary and Joseph. Who visited them? An angel, that’s right! What did the angel tell them? That they would be having a baby! Their baby would be special because He was from God. 

• The Bible tells us that God made a promise to King David. God promised him that one of his great, great, great, great, great children would be king forever. That was a promise from God that He would send Jesus.

• [extra info] In the Bible, we read that King David came from the very first man, Adam. He came by way of some other names you will remember: Noah (and his son Shem), Abraham (and his son Isaac), Isaac’s son Jacob, a man named Salmon (and his wife Rahab). Rahab’s son Boaz (and his wife Ruth). Ruth’s grandson was Jesse, King David’s father. Many kings followed David until a man name Jacob had a son whom he named Joseph. Joseph was the husband of Mary, the mother of the Messiah!

• Prophecy #3: Jesus will be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) 
• God had given promises all along the way. The people believed and waited. One of those promises, though, was that the Messiah would be born in King David’s town, Bethlehem. It was a small town. 
• Not only was Jesus King David’s forever king, but God promised — through the prophet Micah 750 years before Jesus’ birth — that Jesus would be born in King David’s town, Bethlehem.  
• Micah 5:2
  “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
  though you are small among the clans of Judah,out of you will come for me
  one who will be ruler over Israel,
  whose origins are from of old,
  from ancient times.”

Prophecy: Jesus will be born of a virgin

1. HOOK: Matching game: Animal & their young

• Prepare separate pix of animals and their young for kids to match them.
• E.g. What do dogs give birth to? Puppies.
  What do cats give birth to? Kittens.
  How about snakes? They lay eggs that hatch into baby snakes.

• Just like we get puppies from dogs, what do we get from sinners? Yup, more sinners. 
• Last week we heard about how when Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Because Adam sinned, his children, grandchildren, great, great, great, great children and everyone in this world are born as sinners. We know the result of sin is death. 
• But God promised that a descendant of the Eve will defeat the serpent. God wanted to change our family line so that we will not continue to be sinners but become righteous. Today we know He was talking about Eve’s great, great, great, great …. Great, grandson, Jesus.
• One thing we cannot choose in life is who our parents are. But long before Jesus was born — a few hundred years before, in fact — God’s prophet, Isaiah, had already told the people what sort of person Jesus’ mother would be.

2.  Lesson: We are part of a great family, thanks to Jesus!

•  Prophecy #2: Jesus will be born of a virgin 
• Isaiah the prophet said, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”(Isa 7:14)
• The mother of the Saviour of the world would be a virgin. (A virgin is someone who had never had any sexual relationship with another person.) This was special because virgins don’t get pregnant. You need both a father and a mother to become pregnant. But in Jesus’ case, there will only be a mother. God Himself will be the father, not a man. 
• Hundreds of years after Isaiah, there was a young teenage girl lady called Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph. 

Jesus Goes Up to Heaven

1. Story (based on Luke 24:44-53)

•  Last week we learnt about how Jesus appeared his disciples. What was the name of the disciple who wanted proof that Jesus was alive? (Thomas) And who did Jesus say was more blessed because they believed without seeing? (All of us)
• Over the next 40 days, Jesus met and talked with His disciples and explained many things to them.
• He explained to them about what all the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms were talking about — they were talking about Jesus. Everything that happened to Him — His life, His death and His resurrection — had already been planned by God from the beginning of time.

Jesus appears to His disciples

1. Story (based on Luke 24:36-53; John 20:24-29)

• Last week we learnt about how Jesus appeared to some of His disciples. How many? (2) What was the name of one of them? (Cleopas). Where were they walking to? (Emmaus)
• After the two disciples recognized Jesus, they quickly ran all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the others that they had seen Jesus.
• The other disciples were also excited … Jesus had appeared to Simon Peter. As they were talking, suddenly, guess who appeared before them? Jesus!
• The disciples were startled and afraid. They thought He was a ghost!

A Walk to Emmaus

1. Story (based on Luke 24:13-35)

• Last week, we heard of how Mary and Peter and John went to Jesus’ tomb and saw that it was empty!
• That same day, two other disciples — Cleopas and his friend — were walking to a village called Emmaus, about 7 miles from Jerusalem.
• How do you think they were feeling? Yes, they were feeling sad! They were feeling dejected. Disappointed. Defeated.
• Their friend Jesus had died. Their hopes and dreams for a superhero savior had been dashed. And now, they have heard that Jesus’ tomb was empty!
• As they walked and talked to each other, suddenly Jesus came by and walked together with them. But somehow, they were not able to recognize him.

The Empty Tomb

Lesson: The Empty Tomb

1. Story (based on Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-18)

• Good morning, boys and girls! (Good morning!) 
• Do you like mystery stories?
• Today we are going to hear about the most exciting mystery story every told. I call it, "The Case of the Empty Tomb." 
• This is a story about what happened after Jesus died on the cross.  Jesus died on a Friday.  It was a very sad day.  It was sad because Jesus’ friends didn’t know what was going to happen.  They didn’t understand why Jesus had to die.
• Late on that Friday afternoon, Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross.  It was wrapped in long strips of cloth.  And it was buried in a rich man’s tomb.  A large stone was rolled over the entrance to the tomb, and soldiers were standing outside to make sure that nothing happened to Jesus’ body.  Jesus was dead.

Jesus and Barrabas

Lesson: Jesus exchanged His life for me to set me FREE!

  

1. Lesson (based on Luke 23:13-25; adapted from: He died for me)

• Last week, Jesus was on trial before the elders, Pilate and Herod.
• All of them could find nothing wrong with Jesus. He was blameless and sinless.

• Today we will look at a man named Barabbas. Let me describe Barabbas' room: hard bed; dark, dingy walls; window (draw bars). Where was Barabbas?
• That's right! He was in Jail! He deserved to be in jail. He was a thief and a murderer. The law at that time said that the punishment for murder was death. Did Barabbas deserve to die according to the law at that time? Yes, he did.

Jesus on Trial

1. Story (based on Luke 22:63-71; 23:1-25)
(Option: get kids to act out the trials etc. Can be impromptu or rehearsed.)

• Last week we learned that Jesus was arrested and brought to the High Priest’s house.  
• The Jewish religious leaders did not like Jesus.
• They felt threatened by Him because of His growing popularity — ever since Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, they have been trying to get rid of Him.
• They thought He was wrong to claim that He was the Son of God.  They called that blasphemy.
• So they put Him through several trials in an attempt to find him guilty of something so he could be punished with death.

Peter denies Jesus

1. Story (based on Luke 22:31-34; 54-62)

• Last week we learned that Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane. He obeyed the Father’s will and He gave Himself willingly to those who came to arrest Him.
• Simon Peter, his disciple, was with him.
• Earlier at the Passover meal, Jesus had prophesied that His disciples would desert him.
• But Peter boasted to Jesus, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” He thought he could do anything, and he was proud. He thought he was willing and able to go all the way for Jesus, even if it meant going to prison or to die for him … even if ALL the other disciples fell away, he would not. Peter was boasting in himself!
• Jesus told him, though, that “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny 3 times that you know me.”
• In fact, when Jesus was arrested, Peter was the one who swung his sword to cut off the High Priest’s servant’s ear. He thought he was being brave and strong. Peter was acting in his flesh.
• But when Jesus was led away to the house of the High Priest, Peter followed … at a distance. There was a fire in the middle of the courtyard, and people were sitting around it. Peter went close to the fire and sat down.
• A servant girl saw him there. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with Jesus.” But Peter denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him.”
• Later on, someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” Peter replied. “Man, I am not!”
• About an hour later another person said, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”  Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
• Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. Jesus turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 
• And he went outside and wept bitterly. Peter failed.

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

Lesson: Jesus obeyed the Father's Will

1. Lesson (based on Luke 22:39-53)

• Last week we learned about Jesus celebrating the Passover meal with his disciples. Anyone remembers what Jesus did after the meal? (broke bread and gave the cup) What does the bread and cup signify for us? (broken body and shed blood of Jesus)
• After the dinner, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. His disciples followed Him.
• When they reached the garden, He told them to stay there and pray, while He went a short distance away by Himself.

Jesus celebrates the Passover Meal

1. Lesson (based on Luke 22:7-23, 1 Cor 11: 24-25)

Props needed: bread and cup (we will take communion together as a class)

• Jesus had been preparing for His death since He came into Jerusalem on a donkey.
• Then came the time for the Passover Feast.
• A major annual Jewish celebration
• To remember the time God delivered the Israelites from Egypt
• God told the Israelites to prepare the Passover meal — lamb and unleavened bread — and to spread the blood of the lamb on their door posts so that the angel of death will pass over them.
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Jesus celebrates the Passover Meal

1. Lesson (based on Luke 22:7-23, 1 Cor 11: 24-25)

Props needed: bread and cup (we will take communion together as a class)

• Jesus had been preparing for His death since He came into Jerusalem on a donkey.
• Then came the time for the Passover Feast.
• A major annual Jewish celebration
• To remember the time God delivered the Israelites from Egypt
• God told the Israelites to prepare the Passover meal — lamb and unleavened bread — and to spread the blood of the lamb on their door posts so that the angel of death will pass over them.

A. Initiation of the New Covenant

• Jesus told His disciples to go make preparations for the Passover meal.
• As they were eating at the table, Jesus did 2 things:
•  Took the BREAD and broke it, giving it to His disciples
•  He said:  “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
• Took the CUP, gave to His disciples
•  Saying: “In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
• Jesus was foretelling His disciples that He was going to die; and when He died, He was cutting the New Covenant with God. 
• Man could not keep the Old Covenant with God, so Jesus had to come to fulfill the Old on our behalf and start the New.

Signs of the Times

Lesson: Jesus is Coming Again Soon


1. Lesson (based on Luke 17:20-37; 21:5-37)

• Introduction: 
• Show some pictures of common road signs and get children to guess what each one means.

• These signs show us what to expect when we are driving on the road. They serve as warnings and reminders of what lies ahead so that we can be aware and prepared.

• Before He died, Jesus also spoke about signs — these signs tell us that after He goes back to be with the Father, He is coming again. 
• He told a Parable of the Trees (Luke 21:29-31) — During the winter time, the trees all drop their leaves. But when you see new leaves begin to grow, then you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these signs, you know that Jesus is coming back again soon.

The Widow's Gift

Lesson: Jesus gave us His all

1. Story

• Talk about Jesus and the Widow’s offering, based on Luke 21:1-4 (you can choose to act it out)
• Jesus sees the heart
• Jesus saw the gifts people were bringing into the temple. Some brought in huge bags. But others, like this woman, only had two small copper coins.
• Even though the value of the money was insignificant, but that was all the widow had, and she gave it.
• To Jesus, that two small coins given from the heart was worth more than the huge amounts put in by the rich people.
• So whatever gift you want to give to God, give it cheerfully, from the heart — even though the amount may be small.

Jesus vs the Pharisees & Sadducees

Lesson: Jesus our Wisdom

1. Story:

• Tell the account of Jesus’ encounter with the Pharisees and Sadducees based on Luke 20:20-39
• Last week, we talked about the Parable of the Tenants — how the religious leaders tried to challenge Jesus’ authority but failed.
• So they tried to trap Jesus by sending spies to ask him trick questions. They hoped to get Jesus to say something wrong, so that they could get him arrested.

Parable of the Tenants

Lesson: Jesus is the chief cornerstone

1. Story:

• Tell the Parable of the Tenants based on Luke 20:1-19 and Mark 12:1-12.
  
        check out these great pictures here (sermon4kids.com)

• The chief priests and teachers of the law didn’t like Jesus. Jesus was always talking about the Good News that God had for his people. They did not want other people hearing about God from Him. They did not believe that Jesus was God’s Son.

Jesus clears the temple

Lesson: Jesus is the Ultimate Sacrifice and the New Temple

1. Lesson:

• Tell the account of Jesus at the Temple based on John2:13-22 and Mark 11:17
• After Jesus went into Jerusalem on the donkey, one of the first things He did was to go to the temple.
• The temple was where the Jews would go to offer their sacrifices to God in worship and for their sins.
• But when Jesus was at the temple, what did He see? He saw people selling cattle, sheep and doves and exchanging money. Someone who wanted to offer sacrifice at the temple would have to change their money into special “temple currency” before they could buy the animals for sacrifice.

Jesus Enters Jerusalem

Lesson: Jesus is our King of Salvation and Righteousness

1. Story:

• Tell the story of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry based on Luke 19:28-40 and Mark 11.

2. Lesson:

• Jesus had been preparing his disciples for His death. He knew that after He got to Jerusalem, He would be arrested and crucified.
• Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was a time of celebration because it was part of God’s plan of salvation, and righetousness.

Parable of the Ten Minas

1. Lesson:

• Tell the Parable of the Ten Minas based on Luke 19:11-27.
•  The noble man who was made king is Jesus
•  Jesus wanted to prepare His disciples that He was not going to be “king” immediately (as many thought He would)
•  He would have to go to the cross first, then back to heaven before returning one day
•  But in His absence, and until His return, He leaves us with valuable treasures (minas, talents) — the gift of His righteousness and the blessings that accompany it, which we can all receive by grace, through faith