Lesson 13: Jesus Blesses the Children

February 26/27

Bible Point: You are important to Jesus

Key Verse: “Jesus said, „Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.‟” Mark 10:14b

Getting Started

10 min

Getting Started: Welcome As the children arrive, greet each one and welcome him or her with a smile. Allow the children to choose a free play station for the first ten minutes. At 10 minutes after service start let the children know in 1 minute you will start cleaning up. Start clean up time with the clean up song: Say, “I Am!” (tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know it”) “If you are cleaning up, say, “I am.” “I am!” (children respond) If you are cleaning up, say, “I am.” “I am!” (children respond) If you are cleaning up, If you are cleaning up, If you are cleaning up, say, “I am.” “I am!” (children respond) Teachers: Prepare you class for Community Time.

Free Play Stations: 1. Toys 2. Books 3. Paper/

Crayons

Worship 8-10 Minutes

Community Time: Worship Lead the kids in 2-3 of the following songs (see attached song sheet for direction if needed) Jesus Loves Me Jesus Loves the Little Children This Little Light of Mine I’ve Got the Joy

Song Sheet

Lesson

15 - 20 min

Community Time: Lesson

Place the puppet (Theo) somewhere near where you will be sitting so the children can easily see him. Open your Bible to Mark 10:13-16 and show the children the words. LL: Welcome everyone! Last week we learned that Jesus loves us. Today’s Bible story teaches us that we are important to God. Let’s all say hello to Theo! Theo: Good morning! I hope you all had a great week and are ready for a really special story! I know I sure am. LL: The Bible tells us that Jesus was talking to many people one day. (Tape up the picture of Jesus) Jesus had many important things

to say, and many people enjoyed listening to him. Some mommies and daddies from the town wanted their children to

hear Jesus, so they brought them to see him. (Place the picture of the children on the board/wall, but away from the picture of Jesus) Jesus was very busy healing the sick and telling people about God’s love for them. There were many children there that day too. They may have been laughing and playing and running around, just like you all like to do. Theo: yeah, I like to play tag, and I like to jump, and I like to run and I like to bounce balls… LL: Ok, Theo! I can tell you like to play! Well, just like Theo and all of you, the children in Bible times liked to have fun. When the mommies and daddies brought their children to see Jesus, the disciples thought they would misbehave or be too wild. They thought the children might bother Jesus. SO the disciples told the people to keep their children back and keep them quiet. But the children wanted to see Jesus. Jesus heard what was happening and wasn’t very happy. Can you make a sad face? Jesus told his disciples that the children were very important to him. Then Jesus called all of the children over to him. (move the picture of the children near the picture of Jesus) He picked up each and every child and blessed them all. Theo: Wow! I would love to be that important to Jesus! LL: Well, Theo, you are. And so are all of you. Jesus says that EVERY child is important to God. He loves you all and thinks you are very special. Theo: It makes me feel good that Jesus thinks I am special! Thanks for letting me listen to the Bible story today. I will remember that I am important to God! Bye! Let the kids say goodbye to Theo and then dismiss classes one at a time to go back to their rooms.

Bible – Bookmarked to Mark 10:13- 16 * Picture of Jesus * Picture of children

Circle Time

10-15 min

Circle Time: Key Verse Activity Have the children form a circle and sit down. Open your Bible to Mark 10:14b Lead the children in singing “The B-I-B-L-E”. This will be sung each week right before the Key Verse activity. LL: Our Key Verse from the Bible says, “Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’” This means that Jesus loves everyone, including little children. Let’s say the verse together. Lead the children in repeating the verse, focusing on “Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me.’” Let’s learn a rhyme to help us understand what this Bible verse means. As you teach the children this rhyme, remind them that Jesus loves everyone, including little children. Do the rhyme several times, varying your voice from a whisper to a shout. Jesus loves me if I’m small. (Squat down) Jesus loves me if I’m tall. (Stand on toes and reach for the sky) No matter what we’ve said or done (shake head “no”) Jesus loves us, everyone! (Hug yourself) How does it feel to be small? (Sometimes it’s fun; I wish I were big like my sister) Does Jesus love big people more than little people? (No, he loves us all) How do you know? (The Bible tells us so; it is in our verse) Does Jesus still love us when we do something wrong? (Yes) Jesus said, “Let the children come to me.” God wants everyone to live forever in heaven with him. That’s why he gave us Jesus! Let’s say our verse together one more time. “Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’”

Bible: Bookmarked to Mark 10:14b

Center

20 Minutes

Center: Hands of Love Before class, cut 1 large heart per child out of construction paper. Accordion-fold the strips of paper- one for each child. Jesus wanted the little kids to come to him, and Jesus wants you to come to him too! You are important to Jesus! Let’s make a craft that shows how Jesus touched the children and blessed them. Set construction paper halves, markers/crayons, and scissors out on a table. Help children trace and cut out one handprint. When finished, hand each child a construction paper heart. Encourage kids to draw pictures of

Materials 1 sheet of red construction paper per child 1 half sheet of construction paper per child (any color)

children on the heart. Then help them glue one end of the accordion-folded paper onto the back of their paper handprint and then glue the other end of the accordion-folded paper onto the pictures of children on their heart. The hand should be bobbing over the drawings.

*glue sticks 1x12 inch strips of construction paper (any color)- teachers will accordion fold these

Snack *Can be a center if you prefer

10 minutes

Snack Prepare the snack for the children. Take time to stop and pray before the children eat. This is also a good time to ask children if they need to go to the restroom.

Graham Crackers Water/Cups Paper Towels/Napkins

Closing 10 Minutes

Start clean up time with the clean up song: Say, “I Am!” (tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know it”) “If you are cleaning up, say, “I am.” “I am!” (children respond) If you are cleaning up, say, “I am.” “I am!” (children respond) If you are cleaning up, If you are cleaning up, If you are cleaning up, say, “I am.” “I am!” (children respond) Gather everyone for closing at your classrooms circle. Bring your center project to circle. LL: Who were the people in our story today? (Jesus, mommies, daddies, children, disciples, crowd) What did they do for God? (Jesus blessed all of the children and said they were important to God) Hold up the heart project. How do you feel when someone gives you a big hug or a high five? How do you think children felt when Jesus wanted to hug and bless them? Your hearts show that Jesus loves and blesses all of the children in the world. You can take your heart home to help you remember that you are important to God! Let’s pray together. Dear God, Thank you for calling me important and loving me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Song Sheet

The BIBLE The B-I-B-L-E, yeah that's the book for me I stand alone on the word of God The B-I-B-L-E This Little Light of Mine This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine. Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine. Don't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine Don't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine Don't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine.

Jesus Loves Me Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so; Little ones to Him belong, They are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. Jesus Loves the Little Children Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world

Black and yellow, red and white

They're all precious in His sight

Jesus loves the little children of the world

I’ve Got the Joy

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart! Where? Down in my heart! I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart down in my heart to stay. I’ve got the peace that passes understanding, Down in my heart, Where? Down in my heart! Where? Down in my heart! I’ve got the peace that passes understanding, down in my heart down in my heart to stay. I’ve the got love of Jesus, love of Jesus Down in my heart, Where? Down in my heart! Where? Down in my heart! I’ve the got love of Jesus, love of Jesus

down in my heart, down in my heart to stay.