Sunday, June 29, 2014

Week 26: June 29

Our theme for June is "Jesus Heals"

Week 26- Jesus Heals at Bethsaida (John 5:1-15)

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Week 25: June 22

Our theme for June is "Jesus Heals"

Week 25- Jesus Heals a Nobleman's Son (John 4:43-54)


Sunday, June 15, 2014

Week 24: June 15

Our theme for June is "Jesus Heals"

Week 24- Jesus Heals a Crippled Hand (Luke 6:6-11)

Since this was also Father's Day, I wanted to find an activity that both taught the lesson and became a gift for dad. The story was pretty simple. I didn't divulge the "healing on Sabbath" moral, but simply that Jesus heals.

I started by giving each child a piece of scrap paper to crumple into a ball and hold in their dominate hand. We talked about how not everyone is able to use both hands due to various disabilities. We discussed how these people can do many things, but it's often more difficult than people who can use both of their hands. Each student had to hold the construction paper in his/her hand while drawing and coloring a picture of their dad. The drawings were hilarious! Most kids used their other hand, but some tried to hold the crayons in the hand while simultaneously holding a (somewhat large) piece of crumpled paper. 

I told the kids there was a man in Jesus' time who had a disability in his hand. He couldn't do many of the things others were able to do, and it often took him longer to do small tasks. We talked about what a picture of his dad might've looked like. 

One day Jesus was teaching in the synagogue when this man came in whose hand was shriveled. Everyone was curious to see what Jesus would do. Would Jesus heal the man? 

Jesus told the man to stretch out his hand. (I then had the kids stretch out their hand holding the paper.) As the man obeyed Jesus' instruction, his hand was restored. What does it mean if something is "restored?" Yes, it's made to look like it should have. Did Jesus heal the man's hand? Go ahead and drop your paper. Move your fingers around. It sure feels good to be able to use your hand, doesn't it!? Jesus healed the man's hand and Jesus can heal us, too. 

To go along with Father's Day, I found these hand-shaped sticky boards from Oriental Trading. We talked about how Jesus healed the man's hand, and how He, in fact, "hand"les a lot of problems so we don't have to worry! We talked about how blessed we are that He made Dads that "give us a hand" with things, as well. I had a first-grader who couldn't stop laughing after all of the hand-puns. It was hilarious! (And he looked quite "hand"some while doing it!) lol But anyway, we wrote a nice note to our dads on the backside "Thanks for giving me a helping hand. Happy Father's Day" and the kids were able to decorate the front with tissue paper squares. Some of the kids used their dad's favorite colors, others use different colors and shapes to represent dad's favorite things ("A" for Auburn, a cross in the middle "cause my dad loves Jesus," etc.) 

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Week 23: June 8

Our theme for June is "Jesus Heals" 

Week 23- Jesus Heals a Paralytic (Mark 2:1-12) 

This week we read about how Jesus healed a man who was paralyzed. We first talked about what it means to be paralyzed, and how sad it was that He couldn't visit Jesus.


When Jesus came to Capernaum, everyone wanted to see Him. People filled the house- every room- to the point where nobody could even get through the door. In fact, people stood outside of the doorway waiting to hear Jesus speak.

There was one man, though, that could not go visit Jesus. He was paralyzed, which means he was not able to move his body. He couldn't walk to Jesus. He couldn't push through the crowds. He knew that Jesus could heal him, but how? He wasn't able to get there on his own.

The man's friends had a great idea. They put the paralyzed man onto a special mat. They climbed onto the roof of the house that Jesus was standing in. They lowered the man through the roof into the room Jesus was in. Jesus looked at the ceiling, and saw the men slowly lowering down the paralyzed man. He was happy that they trusted Him. He knew they believed. And He healed the man. He said, "Pick up your mat and walk. You are healed!" And the man was able to walk! Jesus also forgave the man of his sins. Jesus can heal us from our sins, too. 

We then went into a discussion about what it means to be forgiven by Jesus and how come it's important to ask Him to forgive us of our sins. 

We then water-colored our own card stock "mats" to remind us that Jesus can heal our bodies, but can also heal our souls. 

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Week 22: June 1

Our theme for June is "Jesus Heals"

Week 22- Jesus Heals with Living Water (John 4:1-42)



Today we began our unit called "Jesus Heals." We started off our discussion with what it means to be healed. The kids mostly talked about how they had a cut that was healed, or their grandma was sick but now is healed, and other physical hearings. Then, I guided the conversation to emotional healing... a child's feelings were hurt but now he feels better, or a kiddo was upset with her sister but isn't anymore. Last, I brought up spiritual healing. I read the kids the story (paraphrased but I didn't type it... sorry!) and I asked the kids what type of healing the woman needed. They were spot on answering "spiritual!" 

This lesson is a little tricky to get because it involves a metaphor, but I gave each of my kids a small pail to help them remember. Not all answers were spot on (as you can expect) but It went something like this:

The lady at the well could give Jesus water. 
Why did Jesus ask for water? (To drink. He was thirsty. He didn't know how to get it from the well by himself.)
Jesus really didn't need the woman to get him water. He wanted to talk to her. What did Jesus want to talk to the lady about? (Spiritual healing. How to use the well. He wanted to heal her. He wanted to be friendly because nobody liked the Samaritans.)
Yes, Jesus wanted to be friendly and talk to the lady. He wanted to heal her from her sins. Can we heal sins? (No. Of course not! That's Jesus' job!)
Only Jesus can heal our sins. Only Jesus can take away the pain we feel when we are hurting. Asking Jesus to be in our hearts is like drinking water when you are thirsty. You feel SO much better afterward.

Jesus said that He is the "Living Water." Does this mean Jesus is actually water that we can drink? (No. Jesus is in our hearts.)
You're right! Jesus was telling the lady that He is like water, because everyone needs it, and it makes you feel so much better! 

After that, He said that if you have Living Water you will never thirst again. Does that mean we never have to drink water again? (No. It means that Jesus will be in our hearts forever. Jesus won't ever leave us. Jesus is with us always.)
That's pretty awesome, isn't it? Anytime we are in need of healing, we can ask Jesus to help us. Whether we fall on the playground and scrape our knees, a kid at school says something that hurts our feelings, or we alone because nobody will listen, Jesus is always there for us. Jesus is our Living Water! 

My kiddos then made this adorable well that was only slightly difficult for a couple to put together (The rope wrapping around the brown sticker was tricky!) but they were so proud! They also got to "drink" their "living water" from the metal pails. (Yes, it was full of air, and yes, my kids have great imaginations!) It was so cute to watch; I should've taken pictures!