To Overcome
WELCOME TO WEEK 1
When Jesus died, his disciples and followers were very sad and did not understand what happened. How excited they must have been to see Jesus again and realize he was raised from the dead. Can you imagine how they must have felt? How would you feel if you saw Jesus again? Jesus overcame death, He is alive and wants to live with us forever some day soon!
BIBLE STORY
After Jesus’ death, the disciples and Jesus’ followers were very sad and upset at Jesus’ death. They did not understand all that God had planned because they thought Jesus would rule in their time. When Jesus died they thought it was over. They did not realize that Jesus would overcome death by his resurrection from the cross. Even though Jesus had told them many times and in many different ways that he would rise from the dead, they did not understand it until it happened.
Complete this scavenger hunt. There are lots of clues on the card, but you have to figure out what the clue means and then bring the item or a picture of something that represents the item. You can use a camera to take pictures or a basket to collect all of your items. When you return with your completed sheet and items, tell how the items you chose describe the clues of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Materials: Scavenger hunt card-find all the items. Bring back the items or take a picture of something that represents the item. Give clues on the cards instead of items. EX: Jesus rode this through Jerusalem (Donkey). Placed in front of the tomb (stone)
Read or listen to the Bible verse for this week John 2:13-22
What holiday was about to occur in Jerusalem? (Passover)
What did Jesus find when he went into the temple courts? ( people selling cattle, sheep and doves and people sitting at tables exchanging money)
What did Jesus do with the cord he made?( he drove everyone from the temple courts and scattered the money tables and coins)
What did he say to those who sold the doves? (Get these out of here! Stop turning my fathers house into a market)
What did the Jews insist that Jesus prove? (A sign to show His authority to do these things)
Jesus said if they destroyed this temple, he would rise it in how many days? (3 days)
Did the Jews believe him? (No, they knew the original temple was built in 46 years)
What temple was Jesus talking about? (His body as the temple that would die and rise again)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
The women at the grave were afraid because they were not expecting to find Jesus’ body missing. They were surprised that He was gone and went to tell the disciples what they saw. What a wonderful feeling to realized your Savior is alive and has conquered death.
Activity
Play this game of resurrection Charades.
Materials: Printed categories for charades
Alternate
Think about the story of Jesus death and resurrection. Although the disciples and Jesus’ followers did not know all that was going to happened during that time, we know the order of events and can see the ending. We know that Jesus overcame death and rose from the dead. We don’t know everything that will happen to us in the future, but we know that God has already told us the ending! God has delivered us and will return to be with us for eternity. That is great news! Print the following activity sheet, and cut the sentences into strips. Then glue the strips in order on a separate sheet of construction paper. Place these events around Jesus’ death in the order that they happened.
Materials: Printed activity sheet
create activity:
Spring is a wonderful time to watch things grow and rise out from the ground. Create these composting pots. Add seeds and dirt to the pots once they have dried and leave them on your counter in sunlight to grow small sprouts. Once the sprouts have begun, you can plant the entire pot into the ground and it will decompose into the soil.
Materials: Construction paper shredded, water, cup for molding or muffin tin, flower/plant seeds
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Create a 3 cross sunset picture by cutting different colored construction paper into strips. Then glue the colored strips onto a black sheet of paper to make the background. Next using black paper, cut out 3 crosses and a half circle. Glue the half circle onto the bottom of the page to become a hill and then glue the 3 crosses onto the hill.
Materials: construction paper, glue, scissors
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Read or listen to Acts 10:39-43
Jesus commanded the disciples to go and preach to the people that Jesus is the one God appointed as judge over the living and the dead. The disciples were to tell others who Jesus is and that in his name people are saved from their sins. We are also called to share the good news of Jesus with others. He has chosen us as his witnesses as well. We can share that Jesus conquered death and will return to take us to live with him forever! That is good news worth sharing!
Whom had God chosen to see Jesus after he was raised from the dead?
How do you think the women felt when the angel told them Jesus had risen?
Would it be easy or hard for you to tell people Jesus had risen from the dead?
What good news do you have that you can easily share with other people?
Who would you share your good news with?
Practical Application at Home
We have good news to share with others! Just as the women at the tomb had good news to share, the disciples shared what they witnessed, and we have the same good news. Jesus rose from the dead and he will return to take us to be where He is. We can live for eternity with Jesus. That’s great news! Jesus conquered death and can give us life eternal. We can share that news with others so they can also live forever with Jesus.
Think of people you know who need to hear the good news of Jesus’ love. Make a prayer box by using a small cardboard box or shoebox. Cover the box with construction paper or white paper and then decorate the prayer box with crayons and markers by adding pictures and words. Decorate the lid and create a slit in the top if desired. Then, make a list of people you want to pray for with whom you can share this good news. Put each persons name on a separate sheet of paper and place them into the box. Each day take out a sheet of paper and pray for the person whose name is on the sheet. You can place the person back into the box or place it to the side to add back in after all the names have been prayed for. When you pray, ask for God to show you ways to share this good news with them.
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Donate to a local food shelter or toy drive this Christmas season. As a family, volunteer together or pick out toys you think another child your age might enjoy.