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WELCOME TO WEEK 1
What is your favorite thing to do or have? What is your favorite toy? Would you be willing to give it up and not receive a replacement in return? We all have things we enjoy and even treasure, but we have to ask ourselves if we treasure those things more than we value Jesus. Wee want to show Jesus that we love Him more than anything.
BIBLE STORY
Let’s do a smelling activity and see if we can guess the smell that is given. Put several scents on a cotton ball and place in a baggie or paper cup. As you have your child smell the different scents, ask them to guess what it is and also what the smell reminds them of. Be sure to either label or write a cheat sheet to remember which scents were placed in each bag. Possible scents: peppermint (oil), Peanut Butter, coconut oil, perfume, body/hand soap, lemon (oil or squeezed), onion (rubbed on cotton ball).
Think of what each of those smells reminds you. Our memory is closely tied to our sense of smell and can bring back memories for us. A specific perfume smell can remind us of our grandma, mom or dad. We can connect nice memories with our sense of smell. The smell of freshly cut apples can trigger a memory of apple picking with loved ones. This week we will read a story about how Mary created a scene by anointing Jesus’ feet with strong smelling perfume. Everyone in the room noticed what happened because they smelled it! Mary was showing her love to Jesus through this act of washing his feet, but she also was anointing him for what was to come. Let’s read this weeks story.
Read or listen to the Bible verse for this week: John 12:1-8
What city was Jesus in? (Bethany)
What had previously happened in Bethany? ( Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead)
Why was Jesus at this dinner? (It was a dinner in Jesus’ honor)
While he was sitting at the table, what did Mary do? (Used expensive perfume to wash his feet and then wiped it with her hair)
What filled the house? (The fragrance of the perfume)
How did the disciple Judas think the money from the perfume should have been spent? (Sold and spent on the poor)
How much was the perfume worth? (1 year’s wage)
What did Judas really want to do with the money? (Use the money for himself)
How did Jesus reply to what Judas said? (To leave Mary alone, it was intended for her to save this oil for the day of his burial, the poor would always be among them.)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Activity
Have several gifts or prizes wrapped in wrapping paper or placed in gift bags. Present 2 gifts at a time, and then ask them to share one of the gifts with someone in the room or decide on a friend they can share them with later. Be sure to choose gifts that are both good and hard to choose between. Was it easy or hard to share one of your presents with someone else? Mary gave her best to Jesus because she loved him. We can give our best to God and give back to God the gifts he has given to us.
Materials: several prizes wrapped in wrapping paper or gift bags (an even number of prizes)
Alternate
Draw a picture of the thing you think is your best that you could give to Jesus to show him how you love him.
Materials: Sheet of paper, crayons or coloring pencils
Independent activity:
We can always do more to show Jesus we love him. Print the following page of a plain ice cream cone. Make this ice cream more special by adding some great toppings. Use 3-d objects if desired such as small pom-poms, glitter, and cotton balls. We can always read the Bible more, serve others more or sing praises more!
Materials: attached ice cream cone sheet, 3D items (optional): pom poms, glitter, cotton balls etc.
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Coloring page
Materials: Printed coloring sheet, crayons
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
What did Mary use to anoint Jesus feet?
Where were they when she anointed his feet?
How did this show how much Mary loved Jesus?
How can we show our love for Jesus?
How do our actions demonstrate our love for God?
Do we have to spend all of our money on perfume to show Jesus we love him?
What does Jesus want most of all?
How did Mary show that she loved Jesus above everything else?
Practical Application at Home
We all make mistakes, we all sin and fall short. Sometimes we lose our way and follow a path that God has not set for us to follow. Sometimes we only think of ourselves and don’t behave in a way that shows we follow Christ. Even when we do all of these things, God has made a way to be reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ. Think of some of the ways you make mistakes and complete the following sentences, remembering you have been reconciled to God from our sins.
Complete the following statements:
Although I _____ I am reconciled to God through Christ.
Even when I ________ I am reconciled to God through Christ. through Christ.
Sometimes I _________ but I am reconciled to God through Christ.
When I feel _______ I am still reconciled to God through Christ.
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
When we give our time serving others, we are showing Jesus that we love him more than anything else. We can spend time being the hands and feet of Jesus, rather than playing our video games or doing other things that are just for us. Spend time this week looking for ways to serve others.