WELCOME TO WEEK 3

Have you ever had a challenge you didn’t think you could complete but tried anyway? We’ve all had challenges in our lives, some are small and some are so big they seem impossible to get through. Jesus understands our challenges and faced his own challenges while he was on earth. Although he knew dying on the cross would be hard, he said yes to God’s plan of salvation for us. 

John 12:20-33

BIBLE STORY

Sometimes it is hard to choose between two things like choosing chocolate ice cream or vanilla. Then we have to make hard choices that may feel like neither choice is what we really want, but we have to choose. Play this game of Would You Rather.

Would you rather…

-eat pizza with mushrooms or pizza with anchovy’s

-run for 10 miles without stopping or pickup trash by a creek

-watch movies all day or eat pizza all day

-have 2 scoops of ice cream with mustard or 2 scoops of your favorite ice cream with ketchup

-eat eggs for breakfast everyday for a month or not eat eggs at all for a month

-sleep on the couch or sleep on the floor

-wash the dishes for a week or clean the floors for a month

-sit in the front of the classroom or sit in the back of the classroom

-get caught in a rainstorm or trapped inside your house during a snowstorm

-catch 10 worms by hand or pet a snake

Was it always easy to choose between the two choices? Sometimes it is hard to make a decision when both choices seem hard. God’s plan was for Jesus to be our sacrifice and Jesus had to choose to complete the plan. He knew it would be hard and yet He chose to do it anyway, because He loves us. This week we will see that Jesus knew it would be difficult to lose his life on earth, but He said yes to God’s plan anyway.

Read or listen to John 12:20-33

What hour did Jesus say had come? (For the son of Man to be glorified)

What analogy did Jesus use to compare what would happen to his life? (The kernel of wheat must die and then it will produce many seeds)

What happens to those who love their life here? (They will lose it later)

What happens to those who hate their life here on earth? (They will keep it for eternal life)

Why did Jesus say his soul is troubled? (He knew he was going to give up his life for the sins of the world)
What did Jesus glorify instead? (Father, glorify your name)

What was the response? (A voice from heaven said,  I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again)

What kind of death did Jesus describe would happen to him? (He would be lifted up from the earth and draw all people to him)

BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY

Jesus made a choice to go through with the plan of salvation He and God put into place before the sin of Adam and Eve. As the time to die on the cross drew nearer, Jesus knew how difficult it would be to complete it. But Jesus loved us more than his dread of the cross. He wanted to save us more than avoid the difficulty of the cross. What great love he has for us!

Activity

Jesus said yes to the plans God had for him so he could save us from our sins. Jesus knew what was ahead of him would be difficult but He said yes because He trusted God’s plan. We can say yes to things that may be hard for us to do as well. Pick a strip of paper out of the bowl and say yes to trying to complete the activity, even if you think it might be hard.

Materials: printed sheet cut into strips, scissors, small bowl or container

Alternate

Take out several items and use them for a different purpose than they are intended for. For example, take out a toothbrush and use it to stir a cup of tea. Get a paper towel and use it to prop open a book. Take a pillow and use it to comb your hair. Make up several silly examples of using an item not for its intended purpose. That seemed very silly to use the items the way we did. Did we get the most out of those items? No, of course not. When we use something for a plan, other than its intended use, it can be wasteful. We all have been given a purpose and a plan from God. God does not force us to follow His plan, but when we do we are being used to our full potential. When we use a toothbrush to clean our teeth, we are using the toothbrush for its most important purpose and getting the most from its potential. Jesus said yes to God’s plans because He knew God’s plan would save us.

Materials: various items from your house

Independent activity:

Complete the following activity sheet.

Materials: Printed activity sheet

ARTS & CAFTS

CRAFT 1

Create painted flowers in a flowerpot. Print the following vase outline, draw on the stems, then finger-paint the petals. Finally, write the names of family members Jesus loves and died for on each leaf.

Alternate options: use a cotton ball dipped into the paint to stamp on the petals. Cut out the vase and paste to a larger sheet of construction paper, then paint on stem and petals.

Materials: Printed vase, paint in various colors, crayons, optional: cotton balls large sheet of construction paper.

Craft 2

Coloring page

Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons

FOLLOW-UP

Have you ever said yes to something that was hard to do?

What are some things God asks us to do that are hard?

What are some things God asks us to do that are easy?

Why did Jesus tell his disciples in advance what was going to happen?

How does Jesus prepare us for the hard things that may come in our life?

Can you think of a scripture that encourages you during difficult choices?

Practical Application at Home

There are many things in our life that are difficult to do, but we should not give up on them. Think of the following things that might be hard, say what you think might make it challenging, and then tell if you would persevere or give up.

-Learn to play the piano

-Learning how to read

-Becoming an astronaut

-Sewing a dress or outfit

-Finishing a science project for the science fair

-Cleaning your room when its a disaster

-Going to college

-Learning to fly a kite

-Offering help to the new kid at school

-Asking someone who is hurt if they are ok

-Not being picked first in class

This week try to do something that might be a little difficult. Use a lima bean or small seed and plant it in a cup with dirt or a small ziplock bag. Water your seed and place it near a window to care for it. See if you can get your plant to grow. Jesus knew that God had a plan for him, even though it was difficult to complete. He went through with it because he knew it was what was best for us. He said yes to God’s plan because He knew God’s will was best. You have a plan for your seed to help it grow and become a new plant. The seed by itself can not do anything on its own, but your plan to nourish and take care of it will make it grow. 

Materials: plastic bag or cup, small seed such as a lima bean, soil, water

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.