While we are unable to meet for Sunday School, I will post an adaptation of the children's Sunday School lesson every Monday. Think of the lesson as a guide to discuss a story from the Bible together. Each lesson will include some introductory material, a Scripture reading, questions for review and discussion, an activity suggestion, a short prayer, and a memory verse. I encourage you to take just 10-15 minutes every week to actively engage your children or grandchildren in this opportunity to grow together in your faith!
Introduction:
Share some background information before reading the story together.
This week’s story takes place just before Jesus is arrested and crucified. Jesus is together with his disciples celebrating Passover, a Jewish holiday that celebrates how God freed the Israelite slaves in Egypt. This would be the last meal Jesus would have with his disciples before he died, so we often call it the Last Supper. After dinner, he spends a long time talking to his disciples. He knows what is about to happen – that he will be arrested, crucified, but also that he will come back to life. He also knows that Judas, his disciple and friend, will be the one to betray him. He knows that his disciples will be sad, scared, and confused. He talks to them to try to bring them some comfort.
In his talk, which our story today is just part of, he is trying to help the disciples feel confident. He wants them to remember that God promises to always be with us. Even though Jesus won’t be physically with them on Earth for much longer, he wants them to know that He is with them and always will be. Jesus reminds the disciples that he loves them, sustains them, is always with them, cherishes them, and calls them to do great things. The same is true for us! Jesus loves us, sustains us, is always with us, cherishes us, and calls us to do great things!
Read:
Read some of Jesus’ last words to his disciples in our Scripture passage for this week. You can read the story from the Bible or the simplified version of the story from the Spark Story Bible below.
John 14:1-14
The Story:
Jesus taught his disciples many things. “Don’t be sad or worried,” he said. “Believe in God and in me. God’s house in heaven is so big that everyone can have a room. I’m going there to get your rooms ready. Later I’ll come back to take you to God’s house. You know the way to where I’m going.”
Thomas and Philip looked confused, though. “What way do you mean?” they asked.
Jesus said, “I’m the way to know God. Because you know me, you know God, too. I’ve taught you about life with God and the good things God wants you to do. Pray. Ask me for anything, and I’ll help you to do it.”
Thomas and Philip smiled. “We can follow you and do what you ask us to do. You are our way to heaven. We can live in God’s house, too.”
Review Questions:
- What are some of the things Jesus taught/told his disciples? Don’t be sad or worried. Believe in Jesus/God. He will always be with us.
- How does Jesus say we can know God? If we know Jesus, then we know God.
- What does Jesus say we should do if we need his help? Ask for help through prayer.
Discussion Questions:
- What does Jesus mean when he says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”? As you talk about this answer, you might talk about the way you travel to go to a familiar place (school, church, or even just from one room to another in your house). When we follow Jesus, it means we believe all of the things He has told us and that we try to live the way he wants us to live. It’s like he gives us the path to walk down to be able to be with God forever (just like we have to walk or drive a certain path to get to the room or place we want to go).
- Who can live in God’s house? What can you do to help others know Jesus and get to live in God’s house forever, too?
- What is something you can ask God to help you do?
Activity:
Each person in the family should think of something you already have or something you can draw/make that reminds you of God’s love for you. Walk around the house together and put your things in different rooms of the house. Share with one another how that item or drawing helps you remember God’s love. Keep each item in the different rooms as a reminder that God loves you and is always with you.
Watch this video, and try singing and dancing along. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ycr2JMK1MGM
Pray:
As part of your prayer this week, include the things that you talked about earlier that you would like God to help you with.
Dear God, thank you for always loving us and always being with us. Thank you for helping us do big things for you! Help us follow you all of the time. Help us __________________. Amen.
Memory Verse:
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” John 14:6a