Explore the Bible: Kids - Fall 2019 Sample Session Preschool & Kids by LifeWay Kids

PRESCHOOL

Leader Guide > Fall 2019 David Dykes, General Editor

JOHN, 1 & 2 THESSALONIANS, 1 & 2 KINGS, 2 CHRONICLES

Session

Jesus Came to Help

FOR THE LEADER

John 3:1-21 The Gospel of John is unique among the four gospels. John’s Gospel includes many unique details. John’s purpose for writing his Gospel was to provide evidence that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah, the one and only son of God. John actually begins his Gospel similarly to Matthew, Mark, and Luke with genealogical information, though John begins farther back than any of the others—in the very beginning. God existed in the beginning and John introduces Jesus’ oneness with God in the beginning and then becoming flesh. John identifies Jesus as the Word of God. After introducing Jesus as the Word become flesh, the Gospel of John continues as a series of stories that John recorded so he could show that Jesus was indeed who John claimed He was. The first major story John tells is of a visit to Jesus from one of the leaders of the Jews named Nicodemus. Being a ruler of the Jews meant that Nicodemus was not just a respected member of Jewish life, but he served on the Sanhedrin. This council was comprised of 71 members led by the High Priest. As a member of the Sanhedrin, Nicodemus would have been well versed in Jewish law and religious life. Nicodemus went to Jesus at night and recognized Jesus as being sent from God. Nicodemus understood that Jesus was a prophet, but he did not grasp yet that Jesus was the Son of God. Further, Nicodemus identified Jesus as a rabbi, or teacher, and put himself in the role of learner. Both of these admissions show that Nicodemus was truly seeking real answers to his questions. Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus led Nicodemus to question the details of eternal life. Jesus clarified for Nicodemus what it meant to be born again. Jesus told Nicodemus real eternal life comes through a relationship with God, which can be gained through trust in God’s plan to send His one and only Son to die for the sins of all people. God sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue us from our sin.

OVERVIEW

SESSION FOCUS TEXT TRUTH Jesus came to love and help all people. BIBLE STORY John 3:1-21 BIBLE VERSE John 3:16 CHRIST IN CONTEXT The Book of John reveals Jesus’ identity as God in flesh and describes the eternal, all-knowing, ever-present, and all-powerful nature of Christ. BIBLE SKILLS • Know there are two main parts of the Bible—the Old Testament and the New Testament. • Begin to understand that people wrote God’s words in the Bible.

ARRIVAL ACTIVITIES (5 MINUTES) As preschoolers arrive, offer choices of self-guided activities that set the stage for Bible explorations. ▸▸ Shine flashlights

▸▸ Draw a picture

▸▸ Drive toy cars on

Tools: Bible marked at John 3, several small flashlights, Shadow Play Poster (Pack Item 29)

Tools: Bible, paper, colored pencils

Tools: Bible opened to John 3, toy vehicles, masking tape roads

on the Bible and wall.

of people helping one another.

roads.

FAMILY AT HOME ▸▸ A fter everyone has had an opportunity to do one or more arrival

activities, direct preschoolers to Exploration Stations. (See next page.)

Print this week’s devotional page (Enhanced CD) to give to families.

Session 1: Jesus Came to Help

BIBLE STORY

TEXT TRUTH Jesus came to love and help all people.

BIBLE VERSE John 3:16

LEADER TIP! Display the Fall Door Poster (Pack Item 15) outside the room. When children arrive, tell parents their children will be exploring the Bible.

LEADER TIP! Explain that rabbi is the Jewish word for teacher.

JESUS TALKED TO NICODEMUS John 3:1-21

Jesus traveled to many places to teach people. People saw Jesus do amazing things. News about Jesus spread and the people heard about the wonderful things Jesus did. Nicodemus was a leader in Jerusalem and a teacher of the Law. Nicodemus was curious about Jesus. Nicodemus wondered who Jesus was. One night Nicodemus decided to find Jesus and talk to Him. When Nicodemus found Jesus, he said: “Rabbi, we know You are a teacher who has come from God. No one could do what You do if God wasn’t with him.” Jesus cared about Nicodemus. Jesus wanted to help Nicodemus and other people know how they could be with God forever. Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be born again. Now Nicodemus was very confused! What did Jesus mean? How could a person be a baby two times? Jesus helped Nicodemus understand that people are born the first time as real live people. They eat, sleep, walk, talk, and other people can see them. The second time people are born is when the people believe (have faith) in Jesus. The people still have their bodies like before, but they think and act differently because they love Jesus. It is like they are brand new people! Nicodemus still did not know exactly what Jesus meant, so he listened some more. Jesus said, “God loved everyone so much that He sent Me, His Son, to teach people and show them how to be God’s children. When people believe in Me, they can live with God forever.”

LEADER TIP You choose! Are your preschoolers ready to learn memory verses? Decide which wording of the Bible verse you want to use with your group.

BIBLE VERSE From the Bible text:

God loved the world and gave his Son so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. John 3:16 Paraphrase:

God sent Jesus to help people know how to be with Him. John 3:16

CIRCLE TIME

CIRCLE TIME (10-15 MINUTES, DEPENDING ON YOUR AGE GROUP) GATHER

LEADER TIP!

• Ask preschoolers to help straighten the classroom before Circle Time.

Enjoy Circle Time with the lights dimmed.

• Say: “Thank you for working together and helping one another. Today we will hear that Jesus came to love and help people.”

HEAR THE BIBLE STORY

TOOLS

• Say: “Everywhere Jesus went, people followed Him. They listened to Him teach and they watched the things He did. In today’s story, we will hear about a man who had some questions for Jesus. Nicodemus called Jesus rabbi, which means teacher, because Nicodemus wanted to learn from Jesus.”

PACK ITEMS

• Bibles

• Show children the Story Picture (Pack). Point out that Nicodemus waited until after dark to talk to Jesus. Talk about the differences between daytime and nighttime. • Open the Bible to John 3 and lay the Bible in your lap. Tell the Bible story.

1 Story Picture: Jesus Talked to Nicodemus 16 Bible Markers 17 Text Truth Poster 18 Text Truth Poster Add-Ons 19 Bible Word Cards: Bible, Old Testament, New Testament

• Help preschoolers understand the abstract concept of being born again but keep the discussion appropriate for their age. (See Bible story.) • Read today’s Text Truth Poster Add-on (Pack) and place it on the Text Truth Poster (Pack).

PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS • Show the selected Bible Word Cards (Pack). Tell preschoolers that there are two main parts of the Bible, the Old Testament and the New Testament. • Ask teachers in the group to help children find the Old and New Testaments in Bibles.

LEADER TIP! Show preschoolers where the Book of John appears on the Bible Timeline for Kids (LifeWay, 005811866).

• Turn to the Bible Marker (Pack) at John 3:16 and say the Bible verse. • Say: “The Book of John was written by Jesus’ friend John. God told John the words to write.”

PRAY • Ask God to help boys and girls know that Jesus loves everyone.

Session 1: Jesus Came to Help

EXPLORATION STATIONS TEXT TRUTH Jesus came to love and help all people.

EXPLORATION STATIONS (45-60 MINUTES) Set up at least three stations to provide choices of multisensory activities and movement for busy preschoolers.

BIBLE STORY Jesus Talked to Nicodemus John 3:1-21

BIBLE VERSE

PLAY SCHOOL

John 3:16

Tools: Bible, Bible Word Cards (Pack), lined paper, pencils, whiteboards, dry-erase markers, erasers, pointer PACK ITEMS 1 Story Picture: Jesus Talked to Nicodemus 16 Bible Markers 19 Bible Word Cards: Old Testament, New Testament, Bible, John, Jesus, Nicodemus 20 Search-the-Bible Cards 21 B ook of John Figures: Jesus, Nicodemus 26 Nighttime Matching Cards 28 Bible Times Backdrop

LEADER TIP! Many preschoolers may attend weekday preschool programs, so a school-related activity will not be unfamiliar to them.

• Section off an area to create a “school” space for preschoolers. Invite boys and girls to take turns pretending to be a teacher. • Display the Bible Word Cards. Guide the “teacher” to use the pointer and identify a few letters in the words. (Help as needed.) • Give children paper and pencils (and whiteboards and markers) to write letters and words. • Say: “Nicodemus called Jesus a rabbi. Rabbi means teacher. Jesus taught Nicodemus what it meant to be a new person by believing in Jesus.” • Say the Bible verse.

TELL THE BIBLE STORY Tools: Bible, Story Picture: Jesus Talked to Nicodemus (Pack), Book of John Figures (Pack), Bible Times Backdrop (Pack), blocks • Prepare the Book of John Figures as instructed in the Leader Pack. Prop the figures in front of the Backdrop. • Point to the Story Picture. Suggest that a child arrange blocks and figures to resemble the picture. • Encourage children to tell the Bible stor y, saying what Jesus and Nicodemus said to each other. • Open the Bible to John 3. Say: “This place in the Bible tells about Nicodemus’ visit with Jesus.”

EXPLORATION STATIONS

MAKE A LANTERN Tools: Bible, clear plastic cups, hole punch, ribbon, colored tissue paper cut into small pieces, diluted white glue, paintbrushes, battery-operated tea light candles, permanent marker (teacher use) • Punch holes on opposite sides of each cup’s rim. Thread ribbon through the holes and tie the ends to create a hanging loop. • Guide a child to dip a paintbrush in glue and paint the outside of the cup. Tell her to attach tissue to the glue to create a stained-glass look. Allow the glue to dry. • Print the Bible verse on a child’s lantern and place a tea light candle in the cup. • Say: “Nicodemus went to Jesus at nighttime. Perhaps Nicodemus carried a lantern as he walked through the streets.”

SEARCH THE BIBLE

Tools: Bible, Search-the-Bible Cards (Pack), Bible Markers (Pack), Enhanced CD

WORK NIGHTTIME PUZZLES Tools: Bible, Nighttime Matching Cards (Pack), w and Activity Page, large yello lights white star shapes, flash • Create star puzzles by two cutting each star into the pieces. Spread pieces on to table. Encourage a child er. th put the star pieces toge • Separate Nighttime ace Matching Cards and pl a ll them facedown. Te ht on child: “Shine a flashlig er, ov em two cards, turn th .” and see if they match s are rd ca Continue until all matched. • Show the picture on the Activity Page and stor y. summarize the Bible rned • Say: “Nicodemus lea and that Jesus came to love help all people.” day’s • Help the child say to e. Bible verse and referenc

• Play the Enhanced CD. Listen for songs that tell about Jesus. • Tear apart the Search Cards and show them to a child. Help the preschooler follow the printed directions to locate places in the Bible. • Tell the child: “The Old Testament tells about things that happened before Jesus was born. The New Testament tells what happened after Jesus was born.” • Find the book, chapter, and verse for today’s Bible verse. Mark this location with the Bible Marker. • Remark: “John 3:16 is a special verse that many people know by heart. Let’s say that verse together.” • Help the child say the Bible verse and reference.

Session 1: Jesus Came to Help

NEXT HOUR

NEXT HOUR (MORE EXPLORATIONS FOR PRESCHOOLERS) OPTIONS

1. Continue activities from the first hour. (Kids learn through repetition.) 2. Try something different. Choose two or three new activities.

TEXT TRUTH Jesus came to love and help all people.

BIBLE STORY Jesus Talked to Nicodemus John 3:1-21 The Bible story is printed on the back of the Story Picture.

BIBLE VERSE John 3:16

PLAN A TRIP Tools: Bible, maps (paper and electronic), travel magazines and brochures, backpack or small suitcase, chairs, toy steering wheel, set of keys • Show children the travel items and say: “Jesus traveled to many places and taught people everywhere He went. In one town, a man named Nicodemus looked for Jesus and talked to Him.” • Suggest that children look at travel brochures to plan a trip. Pretend to get a car ready for travel. Arrange chairs like a car. • Invite children to take turns being the driver and passengers. • Comment that people travel to churches in your city to learn about Jesus.

DRAW A NIGHTTIME PICTURE Tools: Bible, Activity Page, black or dark blue construction paper, chalk • Show preschoolers the picture on the Activity Page. Point out that Nicodemus and Jesus talked after dark. • Invite children to draw a nighttime sky. Or children may look at the picture on the Activity Page and draw something similar. • Say: “Nicodemus wanted to know more about Jesus. Jesus helped Nicodemus understand how he could be with God forever.” • Guide a child to open the Bible to the New Testament section. Help the preschooler turn the pages to find John 3:16. Say the Bible verse.

CUT STAR & HEART SHAPES Tools: Bible, fresh play dough, rollers, star and heart cookie cutters, Story Picture: Jesus Talked to Nicodemus (Pack Item 1) • Give a child a hand-size ball of dough and a roller. Suggest that she choose a star or heart shape to cut the dough. • While the child rolls and cuts dough, comment that her shape reminds you of today’s Bible story: Nicodemus looked for Jesus at nighttime (star) and Jesus told Nicodemus that God loved him (heart).

NEXT HOUR

• Show the preschooler the Story Picture and summarize the Bible story. • Say: “We learn from the Bible that Jesus came to love and help people.”

READ ABOUT JESUS

LEADER TIP! Form groups of two or three preschoolers and a teacher. Look at the Activity Page, review the Bible story, and say the Bible verse.

Tools: Bible, several books about Jesus, Preschool Family Card, Enhanced CD • Invite a preschooler to get a book to “read” while the CD plays. Listen for songs that tell about Jesus. • Show the child the picture on the Family Card. Point to Jesus and Nicodemus. • Say: “John wrote about the night Nicodemus looked for Jesus. The Book of John has true stories about things Jesus did and said. Jesus came to love and help all people.”

CIRCLE TIME GATHER

PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS

• Ask preschoolers to tell about something they do before they go to bed each night.

• Say: “John 3:16 is a special Bible verse. Let’s find it in our Bibles and read the verse together.”

• Children may mention bathe, read a book, pray with family.

• Ask teachers in the circle to help preschoolers look for John 3:16 in children’s or classroom Bibles.

REVIEW THE BIBLE STORY

• Read the verse, then lead children to say the verse with you.

• Remark: “Nicodemus looked for Jesus one night and asked Him some questions. Jesus helped Nicodemus know that God sent Jesus to help people understand how to be with God.” • Pass the Story Picture (Pack) around the circle.

PRAY • Thank God for sending Jesus to love and help everyone. • Thank God for the Bible and its true stories.

DON’T FORGET! Give every child this week’s Activity Page and Preschool Family Card.

Look for printable Next Hour helps on the Preschool Enhanced CD. Session 1: Jesus Came to Help

JESUS TALKED TO NICODEMUS

SESSION 1

Text Truth: Jesus came to love and help all people. Bible Verse: God loved the world and gave his Son so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. John 3:16 Bible Verse Paraphrase: God sent Jesus to help people know how to be with Him. John 3:16

JOHN 3:1-21

For K a ids Parend nts

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CIRCLE THE NIGHTTIME ITEMS Nicodemus went to talk to Jesus one night. Circle the things you might use at nighttime.

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Bible Verse Paraphrase

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JESUS TALKED TO NICODEMUS John 3:1-21

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SESSION 1

3/11/19 8:09 AM

JESUS TALKED TO NICODEMUS John 3:1-21

• J esus helped people and taught them about God. • Jesus went to Jerusalem. • Jesus told Nicodemus why God sent Jesus.

BUILD A SKILL This week help your preschooler turn pages in a Bible to find the Bible story passage. Say: “This is where we read about Nicodemus talking with Jesus.”

LEARN A VERSE This week’s Bible verse is John 3:16. Help your child find this important verse in your Bible and say it or a simple paraphrase. Younger Preschooler: God loves people and sent Jesus to help them. Older Preschooler: God sent Jesus to help people know how to be with Him.

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Preview four sessions at lifeway.com/explorethebible

OLDER KIDS

Leader Guide > Fall 2019 David Dykes, General Editor

JOHN, 1 & 2 THESSALONIANS, 1 & 2 KINGS, 2 CHRONICLES

Kids

Session

FOR THE LEADER

Jesus and Nicodemus John 1; 3 The Gospel of John is unique among the four gospels. John’s Gospel includes many unique details. John’s purpose for writing his Gospel was to provide evidence that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah, the one and only son of God. John actually begins his Gospel similarly to Matthew, Mark, and Luke with genealogical information, though John begins farther back than any of the others—in the very beginning. God existed in the beginning and John introduces Jesus’ oneness with God in the beginning and then becoming flesh. John identifies Jesus as the Word of God. After introducing Jesus as the Word become flesh, the Gospel of John continues as a series of stories that John recorded so he could show that Jesus was indeed who John claimed He was. The first major story John tells is of a visit to Jesus from one of the leaders of the Jews named Nicodemus. Being a ruler of the Jews meant that Nicodemus was not just a respected member of Jewish life, but he served on the Sanhedrin. This council was comprised of 71 members led by the High Priest. As a member of the Sanhedrin, Nicodemus would have been well versed in Jewish law and religious life. Nicodemus went to Jesus at night and recognized Jesus as being sent from God. Nicodemus understood that Jesus was a prophet, but he did not grasp yet that Jesus was the Son of God. Further, Nicodemus identified Jesus as a rabbi, or teacher, and put himself in the role of learner. Both of these admissions show that Nicodemus was truly seeking real answers to his questions. Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus led Nicodemus to question the details of eternal life. Jesus clarified for Nicodemus what it meant to be born again. Jesus told Nicodemus real eternal life comes through a relationship with God, which can be gained through trust in God’s plan to send His one and only Son to die for the sins of all people. God sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue us from our sin.

Session 1: Jesus and Nicodemus

OVERVIEW

SESSION FOCUS BIBLE PASSAGE: John 1; 3 MEMORY VERSE: John 3:16 TEXT TRUTH: Jesus is the Word of God who became fully human to rescue us from our sin. CHRIST IN CONTEXT: The Book of John reveals Jesus as the Word of God who became

flesh. Jesus used the personal name of God, I Am, seven times in the Gospel to declare that He is God. John’s Gospel describes the eternal, all-knowing, ever-present, and all-powerful nature of Christ.

GET STARTED TOOLS

BIBLE STUDY TOOLS

SMALL GROUP TOOLS

(10 MINUTES)

(35 MINUTES)

(30 MINUTES)

¨¨ Bible Skills: “John” (Books of the Bible Posters), Bibles, “Christ in Context: John” (Poster Pack)

¨¨ Jump In: “Nicodemus Sculpture” (DVD-ROM) ¨¨ Examine the Text: Bibles, “Text Truth Strips” (Poster Pack) ¨¨ Play the Video: Explore the Bible on Location video ¨¨ Memory Verse: “John 3:16” (Poster Pack), dictionary ¨¨ Prayer: Family Cards

¨¨ Explorer Guides: Bible, Explorer Guides, pens ¨¨ Move: paper, marker, tape ¨¨ Make: drinking straws, green chenille stems, multicolored craft sticks, glue dots, scissors, stickers that spell Jesus ¨¨ Explore: two disposable pie tins, wooden clothespins, permanent marker, Bibles

NOTE: Downloadable versions of DVD items are available in the Digital Video Bundle. Downloadable versions of enhanced CD items are available in the Music and Print Extras Bundle. For free online training on how to lead a group, visit ministrygrid.com/web/explorethebible.

BIBLE STORY

JESUS AND NICODEMUS John 1; 3

The Apostle John described Jesus as “the Word.” John used this term to describe that Jesus was divine revelation. John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word (Jesus) and the Word (Jesus) was with God and the Word (Jesus) was God. Everything was created through Him. The Word also became human and came to earth to live with us. Jesus, who is God, has revealed God to us.” John also described a time when a religious leader came to visit Jesus. A man named Nicodemus came one night to visit Jesus. He told Jesus, “You are a teacher from God. No one could perform the miracles you do unless He was from God.” Jesus told Nicodemus, “Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus was confused. How could someone be born a second time? Jesus explained people needed to be spiritually born. People needed to be cleansed of their sin and transformed by God. Nicodemus was still confused. Jesus told Nicodemus some things that we understand better now because we know Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead. Jesus said, “Like Moses lifted up the bronze snake in the wilderness, the Son of Man will also be lifted up. Everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

KEY POINTS • Jesus has always existed. He was with God in the beginning when the world was created. • God sent Jesus, His one and only Son, to rescue us from our sin. It is through Jesus that we can be saved.

EXPLORE THE BIBLE AT HOME See the enhanced CD for additional family resources.

Session 1: Jesus and Nicodemus

GET STARTED

GET STARTED (10 MINUTES) TOOLS: • Bible Skills: “John” (Books of the Bible Posters), Bibles, “Christ in Context: John” (Poster Pack)

BIBLE SKILLS • Distribute a Bible to each child. • Explain: “Today’s story is found in the New Testament in the Book of John, but the Old Testament is also important in helping us understand who Jesus is. Let’s look quickly at an event in the Old Testament that Jesus mentions in today’s story.” • Help the kids find Numbers 21:4-9 in their Bibles. • Read the verses and discuss. • Say: “The Israelites needed to be rescued and God provided a way. In today’s story we’re going to see that we also need to be rescued, and God provided Jesus.” • Call attention to the “John” poster. • Point out the seven “I Am” statements that Jesus makes in the Book of John. • Explain: “Jesus said these things to show that He is God and He is the only way for us to be saved from our sins.” • Display the “Christ in Context: John” poster and ask a volunteer to read it aloud. • Dismiss to Bible Study.

BIBLE SKILLS SPOTLIGHT • Knows that the Bible tells about God’s plan to rescue us. Knows how to use the Bible to tell someone about God and Jesus.

BIBLE STUDY

BIBLE STUDY (35 MINUTES) JUMP IN • Display the “Nicodemus Sculpture.” • Ask: “What do you think is in this man’s hand?” (A blanket or piece of cloth) • Explain: “In ancient times, when someone died, his loved ones would prepare his body to be buried.” • Explain: “This man is Nicodemus, someone who had important questions to ask Jesus. The artist who made this sculpture is showing that Nicodemus helped take care of Jesus’ body after He died.” • Say: “Today we’re going to read about Nicodemus and a meeting that he had with Jesus at night.”

TOOLS: • Jump In: “Nicodemus Sculpture” (DVD-ROM) • Examine the Text: Bibles, “Text Truth Strips” (Poster Pack) • Play the Video: Explore the Bible on Location video • Memory Verse: “John 3:16” (Poster Pack), dictionary • Prayer: Family Cards

EXAMINE THE TEXT • Direct the kids to open their Bibles to John 3. • Display the “Text Truth Strip.” Jesus is the Word of God who became fully human to rescue us from our sin. • Ask a volunteer to explain what sin is. (Anything we think, do, or say that breaks God’s law) • Tell the Bible story in your own words. A Bible story page has been provided for you to use as a guide. • Ask a volunteer to read John 3:3. • Ask: “What do you think Jesus means when He says we need to be born again?” (Answers will vary.) • Explain: “The Bible tells us that we are dead in our sins. This means that even though our bodies are alive, because we think, say, and do things that break God’s law, we are spiritually dead. We need Jesus to give us new life.” • Ask a volunteer to read John 3:16. • Ask: “According to John 3:16, what do we need to do in order to get new life?” (Believe in Jesus.) • Draw attention to verses 14-15. • Explain: “Just like the Israelites were saved by God after they sinned, we have the opportunity to be saved from our sins. Only Jesus can give us new life. Jesus is the Word of God who became fully human to rescue us from our sin. The Israelites looked at the snake on the pole to be saved from physical death—we can look to Jesus on the cross and trust that He has made the payment for all of our sins so we can be saved from spiritual death. We can repent of our sin and trust Jesus as our Savior and Lord.”

Session 1: Jesus and Nicodemus

BIBLE STUDY

PLAY THE VIDEO • Play the Session 1 video. • Ask: “Why was Joel tired? Why did Nicodemus visit Jesus? Why did Jesus say He was sent to earth? Did Nicodemus become a follower of Jesus? How do we know?” (See John 19:38-42.) MEMORY VERSE ¨¨ Option: If you don’t have access to a dictionary, use an online dictionary and print the definitions beforehand.

• Display the “John 3:16” poster. Read the verse aloud a few times with the kids. • Try reading it in different styles and voices. (loud, regular, whispered, baby, and so on.) • Help the kids use a dictionary to look up the words perish and eternal/ everlasting. • Say: “When we trust in Jesus, we can live forever with Him.” PRAYER • Say: “Nicodemus came to Jesus to talk to Him. We can talk to Jesus, too. Let’s talk to Him now and thank Him for making a way for us to be rescued from our sins.” • Ask a volunteer to pray and thank God for the gift of new life in Jesus. • After the prayer, distribute Family Cards to each child. • Say: “Use these cards with your family this week to help you remember that Jesus saves us from our sins.” • Dismiss to Small Group.

SMALL GROUP

SMALL GROUP (30 MINUTES)

TOOLS: • Explorer Guides: Bibles, Explorer Guides, pens

EXPLORER GUIDES • Distribute Explorer Guides and help boys and girls locate today’s pages, “Jesus and Nicodemus.” • Guide kids to complete the activity, “Who Was John?” • Review today’s object, the “Nicodemus Sculpture.” • Select a volunteer to read “God’s Word.” • Invite a volunteer to read the information in “John in Context.” • Choose a third volunteer to share “What Was the Sanhedrin?” • Conclude by allowing kids to apply today’s Bible story as they “Read and Think.” TECH CONNECT (OPTIONAL) • Download the Explore the Bible: Kids Family App. • Use the activity labeled “Explorer Plus” on the app. ACTIVITIES • Select one or more of the activities to complete as time allows.

MOVE

JOHN 3:16 ROUNDABOUT Tools: paper, marker, tape

r, ¨¨ Write the words of John 3:16 on pape

one large word per page. Tape them up

in order on your wall.

• Direct the kids to sit in a circle. • Display the words of John 3:16. to say one word each. • Go around the circle, directing the kids the children are confident. • Continue, going faster and faster until and so forth as they say the h, hop on one foot, make arm circles, • Add movement by inviting kids to marc Memory Verse. clap every second lenge them with other patterns such as chal , verse the with liar fami me beco • After kids have wards around the circle. word, skip every third child, and go back verse without help. s one at a time until the kids can say the • You may also begin removing the word fully human to rescue us me : Jesus is the Word of God who beca • Conclude by reviewing today’s Text Truth from our sin.

Session 1: Jesus and Nicodemus

SMALL GROUP MAK

BRONZE SERPENT AND CROSS CRAFT

A PIECE OF BIBLE PIE

Tools: drinking straws, green chenille stems, multicolored craft sticks (11/2 per child), glue dots, scissors, stickers that spell Jesus

Tools: two disposable pie tins, wooden clothespins, permanent marker, Bibles

¨¨ Set out all supplies and have a trash can handy for quick clean up.

• Remind the kids that God rescued the Israelites in the desert with a bronze snake and that He rescues us from our sin with the cross. • Ask the kids to use scissors to cut a straw in half. • Lead the kids to wrap a green chenille stem around a straw as a reminder of the bronze snake on the pole in the desert. • Guide the boys and girls to choose two craft sticks, and then help them use glue dots to make a cross shape with the craft sticks. • Lead the kids to finish their crosses with a Jesus sticker. • Encourage the kids to put the bronze serpent and the cross in their room as a reminder of God’s rescue plan for us. • Conclude by reviewing today’s Text Truth: Jesus is the Word of God who became fully human to rescue us from our sin.

E OR

EXPL

¨¨ In the center of a pie tin, use the marker to write Old Testament. Label the other tin New Testament. On each clothespin, write one book of the Bible until you have a clothespin for every book. Place the clothespins inside their respective pie tins, depending on whether they are labeled with Old or New Testament books. • Group the kids into two teams and give each team a pie tin with clothespins. • Challenge the teams to see who can clip the clothespins around the edge of the pie tin in the correct order. • Show kids how to use the table of contents in the front of their Bibles for reference. • Switch pie tins and allow the teams to try again with a different set of books. • Say: “These books contain everything that God wants us to know about Him. He wants us to know Him more. That’s why it’s important that we read our Bibles. The more we learn about God’s Word, the more we’ll learn about Him.” • Continue: “God also sent Jesus to earth so we could understand more about God and His plan for us. Jesus is the Word of God who became fully human to rescue us from our sin.” • For an extra challenge, instruct the kids to sort their clothespins into Bible divisions.

D N A S U JES S U M E D O NIC

LLY HUMAN TO FU E AM EC B O H W D O G F O D JESUS IS THE WOR

READ AND THINKTHESE

RESCUE

GOD’S WORD:

READ JOHN 3:16-17. WHAT DO TWO VERSES REVEAL ABOUT GOD’S LOVE? HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL? DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THESE TWO VERSES SAY? RECORD YOUR THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS IN THE SPACE PROVIDED.

MORE PRECIOUS THAN SILVER AND GOLD

NICOD SCULP EMUS TURE

This sculpture, created in the style of a Spanish artist named Juan de Valmaseda, is made from walnut wood and gilded in precious metals. Art experts think this sculpture could represent Nicodemus.

The Bible tells us that Nicodemus helped take care of Jesus’ body after He died. The sculpture’s sad expression and the cloths in its hands remind people of this Bible story. But the cross isn’t the first time Nicodemus was with Jesus. Check out John 3 to find out what happened when Nicodemus secretly visited Jesus in the night.

The word GOSPEL means GOOD NEWS. The books in the New Testament Gospels division tell the good news that Jesus came to rescue us from sin! This beautiful Gospel book from Turkey is covered in precious silver and jewels. Look closely at its cover. Can you find Baby Jesus in the manger?

US FROM OUR SIN.

WHO WAS JOHN?

Check out these verses to fill in the blanks to learn more about John. John is called the disciple Jesus . (John 21:20)

BIBLE PASSAGE: JOHN 1; 3

MEMORY VERSE: JOHN 3:16

WHAT WAS THE SANHEDRIN? The Sanhedrin was a group of 71 JEWISH LEADERS led by the high priest. This high council made legal decisions for the people. Ultimately, the Sanhedrin plotted to have Jesus killed and they played a part in His arrest, trial, and sentencing.

When Jesus was dying on the cross, He asked John to take care of . (John 19:25-27) John had a brother named and a father named . (Matthew 4:21) Before he was a disciple, John was a . (Matthew 4:18,21-22) Because of John’s preaching about Jesus, he was ordered to live on the island of . (Revelation 1:9)

NICODEMUS WAS A MEMBER OF THE SANHEDRIN, but he was curious about

JOHN IN CONTEXT

Jesus. Do you think this is why Nicodemus visited Jesus in the night?

The books in the Gospels division tell about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, but the Book of John is special. It focuses on JESUS’ IDENTITY as the Son of God. The Book of John helps us know who Jesus is and how to follow Him.

JESUS AND NICODEMUS An artist carved NICODEMUS out of walnut in the 16th century.

SESSION

JOHN 1; 3

FAMILY BIBLE SKILLS: Practice locating each of the Gospel books (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Help kids practice reading Nicodemus’s (NIK uh DEE muhs) name in John 3.

• Who called Jesus “the Word”? • Fill in the blank: “In the _________ was Jesus (the Word).” See John 1:1 for help. • Why did God send His Son, Jesus?

Preview four sessions at lifeway.com/explorethebible