Think Twice
Bible Story: Think Twice (Lord’s supper) Luke 22:14-20
Bottom Line: Take time to celebrate what God has done.
Memory Verse: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV
Virtue: Gratitude—letting others know you see how they’ve helped you.
Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what.
Telling the Bible Story
STORYTELLER 1: “After traveling to Jerusalem with His followers, Jesus sent His close friends, Peter and John, ahead to find a place for them celebrate the Passover Feast. ‘Hey! This is the perfect place!’ John said. ‘Plenty of room for Jesus and all twelve of us.’”
PAST PROMISE
STORYTELLER 3: “Jewish people celebrated the Passover Feast each year to remember how God saved the people when they were slaves in Egypt. God had used all kinds of awesome miracles, like turning water into blood, plagues of frogs, and other amazing things to make the Egyptians let His people go. God wanted His people to remember what He had done, so they held a big celebration meal each year.”
STORYTELLER 2: “At the feast, they ate unleavened bread (hold up matzo bread) which is flat almost like a cracker, made without the yeast that makes bread rise and get light and fluffy. This type of bread was eaten right before the Jews left Egypt, because they had to escape very quickly before the Egyptians changed their minds and came to recapture them! They didn’t have time to wait for the bread to rise.”
STORYTELLER 3: “They also ate bitter tasting herbs to remember how sad and bitter slavery had been, and they served lamb, (hold up toy lamb) to remind them that a lamb had been killed as a sacrifice at that first Passover meal long ago.”
STORYTELLER 1: “Just like people in the United States celebrate Thanksgiving every year, Jewish families and friends would gather together to celebrate the Feast of Passover to take time to remember and celebrate what God had done.”
NEW PROMISE
STORYTELLER 2: “As everyone gathered around the table to eat, Jesus said, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.’ (Luke 22:15b, NIV).”
STORYTELLER 3: “Peter and John and the others were pretty confused at this talk about suffering! ‘Jesus is the Son of God. He can do anything He wants to do! Why should He suffer?’ they must have thought.”
STORYTELLER 1: “Jesus took the cup of wine (hold up stoneware cup) and told the others, ‘Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ (Luke 22:17b-18, NIV)”
STORYTELLER 3: “Now they were even more confused! Jesus was acting as though this was His last supper with them. Maybe Peter wondered, ‘Is Jesus going away somewhere? And if He is, why can’t I go too?’”
STORYTELLER 2: “Jesus took the unleavened bread and gave thanks for it, then He broke it into pieces for them to share and said, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me,’ (Luke 22:19b, NIV)”
STORYTELLER 3: “Wait a minute! Jesus talked like He was going away, What was going on? John may have thought, ‘Isn’t the Passover Feast to help us remember what happened in Egypt? Why is Jesus asking us to remember Him?”
STORYTELLER 1: “After the supper, Jesus picked up the cup of wine and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’ (Luke 22:20b, NIV)”
STORYTELLER 3: “A covenant is just a fancy word for ‘promise.’ When God saved the Jews from Egypt, He promised they would be His special people if they obeyed His commands. But Jesus spoke of a new promise that would replace this old one.”
ALWAYS REMEMBER
STORYTELLER 1: “When His followers celebrated this last supper with Jesus, they didn’t understand what Jesus was saying to them.”
STORYTELLER 3: “They didn’t understand that Jesus was about to become a sacrifice, like the first Passover lamb.”
STORYTELLER 2: “He would give up His body—”
STORYTELLER 1: “And spill His blood—”
STORYTELLER 3: “When He died on the cross to save all of us from our sins.”
STORYTELLER 2: “After Jesus died, His friends understood what He had meant when He spoke at that last supper. From that time on, whenever they shared the bread—”
STORYTELLER 1: “And drank the wine, they would [Impress] take time to celebrate what God has done. But instead of celebrating Passover—”
STORYTELLER 3: “They remembered the sacrifice Jesus made for all of us, and God’s new promise that anyone who believes in Jesus as his Savior will be able to live forever with God in heaven.”
WRAPPING UP THE STORY
HOST: [Impress] “Take time to celebrate what God has done. It’s important to set aside special times and days to remember what Jesus and God have done for us. That’s one reason we get together every Sunday to have a day of worship and praise. It’s also a good thing to do at special times during the year, because if you don’t take time to celebrate something, you tend to forget about it.
“Suppose no one ever celebrated birthdays. Pretty soon, I bet no one would even remember what day they were born! Man, that would be a bummer. I love my birthday. But I love God a whole lot more. It would be a total mess if I forgot all the amazing things God has done for me—like sending me His Son to be my Savior! That’s why we want to make sure we [Impress] take time to celebrate what God has done.
HOST: “I really want you all to remember to [Impress] take time to celebrate what God has done, so let’s say it together.”
HOST and KIDS: [Impress] “Take time to celebrate what God has done.”
HOST: “Yeah! So, I want you kids to talk to your families about setting aside one night a week, maybe at dinner or bedtime, to say prayers of thanks, praise, and gratitude to God for all He has done that week! Cool, right? It’ll make you more aware of all God is doing in your life all the time, and you’ll be able to share all of that with others. Now, I think we ought to get up on our feet and celebrate God long and loud with another song that shows our gratitude!”
Prayer
HOST: “I’m so grateful we had a month so full of things to be grateful for! Before we head back to our Small Groups, let’s say a special prayer of thanks to our wonderful God. Father, You are so good and loving to us. You meet our every need. You even sent Your very own Son to sacrifice Himself to be our Savior. We are so grateful to You. Help everyone here to always take time to celebrate all You have done for each of us. Amen.”
Learn MoreBible Story: Leaping Lepers (Jesus heals 10 lepers) Luke 17:11-19
Bottom Line: Take time to say thank you.
Memory Verse: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV
Virtue: Gratitude—letting others know you see how they’ve helped you.
Basic Truth: I should treat others the way I want to be treated.
Telling the Bible Story
STORYTELLER: “I’m grateful I get to tell you this story today! It’s an awesome true story about something that happened to Jesus one time when He was traveling. You can read about it yourself (hold up Bible) in the book of Luke, chapter 17. And I’m also grateful I have some helpers who are going to act out my story today. Come on out, guys!
ALL ASK
STORYTELLER: “As I said, Jesus was traveling along, walking to Jerusalem. As He came near a little village, He noticed ten men standing at a distance from Him.
MAN #1: “Hey! Look over there! Who’s that bloke?”
MAN #2: “I don’t know. He looks familiar though.”
MAN #3: “I know who that is. That’s Jesus!”
MAN #4: “Jesus? Are you sure?”
MAN #3: “That’s him all right. I’d know him anywhere. I had this cousin who couldn’t walk and one word from Jesus—Bam! My cousin’s walking all over the place!”
MAN #1: “That’s incredible!”
MAN #2: “Yeah, amazing!”
MAN #5: (coughs) “Do you think—(coughs) He could help us?” (coughs)
MAN #3: “Only one way to find out.”
STORYTELLER: “All ten of these guys had a skin disease called leprosy. It was a really bad sickness that caused your skin to get all these sores, and boils, flaky, scaly places and nasty scars. No wonder these guys are all covered up. On top of that, leprosy was about as easy to catch as a cold! People with the disease were forced to go off and live by themselves far away from friends and family. Most people with the disease died sick and alone. But these guys had a real chance at a cure! They wanted to ask Jesus to heal them!”
MAN #3: “Jesus! Master! Have pity on us!”
MAN #5: (coughs) “Please. (coughs) Help us.”
ALL RECEIVE
STORYTELLER: “Well, of course Jesus knew exactly what the men needed and wanted, and He was quick with His answer.
MAN #1: “What did He say?”
MAN #2: “He said to show ourselves to the priests.”
MAN #5: (coughs) “But we can’t do that. (coughs) We’re not clean yet.”
MAN #4: “Yeah, I’ve still got these sores.”
STORYTELLER: “Because leprosy was so easy to catch, if you thought you didn’t have it anymore, you had to go and show yourself to the priest as proof. He got to decide if you were cured and could go back home. These guys still had the disease, but they decided to obey Jesus and headed off toward the priest.”
MAN #3: “Listen, I know we haven’t been healed. But if Jesus told us to go to the priests, I think we should.”
MAN #4: “He’s right. What’s the worst that could happen?”
MAN #5: (coughs) “I—agree.”
STORYTELLER: “As the ten men traveled to find a priest, trusting in Jesus to heal them, something really strange and amazing started to happen.”
MAN #1: “Hey! Hey, look! My hands! There’s no more rash!”
MAN #2: “Me too! The boils on my arm are gone.”
MAN #3: “Your face is clean, too!”
MAN #2: “It is?”
MAN #5: “It’s a miracle! Hey, my cough is gone! I’m cured!”
MAN #4: “We’ve got to show ourselves to the priests right now! I can’t wait to go home again!”
ONE THANKS
STORYTELLER: “Isn’t that fantastic! All ten guys with the terrible, horrible disease of leprosy were completely cured! Cool, right? Bet all of those guys hoofed it back to see Jesus, right?
“Nope. Nine of them were so excited, or in such a hurry to get to a priest, or maybe to get back home, that they completely forgot to [Impress] take time to say thank you. But one of the lepers hurried back as fast as he could to praise God and give Jesus a big shout out.”
MAN #1: “I could work my whole life and I would never be able to repay you for this. Thank you, Lord, for making me well! Thank you! Thank you!”
STORYTELLER: “At this point, Jesus was probably looking around for the other lepers who had been healed.”
STORYTELLER/JESUS: “Weren’t all ten healed? Where are the other nine? Didn’t anyone return and praise God except for this outsider? Get up and go on your way. Your faith has made you well.”
WRAPPING UP THE STORY
STORYTELLER: “So even though all ten men were healed, and all ten men were probably incredibly grateful, only one of them thought to [Impress] take time to say thank you. That’s pretty sad. Because even if you feel really grateful for something someone did for you, how are they going to know that unless you actually tell them? That’s why it’s soooo important to [Impress] take time to say thank you. How about saying that with me?”
STORYTELLER and KIDS: [Impress] “Take time to say thank you.”
STORYTELLER: “I want all of us to get in the habit of saying thank you right away, as soon as someone does something nice or says something kind. And don’t just thank the person—tell him what you’re thanking him for! Then that person will know you’re really grateful, not just saying the words. Every time you thank someone that way, it makes him feel noticed and appreciated. So, go out of your way to thank people who do things for you—things you may not usually even notice, like the person who brings your mail, or the one who bags your groceries at the store.
“You know what would be so cool and surprising? If you created your own hand-made thank you notes and took them around with you to give people who help you out during the day. Or if you high-fived someone every time they did something for you. You’d make a lot of people feel special, and when you thank someone, it makes them want to help you even more! Let’s pray that we’ll all remember to [Impress] take time to say thank you.
Prayer
STORYTELLER: “God, thank You for all the wonderful things You do for us every day. Thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior. Help us remember to say thank you to You and to all the people You’ve put in our lives who help us. Amen.”
Learn MoreBible Story: Day Job (the parable of the vineyard workers) Matthew 20:1-15
Bottom Line: Take time to adjust your attitude.
Memory Verse: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV
Virtue: Gratitude—letting others know you see how they’ve helped you.
Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what.
Telling the Bible Story
FIRST HIRED
STORYTELLER: “This story was about a rich guy who owned a vineyard, which is a bunch of land where grapes grow. Growing grapes takes a lot of work. You’ve got to plant the grapes and water them, pick bugs off them, and then pick the grapes at harvest time. So, this guy needed workers for his vineyard—hey, just like I needed a worker to help with my plants!
“So, the rich guy went out really early one morning. I’ll use this clock to show you how early—6:00 a.m.! The sun had just barely come up! Anyway, he went out to find some workers, like I found this kid. And he told the workers he’d pay them one denarius—which was the usual pay for a day’s work. The workers were like, ‘Yeah, man! We got jobs! We gonna have some money!’ And they were so happy and thankful. (To kid) Just like you’ll be thankful to get your dollar, right?
MORE HIRED
STORYTELLER: (Still to kid) “But, you know, there’s more work to do and I think you might need some help. Can I get one more helper? (Select next volunteer.)
“Okay, you two, I want you to put an equal amount of dirt in all five pots. While they do that, let’s get back to the story. About 9:00 a.m. (change the clock), the rich guy hired some more workers, like I picked another helper. Then, at noon (change the clock) he hired some more. Must have been a big vineyard, right? Say, let me get another helper up here. You three take the plants out of their plastic pots so we can plant them.
“So, this landowner went back to town at 3:00 and still found some out-of-work guys standing around. He said, ‘Want a job?’ and they were like, ‘Sign us up!’ I think my workers here need another helper too. Let me get another worker to help put the plants in the five pots. (To kids) Just push the dirt in the pot to the side and put the plant down in the middle.
“Back to the story. Okay, to review: the landowner hired workers at 6 in the morning, then at 9, noon, and 3:00. Then at 5:00 in the afternoon, just an hour before the workday was done, the rich guy went out one last time and found some poor guys that no one else had hired.
(To kids.) “Hey, you guys all done? Looks like there’s only one thing left to do. Can I get one last helper up here? (Last kid comes onstage.) Okay, everyone stand by a plant and water it with the watering can.
ALL PAID
STORYTELLER: “Back to the story. It was finally quitting time and the rich guy came to pay all the workers he hired. He started with the very last guys hired, the ones who only worked about an hour, and he gave them a whole denarius. When the very first workers—the ones who had been working for 12 hours—saw this, they got excited! If the last workers got a whole denarius, they were bound to get like ten times that, right?
“That reminds me, I need to pay my helpers. Here’s a dollar for you. (Pay the last kid hired, then pause dramatically.) There is also a dollar for you, one for you, one for you, and one for you. (To first kid chosen.) Hey, you look a little disappointed that I’m only giving you a dollar. Do you think it’s unfair that you worked longer and got the same pay? Hmm, that sounds familiar.
“In Jesus’ story, the landowner paid all the workers one denarius, no matter what time of day he hired them. The first workers were like, ‘Hey, no fair! We worked all day in the hot sun. We should get more.’ But the landowner thought they should [Impress] take time to adjust their attitude. He said (read from Bible), ‘I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ (Matthew 20:13b-15, NIV)
WRAPPING UP THE STORY
STORYTELLER: “So, the workers had been thankful earlier, but then they got jealous and ungrateful when they thought something was unfair. (To first kid hired.) Like you were excited and thankful to earn a dollar, but maybe thought it was unfair when I gave everyone a dollar. Let’s check your gratitude tank.
“Whoa! You’re running pretty low on gratitude. I think you need an adjustment! How about giving me some help with this, kids?
STORYTELLER: “Life can definitely be unfair sometimes, that’s just the way life is. Someone is always going to have more than you and someone else is always going to have less. But when you come up on a situation that seems unfair, you get to choose how to react. You can choose to be grateful for all you have. If you start feeling jealous and ungrateful, you can choose to [Impress] take time to adjust your attitude. Looks like that’s what my first helper has done. Look, his gratitude tank is full!
STORYTELLER: “Thanks for all your help, workers. Don’t lose your dollars! (Helpers return to groups.) I’m glad my helpers are all choosing to be grateful. When you choose to be ungrateful, it makes you unhappy and mad, and you might miss out on good stuff in your life. Like at Christmastime, you open this cool present you really wanted and you’re all excited about it until you see what your brother got, and then you want his stuff instead. You totally miss out on enjoying your own present because you’re so jealous and ungrateful. When you run up against something that you think is unfair and you start to lose your gratitude, I want you to choose to [Impress] take time to adjust your attitude. Let’s say that together.”
CG: Bottom Line Slide
STORYTELLER and KIDS: [Impress] “Take time to adjust your attitude.”
STORYTELLER: “When you choose to still be grateful, even when someone else has more and it seems unfair, then you’ll be content—happy with what you have and you won’t miss out on all the ways God has blessed you!”
Prayer
STORYTELLER: “Let’s pray and let God know how grateful we are to Him. Father God, You are so generous to all of us. Help us to be thankful for all You do for us, and never let bad feelings steal our gratitude. We give You our love and gratitude, dear Lord. Amen.”
Learn MoreSilver Lining
Bible Story: Silver Lining (always be thankful principle) 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Bottom Line: You always have something to be grateful for.
Memory Verse: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV
Virtue: Gratitude—letting others know you see how they’ve helped you.
Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what.
Telling the Bible Story
Happy Times
STORYTELLER:
“Hello, Mr. Game Show Host. Hello beautiful children and most excellent teachers! I’m so happy to be here! God has truly blessed me by letting me, Hamidi, be chosen to compete in this most excellent game! Thank you, thank you.”
HOST:
“You’re most welcome! You seem to be a pretty grateful person, Hamidi. Let’s see how you do in our first challenge: the one-foot bounce! You have to bounce on one foot on this bouncy-thingy for thirty seconds while still remaining grateful! Do you think he can do it, kids?”
STORYTELLER:
“This is most unusually fun! I am so grateful that this was the first challenge. I used to win all the hopping contests against my brother back in my birth country in North Africa. I am so grateful that God brought me to this wonderful country and has allowed me to sell toys that make the little children so happy! Thank you so much for allowing me to be on your show!”
HOST:
“You sure remember to be grateful in happy times, and you even praise God and thank others! But let’s see how you do when things get a little harder!
Hard times
HOST:
“For our next challenge, Hamidi must walk across the Balance Beam of Doom, without falling or complaining! Then, he must jump and land on his feet in the pool at the end. Can he do it, kids?”
STORYTELLER:
“This is truly very hard and not as happy of a challenge as was the last one. But I am grateful I have not yet fallen. And I’m grateful God has given me the courage to face this difficulty. I must simply do my best and be grateful for each step I take and for God’s amazing provision.”
HOST:
“I’m impressed! Even though Hamidi is facing something hard, he still shows gratitude to God instead of complaining! And he just keeps on going like the energizer bunny with that gratitude attitude of his. But what if the challenge gets even tougher?”
STORYTELLER:
“This is very difficult, so I must look for reasons to be grateful! [Impress] You always have something to be grateful for. Right now, I’m thankful Mr. Game Show Host did not hit Hamidi in the face! And I’m grateful his weapon is made of foam and not wood or metal. And I thank God for helping me overcome this new difficulty and persevere to the end!”
all the time
HOST:
“Oh no, Hamidi! You had to land on your feet to win, and you slipped! Now you’ve lost the game and you’re all covered with slime. What are you going to do now?”
STORYTELLER:
“I guess I’m not going to Disney World, am I? But the Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that I should ‘Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,’ (NIV).This is God’s will for Hamidi—what He wants me to do. And in all circumstances, easy or hard, I know that
[Recycle] I can trust God no matter what.
“So, Hamidi will still choose to be thankful. I’m grateful I did not break anything when I fell. And I’m most thankful this slime does not smell like the backside of the goats my brother raises in Africa. [Impress] You always have something to be grateful for. Even when all around you seems sad or bad, you can thank God that He sent His Son, Jesus, to be your Savior. So, Hamidi is still most grateful. Thank you, Mr. Game Show Host for a most enjoyable experience on your show!”
HOST:
“That is an amazing show of gratitude, Hamidi! You have helped all of us see that it’s God’s will for us to be grateful all the time, so we can choose to obey and find reasons to be thankful! And because of that, you’ve shown us you know how to win out against whining with gratitude! You’ve won! Congratulations, Hamidi! I don’t have a trip to Disney World for you, but backstage we have your ticket to an awesome Monster Truck Rally and Tractor Pull!
Wrapping up the story
HOST:
“We need to all try to follow Hamidi’s example and have an attitude of gratitude at all times. [Impress] You always have something to be grateful for. How about saying that with me?”
HOST and KIDS: [Impress] “You always have something to be grateful for.”
HOST:
“Have you ever noticed that’s it’s just more fun to be around people like Hamidi, who are so thankful? No one wants to be around someone who gripes and complains all the time. Like a friend who gripes about too much homework, and how unfair the coach is for not picking him to start and how his dad is mean for not getting him the new video game.
“Whine, whine, whine. You make yourself unhappy and really annoy everyone when you act like that. But when you have an attitude of gratitude, people want to be around you, and they want to know why you’re so thankful and happy. Which gives you a chance to tell them about how cool God is! So, here’s what I want you to do: next time you get into a tough situation, like your teacher gives a pop quiz, or the coach puts you on the bench, I want you to stop a minute for a little gratitude adjustment and choose to be thankful. Not only will you be happier, but you will stand out as someone different and make others want to know why you’re such a happy, grateful person. Let’s pray for God to help all of us to have attitudes of gratitude.”
Pray
HOST:
“God, thank You so much for all the ways You bless us. We always have something to be grateful for. Help us to have attitudes of gratitude during happy times, hard times and all the time. Amen.”
Learn MoreThe Devil Went Down to the Desert
Bible Story: The Devil Went Down to the Desert (Jesus is tempted in the desert) Luke 4:1-13
Bottom Line: When I discover what God says, I can make wiser choices.
Memory Verse: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52, NIV
Virtue: Knowledge—discovering something new so you can be better at whatever you do.
Basic Truth: I need to make the wise choice.
SATAN FIRST “A-TEMPT”
STORYTELLER: “Great job! I think you got the hang of it. Let’s get started. Last week, we learned that Jesus was baptized by whom? (Get responses.) Great listening, you guys! John the Baptist. After Jesus was baptized, as we discover in the book of Luke (open Bible to Luke 4:1-13), the Holy Spirit led Jesus out into the desert. Jesus was fasting—which means He didn’t eat anything—in the desert for 40 days. But Jesus wasn’t completely alone. Satan was in the desert and tempted Jesus three times. The first time Satan tempted Jesus, he pointed to a stone and told Jesus to turn it into bread. To discover what happened next, let’s play ‘What Happens Next?’
STORYTELLER: “You see, Satan told Jesus to make that stone become bread because Jesus hadn’t eaten anything in many, many days. Satan knew Jesus was very hungry, so he thought he could catch Jesus when Jesus was weak. But then Jesus quoted the Bible to Satan. That means Jesus knew and had memorized Bible verses. He quoted a verse from Deuteronomy—that’s one of the first five books in the Old Testament—to answer Satan when he tried to tempt Him. Jesus said, ‘Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.’ (Deuteronomy 8:3b, NIV)
WORSHIP WHOM?
STORYTELLER: “Next, Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms in the world. Satan told Jesus He could have all of the power and splendor that Satan had—IF Jesus would worship him. Let’s find out: ‘What Happens Next?’
STORYTELLER: “Satan wanted Jesus to bow down and worship HIM! Can you believe that? But Jesus really knew His Bible verses! He answered Satan AGAIN by quoting a Bible verse. He said, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’ (Deuteronomy 8:3) You guys are doing great at this game!
SATAN’S TWIST
STORYTELLER: “Then Satan led Jesus to Jerusalem. He had Jesus stand on the highest point of the temple. Satan said, ‘If you’re God’s Son, then throw yourself down from this high place.’ But then Satan did something unusual—well, unusual for Satan. Satan quoted a Bible verse. Satan tempted Jesus by misusing Psalm 91:11 and 12, telling Jesus that if He were God’s Son, God would send His angels to save Him. Let’s discover, ‘What Happens Next?’
“Jesus did it again! He knew just the right verse; He had the right knowledge at just the right time so He could give a good answer and make the wise choice! You all did a great job playing ‘What Happens Next?’ Let’s give our volunteers a hand while they return to their seats.
Wrapping up the story
STORYTELLER: “So, what had Jesus memorized? (Get responses.) That’s right—Bible verses! By having the knowledge of those Bible verses, Jesus knew better than to be tempted to do what Satan told Him to do. Jesus had discovered what God says in His Word—the Bible. And just like Jesus did, when I discover what God says, I can make wiser choices.
“We all have choices to make every day. For example, what if a friend has a game your parents told you not to play and your friend is BEGGING you to play it with him? I mean, your parents might not ever know. No one else is around to see you do it. Or, what if a classmate wants to cheat off of your paper? How do you know what choice to make? How do you know what the wise choice is? Remember, when I discover what God says, I can make wiser choices.
“So, if you’ve been reading your Bible, when a friend begs to play a game that your parents told you not to play (open Bible to Exodus 20:12), you can say, ‘The Bible says to honor your father and mother.’ Or, let’s say a classmate wants to cheat off your paper. You can remember that the Bible says (open Bible to Proverbs 16:13), ‘Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth.’ Jesus knew Bible verses because He memorized them, read the Bible, and listened to other people who knew and loved God. All of this helped Him make wise choices. Did you know you guys are doing that too? Think about it. Raise your hand if you know your memory verse for this month. (Get responses.) See, you’re doing what Jesus did. Let’s all say our memory verse together.”
STORYTELLER and KIDS: “‘And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.’ Luke 2:52.”
STORYTELLER: “When we’ve memorized our memory verses and when we know some Bible stories, it helps us make the wiser choice. When I discover what God says, I can make wiser choices. When we know what God’s Word says, we can also encourage others to know what God says, too. Maybe some of our friends who don’t know God or don’t go to church will want to know more about Him and discover what He says, too. When I discover what God says, I can make wiser choices. Let’s all say that together.”
STORYTELLER and KIDS: “When I discover what God says, I can make wiser choices.”
Pray
STORYTELLER: “Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for showing us how important it is to memorize what Your Word—the Bible—says. Help us to memorize and learn what it is You want us to know so we can make wise choices when it matters most. We love You, God. Amen.”
Learn MoreStudent Council
Bible Story: Student Council (12-year-old Jesus in the Temple) Luke 2:41-52
Bottom Line: Since God knows everything, I should discover what God says.
Memory Verse: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52, NIV
Virtue: Knowledge—discovering something new so you can be better at whatever you do.
Basic Truth: I need to make the wise choice.
Jesus is missing
STORYTELLER: “Joseph, Mary, and all their family members walked for an entire day, when suddenly Joseph and Mary realized they hadn’t seen a certain person all day long.”
JOSEPH/STORYTELLER: “Mary, have you seen Jesus?”
MARY/STORYTELLER: “I thought He was with you.”
JOSEPH/STORYTELLER: “No. The last time He was with me was early this morning, before we left Jerusalem.”
MARY/STORYTELLER: “You mean neither one of us has seen our Son for a whole day? Oh, Joseph, I’m worried! What could have happened to Him?”
JOSEPH/STORYTELLER: “He must be playing with a cousin. You know how those boys can be slowpokes. They’re probably at the end of the line walking along the road.”
STORYTELLER: “Mary and Joseph were worried. It had been a whole day since they had seen Jesus. They had no idea how this could have happened or where Jesus might be, so they began to search.”
The Search
JOSEPH/STORYTELLER: “I’ll walk back toward the end of the line and see if I can find Him.”
MARY/STORYTELLER: “I’ll ask our friends and relatives if they’ve seen Him.”
STORYTELLER: “Where was Jesus? Was He playing with His cousins or carrying heavy luggage for His great-aunt? Joseph and Mary began asking their relatives if they had seen Jesus.”
JOSEPH/STORYTELLER: “Cousin Billy Bob, have you seen Jesus since we left Jerusalem?”
REDNECK/STORYTELLER: “Why I sur hadn’t. I’s reck’n He’s a play’n with some young’ns. I’s be on the lookout fer ya. I’ll give ya a holler if’n I do see yer boy.”
STORYTELLER: “Mary and Joseph asked everyone they could, but no one traveling with them had seen Jesus all day. They were getting really worried. So Mary and Joseph traveled all the way back to Jerusalem. They arrived back where they started from, back in Jerusalem, where they searched for three days! That’s right—for three days they couldn’t find Jesus. Can you imagine how worried your parents would be if you were missing for three days!? Mary and Joseph were just like your parents—they were worried. Joseph asked a friend in the city if he had seen Jesus.”
JOSEPH/STORYTELLER: “Excuse me, friend. We’re looking for our boy. He’s this tall, He’s 12 years old. He’s by Himself. His name is—”
JEWISH TEACHER/STORYTELLER: “Jesus?”
JEWISH TEACHER/STORYTELLER: “Oy! He’s just around the corner, at the Temple. What a smart young boy you have there. He’s been reading the Scriptures with us, asking great questions. He has an amazing knowledge of God’s Word, your Son.”
found!
STORYTELLER: “Mary and Joseph went straight to the temple courtyard and were overjoyed when they saw Jesus sitting among the Temple teachers. Jesus was listening and asking lots of great questions about the Bible. Mary ran to Jesus, hugged Him, and then, as any good parent would, asked Him …”
MARY/STORYTELLER: “Jesus, why did You worry us like this? We’ve been looking for You for three days. We had no idea where You were!”
STORYTELLER: “Jesus looked at His parents, and with complete innocence said, ‘Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’ Jesus thought they’d know where He was—in His Father’s house, the Temple. Today, that would be like your parents finding you right here, at church. Mary and Joseph told Jesus it was time to leave Jerusalem. Jesus listened to His parents and went with them.
“Let’s give our volunteers a big hand for helping us tell the story today. I couldn’t have done it without you. You can go back to your seats.
wrapping up the Story
STORYTELLER: “Jesus asked the Temple teachers questions about the Bible. That’d be like you and I asking the pastor questions. Jesus and the Temple teachers talked about what God is saying to us in the Bible. Jesus even asked questions that the teachers couldn’t answer. They were all learning—even the grown-ups. They were all getting knowledge.
“Were you born knowing how to tie your shoe? (Get responses.) No, of course not! Someone had to teach you. Do you go to your baby brother or sister to help you with your math homework? (Get responses.) No! You ask for help from people who KNOW how to do math. We get our knowledge from others who already know—or already have knowledge—to help us with what we need to know.
“Like Jesus did in our story today, you need to keep learning by asking questions, spending time reading the Bible, and by listening to your Small Group Leaders and parents. You’re already doing something Jesus did. Jesus spent time in God’s house—the Temple. You’re doing the same thing by being at church! Another great way to discover what God says is by doing your GodTime cards with parents, or someone you know you can trust. Remember, since God knows everything, I should discover what God says.
“We’re all a part of God’s big story. He wants us to gain more knowledge by discovering something new so we can be better at whatever we do. We can all know THE One—God—who knows all and created everything.
“So, since God knows everything, I should discover what God says. Let’s say that together.”
STORYTELLER and KIDS: “Since God knows everything, I should discover what God says.”
Pray
STORYTELLER: “Let’s pray. Dear God, we are so glad that You know everything. Since You know everything, God, we want to discover what You say to us in Your Word, the Bible. Help us to be like Jesus and discover more about You, so we can be better at whatever You want us to do. We love You, God. Amen.”
Learn More
The Son Also Rises
Bible Story:
The Son Also Rises (Jesus baptized by John the Baptist) Luke 3:21-23
Bottom Line: When I discover what God says, it helps me trust Him more.
Memory Verse: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52, NIV
Virtue: Knowledge—discovering something new so you can be better at whatever you do.
Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what.
We need a plan
STORYTELLER:
“John had been traveling all around Judea, telling everyone they had sinned—you know, done bad things—but that God had made a way for them to change. John was baptizing those who wanted to change. He told people that someone else was coming—someone greater than him. I wanted to hear more about this, so I got closer to hear what John was saying.
“‘I baptize you with water,’ John said. ‘But one who is more powerful than I am will come. I’m not good enough to untie the straps of his sandals.’
“This was amazing news! I have been looking for this Savior that John was speaking of for my entire life. I was afraid He might not come in my lifetime. Imagine my surprise when suddenly I heard John’s voice get louder as he greeted someone in the crowd. I heard him call someone by name. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. John was saying the name ‘Jesus!’
“I got even closer, pulled out my monocle (hold monocle up to your eye), and saw John embrace this man. I knew it must be Him. It must be this man I had heard about, who people said might be the long-awaited Messiah—the one who would save us.
The plan
STORYTELLER:
“I got close enough to hear them talking. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Jesus wanted to be baptized by John! Amazing! John was in shock and looked confused. I saw John shake his head several times—and who could blame him? If Jesus was the Son of God, HE should be baptizing JOHN, not the other way around!
“Then I heard Jesus speak. He told John that it was right for them to do this—that THIS was part of God’s holy plan!
“Wow. I was amazed. What kind of a God sends His perfect Son to earth to be baptized by someone who was clearly NOT perfect? That’s a God I want to know.
“My mind was spinning. Would John do it?! The crowd around me pressed in; we all watched in complete silence what was happening before our eyes.
God’s response
STORYTELLER:
“We watched as John the Baptist did, in fact, baptize the Son of God! As Jesus came up out of that water, the craziest thing began to happen! It was as though the skies parted and suddenly we all heard a voice from the heavens saying, ‘You are my Son, and I love you. I am very pleased with you.’
“Wow! And to think, I thought I was just going to see an unusual preacher today! But I ended up seeing the SON OF GOD get baptized and hearing GOD HIMSELF speak out loud! If I hadn’t been there myself, I’m not sure I would have believed it!
“Of course, I had to be baptized today too. I don’t know all of what God has planned for my life, but I do know that I want to follow His plan. And if getting baptized was part of God’s plan for His Son, I’m going to follow in those footsteps!
“In fact, that’s why I’m writing all this down—to make sure I won’t ever forget this day. And I’ve saved some souvenirs to remind me of all that I saw. I even saved some water from the Jordan River!
“Today was definitely the most exciting day of my life, and I can’t wait to see what else God has planned—for Jesus and for me!
wrapping up the story
STORYTELLER:
“God’s big story is full of all kinds of plans. Today we saw that both John the Baptist and Jesus fulfilled some of God’s plan. I’m realizing that when I discover what God says, it helps me trust Him more.
“People who love and care about us have knowledge that we need, too. Think about it. Has your mom or dad ever told you to take a jacket to school, and you didn’t? Then you’re shivering at the bus stop, shivering at recess. You’re cold, and your parents knew you would be because they had knowledge you didn’t have. Maybe they looked at the weather channel or they went outside or they remembered a time when it happened to them. You can trust what your parents, your Small Group Leaders, and other adults you trust say because they love you so much that they only want the best for you.
“Knowing that your parents and other adults you can trust have knowledge you don’t have, you should choose to trust what they say. If they tell you that it isn’t safe to get in a car with strangers, believe them. Like God, they have knowledge you don’t have and they love you. To discover what God says, you’ll need to spend time learning what He says in His Word, praying, and even asking questions about the Bible. That’s what Jesus did! Remember, when I discover what God says, it helps me trust Him more.
“Learning what God says can help you trust God and His plan, plus you’ll grow closer to God because you start to learn what’s most important. And as you learn and listen, you’ll find it’s easier to trust God more and more. When I discover what God says, it helps me trust Him more. Let’s say that together.”
STORYTELLER and KIDS: “When I discover what God says, it helps me trust Him more.”
Pray
STORYTELLER:
“Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for having a plan. Just like You had a plan for Your Son, Jesus, we know You have a plan for each of us. Help us to discover, to find out what You say to us in Your Word, so we can trust You more and more. Thank You that we’re a part of Your big story. We love You, God. Amen.”
Learn More