Lesson 8: Jesus Describes His True Family

Welcome

            Thank kids for coming.

            Just for fun, have kids high-five three of their friends.

            Make announcements.

            Introduce new kids.

            Celebrate birthdays by having preschoolers whisper the “Happy Birthday” song.

            Collect the offering.

Introduce the Lesson

            Say: Jesus wants us in his family! Today we’ll learn about a time Jesus talked about what it means to be in his family.

Share

            Say: Think about your family and the people in your family.

            Tell about some people in your family.

            In leader-led small groups, have kids share about some of the people in their families. For example, they can tell who lives in their house with them, like their mom, dad, brother, sister, grandparents, aunts, or uncles.

            After preschoolers have shared, invite a few kids to tell the whole group some of the family members they shared about.

Summarize

            Open a Bible, and say: It’s great to be part of a family! Today we’ll learn that Jesus wants us in his family. We’ll dig into the Bible to learn what it means to be in Jesus’ family. The Bible is amazing! It’s full of exciting stories—and they’re all true! God gave us the Bible so we can know him and learn from him. Let’s learn from the Bible now.

            Pray, thanking Jesus that he wants us in his family.

Tip 

Sing Songs to God

            Sing the three songs in any order.

Make Frames

            Say: Jesus wants us in his family! Sometimes families take pictures together and put them in a picture frame.

            Share about a picture hanging up in your house.

            Ask: • Tell about a picture hanging up in your house.

            Say: We’re going to make picture frames so you can put your own family pictures in them!

            Give each child a piece of cardboard and four jumbo craft sticks.

            Cut apart individual Glue Dots on the strips, and give them to children. (Adult and teen helpers can help you distribute them.) Help kids put a Glue Dot in each corner of the cardboard, and then show them how to stick a craft stick across the bottom and across the top. Help them as they add the craft sticks to their cardboard pieces.

            Have kids put a Glue Dot in each corner on top of the craft sticks, and then show them how to stick two craft sticks going down the sides. Help them as they add the craft sticks to their cardboard pieces.

Decorate the Frames

            Set out puzzle pieces, and have kids use Glue Dots to secure the puzzle pieces all over their frames. Encourage kids to use a lot of puzzle pieces and totally cover their frames.

            When kids have finished decorating with puzzle pieces, help them use a Glue Dot to secure one pony bead at the top center of the back of the frame. This will enable families to hang the frames from a nail through the hole in the bead.

Add a Picture

            Give each preschooler a piece of the paper you cut ahead of time, and set out crayons and smiley face stickers for kids to share. Have kids place a smiley face sticker on the paper for each family member and color pictures to decorate them. Older preschoolers can draw bodies on the smiley faces.

            Say: You can hang this picture at home or take a real picture with your family to put in your frame.

Talk About It

            Ask: • Tell about the picture you drew.

            Say: Jesus wants us in his family! Just like you’re a part of your family, you can be a part of Jesus’ family! That’s a family that’s too big to fit in one picture frame!

Pretend to Be Animal Families

            Say: Today we’re learning that Jesus wants us in his family! Let’s think about what a family is. We see families every day. We see mommies and daddies at the store. We might see babies at church, and we see kids at the park. All these people are part of families. Even animals have families. Puppies have mommy and daddy doggies. Kitties have brother and sister kitties. And little baby chicks have grandma and grandpa chickens.

            Let’s play an animal family game. Explain to children that you’ll show a picture of an animal, and they’ll pretend to be in that animal’s family by making the animal sounds or acting like the animal. One by one, show the pictures and help the children make the animal sounds and act like that type of animal.

            Say: Great job pretending to be in the different animal families!

Make Family Pictures

            Say: Sometimes we can tell that animals are in the same family because of the way they look, act, or sound. Baby pigs say “oink” like their parents. And little kittens have fur and pointy ears like their brothers and sisters. And bunny families all like to hop. Let’s talk about ways we’re like the people in our families while we make a picture of them.

            Give each child a sheet of construction paper, and help children choose the adult, child, and/or baby figures to represent their own families. Have them glue the people to their paper and color them.

            As children work, share some things that make you and your family alike. You can tell about ways you look alike, food or activities you all like, or things you and other family members are good at. Then invite the children to share ways their families are alike. Encourage older preschoolers to draw additional things on the pictures that show how their families are alike. For example, if they all like to play soccer, they might draw a soccer ball. If they eat pizza every week, they might draw pizza in everyone’s hands. If they all have brown hair, they can draw brown hair on every person.

            Say: We all have things that make us like the people in our families. And that’s a good thing! Families are really special and important. Families are special to Jesus, too. Jesus wants us to be in his family!

Sing About Jesus’ Family

            Say: Let’s hear about Jesus’ family in the Bible.

            Show the Bible. Say: The Bible says that one day Jesus was talking to a big group of people. Hold up the picture of Jesus. They were all crowded around him. Have the children crowd around you.

            Say: Jesus’ mom and brothers came to see him. But the crowd was so big that they couldn’t get to him. Have an adult or teen helper stand on the outside of the crowd and pretend like he or she can’t make it to the center of the crowd where you are.

            Say: So the people next to Jesus told Jesus that his family was there to see him. And Jesus said something really cool! If you want to hear what Jesus said, put your hand up to your ear and listen carefully. Lead the children in cupping their hands over their ears to show they’re listening carefully.

            Say: Jesus told the people around him, “You’re my family!” Point around the crowd to all the children. Jesus wanted all the people to know that they can be part of his family. And Jesus wants you in his family, too. He wants everyone in his family. Lead the children in a big-group family hug, and then have them all move out into one large circle.

            Say: We can all be in Jesus’ family. Let’s sing a song about Jesus’ family. Have kids hold hands, and lead them in walking in their circle as you sing this song together to the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”

            Jesus is our family,

            Family, family!

            Jesus is our family.

            He loves us, everyone.

            Everywhere that Jesus goes,

            Jesus goes, Jesus goes.

            Everywhere that Jesus goes,

            He welcomes everyone.

            Repeat the song several times.

Act Like Jesus’ Family

            Say: Let’s learn more about what it means to be in Jesus’ family. Have the children get their family pictures they made, and lead them to sit around you—you’ll want to be next to a wall.

            Show the picture of Jesus, and tape it to the wall where all the children can see it. Say: We can be in Jesus’ family. Tape a child’s family picture next to the picture of Jesus. We can be in Jesus’ family and in our own families at the same time. Our whole family can be in Jesus’ family. Tape a few more of the children’s family pictures around Jesus. Say: All our families can be in Jesus’ family. Jesus wants everyone in his family. Lead the children to tape all their family pictures around Jesus.

            Say: Here’s what it’s like to be in Jesus’ family: When we’re in Jesus’ family, Jesus loves us. Lead the children to give each other hugs.

            Say: When we’re in Jesus’ family, Jesus takes care of us. Lead the children to rub one another’s backs.

            Say: When we’re in Jesus’ family, he wants to spend time with us. Lead the children to squeeze a few other children’s hands.

            Say: Jesus wants us to act like family to each other, too. That means we love Jesus and everyone. Lead the children to give each other hugs.

            Say: We’re kind and take care of others, like Jesus does. Lead the children to rub one another’s backs.

            Say: We spend time with Jesus and others. Lead the children to squeeze a few other children’s hands.

            Say: We can be in Jesus’ family! And he’ll show us how to love everyone like he does. He wants us to show that we love everyone like he does. And when we do, we show others that Jesus wants everyone in his family.

Tip 

Discuss and Watch “Instant Family”

          Say: You’ve probably heard of families that have adopted children. Maybe you have a friend who was adopted, or maybe you were adopted yourself! Tell about someone you know who is adopted. Tell about someone you know first, and then have kids get into groups and share about someone they know who is adopted. It’s possible that some kids won’t know of anyone who is adopted, and that’s fine. If a child is adopted and is comfortable talking about that, you might invite this child to tell a little about his or her experience.

          Say: There’s a family that adopted three kids from a country called Ukraine. Let’s watch their story.

          Watch “Instant Family.”

          Say: Sometimes we get annoyed with our families, like getting frustrated with a brother or a sister, but most of us are thankful to have a family.

          Ask: • As you listened to the kids in this story, what can you tell about how they felt before they were adopted and after they were adopted?

          Say: It must be an amazing feeling to not have a family one day and then to have an instant family the next day. No matter what our own families are like, Jesus wants us in his family. When we ask Jesus to be our forever friend and join his family, we have an instant family, too!

Tip

• Before printing, turn on page numbering in Word to keep the pages in order (or simply hand-number each page after printing). You may also find it helpful to highlight your part and set the script on a music stand nearby during the skit.

Leader: It’s time for our puppy friend, Theo, to come for a visit. Let’s call him to our class with a “woof, woof.” Ready? (Leads kids to bark until Theo is brought into view.)

Theo: Hi, friends! (Pants.) My back is so itchy today. Would you scratch my back? (Circulates among kids so each child can pet him.)

Leader: Thanks for giving Theo a great big welcome, kids!

Theo: You are such great friends! (Holds up his family photo.) I brought something to show you.

Leader: What did you bring, Theo?

Theo: I brought a picture of my family. (Looks to kids.) Want to see it? (Displays the picture and points out his mom and dad, his brother, and himself. If the dog doesn’t look like him, he can say, “That was last year when I dyed my hair.”)

Leader: Wow! Thanks for sharing that with us! We love learning more about you and your family.

Theo: Will you tell me about your families? (Listens to each child share briefly about their families and responds with enthusiasm. If needed, have kids share only one name of someone in their families.)

Leader: (Shares about his or her own family.) And, Theo, we’re also learning about families today.

Theo: Really?

Leader: Yes. We’re learning how Jesus said he wants us in his family.

Theo: Like he wants to be your grandpa?

Leader: Not exactly. More like he wants us to be part of God’s great big family. God made all the people in the world, and Jesus wants them all to be one big, happy family.

Theo: That’s one big family!

Leader: It sure is!

Theo: All this talk about families is making me hungry.

Leader: (Chuckles.) What do you mean, Theo?

Theo: Oh! I was going to have a meal with my family. I’d better go!

Leader: Okay, Theo. Friends, let’s give Theo a big “woof, woof, goodbye”! (Leads kids to say “woof, woof, goodbye,” and then places Theo out of sight.)

Tip

• If you have a group larger than 10 kids, hang several sheets of card stock or use a poster board.

Choose a Color

            Say: Jesus wants us in his family. He loves each of you and thinks you’re very special.

            Share something that’s special about you.

            Ask: • What’s special about you? Help children think of ways they’re special, if needed.

            Say: Jesus thinks you’re all very special, and so do I! One thing that’s special about us is our favorite color. Have each child choose his or her favorite color crayon and gather around the card stock you hung on the wall.

            Say: Each of you found a special color. Even if you found a color that looks the same as someone else’s, your crayon is special. Point out some differences between two crayons of the same color. For example, they may be a slightly different shade, shape, or brand. Each of you is special, like the crayon you chose.

            Take each child’s crayon, and as you do, say: This is [name]’s special crayon, and tape it, tip pointing down, to the card stock. Tape all the kids’ crayons in a line next to each other but not quite touching (all the tips pointing down).

Melt the Crayons

            Say: You’re all special and unique like these crayons. Unique means there’s no one who’s exactly like you! Jesus wants each of you in his family. And when we’re part of Jesus’ family, he brings us together like this. Turn on the hair dryer and blow hot air on the crayons. Show kids how to do it, and help them take turns holding the hair dryer. (Make sure kids keep their hands and feet at least a foot away from the hot crayon wax and the heat of the dryer.) The crayons will start dripping, and the colors will run down the paper mixing all the colors together.

            Say: All our crayons were separate [point to the individual crayons], but the hair dryer melted all the colors together. Point to the colors on the paper. Jesus brings us all together into a family. He makes something beautiful when we’re all together. He doesn’t want us to be separate like these crayons. Point to the crayons taped in a line. He wants us all together in a family like these colors. Point to the colors melted over the paper. These colors are still special, but they’re more beautiful all together. Jesus wants us all in his family together.

Play Mother, May I?

            Play a game of Mother, May I? You’ll be the first “Mother.” Stand at one end of the room, while the kids stand at the other end of the room along a wall.

            Teach kids the different kinds of steps they can ask for, and have them practice:

• baby steps
• scissor steps (step diagonally, a little out to the side and a little forward)
• giant steps (as big a step as kids can take)
• jumping jack steps (move forward as they do a jumping jack)
• jumps (a jump forward)

            After practicing, have kids return to the wall and take turns asking, “Mother, may I…?” They’ll fill in a number and type of step. For example, “Mother, may I take six baby steps?” Respond with a yes or no, and make it clear that part of the game is for kids to obey you.

            For younger preschoolers, give them a command, such as “Amy, take four scissor steps,” rather than having them ask questions, or you can have an adult or teen helper help them choose questions to ask you. Also, remind kids of how to do the steps if needed.

            When all the kids get to you, say: Thanks for obeying me in the game! In the Bible, Jesus says anyone who obeys God is his family. Jesus wants us in his family! When we’re in Jesus’ family, we want to listen to him and do what he says because we love him so much.       

            Gather kids in a group hug.

            Select a new child to play the Mother, and help that child take the lead and answer yes or no fairly. Play several rounds as time permits.

Tip

• If you used the Music Video block, consider repeating the songs from today’s lesson during the game. You can find the album here.

Recommended for 6 or more kids.

Play a Version of Blob Tag

            Say: Let’s play a game to help us remember that Jesus wants us in his family. We’ll play a special kind of Tag. I’ll add as many of you as I can to my “family” by tagging you. If I tag you, hold my hand. Then you can tag people, too!

            Have preschoolers scatter throughout the room.

            You or an adult or teen helper will be the Tagger.

            If you’d like, play upbeat music as you play the game.

            When children are tagged, have them hold hands or link elbows with you or the last child in line.

            Children who’ve been tagged can tag other children as long as they don’t break the line.

            Play until all the children have joined the line.

            Play several rounds.

Talk About It

            Say: I added you to my family when I tagged you.

            Ask: • What did you like about joining our family in tag?

            Say: It feels good to be part of a family. In our game, everyone got to join the family because everyone got tagged. We can all join Jesus’ family, too! Jesus wants us in his family, and we get to join his family when we believe in him.

Play a Version of Duck, Duck, Goose

            Say: We’ve been learning that Jesus wants us to be in his family! Let’s play a game about animals that are in the same family.

            Have preschoolers sit in a circle on the floor.

            Ask: • Farmers have lots of animals to take care of. What animals are on a farm?

            Say: Some farmers have horses and cows.

            Have children make horse and cow sounds.

            Say: Horses and cows are different. They aren’t in the same family.

            Choose one preschooler to be the “Farmer.”

            Say: Let’s pretend we’re all cows. Have the children make “moo” sounds. If the Farmer taps you on the head and says “horse” instead of “cow,” get up and try to catch the Farmer.

            Encourage the Farmer to walk around the outside of the circle, tapping each child on the head and saying “cow” each time.

            Have the Farmer say “horse” when tapping a particular child on the head. You could whisper a certain child’s name to the Farmer if he or she needs help deciding who to pick as the Horse.

            When the Farmer says “horse,” encourage the Horse to chase the farmer around the outside of the circle and try to catch the Farmer.

            If the Farmer makes it around the circle and sits where the Horse was, the Horse becomes the Farmer for the next round.

            If the Farmer doesn’t make it around the circle before being tagged, that child continues to be the Farmer for the next round.

            Every two or three rounds, name two new animals from the list below and repeat the game with those animals.

• chicken and duck
• sheep and goat
• pig and bunny
• dog and cat

            Play as time allows.

Talk About It

            Say: You got to chase the farmer if you were a different animal. Animals aren’t all in the same family. But we can all be in Jesus’ family! When we’re in Jesus’ family, he loves us and cares for us, kind of like our families do. Being in Jesus’ family is great!

Huddle Up

            Say: Today we learned that Jesus wants us in his family. That means he wants you, you, you, you, and you in his family! Point at each child. That means we can all be in a family together.

            Gather the children in a standing circle. Say: Let’s make a family huddle to show that we can all be in Jesus’ family together. Show children how to huddle together, putting their arms over each other’s shoulders.

Pray

            Say: Families love each other, and they talk to Jesus together. In our family huddle, let’s talk to Jesus and pray for each other.

            Pray: Jesus, we’re happy we can be in your family. Thank you! Your family is great! Help us be loving to others in your family. Lead each child to pray for the child on his or her right by saying, “Jesus, thank you for [name].” After each child has prayed, close the prayer.

            Say: We can all be in a family together because Jesus wants us in his family. I’m glad that you and I can be in the same family! I hope you’ll come back and see our church family next week!

           Distribute a copy of the “Dig In @ Home” handout to kids as they leave, or email it to parents during the week.