Lesson 12: Jesus Blesses the Children

Welcome

            Thank kids for coming.

            Just for fun, have kids give a high-one (high-five with just one finger) to three friends.

            Make announcements.

            Introduce new kids.

            Celebrate birthdays by having kids do a “happy birthday” wave.

            Collect the offering.

Introduce the Lesson

            Say: Today we’ll learn about a time Jesus hung out with kids. We’ll see that Jesus wants to be with children.

Share

            Tell about a child you like to play with.

            Have kids form pairs and tell about another child they like to play with.

            After partners have discussed, ask two or three kids to share with the whole group what they talked about with their partners.

Summarize

            Open a Bible, and say: Sometimes it can be fun to hang out with kids. Even Jesus thought so! We’ll see what the Bible says that shows Jesus wants to be with children. The Bible isn’t like other books; it’s God’s special book. The Bible is one way God shows us what he can do. As we read his Word today, let’s see what he does to show he loves us.

            Pray, thanking Jesus that he wants to be with children.

Tip 

Sing Songs to God

            Sing the three songs in any order.

Make a Handheld Soccer Game

            Say: When parents tried to bring their kids to Jesus, Jesus’ friends tried to stop them. But Jesus wants to be with children! We’re going to make a soccer game that helps us see what it might’ve been like trying to get to Jesus.

            Have younger kids find an older partner to help them with cutting and assembling this craft.

            Give each child a 12x6-inch piece of poster board. Have kids tape a 3-ounce cup to one of the shorter ends, with the opening toward the other end. The cup will be the soccer goal, and the poster board is the soccer field.

            Next, have kids cut a small piece of poster board, about 2½ inches tall and 1 inch wide. Kids will fold the bottom ¼ inch of the small piece of poster board and tape the folded part to their soccer field, so it stands up next to and slightly in front of the goal.

            To make the blocker, kids will cut a 6x1-inch piece of poster board. They’ll secure this to the upright piece of poster board using a paper fastener, so that it comes down like a railroad crossing bar.

            For this piece to bend properly, the fastener should be placed about 1½ inches in from the end of the crossbar piece and about 1 inch off the “ground” of their game.

            Set out markers so kids can decorate their playing fields. Finally, give kids each a pompom to be the soccer ball.

Play the Game

            Have kids lay their games on a flat surface, such as a table or the floor, and form pairs. One child will move the bar up and down, trying to block the goal, as the other child tries to blow the pompom from one end of the game into the cup. (It counts as a goal even if it bounces out.) Let kids take turns blocking and shooting.

Talk About It

            Ask: • How was this game like what happened in the Bible story?

            • Why do you think people wanted to block children from being around Jesus?

            • How can you help more kids know that Jesus wants to be with them?

            Say: Jesus wants to be with children. In fact, Jesus loves everyone! He doesn’t want to block anyone from coming to him, like the bar in our game blocks the pompom. When you play with your game at home, use it to tell someone about today’s Bible story and how much Jesus wants to be with them, no matter how young or old they are! 

Make Up Clubs

            Say: We’re going to start our Bible time by making up some club rules. Have kids form mixed-age groups of four.

            Say: Come up with a few membership rules about who can or can’t be included in your club. For example, maybe there are no girls allowed. Maybe you have to love animals to join. Make sure everyone in your group agrees on the rules and can belong to your club! Allow time for groups to come up with membership rules for their clubs. Provide paper and pens so older kids can make lists, if needed.

            Have groups take turns sharing their lists of rules. Before each group shares, have everyone stand up. Then kids will sit down as they get to a rule that disqualifies them from a club.

            Say: Hmm…some people couldn’t be in all the clubs. They were left out.

Ask: • Tell about a time you felt left out in real life. Share your own story first.

            Say: In our Bible story, some parents and kids might have felt left out—but Jesus didn’t want anyone to feel that way! Here’s what happened.

            One day, some parents brought their kids to Jesus so he could bless them. But Jesus’ friends didn’t want them to bother him. They scolded the parents. Show me what it looks like to scold someone. Scowl and shake your index finger at kids as they follow along. But Jesus wants to be with children. In fact, Jesus wants everyone to be in his club! Let’s see what he did.

Don’t Let the Kids In

            Read Matthew 19:13.

            Say: Let’s see what that might’ve been like.

            Grab a handful of candy. Have about half the kids form a tight circle around you, facing out. They should stand shoulder to shoulder. (You’ll want at least eight kids in the circle, if possible.)

            The other kids will try to get candy from you, while the kids in the circle shout, “Don’t bother her! She’s busy! Go away!”

            After about a minute, have kids switch roles. Then have everyone sit for discussion as they eat the candy.

            Ask: • What was it like to be kept away in this activity?

            • Have you ever been stopped from doing something just because you’re a kid? Like not being old enough for a ride at the amusement park? Talk about that. Share your own story from your childhood.

            Say: We know Jesus wants to be with children. Let’s see how he responded when the disciples tried to keep the parents away.

Call Kids Across

            Have kids line up along a wall of the room. Sit near the other wall.

            One at a time, call children by name and welcome them to join you in sitting in a circle on the other side of the room.

            Ask: • How did it feel to be welcomed into our circle?

            Say: Jesus welcomed the children, just like I welcomed you. In fact, he thinks kids are so cool that he said this.

            Read Matthew 19:14.

            Ask: • What do you think Jesus likes about kids?

            Say: Jesus wants to be with children. He welcomed the kids in the Bible, and he welcomes you. He even said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to people who are like kids!

            Ask: • What do you think Jesus meant about the kingdom of heaven belonging to people who are like kids?

            Say: Remember when you were younger and you couldn’t cross the street by yourself? When you came to a street to cross, you automatically reached up and held your parent’s hand. You trusted your parent to keep you safe.

            Ask: • What other ways did you trust your parents when you were a little kid?

            Say: Just as we trust our parents to keep us safe, we can trust in Jesus. Jesus wants us to have that kind of faith in him! He wants everyone—big kids, teenagers, even adults—to have faith like a child. Jesus wants to be with children, and he wants older people to trust him the way kids do!

Bless Kids

            Say: Jesus didn’t just welcome the children; he did something very special for them.

            Read Matthew 19:15.

            Say: Imagine what it would feel like to have Jesus put his hand on your head and bless you. Pause. This story is told in another place in the Bible, and it says that Jesus even hugged the kids!

            Read Mark 10:16.

            Say: Close your eyes and imagine Jesus is hugging you. Pause.

            Do you ever feel like you’re not important enough to talk to Jesus? that you’re a bother to him? Our Bible story shows us that you’re very important to Jesus. Jesus wants to be with children, and that includes you.

            I’m going to give you a blessing right now. I’m not Jesus, but I want to bless you just like Jesus blessed the children.

            Have kids close their eyes. Go to each child, place your hand on his or her head, and say: [Name of child], Jesus wants to be with you. You’re important to Jesus.

            After you’ve blessed everyone, have kids open their eyes. Say: When you feel left out or unimportant, you can always remember how much Jesus loves you. You’re important to Jesus because you’re a child! Jesus wants to be with children.

Tip 

Discuss and Watch “Kids Welcome”

            Say: In our Bible story, Jesus wanted the kids to come spend time with him. But Jesus’ disciples said, “No kids allowed!”

            Ask: • What are things you’re not allowed to do because you’re a kid?

            Say: Our video shows a lot more things kids aren’t allowed to do. Check it out!

            Watch “Kids Welcome.”

            Ask: • Which thing from our video do you most wish you were allowed to do?

            • What are some things you can do?

            • Tell about a time you got to do something really exciting. Share your own example from childhood.

            Say: Jesus wants to be with children. The next time you hear “You’re too little” or “You’re not old enough,” just remember that you can spend time with Jesus! And that’s exciting!

Tip

• If you don’t have plastic tables in your meeting area, press the pieces of tape to plastic food storage container lids.

See How Tape Pieces Repel Each Other

            Gather children around you at a plastic table.

            Say: In the Bible, some kids came to see Jesus. Jesus’ disciples tried to keep the kids from him. Let’s do an experiment as we think more about what that might have looked like.

            Get two 6-inch pieces of tape and put the sticky sides down on the table or a plastic lid. Run your finger along the pieces of tape to make sure they’re completely stuck to the table. Then quickly pull both pieces of tape off the table. Hold the tape with the non-sticky sides facing each other, close but not touching. Show kids how the pieces of tape repel each other due to the static charges.

See How Tape Pieces Attract Each Other

            Have kids form pairs, putting younger kids with older ones. Give each child a piece of tape about 6 inches long. Tell kids not to touch the tape to anything until everyone has a piece of tape. Then encourage kids to try the experiment above with their partners. Allow time.

            Then say: Choose one partner to place the tape back on the table. Allow time. Now place the other piece of tape directly on top of the first piece of tape and press them firmly together. Allow time. Then have kids peel the pieces of tape off one at a time and put the non-sticky sides near each other like before. This time, kids will discover that the tape pieces are attracted to each other because the static charges are reversed.

            When kids have finished experimenting, have them throw the tape away.

Talk About It

            Ask: • Which tape experiment was more like Jesus and the children in the Bible? Explain.

            • Which part of the experiment best shows how you think Jesus feels about children? Explain.

            Say: Like the tape in the first part of the experiment, the disciples tried to repel the children and keep them away from Jesus. When Jesus saw the children, he drew them to him and blessed them. Jesus wants to be with children, and Jesus wants to be with you!

Draw Self-Portraits

            Have kids draw self-portraits and write their names on them. Then collect them all at once and drop them gently in the trash.

            Ask: • How do you feel about the way I just treated your picture?

            • Tell a partner about a time someone treated you like they didn’t care. Share your own example first, and then have kids form pairs to share their own stories.

            • How do you react when people treat you disrespectfully?

            Say: In the Bible, the disciples tried to keep the children away from Jesus. They were probably only trying to protect Jesus’ time, but in the process they treated the children kind of like the way I just treated your pictures. But Jesus wants to be with children, and he cared about the way they were treated. What about you? Does Jesus care about the way people treat you? Let’s dig in to that.

Dig Deeper

            Say: As you listen to these verses, think about this question: What do these verses tell you about how much Jesus cares about you?

            Read Matthew 18:5-6.

            Ask: • What do these verses tell you about how much Jesus cares about you?

            Read Matthew 18:10.

            Ask: • What does this verse tell you about how much Jesus cares about you?

            Say: Jesus wants to be with children, and he cares how people treat kids. In fact, he takes it very seriously! He cares about kids, and he cares about you as a person.

            You are special to Jesus! That means he cares when someone treats you badly.

Wrap Up

            Get kids’ pictures out of the trash. Say: Because Jesus cares how people treat you, I’m going to pray for you to show how much Jesus loves you.

            One at a time, pick up the pictures and pray: Jesus, thank you that you care how people treat [name of child].

            Say: I’m going to take your pictures home as a reminder to pray for you this week. You can remember that I’m praying for you because Jesus wants to be with children and so do I!

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 10 or more kids.

Play a Game of Soccer

            Divide kids into two mixed-age teams. Have each team choose a goalie to protect the team goal. Show kids the ball. Say: The object of this game is to use only your feet to keep this ball from getting to your goal. Work together with your team to do whatever you can to keep the other team from scoring.

            After playing for a few minutes, stop the game. Have kids line up a few feet from one of the goals. Without a goalie in place, give each child a chance to kick the ball into the goal.

Talk About It

            Ask: • How did this game remind you of today’s Bible story?

            • How has Jesus shown you he wants to be with you?

            Say: Just as you tried to keep the ball from getting to your goal, the disciples in the Bible tried to keep the children from getting to Jesus. When Jesus found out, he called the children to him and blessed them. Jesus wanted to be with the children. Jesus wants to be with you, too! He won’t let anyone or anything stop you from getting to him.

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 7 or more kids.

Play Variations of Hot Potato

            Have kids sit in a circle.

            Say: Today we heard that Jesus’ friends didn’t think Jesus would want to hang out with children. In fact, the disciples tried to keep the children away so Jesus wouldn’t be bothered by them. Let’s think more about that as we play a couple of variations of Hot Potato.

            Explain to kids that for the first round, they’ll pass the ball to the person on the right. Whoever gets stuck holding the ball when the music stops will be out of the game. Once kids understand, start the music and periodically stop it until only one child is left.

            Then have everyone return to the circle, and explain that you’re adding a rule. Whenever you call “switch” while the music plays, kids will change the direction they’re passing the ball. If you have a lot of younger kids, you may need to facilitate or have older kids help younger kids know what to do when you say “switch.” Again play the music, stopping it periodically until there is only one child left.

            For the final round, play with two balls. Send the balls in different directions and call “switch” often. Play the music, stopping it periodically until only one child is left.

Talk About It

            Ask: • How did you feel when you saw the ball coming your way?

            • You didn’t want to get stuck with the ball; what’s something you don’t like to get stuck doing?

            Say: There are things we don’t like to get stuck with, just like we didn’t want to get stuck with the ball. The disciples didn’t think Jesus wanted to be stuck with kids. But he did! Jesus wants to be with children. Instead of passing off the children as fast as he could, Jesus called the children to him and blessed them.

Come to Jesus

            Have kids line up across the room from the cross. Ask kids why the cross represents Jesus.

            Say: We’ve been learning that Jesus wants to be with children. But does he really want to be with you, a child? Let’s see.

            If you’re under age 18, take a step closer to Jesus.

            Continue to list things that are true of all the kids in your class. Here are some suggestions:

• If you have two eyes.
• If your heart is beating.
• If you have a birthday.
• If you breathe.
• If you sleep at night.
• If you were born.
• If you have skin.
• If you’re wearing shoes.

            Continue until all kids have reached the cross.

Thank Jesus

            With kids gathered around the cross, say: Jesus wants to be with children. He wants to spend time with you!

            Remind kids that in the Bible story, Jesus blessed the children. Say: Now it’s your turn to be blessers! Find a partner you know well. Allow time for older kids to form pairs. If there are any preschoolers or kids who are newer to your class, be their partner.

            Say: Take turns blessing each other by saying your partner’s name and finishing this sentence: “You’re a blessing to our class because…” Allow time for partners to bless each other.

            When everyone has finished, pray: Jesus, thank you that you welcome all these children. Thank you that you want to bless them and be with them. In your name, amen.

            Thank kids for coming, and encourage them to spend time with Jesus this week. Also invite them to come back next week.

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