Lesson 13: Jesus Blesses the Children
February 26/27
Bible Point: You are important to Jesus
Key Verse: “Jesus said, „Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the
Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.‟” Mark 10:14b
Getting
Started
10
min
Getting Started: Welcome
As the children arrive, greet each one and welcome him or her with a smile.
Allow the children to choose a free play station for the first ten minutes.
At 10 minutes after service start let the children know in 1 minute you will
start cleaning up.
Free Play
Stations:
1. Toys
2. Books
3. Paper/
Crayons
Start clean up time with the clean up song:
Say, “I Am!” (tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know it”)
“If you are cleaning up, say, “I am.”
“I am!” (children respond)
If you are cleaning up, say, “I am.”
“I am!” (children respond)
If you are cleaning up,
If you are cleaning up,
If you are cleaning up, say, “I am.”
“I am!” (children respond)
Teachers: Prepare you class for Community Time.
Worship
8-10
Minut
es
Community Time: Worship
Lead the kids in 2-3 of the following songs
(see attached song sheet for direction if needed)
Jesus Loves Me
Jesus Loves the Little Children
This Little Light of Mine
I’ve Got the Joy
Song Sheet
Lesson
15 20
min
Community Time: Lesson
Place the puppet (Theo) somewhere near where you will be
sitting so the children can easily see him.
Open your Bible to Mark 10:13-16 and show the children the
words.
LL: Welcome everyone! Last week we learned that Jesus loves
us. Today’s Bible story teaches us that we are important to God.
Let’s all say hello to Theo!
Theo: Good morning! I hope you all had a great week and are
ready for a really special story! I know I sure am.
LL: The Bible tells us that Jesus was talking to many people one
day. (Tape up the picture of Jesus) Jesus had many important things
to say, and many people enjoyed listening to him. Some
mommies and daddies from the town wanted their children to
hear Jesus, so they brought them to see him. (Place the picture of
the children on the board/wall, but away from the picture of Jesus) Jesus
was very busy healing the sick and telling people about God’s love for
them. There were many children there that day too. They may have been
laughing and playing and running around, just like you all like to do.
Theo: yeah, I like to play tag, and I like to jump, and I like to run and I like
to bounce balls…
LL: Ok, Theo! I can tell you like to play! Well, just like Theo and all of you,
the children in Bible times liked to have fun. When the mommies and
daddies brought their children to see Jesus, the disciples thought they
would misbehave or be too wild. They thought the children might bother
Jesus. SO the disciples told the people to keep their children back and
keep them quiet. But the children wanted to see Jesus.
Jesus heard what was happening and wasn’t very happy. Can you make a
sad face? Jesus told his disciples that the children were very important to
him. Then Jesus called all of the children over to him. (move the picture of
the children near the picture of Jesus) He picked up each and every child
and blessed them all.
Theo: Wow! I would love to be that important to Jesus!
LL: Well, Theo, you are. And so are all of you. Jesus says that EVERY child
is important to God. He loves you all and thinks you are very special.
Theo: It makes me feel good that Jesus thinks I am special! Thanks for
letting me listen to the Bible story today. I will remember that I am
important to God! Bye!
Let the kids say goodbye to Theo and then dismiss classes one at a time to
go back to their rooms.
Bible –
Bookmarked to
Mark 10:13- 16
* Picture of
Jesus
* Picture of
children
Circle
Time
10-15
min
Circle Time: Key Verse Activity
Have the children form a circle and sit down. Open your Bible to Mark
10:14b
Bible:
Bookmarked to
Mark 10:14b
Lead the children in singing “The B-I-B-L-E”. This will be sung each week
right before the Key Verse activity.
LL: Our Key Verse from the Bible says, “Jesus said, ‘Let the children come
to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as
these.’” This means that Jesus loves everyone, including little children.
Let’s say the verse together. Lead the children in repeating the verse,
focusing on “Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me.’”
Let’s learn a rhyme to help us understand what this Bible verse means.
As you teach the children this rhyme, remind them that Jesus loves
everyone, including little children. Do the rhyme several times, varying your
voice from a whisper to a shout.
Jesus loves me if I’m small. (Squat down)
Jesus loves me if I’m tall. (Stand on toes and reach for the sky)
No matter what we’ve said or done (shake head “no”)
Jesus loves us, everyone! (Hug yourself)
How does it feel to be small? (Sometimes it’s fun; I wish I were big like my
sister)
Does Jesus love big people more than little people? (No, he loves us all)
How do you know? (The Bible tells us so; it is in our verse)
Does Jesus still love us when we do something wrong? (Yes)
Center
20
Minut
es
Jesus said, “Let the children come to me.” God wants everyone to live
forever in heaven with him. That’s why he gave us Jesus! Let’s say our
verse together one more time. “Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me,
and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as
these.’”
Center: Hands of Love
Before class, cut 1 large heart per child out of construction paper.
Accordion-fold the strips of paper- one for each child.
Jesus wanted the little kids to come to him, and Jesus wants you to come
to him too! You are important to Jesus! Let’s make a craft that shows how
Jesus touched the children and blessed them.
Set construction paper halves, markers/crayons, and scissors out on a table.
Help children trace and cut out one handprint. When finished, hand each
child a construction paper heart. Encourage kids to draw pictures of
Materials
1 sheet of red
construction
paper per child
1 half sheet of
construction
paper per child
(any color)
children on the heart. Then help them glue one end of the accordion-folded
paper onto the back of their paper handprint and then glue the other end
of the accordion-folded paper onto the pictures of children on their heart.
The hand should be bobbing over the drawings.
Snack
*Can be a
center if
you prefer
10
minut
es
Snack
Prepare the snack for the children. Take time to stop and pray before the
children eat.
This is also a good time to ask children if they need to go to the restroom.
Closing
10
Minut
es
Start clean up time with the clean up song:
Say, “I Am!” (tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know it”)
“If you are cleaning up, say, “I am.”
“I am!” (children respond)
If you are cleaning up, say, “I am.”
“I am!” (children respond)
If you are cleaning up,
If you are cleaning up,
If you are cleaning up, say, “I am.”
“I am!” (children respond)
Gather everyone for closing at your classrooms circle. Bring your center
project to circle.
LL: Who were the people in our story today? (Jesus, mommies, daddies,
children, disciples, crowd)
What did they do for God? (Jesus blessed all of the children and said they
were important to God)
Hold up the heart project.
How do you feel when someone gives you a big hug or a high five?
How do you think children felt when Jesus wanted to hug and bless them?
Your hearts show that Jesus loves and blesses all of the children in the
world. You can take your heart home to help you remember that you are
important to God!
Let’s pray together. Dear God, Thank you for calling me important and
loving me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
*glue sticks
1x12 inch strips
of construction
paper (any
color)teachers will
accordion fold
these
Graham
Crackers
Water/Cups
Paper
Towels/Napkin
s
Song Sheet
The BIBLE
The B-I-B-L-E,
yeah that's the book for me
I stand alone on the word of God
The B-I-B-L-E
This Little Light of Mine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel?
No! I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel?
No! I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.
Jesus Loves Me
Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me
so.
Jesus Loves the Little Children
Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Black and yellow, red and white
They're all precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world
I’ve Got the Joy
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my
heart.
Where? Down in my heart!
Where? Down in my heart!
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my
heart,
down in my heart
down in my heart to stay.
I’ve got the peace that passes
understanding,
Down in my heart,
Where? Down in my heart!
Where? Down in my heart!
I’ve got the peace that passes
understanding,
down in my heart
down in my heart to stay.
I’ve the got love of Jesus, love of Jesus
Down in my heart,
Where? Down in my heart!
Where? Down in my heart!
I’ve the got love of Jesus, love of Jesus
down in my heart,
down in my heart to stay.