Lesson 6 – Extreme Obedience: Jesus Died and Rose Again
Series: The Life of Jesus
Extreme Life—For Older Students
LESSON OVERVIEW
Key Point: Jesus Can Save Us.
Bible Story: Jesus Died and Rose Again
(Note: The emphasis today is on Jesus dying although we want them to couple this in their minds with the fact that He’s still not dead. He rose again. Next week we will deal more with His resurrection and move into His ascension.)
Challenge Verse: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
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ITEMS NEEDED
1 bean bag
2 hula hoops
1 bag of cotton balls
4 Big Cups—biggest you can find
6 small cups—smallest you can find–Please poke a hole in the bottom of each of these for those in the 3rd-5th grade classes.
Signs for: Jesus, Forgive, Criminals, Remember, Promise, Empty, Love.—You can hole punch these and use yarn to make a sign that will hang around a student’s neck.
Masking Tape
Bible Verse Poster
BEFORE CLASS
– Put the two hula hoops you will find in your classroom on opposite sides of the class. Then pour half of the bag of cotton balls (or have it ready to pour) into each hula hoop. (Note: When you are finished with the hula hoops, keep them in your classroom. You’ll need them for next week’s lesson.)
– Pray for each student by name.
AS STUDENTS ENTER
– Greet each student by name as they enter.
– Give each student an attendance sticker for the attendance chart, and feel free to add guest names to the chart. This will give them a sense of belonging.
– Be sure to smile.
OPENING ACTIVITY
Control Tool
(A “Control Tool” is a way to refocus kids and to transition between active and less active sessions. The Leader asks a question and all the kids say (or shout out, or whisper, or say in a hick-voice or an accent—however you have taught them to say it) the answer.
Leader: What’s Number One—Kids: Keep God First!
Plug It Up*
You will need: (1) four large cups and (2) four small cups that have a small hole in the bottom. Have your class sit in a circle on the carpet, not the tile areas if possible. Fill two of the large cups with water and put the two empty large cups at the other end of the circle (or line).
Explain that the object of the game is to take all the water from the two full cups, pour it into the small cups (with holes in them), pass them around the circle, pour whatever water is left into the big empty cups and then pass the small cups back. The small cups will leak water so tell the students that they can use their fingers to plug up the holes. The game is over after three minutes or when both the big cups are full. If you have a large class, use two circles (or lines) or switch the start and finish points halfway through the game so that all the kids gets to pass a cup that still has water in it.
(NOTE: You may need to refill your water cups during this game and be careful because if any water gets on the tile, it will become slick So have some paper towels ready for this and let your students help with the clean-up.)
Discussion
Ask the students—Was there any way for you to fill up the cups in this game? Why or why not? (Yes, we got a lot of water into the cups by plugging up the holes; No, the holes made it too hard.)
Ask the students—How did you feel when you realized you couldn’t fill up the cups quickly this way? (Frustrated; sad; we gave up and just had fun.)
SAY: You were trying to do something that was impossible. In life, it’s impossible for us to be perfect or without sin (which is anything that’s wrong).
Ask the students—Raise your hand if you’ve ever done anything wrong.
SAY: We’ve all done wrong things and we all need a Savior. In life, it’s impossible for us to be perfect or without sin.
Ask the students—What is sin? (Anything that’s wrong).
Ask the students—What are some examples of sin? (Take a few answers.)
Ask the students—If none of us can be perfect, how can we live in heaven with a perfect, holy God? (By dying on the cross Jesus made a way to take our sins away if we give our lives to Him.)
Ask the students—Why does Jesus want us to be free from sin? (Because He loves us; so we can be with Him forever.)
SAY: God wants us to do our best to obey His Word, but it’s impossible for us to be perfect. That’s why God sent Jesus to die on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. Because of Jesus’ Extreme Obedience to God—to live a perfect life, to die a death he didn’t deserve, and to overcome death, we can make the choice to give our lives to Him and can know for sure that we will live with God forever in heaven.
Ask the students—What do you think it means to have Extreme Obedience? (Let a few students answer.)
Ask the students—Do you think that Jesus had Extreme Obedience? Why or why not? (The Bible says that Jesus was obedient even to death on the cross. He followed God’s plan for Him even though it cost His life. That’s obedient!)
BIBLE LESSON*
SAY: Today’s story is about Jesus’ death and resurrection. (Resurrection means being raised from the dead.)
(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Jesus sign.)
SAY: Although Jesus, God’s perfect Son, had never done anything wrong, He was arrested and treated like a criminal. He was sentenced to die on a cross–which was a painful punishment given to the worst of criminals.
(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Forgive sign.)
SAY: Jesus was led to a place outside the city called “The Skull.” He was nailed to a cross and people laughed at Him and insulted Him. But Jesus didn’t show anger or hate, instead He prayed, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”
(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Criminals sign.)
Jesus was crucified between two criminals. One of them yelled at Jesus: “Aren’t You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!” The other man told the first criminal to be quiet. He said, “We are punished justly because we’re getting back what we deserve for things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”
(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Remember sign.)
The same man looked at Jesus and asked Him, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
Ask the students: Do you think it was too late for that criminal to ask Jesus to forgive him? Why or why not?
(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Promise sign.)
Jesus made this promise to the criminal: “Today you will be with Me in heaven.”
After Jesus died, two of his friends took Jesus’ body and placed it in a stone tomb. All these things happened on a Friday. Saturday passed. Sunday came, and some women came to the tomb, bringing spices to put on Jesus’ body.
(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Empty sign.)
The tomb was empty! Two angels in white clothes said, “Jesus is not here!” The women hurried back to tell Jesus’ disciples that He was alive!
(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Love sign.)
Jesus loved the criminal even though he had done bad things. He loves you too–so much that He died to take the punishment for every wrong things you and I would ever do. Jesus loves you so much He wants you to be with Him forever in heaven. If you ever have any questions about why Jesus died or how you can know for sure that you’re going to heaven, just ask one of us. We would love to talk to you about it.
(Choose one volunteer–to hold the Extreme Obedience sign.)
KEY: Because of Jesus’ Extreme Obedience, we can be saved both from a life and an eternity without God, and once you give your life to Him, you can share in His extreme obedience. When you obey God people will see something different about you and the life you live may lead them to give their lives to Christ.
Control Tool
Leader: What’s Number One—Kids: Keep God First!
BIBLE LESSON ACTIVITY
SAY: Even though we have all done wrong things, Jesus loves us and has great plans for our lives. He died to make a way for us to know Him and to go to heaven.
Stick It To ‘Em*
Pour half a bag of cotton balls into each of the hula hoops you set out before class began.
Divide your class into two teams of equal numbers.
Choose one volunteer from each team–and wrap the masking tape around him so that the sticky side is facing out.
Tell your teams which cotton ball mess belongs to their team and put their “Masking-tape” volunteer on the opposite side of the room.
Tell your students to clean up the cotton ball mess by taking one cotton ball at a time and sticking it to your team’s “masking-tape” volunteer. They can only pick up one at a time. Ready…Go!
If the game goes quickly, feel free to play it again with new “masking-tape” volunteers. For variation, tell them they can only hop on one leg.
Discussion
SAY: Your “masking-tape” volunteer didn’t run and didn’t pick up any of the cotton balls. How did he or she help you clean up? (He took all the cotton balls; the cotton balls stuck to him; he cheered us on.)
Ask the students—How is that like the way Jesus cleans the sin from our lives? (He took all the sins on Him; Jesus wants to forgive us and wash away all the wrong things we’ve ever done.)
SAY: When Jesus died on the cross, our sin (the wrong things we’ve done) was placed on Him and He was punished for them in our place. That’s how Jesus can save us. Jesus is stronger than our sin—He’s even stronger than death. Jesus died for our sins and came back to life. Only in Him can a person get forgiveness and find eternal life in heaven.
Control Tool
Leader: What’s Number One—Kids: Keep God First!
CHALLENGE VERSE
Ask the students—Why did Jesus want to save us? (Because He loves us; so we can be with Him forever.)
Ask the students—Does anyone know John 3:16? (If they know it, let them say it)
Then tell the students to get ready for a Bible Drill.
Ready…John 3:16…Go!
Read John 3:16 from your Bible.
Teacher Testimony
Briefly tell the students about how you realized your need for Jesus, how you gave your life to Him, and what difference He made in your life. They don’t need to hear your life’s story, so keep your testimony short and to the point–probably no more than 60 to 90 seconds. At the end, we always teach people to say, “Because of this I know for sure I’m going to heaven. How about you?”
SAY: If you have never given your life to Jesus, there will be a time when you start thinking about Him and heaven. You’ll realize that you’ve done wrong things and need a Savior and it’s like something inside that says, “I need to give my life to Jesus.” When that time comes, talk to one of us and we’ll show you what the Bible says about how you can give your life to Jesus.
Control Tool
Isn’t it great that Jesus Can Save Us!
BIBLE SKILLS
(NOTE: The following section is designed to help you get an idea of where your class is in the area of Bible Skills. As their teacher, there may be certain areas of weakness that you can address over the next few weeks.)
Bible Skills
Divide your class into two teams and take points to see which side can correctly answer more of the following Bible Skill questions.
– Is Hebrews in the Old Testament or the New Testament? (It’s in the New Testament.) Give an extra point if they can tell you what section of the New Testament it is in.
– What is the first book of the Bible? (Genesis) Give an extra point if they can tell you what section of the Old Testament it is in.
– What is the first book in the New Testament? (Matthew) Give an extra point if they can tell you what section of the New Testament it is in.
– Name the four Gospels. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
– What does the word “Gospel” mean? (Good news)
– Is Philippians in the Old or New Testament? (New) Give an extra point if they can tell you what section of the New Testament it is in.
– Where can you find the life of Jesus in the Bible? (In the Gospels)
– Does each of the Gospels tell the life of Jesus over again or do the four books just tell it once? (They each tell it over again.)
– So, how many times do you think the Bible tells the story about Jesus dying for us and rising again? (Four times—once in each Gospel).
– What is the easiest way to find the Book of Psalms in your Bible? (Turn to the middle)
– What is the easiest way to find the Book of Proverbs in your Bible? (Turn to Psalms. It’s the next book.)
– Who can remember what last week’s verse was and where it can be found on the Bible Book Chart? (John 14:6)
– What is the second book of the Old Testament? (Exodus) Give an extra point if they can tell you what section of the Old Testament it is in.
Challenge your student to memorize all the books of the Bible.
Bible Drills
Tell your students to get ready for a Bible Drill. The first team to have someone find the right verse will get a point.
Ready…Psalm 119:11…Go!
Ready…Proverbs 3:5-6…Go!
Ready…Philippians 4:13…Go!
Ready…Psalm 56:3…Go!
Ready…Matthew 5:16…Go!
During these Bible drills, help student to get familiar with the layout of God’s Word and let those who are quick to find verses help others. We want to make sure, however, that no one gets frustrated or feels embarassed. We want this to be a fun, competition-type time, but with no emphasis on winning, just on doing the best they can. Even so, still give points to each team that finds the verse the fastest.
PRAYER TIME & WRAP UP
Control Tool
Leader: What’s Number One—Kids: Keep God First!
List Prayer Requests
Be sure to pray specifically for each request.
(NOTE: You might want to start keeping a class list of prayer requests that you can look back on to see how God answered prayer.)
EXTRA TIME
Use any extra time to help your students memorize the verse for today.
*NOTES
Plug It Up–from Group Publishing’s Lava, Lava Island VBS Curriculum 2004, Day 4
Bible Story–adapted from Lifeway’s VBS Curriculum 2004, Rickshaw Rally
Stick It to ‘Em–from Group Publishing’s Lava, Lava Island VBS Curriculum 2004, Day 4
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