Jesus Raised Lazarus-Sunday September 27, 2020

Sunday September 27, 2020 (Vol 9, Unit 25, Session 4)

Hi-there parents! Welcome back! Or if you're new here, welcome! The following blog is here to be a tool for you to help your kids grow in their faith while Children's Church is not meeting. Please feel free to use as much of it as you choose. You know your kids and are the best possible teacher for them. God has given you the power of the Holy Spirit to enable you to do more than you think possible (Eph 3:20).  

Parent Devotional: This week’s lesson is found in chapter 11 of the book of John. 

Jesus received word that His friend Lazarus was sick. Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha. They lived in the town of Bethany, which was about two miles away from Jerusalem. Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus, likely expecting Him to come right away.

Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus; yet He stayed where He was, and Lazarus died. Why would Jesus do such a thing? Jesus said that Lazarus’ sickness was “for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (John 11:4). He said that He was glad He wasn’t there when Lazarus died so that the disciples may believe. (John 11:15) Jesus’ timing is always perfect, and He acts—or doesn’t act—so that God will be glorified.

By the time Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. Martha went to meet Jesus. She said to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” Jesus had shown His power to heal people who were sick. Even still, she believed He could do a miracle.

Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Jesus is the source of life—eternal life that cannot be destroyed by death. Believers do not need to fear death because physical death is not the end. (See John 11:25-26.) Jesus endured death for us so that when we die and are absent from our physical bodies, our souls are with the Lord. (See 2 Cor. 5:8.)

Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. His messiahship was clearly on display, and it was Jesus’ claims to be the Son of God that would lead to His death on the cross. Jesus interrupted Lazarus’s funeral knowing His would soon follow.

Emphasize to kids that when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He showed that He has power over death. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. He gives eternal life to those who trust in Him.

 As we begin to explore this week’s lesson, take a moment to remember the verse from Deuteronomy about teaching your children the scriptures. Deuteronomy 6:9 says: "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Maybe you don't have time to sit and have an hour of Bible time all at once, or maybe your children are too young to sit for that long. Take the key points and ask God to give you opportunities to speak them into the hearts of your children throughout the week. Let the Bible become a part of your day to day. Be blessed this week my friends!  

Each week we include songs, activity pages, the bible lesson video, memory verses and possibly a craft or 2. We pray this will help you find ways to engage your kids spiritually. It is written in script form from the K-2nd grade lesson so you can read directly from it or change it up to suit your children. Take a few moments to print the activity pages as well as the additional activities and information (found in the links at the bottom of the page) and review the lesson so you can make adjustments as needed. I have included the Bible and Discussion questions along with a breakdown of the Gospel in the Older Kids Activities pages and loads of activities and crafts on the Preschool Extra Activity Pages. Once you are ready, go ahead and start with these songs if you'd like or pick some of your favorite worship songs and then jump right in! Have fun! And remember, this does not need to be done in one sitting! Feel free to break it up over the course of the week. Please contact me if you have any questions or suggestions. I'd love to hear from you!  

So, let's get started. I like to begin each week with Blessings and Bummers. Tell me, what have you seen the Lord doing in your lives this week? What have your greatest blessings been? How about your biggest bummers? 

Parents share your blessings and bummers and encourage the kids to do the same. 

Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Father God, Thank you. Thank you for providing for our needs. You are so good to us even though we don't deserve it! Thank you for continuing to bless us Lord. Thank you for being patient with us. Thank you for our friends as well as our families. Help us to appreciate all you do for us and to look to you in all that we do. In Jesus name, Amen. (please add to or customize prayer time to fit your family)

Praise the Lord for hearing our prayers! 

Prompt kids to share about a time they had trouble understanding something a parent or teacher was explaining.

Say • We all have trouble understanding new ideas sometimes. Today, we will learn about a time Jesus said some things that were really hard to understand. Some people even stopped following Jesus because they did not understand these hard teachings.

Optional Session Starter Activity Pick one of two options, or do both, this is your party. These are found in the activity pages attached below 

As we get to the story, let’s take a look at our new big picture question. 

How does God care for His creation? God loves and rules over His creation according to His perfect plan. In the beginning, when God created the universe, death was not part of creation. Today we will learn about a small glimpse Jesus gave people into the way God’s kingdom will function when He returns to fully set up His rule on the earth. Death will not happen. Pain and sickness will end, and all evil will be destroyed. God’s plan for creation is perfect.

While on earth, Jesus traveled Israel teaching people about God and His kingdom. Jesus taught that God’s growing kingdom is more valuable than anything. God’s kingdom grows as lost people put their faith in Jesus. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. But not everyone believed Jesus. Many people misunderstood Jesus’ teachings. However, Jesus’ miracles proved that He is God and His teachings are trustworthy. Today we will learn about that. Our story is called “Jesus Raised Lazarus.” 

I wonder if Jesus’ disciples felt confused when they learned that Lazarus had died. Jesus said that Lazarus’ sickness wouldn’t end in death. Was Jesus wrong? Jesus is never wrong, and everything He says is perfect and true. Lazarus’ sickness didn’t end in death because Jesus has power over death!

What happened with Lazarus is just a small picture of what life in God’s eternal kingdom is like. Everyone who has faith in Jesus will live with God forever. God’s perfect design never included death. Sin brought death and destruction into the world, but God’s perfect plan would defeat death. Although we all will face physical death someday, we can be sure that Jesus’ death and resurrection made the way for us to be resurrected, too. When Jesus returns, He will resurrect us, and everyone who has faith in Him will live with God forever. We will live even if we die.

Jesus came to earth to die the death we deserve and rise again. By rising from the dead, Jesus defeated death and took away sin’s power. Everyone who believes the truth about Jesus and has faith in Him will gain life with God forever in His kingdom. 

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He showed that He has power over death. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. He gives eternal life to those who trust in Him.

Our life with God starts as soon as we trust in Jesus. We gain hope, joy, and peace. And beyond that, even after our physical bodies die we will be alive with God in heaven. When Jesus returns, He will raise us from the dead forever and fix everything sin has broken.

 Bible Time! 

Distribute a Bible to each kid. Help kids find John 11. Select a strong reader to read John 11:25-26. Ask the kids which division of the New Testament John is in, and what that division tells us about. (the Gospels; accounts of Jesus life, death, and resurrection) Consider displaying the New Testament Israel Map to point out Bethany. (I5)

Ask the following questions. Lead the group to discuss:

How long had Lazarus been in the tomb when Jesus arrived in Bethany? (four days, John 11:17)

Who did Martha say Jesus is? (the Messiah, the Son of God; John 11:27)

What happened when Jesus told Lazarus to come out? (Lazarus obeyed, John 11:44)

How can we know Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God? Guide kids to think about what Jesus said about Himself, what others said about Jesus, and what Jesus’ actions communicated. Remind the kids that only God has power over death. Jesus is God the Son, and we can trust what the Bible says about Him.

What does it mean to live even if you die? Direct kids to think about the new life we receive through Jesus. Help the kids think through both the abundant life we receive as soon as we become Christians and the resurrection and eternal life we are promised in the future. Eternal life starts right away.

How do you feel when you think about death? Help kids process the complexity of grief. Remind kids that sadness about death is normal and healthy. Explain that death was not part of God’s original design for creation. Point out that Christians have hope even in sadness because we know that death is not the end for those in Christ. All believers who die are reunited with God and live in His perfect kingdom forever.

Say • Jesus has power over death. Our bodies still get sick and die because we live in a world broken by sin. Someday, Jesus will fix all that sin has broken. We have hope even in sadness because of Jesus.

Let's move on and read our memory verse, Colossians 1:13-14 together.

Write each word or phrase of the key passage on a separate sticky note. Allow volunteers to say the key passage from memory. If no one can say the verses from memory, display the sticky notes one at a time until at least one kid can say the passage. Praise each kid’s effort and encourage the group to continue working to memorize the passage. 

Say • Jesus came to earth to save people from sin and begin setting up God’s kingdom on earth. Although His kingdom is not here completely, it has already begun. Everyone who has faith in Jesus is part of God’s perfect kingdom. Someday, Jesus will return and fully set up His kingdom here. The world will be restored to perfection and all evil will be destroyed.

 That's it for this week!

Let's pray:  Lord Jesus, You are the resurrection and the life. You have power over death. So, when we face death in this life, we grieve—not as those who have no hope, but as those who look forward to the promise that You will one day raise us to life again. We trust in You, and we love You. Amen.

 Thanks for joining us! I hope to meet you here again next week!

 This bog is published using Lifeway's Gospel Project materials with their permission. 

Additional Activities and Information