Jesus’ Resurrection - Sunday November 8, 2020

Sunday November 8, 2020 (Vol 9, Unit 27, Session 1)

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. 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).  

If you would like to join us in person, we are excited to announce that Children's Church has resumed and is meeting during the 10:30 service.

Parent Devotional: This week’s lesson, "Jesus' Resurrection" is found in Matthew 28 and John 20.

The time between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning must have been dark hours for Jesus’ disciples. Fear, doubt, and confusion certainly overwhelmed their thoughts. Jesus, their Lord, was dead. He had been unjustly arrested, falsely accused, and severely beaten. Even worse, He had been killed in a horrible manner: by crucifixion. 

The story doesn’t end there. Jesus’ body was laid in a tomb. The tomb was sealed, and guards watched over it. The Jews remembered Jesus’ claim that He would rise from the dead (John 2:19-21), and they made sure no one could steal His body and insist He had risen. Imagine their surprise when Jesus did rise from the dead!

John and Peter saw the empty tomb. Jesus appeared to Mary. The disciples believed Jesus had risen from the dead. Even though the guards at the tomb were bribed to lie about what happened (they said the disciples stole Jesus’ body), the truth spread. The disciples wouldn’t have dedicated their lives and died for something they knew was a lie.

If Christ had remained dead, His death would have meant nothing more than yours or mine. Humanity would still be dead in sin. But God gives us victory over sin and death through His Son, Jesus. The resurrection gives us hope that we too will one day be raised and changed. (See Rom. 6:5; 8:11.)

Paul addressed in 1 Corinthians 15:17 just how essential Jesus’ resurrection is to the gospel: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” The resurrection is proof that God was satisfied with Jesus’ sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins and that God’s new covenant had begun.

Emphasize to the kids you teach that Jesus is alive! We believe this by faith. Today, Jesus is seated at the right hand of God and reigns as King over all of creation. (Phil. 2:9-10)

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 to 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 look at and print the activity pages as well as the additional activities and information (found in the links at the bottom of the page) also to 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 discuss a time they were given great news. What was the news?

Say • It’s always fun to get good news. Whether you got a good grade on a difficult project or found out your family would take a vacation to a place you’ve always wanted to visit, good news just feels … well, good! Today we will learn about the best news in the world and a woman who got to tell others about it.

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 learn about what happened after Jesus’ death on the cross, we can focus on a big picture question to help guide our learning: Where is Jesus now? Think about that question while we get into the story. You might already know the answer but see if anything in this story can help you explain the answer to someone else.

Jesus had grown very popular among the people, but the religious leaders hated Him. They worked out a plan to have Jesus killed. As the people began to see that Jesus didn’t intend to overthrow the Romans, they also turned against Jesus. One of Jesus’ disciples betrayed Jesus, and the religious leaders convinced the Roman governor to crucify Jesus. It was the saddest day in history, but we call it Good Friday because it was the day Jesus paid for our sin. Thankfully, that brings us to our story today. It’s called “Jesus’ Resurrection!”

Everything about the world changed when Jesus rose from the dead. For the first time since Adam and Eve, it was possible for people to be truly reunited with God. The first Easter Sunday is the foundation of our entire faith. It is the most important event in all of history.

Jesus’ birth was miraculous and wonderful, but without the resurrection it would not have mattered. Jesus’ living a sinless life was vital to His payment for sin, but His perfection wasn’t enough to pay for sins. Jesus’ death on the cross covered the cost of our sin, but without the resurrection, His victory wouldn’t be complete. God raised Jesus from the dead to defeat sin and death.

Without faith in Jesus, people are slaves to sin. They have no choice but to act in sinful ways that go against God and His perfect plan. Jesus’ victory over sin and death provides us with victory as well. God did not just forgive all our past sins, leaving our future sins un-forgiven. God forgives all our sins for all time. Those in Christ are promised new life with God forever. 

Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but He didn’t stay dead. God was pleased with Jesus’ sacrifice and raised Jesus from the dead to reign as King over all creation. Jesus provides salvation from sin and the promise of eternal life.

Bible Time! 

Distribute a Bible to each kid. Help kids find Matthew 28. Consider using a New Testament Israel Map to point out where Jerusalem is. Explain that most of the stories over the next few weeks took place in or around Jerusalem, where Jesus was crucified and buried. 

Ask the following questions. Lead the group to discuss:

Which woman was among the first people to learn of Jesus’ resurrection? (Mary Magdalene, Matt. 28:1)

When Mary met Jesus, what did He tell her to do? (go and tell the other disciples about His resurrection, Matt. 28:10)

How did the religious leaders try to prevent people from learning about Jesus’ resurrection? (They bribed the soldiers to lie, saying the disciples stole the body; Matt. 28:12-15)

Why is it important to know Jesus rose from the dead? Guide kids to think about what Jesus’ resurrection proved about His power over death. Had Jesus remained dead, it would show that His sacrifice was not perfect and did not fully pay for sin.

What does it mean that Jesus defeated sin and death? Guide kids to think about the control sin has over the lives of those who are lost. Discuss the phrase “dead in sin” and the implication that we are powerless against sin. Remind kids that sin leads to death, both physical (we all die eventually) and spiritual (we are separated from God). Jesus’ victory over sin and death means we will rise again to live forever with God in a perfectly restored world.

How do you feel when you think about Jesus’ resurrection? Guide kids to think through and process their emotions. Do they feel happy? Excited? Unsure? Remind kids that our feelings do not define what is true, but they can help us understand the truth of the gospel.

Say • God raised Jesus from the dead to defeat sin and death. Everyone who has faith in Jesus will live forever with God.

Great job with the discussion guys! Let's take a look at our memory verse: John 11:25.

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. That means that His resurrection from the dead proved His victory over all sin and death. Everyone who has faith in Him will live forever with God.

 Optional Memory Verse Activity:

Adapt this activity as needed depending on how many kids you have. Write each word or phrase of the key passage on a separate paper plate. Provide a plate to each kid. Allow the kids to take turns tossing their plates like discs to land them in the correct order. Say the key passage multiple times together and encourage the kids to memorize the passage over the next few weeks. 

Say • Jesus spoke these words right before He raised Lazarus from the dead. When Jesus Himself rose from the dead, He proved just how true His words were! Jesus’ death on the cross paid the penalty for our sin, and His resurrection proved His payment was enough. Because of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, we can be certain we will live forever with God too, if we have faith in Jesus.

That's it for this week!

Let's pray: Father, thank You that Jesus did not stay dead. Thank You that we get to live in victory over sin and death because of Jesus’ victorious resurrection. Help us trust You and walk in loving obedience to Your Word. Amen.

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

Additional Activities and Information