Jesus Teaches Nicodemus the Gospel!
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 we can't be meeting weekly during this time. 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).
May I encourage you with a verse from Deuteronomy about teaching your children the scriptures? Chapter 6 verse 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 will 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 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 during this time at home? 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. Here is mine. A few of my friends celebrated birthdays and graduations. While it was a bummer we couldn't be together in person and the celebrations needed to be adjusted, it was still great to see everyone celebrating their achievements.
Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Father God, we love you Lord. You are so good to us even though we don't deserve it! Thank you for continuing to bless us Lord. 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! Today we are going to learn about when Jesus taught a man named Nicodemus. He told him that to have a relationship with him he must be born again. How can a person be born twice? Allow kids to answer. Those are some great answers!
Optional Session Starter Activity (Pick one of two options, or do both, this is your party)
As we get to the story, let’s take another look at the big picture question.
Jesus met all kinds of people while He was on earth, and He loved them. As you hear today’s Bible story, think about our big picture question: What makes people special? People are special because we are made in God’s image, as male and female, to know Him.
Say that with me: What makes people special? People are special because we are made in God’s image, as male and female, to know Him.
God is not distant; He is personal and wants us to know Him. One way we can know better God is by reading His Word—the Bible.
When Jesus traveled throughout the land of Judea, He changed the lives of many people He met. People came to Jesus, and He healed them. Jesus’ miracles proved that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. At the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus read Isaiah’s words and announced that He is the promised Messiah.
The people rejected Jesus, and He traveled to Jerusalem. That’s where Jesus was when a man named Nicodemus came to talk to Him at night. Listen to this Bible story to find out what Jesus and Nicodemus talked to about.
Play the Session 3 video.
After a long day of teaching, Jesus would spend His time alone or with His disciples. One night, when He was alone, a man came to visit Him. What was the man’s name? (Nicodemus) Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. That means he was a religious leader who taught God’s law, and he was a leader in the Jewish government. Like other Jews, Nicodemus thought he knew how to be accepted by God—by obeying the laws. His encounter with Jesus changed him forever.
What did Jesus say must happen for a person to enter the kingdom of God? Look at John 3:5,7. [Allow kids to read the verse and respond.]
Jesus said, “Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” When a baby is born, he gets physical life from his parents. Physical life doesn’t last forever. But the Spirit gives people spiritual life so they can live with God forever.
Why did God send Jesus to earth? Look at John 3:16-17. [Allow kids to read the verse and respond.]
Nicodemus needed new life—eternal life—but he could not do anything to earn it. Every person is born a sinner—spiritually dead and separated from God. Eternal life is a gift that comes only from God. It is by God’s Spirit—not our own effort—that we are born again. We look to Jesus and His finished work on the cross for our salvation.
God showed His love in this way: He sent His one and only Son to save the world. Everyone who believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life.
Bible Time!
Help kids find John 3. You may display the New Testament Israel Map to show the kids where Jerusalem is. Ask a strong reader to read John 3:1-6, 14-18 aloud. Remind the kids that the Book of John was written by Jesus’ disciple and friend John, not John the Baptist.
Ask the following questions. Lead the group to discuss:
How did Nicodemus know that Jesus had been sent by God? (because of the miracles Jesus performed, John 3:2)
What did Jesus say must happen for a person to see the kingdom of God? (The person must be born again, or born of the Spirit; John 3:3-6)
Jesus said that He had been sent by God not to punish the world, but to do what? (save the world, John 3:17)
What does it mean to be born again? Prompt the kids to think about the ending of their old, sinful lives and the start of their new lives in Jesus. Remind them that God declares sinners righteous when they believe in Jesus. God no longer sees believers as sinners, but as saints. Our new and eternal life with God starts as soon as we believe the gospel.
What does it mean to have eternal life? Discuss the idea that eternal life with God is not just regular life that never ends, but joyful, loving, obedient life that goes on forever. A believer’s new life begins right away. Even after physical death, our souls live with God forever. When Jesus returns, we will continue living with God in glorified bodies.
Why did God send Jesus to save us? Remind the kids that God loves people and always does what is for His glory and our good. We are special to God, and He wanted to save us from sin to show His goodness and love.
Say • Jesus taught that we must be born again. God wants us to believe the gospel so we can have a personal relationship with Him forever.
Let's look at our new key memory verse together: I'm sure many of you already have this one memorized
Here's a fun activity to try:
Write each word or phrase of the key passage on a separate craft stick. You may wish to make more than one set. Allow the kids to scatter the sticks and take turns grabbing the sticks to arrange the passage in order. After playing a few rounds, invite kids to say the passage from memory. Thank each kid for her effort and encourage them to continue working to memorize John 3:16.
Say • This key passage was spoken by Jesus to Nicodemus. Jesus summarized the core of the gospel in these few phrases. God loves people. He showed His great love by sending Jesus to be the Messiah who would save us from sin. Everyone who believes in Jesus will live forever with God.
Let's close in prayer:
Lord, thank You for showing Your incredible love for us through Jesus. Help us love You and obey Your commands. Give us ears that can hear You and hearts that can feel You. We want to know You and be born again into Your family. Amen.
*If anyone reading this has questions about being born again, eternal life with Jesus, or God's love for us please feel free to contact the church at fcbc@fcbc.church and someone will get back with you for help.*
