‘Incredible Power’ Childrens Lesson on Blind Bartmaeus

BIG IDEA: GOD’S POWER IS INCREDIBLE

AIM: The aim of the ‘Incredible Power’ Childrens Lesson is to help children see that God has the most incredible power in the Universe and that they can see His power at work in and around them.

SONG IDEAS:

1. ‘Super Wonderful’ by Yancy
2. ‘There is Power in Jesus’ by Yancy
3. ‘Forever Reign with all Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name’ by Brentwood Benson Kids

GAME IDEAS:

1. Super Strength. (regular/widescreen) You will need some straws, cups and Q-Tips (cotton buds) for each player/team. In this game children must compete with straws to blow q-tips (cotton buds) through the straws at a pyramid of cups. This can be played by 2-4 children or as a relay race with team members taking turns for a few seconds to blow at the pyramids. The team that gets their cups down first are the winning team.

2. Save the Supers. (regular/widescreen) Preparation: Print and laminate some superhero characters. Using four buckets or tubs of water. Add the same number of Incredibles to the water. Children stand behind the tub/bucket/bowl and dunk their face in the water. The aim is to grab the minions with their teeth and put them on a paper plate next to the tub/bucket/bowl.

3. Capture the Villain. (regular/widescreen) For this game you will need lots of space! Each team is given a color crepe paper streamer. One of your leaders dresses up as a villain – it could be a well known villain or your very own. They hide around the room [and must keep moving] and children must find them and wrap crepe paper streamers around them. The team with the most of their color streamer around the villain is the winning team.

BIG VERSE: “FOR GREAT IS THE LORD AND GREATLY TO BE PRAISED.” PSALM 96:4A (NLT)

Download Bible cards.

Big Verse images: (regular/widescreen)

ICE BREAKER: Who is the strongest person you know and why?

 

SET the Scene:

Read Mark 10:46-52.

VIDEO IDEAS:

1. ‘The Blind Man’s Wish’ by
2. ‘Jesus Heals the Blind Man’ by SuperBook

You could also use the Incredible Power Skit.

 

SPOT the Simple Meaning:

1) GOD’S POWER IS INCREDIBLE!

You will need to buy the Coin in a Bottle magic trick for this object lesson.

Say: Who would like to have all the power in the world? [Get feedback] What would you do with that power? [Get feedback]

Jesus has so much power! The incredibles reminded us that Jesus got his power from God. The Bible tells us that God is three in one – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Three persons, but one God. God the Father sent His son Jesus to the earth. Jesus came to earth and lived as both fully human and fully God – both at the same time! That’s incredible! He was able to do miracles. Can you remember what some of those miracles were? [Get feedback]

We might think those things are impossible – and they are! Yet Jesus is God and He can do anything! He is incredible! He has power to heal, to save and to transform lives! Not only that, but God loves to share His power with us too! He does this through the Holy Spirit. That’s how he was able to heal Blind Bartimaeus – with just words! He can do anything!

Can you see this coin here? Can I have a volunteer to see if someone can get it inside this bottle? [Get volunteer to help]. Do you think I can get the coin inside this bottle? [Get feedback] Here we go, let me give it a try.

[Have a go and get the coin in the bottle]

When we become a Christian and choose to follow Jesus the Bible says that the Holy Spirit comes and lives in us and helps us to do everything we need to do for God. Want to tell someone about Jesus? The Holy Spirit can help us. Want to live a godly life and do great things for God? The Holy Spirit can help. He gives us power to live an incredible life because God’s power is incredible. Why? Because He is incredible!

[Take the coin out of the bottle].

 

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1. What was the name of the man in the story? [Bartimaeus]
2. What was did the man want healing of? [blindness]
3. What did Jesus say to Bartimaeus? [What do you want?]
4. What did Bartimaeus do when Jesus called him? [went to him]
5. How did Jesus heal Bartimaeus? [spoke and he was healed]
6. Where does Jesus get his power? [God]
7. What can the power of God do? [anything!]
8. Who is the greatest hero that ever lived? [Jesus]

 

SEARCH the Scriptures:

POWER POP. (regular/widescreen) You will need to print off the Bible verses about God’s power. and fold them into individual balloons. You can play this game as an upfront game with a few contestants or with a whole group as a relay. Children must identify a balloon, pick it up and sit on it on a chair. When it pops they can check to see if it has a Bible verse inside. If it is a relay the child runs to the next child that then begins the process over again. The child or team with the most Bible verses at the end of the game is the winner/winning team.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What is God’s power like?
2. Have you ever seen God do something powerful?
3. If you had God’s power, what would you do with it? [Remind the children that we have been given God’s power by the Holy Spirit].
4. What are some good ways to use power?
5. What are some bad ways to use power?
6. Is there anyone you know that needs God’s power? Why?

 

SENSE How You Feel:

How would you feel if you had been blind, but now you could see?

Encourage the children to think about their answer to this question as they do one or more of the activities below.

1. Superhero Sky Scene. Print off the Superhero Sky Scene Craft Printable – You will need scissors a craft knife and a popsicle stick. Cut around the superhero and then cut around the sky scene.Cut the line through the sky and attach a popsicle stick to the superhero. Thread him through the sky and watch him fly!
2. Decorate a Donut. Buy some donuts and some blue, red and white – or any other color you choose – sprinkles and icing. Encourage the children to decorate their own superhero themed donut! Get them to give it a superhero donut name!
3. Color/fill in the Incredible Power activity booklet for 5-7s and 8-11s.
4. Role Play. Take turns asking each other questions as if you were Bartimaeus.
5. Check out our Pinterest Board on Blind Bartimaeus for more ideas.

 

SEEK God:

1) WHAT’S SO AMAZING ABOUT GOD?!

You will need the WOW Wall Printable, markers, scissors and post it notes.

You could print it out onto yardstick in any color you prefer before cutting out each letter and placing it on your preferred wall.

Children can put post it notes on the wall or paper with things that are amazing about Jesus. Or they will write things that they want prayer for so that one day they can say ‘Wow!’ at the help god gave them to get through or the things He has done.

2) HEALING PRAYERS

You may want to ask any of the children if they want prayer for someone that they know that needs healing. Depending on your group, you may want to write these on post it notes also, or invite children to pray with one or more of the leaders. You may even want to ask the children if they would pray for one another.