‘School Crossing’ Childrens Lesson on the Royal Official’s Son

BIG IDEA:

Aim: The ‘School Crossing’ Childrens Lesson on the Healing of the Official’s Son is a session to help children think about what it means to ask Jesus for help and to listen and respond to his word. Children will learn that they can choose to do what he says and see the reward when they do.

 

FOR SONG IDEAS AND BIBLE STORY VIDEOS go to our dedicated Pinterest board.

 

ICE BREAKER: What is your favorite subject in school?

 

GAME IDEAS:

1. Doctor’s Relay. (regular/widescreen) You will need enough doctor’s outfits for each team. At one end of the room place a white doctors jacket, and some of the items from a doctors kit: Thermometer, Stethoscope, Syringe, Ear Scope, Reflex Hammer, Medical Chart, Clip Board. Children must race to try on the doctors outfit and hold the items, before taking them back off and running to tag the next person in the line to do the same.
2. Construct the Doctor’s Kit. (regular/widescreen) The children all stand in a line in their teams. Place the toy doctor’s kit items around the room (Alternatively print out items from a doctor’s kit and place them around the room. Children must run and grab one item and then bring it back before tagging the next person in the line.
3. Bandage The Bus Driver. (regular/widescreen) See who out of your children’s leaders can bandage up a child’s arm the best or fastest. Have the children vote on the winning leader. Alternatively teach the children how to do it and see if they can race against one another to see who can do it the fastest.

 

SET the Scene:

Read John 4:46-54. 

You could also use the Officials Son Drama.

 

SPOT the Simple Meaning:

1) ASK, THEN LISTEN TO JESUS.

Question Time. Interview one of your leaders or a child to find out more about them. Ask questions such as “what’s your favorite band/TV show/cartoon character/sport/chocolate or candy?” or “if you could do any job in the world, what would you do?” or “if you had $1 million what would you do with it?” Be creative with your questions.  You could encourage the children to ask their own questions either through writing them down, or simply asking.

Say: You know, when we interviewed [insert name here] we first asked the question, and then we listened. It would be no good if when they answered the question I started yelling and jumping around or talking to the person next to me and ignoring them [this will be funny if you act it out as you are speaking – jump around etc].

When the man came to Jesus in this passage, he first asked Jesus to help. Then he listened for Jesus’ answer. Often we might ask Jesus for help when we pray. But how often do we stop to listen to what he will say? Hey you ever done that before? Has God ever spoken to you like that before?

[Give an example of when God spoke to you and how you took time to listen. What did it look like to do that? How did God speak to you?]

Jesus wants to answer our prayers, but before he does we need to take the time to ask him a question and listen to his answer.

 

2) YOU CAN CHOOSE TO DO WHAT JESUS SAYS

Would you do it?

1. Your mum tells you to tidy your room.
2. Someone in the park tells you to follow them.
3. Your teacher tells you to help pass around the text books.
4. Your sister tells you to finish your homework.
5. Your brother tells you to stop taking the remote control.

Tell the children to run to one side of the room if they would do what Jesus says, or to run to the other side if they would not. Discuss their choice afterwards and ask the children why they would or wouldn’t do what that person told them to do. Does their opinion change if the circumstance changes?

Say: When Jesus told the man to go, he didn’t question Jesus. He didn’t tell him he would think about it. He simply did what he said. He obeyed. When we choose to do what Jesus says then we show him that we trust him; that we believe he knows the best for us and that he is good. The official chose to do what Jesus said and he realized that trusting Jesus was the best thing he could have done!

 

3) JESUS HAS PERFECT TIMING

Play a Dude Perfect clip as found on our Pinterest Board.

Say: The official was amazed at the timing of the healing of his son! When he asked what time his son had been healed it was the exact same time that Jesus had spoken to him and he had obeyed. The exact same time!

Jesus is God and God’s one and only Son. He knows what we need and when we need it. He lived a perfect life and died a perfect death. Everything he did and does is perfect. He has never done anything wrong.

Jesus has perfect timing. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. If we trust him to provide what we need we can expect to be well looked after – even if something is taking a long time, we know he has the best plan for us and it will all work out in the end. The best thing that we can do with our life is to give it to Jesus – let him take control and ask him to be the person we talk to about everything. He is the best person to look after us.

If you would like to make Jesus your best friend and your Lord today. Let’s pray. [Lead those children in a prayer]

 

SEARCH the Scriptures:

Bucket Ball. (regular/widescreen) Write the different names below on different balls or tape them to the balls. Do a set of names per team. Ball pool balls work really well and are a cost effective way of doing this. Have two buckets per team – one for people that did what Jesus said, and one for people that ignored them. Then have the children decide in their teams which bucket the names should go in and have them throw their balls in the bucket. It could be done as a relay or simply as a circle group game. For children that do not know the stories you will want at least one leader with each team to explain the story to them or help them. You could then discuss the different stories and what happened as a result of people doing or ignoring what Jesus said.

People that did what Jesus said:

Centurion Soldier.

The royal official.

The 10 Lepers.

The servants – turning water into wine.

The paralyzed man.

People that did not do what Jesus said:

The Pharisees.

The rich young ruler.

Judas.

 

 

SENSE How You Feel:

SEEK God:

Say: Let’s spend some time asking and listening to Jesus.

Imagine you were in a big crowd and Jesus is coming. You manage to make your way to him. You can ask him absolutely anything you want to ask him. What do you want to say or ask him? [Leave time for the child to think] Just spend a few minutes talking to him now. What does he say to you in return? What do his eyes look like as he is speaking to you? What does his face look like? Is he doing any actions?

Jesus loves and cares about you. He wants the best for you. As you listen and watch, remember those things.

Pray: Jesus, thank you that you care about us. Thank you that you love us so much and you want the best for us. Help us to always listen to what you have to say. Help us to do what you ask us to do. Amen.