BIG IDEA: JESUS GIVES US THE WORD TO KEEP US GOING
AIM: The aim of the ‘Transformed By His Word’ Childrens Lesson on Jairus Daughter is to help children see that the Word of God transforms our lives today as it helps us to keep going and ‘Just believe’.
GAME IDEAS:
- Read My Lips. (regular/widescreen) Children are given words or phrases to mime and their teams must try and work out what they are saying. Once one player has guessed the word or phrase correctly it is their turn to try and mime. The winning team is the team that finishes all the mimes first.
- Charades. (regular/widescreen) Players work in teams to try and guess the movie, song or book that one player is acting out to them (without words). Once someone guesses correctly they must then have a turn acting. The winning team is the team that guesses everything correctly the fastest.
- Guess That Word. (regular/widescreen) The player writes dashes on paper to represent the number of letters in a word. Their team shouts out letters to try and guess the word. If the letter is in the word it is placed on the dash. The leader can determine the number of tries a team can have to guess. To play in multiple teams the same word is given and teams compete to guess the correct word first.
BIG VERSE: If anyone belongs to Christ, then he is made new. The old things have gone; everything is made new! 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Bible verse images (regular/widescreen)
Download Bible Verse Cards.
SET the Scene:
Read Luke 8:40-56. You can use this monologue to communicate the story.
REVIEW QUESTIONS:
- How old was the girl? (twelve)
- What was Jairus? (synagogue ruler)
- Why did the servant tell Jairus not to bother Jesus? (his daughter had died)
- What did Jesus tell Jairus? (don’t be afraid, just believe)
- What happened when Jesus told the girl to get up? (she stood up)
SPOT the Simple Meaning:
1) GOD PROVIDES THE WORD TO KEEP US GOING
Find a picture of your favorite sports coach – perhaps someone you know or a famous coach – just as long as it is someone that the children can identify with. You could also use a picture of a cheerleader if you prefer.
Did you hear what Jesus said when the servant came to Jairus telling him that his daughter was dead? Only believe. You know, it could have been really difficult for Jairus to believe at that point. He had just been told his daughter was dead! He could have given up and decided that there was nothing that could be done. However, the words of Jesus helped Jairus to keep on going. It helped him to keep believing and not to give up. God always has encouraging words just like a coach or a cheerleader. He is like the good father that stands by the side of a running track and cheers us on until the end.
God gives good words that encourage us when things get tough. We can find His words in the Bible. When things get tough we can look in the Bible and remember the words that God has already spoken or we can pray and ask God to speak to us in a completely new way. God may even speak to us through another Christian! So, just when we think things have got too much, God can give us the word to keep us going!
2) OBJECT LESSON: WHOSE WORDS WILL YOU BELIEVE?
Picture of boy with devil and angel on his back (regular/widescreen).
God’s words are always words of truth. We can ALWAYS trust that God will not lie. He is a good God and cannot lie. So when Jesus turned to Jairus and said “only believe” Jairus knew that he could believe Jesus, even though he may have been a little scared. Every day we have to choose whose words we will believe. Just like the servant told Jairus his daughter was dead, the world will sometimes tell us things that the Bible or Jesus does not. We must choose whether to believe the world and what others say, or to believe what Jesus says.
The Devil is working in the world to try and rob us of all God has given us – and he uses the world to do it. We must choose to believe God’s words, found in His Word, and not the words of others. We might feel sometimes that the devil and God are equal. But remember: God is so much more powerful than the devil will ever be! So, if you ever feel like this boy [show picture] remember that God is far greater than any other living thing! We can listen and believe His word because He is the creator of ALL things!
3) JESUS’ WORD TRANSFORMS US
What Happens When You Believe…?
Say: How does it make us feel when we believe something? If that thing is sad, then we might feel sad. If it is happy perhaps that will make us feel happy. Let’s think about it some more. Imagine that you believed:
a) Aliens were one day going to take over the world. How would it make you feel? How would it make you think, speak or act?
b) You were ugly v You were Beautiful. How would believing and thinking these different things make you feel, think, speak and act?
c) You were loved by a God who sent Jesus to die for you. How would this make you think, speak, act and feel?
d) Jesus is with you every single day. How would this make you think, speak, act and feel?
Lots of people say different things to us and about us every day. Do we believe the words that are spoken about us? What about the words that are spoken to us? Words are so important in our life. We can choose which words to believe. The things that we believe about God, others and ourselves are very important because they help to shape how we will feel and think and what we will do and say.
When we believe in God’s word and what He says about Himself, others and us it transforms our mind, body and soul. Jesus makes us completely new. His words are so powerful that they can completely change our lives. God tells us in His word who we are
4) HOW WE SPEAK IN RETURN IS IMPORTANT
Toothpaste Squeeze Game. (regular/widescreen) The leader squeezes toothpaste onto a plate and asks the children to try to fit it back into the tube.
The words that Jesus spoke; “Just believe” he said, and “she’s only sleeping” may seem very strange. Some people would say Jesus was crazy – the girl was dead! How could she possibly come back to life again? Those that were with the girl even laughed at Jesus for saying something so silly! But you know, Jesus knew His words were important. He knew that speaking truth was important – to God she was just sleeping – He could wake her whenever He pleased. Jesus spoke words of faith and hope to Jairus. Imagine if he said to Jairus “Just give up, she’s dead?!” How would that have made Jairus feel? But Jesus knew he could bring her back to life – he knew that Jairus’ daughter could be saved.
What words are you using? Are you speaking good, positive words over others or are your words full of hate and no hope? When God tells you you can do something do you reply by saying “No I can’t I’m rubbish!” or do you say “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” Philippians 4:13. How we speak in return to what God has told us is very important! Just like the toothpaste would not fit back into the tube we can’t take our words back either. Once they have been said they have left our mouth and they can’t be taken back. However, we can choose good words that show that we believe what God says.
SEARCH the Scriptures:
Bible Verse Pop. (regular/widescreen) Print out the Bible verses about God’s word. Put all the verses below inside some balloons. Blow up lots more balloons. Choose some volunteers to pop all the balloons in a short space of time and see who can find the most bible verses. Then discuss what the bible verses mean.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- Do you find it easy to believe God’s word? Why/why not?
- Has God’s Word changed you? If so, how?
- What is your favorite thing about the Word of God?
SENSE How You Feel:
How would you have felt to hear Jesus say the words ‘Just believe’?
Do you think you could have believed?
ACTIVITIES:
- Create the ‘I Believe’ picture wall and encourage the children to include the things that they believe.
- Create the ‘Jesus Loves You mobile’ by printing out the templates 1 and 2. Cut out the Jesus image and the heart.
- Mould (using play dough or clay): Jairus’ daughter in bed and being made well.
- Build (using bricks): the scene of Jairus speaking to Jesus in front of the people.
- Sensory: Place lots of alphabet letters (magnets or scrabble pieces etc) all over the table and have children try and make up their own words to connect with the story.
- Color/Paint or stick tissue to the ‘New Creation’ printable.
- Fill/color in the 5-7s and 8-11s activity booklets.
SEEK God:
RESPONSE: Play the Voice of Truth song & video.
Say: What things have you been believing about God, others and yourself? What is Jesus challenging you to believe today? As we listen to this music ask God to let you hear His voice of truth whisper in your ear. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak truth to you and to replace the lies you may have been listening to.
Click here for the ‘Transformed By His Word’ PowerPoint image
Click here for the ‘Transformed By His Word’ widescreen image
