‘Two Way Traffic’ Childrens Lesson on Feeding the Five Thousand

BIG IDEA: GOD CAN MAKE LOTS COME OUT OF LITTLE

AIM: The ‘Two Way Traffic’ Lesson on the Feeding of the 5000 is aimed at helping children to see that God is able to do a lot with very little. He sees our heart and He knows what to do with us – we can trust Him!

 

ICEBREAKER: Have you ever given something away? How did it feel?

 

Say: This session is called ‘Two Way Traffic’ because it took the boy giving his food for Jesus to multiply it. The food came in and Jesus sent more out. [Show the road sign.] When we bring things to God He brings things back to us… but what we receive is WAY better than anything we could give to Him!

 

SONG IDEAS AND BIBLE STORY VIDEOS available on our dedicated Pinterest Board.

 

GAME IDEAS:

1. Sardine Sandwich. (regular/widescreen) Do you have any daring kids who might like to take a bite of a sardine sandwich? Children can compete to see who can eat the sardine sandwich first. Failing this, why not have the kids make their own sardine sandwich with one hand tied behind their back – who can make the sandwich first?
2. Fishy Food. (regular/widescreen) Use goldfish or a similar fishy snack to give to kids to stick to a leaders’ or kid’s face. The team that can stick the most on their team mates face is the winning team.
3. Bread Man. (regular/widescreen) Children compete to make a ‘man’ out of one slice of bread. The best bread man is the most creative bread man. Children can eat the bread after they have finished. [Make sure you check for allergies/gluten free.]

 

BIG VERSE: JESUS PERFORMED MANY OTHER SIGNS IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS DISCIPLES. JOHN 20:30A.

Bible verse images (regular/widescreen)

Download Bible Verse Cards.

 

SET the Scene:

Read John 6: 1-15.

You could also use the Feeding the 5000 Drama.

 

Before you tell the kids what this passage is about – ask them! Children hear from God too – they might teach you something. So ask the questions, sit back and listen. Don’t be afraid if they don’t answer straight away or aren’t sure of their answers. The more you ask and get them thinking about the scripture for themselves, the better!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What does this passage tell you about the people in it?
2. What does this passage tell you about God?
3. Who are you like in the passage? What does it tell you about you?
4. Who needs to hear this story? Who will you tell it to?

 

SPOT the Simple Meaning:

1) Jesus Knows What He is Doing

You will need a detailed plan of an event laid out on paper or on a PowerPoint screen. Encourage the children to take a look at the plan. Is it detailed? You will also need a puzzle for the skit.

Say: Jesus knows what He is doing. Sometimes we might worry or think that we need to solve our own problems, but Jesus knows what He is doing. He knows all the answers, He has a good plan. Our job is to simply trust that He knows what He is doing and He will look after us. Do you believe that? Are you showing Jesus that you believe that?

Skit:

Max is sat working out a puzzle. Beth comes along to help.

Beth: Hey Max, what are you doing?

Max: Just finishing off this puzzle.

Beth: Can I help?

Max: Sure, but I know what I’m doing.

Beth: You do? It looks pretty difficult!

Max: Yeah, but I’ve seen it before, I already know how it looks in the end.

Beth: How do you know? There isn’t a picture of the jigsaw on this box?

Max: I made the jigsaw!

Application:

Just like Max knew how to do the jigsaw, because he made it, Jesus knows what he is doing in our lives because He was there when we were created – He is the Creator God. Remember? God is three in one – God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. He was there from the beginning.

(Hold the jigsaw/pieces up as you talk]

In the story, Jesus asks a question; He asks Philip, one of the disciples, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” Jesus knew the answer. He knew that they weren’t going to buy bread. John 6:6 says, “He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.” Jesus knows what He is doing, but He wants to know that we trust Him to help provide for our needs.

We can show Jesus that we trust that He knows what He is doing by not worrying about our problems, but praying and asking Jesus to solve them. He is the King of the Universe, the God of the whole world – He knows what He is doing! Do you trust Him to look after you.

 

2) Jesus Can Make LOTS Come out of Little

Mentos and coke experiment. You can either do this experiment yourself, or watch a video of the experiment (links are on our Pinterest Board) if you can’t make any mess in the room you are in. You will need a large bottle of full fat coke and some mentos. Find a place outside or lay a mat or plastic sheet down. Put the bottle on the floor or hard surface. Open the top of the bottle (trying not to let any air in) and quickly pop the Mentos inside the bottle. Watch as it overflows!

You could also use a popcorn machine and ask the children to watch as it turns kernels into popcorn or perhaps you could also watch the process in slow motion via the video on the Pinterest Board. 

Say: Jesus is able to meet all our needs! He is able to make lots come out of little. Jesus fed 5000 people with two loaves and five fish – He made the food multiply! Perhaps you feel like you only have a little talent, a little money or a little knowledge of the Bible – Jesus is able to transform that little into lots! All we have to do is bring it to him and ask Him to transform it in our lives.

God often uses the little things to despise the big things. That means that He uses things and people that nobody would expect. He loves to use little things to show people that He can do big things with little people and little things! Why? Because He is great! He is big! He is awesome and He can do anything! When we give Him our little people will realize it isn’t anything we can do, but it is because our God is so big and so great that we can do big things! He gives us His Holy Spirit to help us do big things for God – even when we feel little or that we only have little to give. Jesus can make lots come out of little!

 

3) Jesus Sees Our Hearts

Have a large heart cut out of red card. You can use this printable. In front of the red card have the same shape cut out of transparent plastic acetate. You will also need a wipe board pen.

Say:  What are some of the things that we might think about ourselves? [Get feedback and write them on the transparent heart.] What about the things we think about others? [Get feedback and write it again] and the things we think about God? [write these things down on the heart]

John 6:15 says, “Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.” Jesus knows our hearts. He knows what is going on in our minds and the things that we think about ourselves, others and God. [Take away the red card and leave the transparent heart so everyone can see it.] Jesus knows and sees the good and the bad in our hearts. He wants to help us. He wants to forgive us and help us to feel good about what God sees in us.

When we bring our thoughts and feelings to Jesus, just as the boy gave his food, we are able to see God at work. He will come and help us and transform the ugliness in our hearts into something amazing and beautiful. [Start wiping away any negative words]. He is able to help us to grow in love, compassion and courage. [Write new positive words on the heart] All we have to do is let Him and ask Him in. 

 

SEARCH the Scriptures:

Snap! (regular/widescreen) Play a game of snap! by printing off two sets of hearts with the bible verses on them found here. Play in small groups (with the small sets) or play an upfront game with the larger hearts and tape them upside down on a wall. Players take turns to grab two hearts. When players find two matching bible verses they win a point. The player/s with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.

God Knows the Heart Bible Verses:

All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the LORD weighs the motives. Proverbs 16:2.

“I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds. Jeremiah 17:10.

…whose heart You know, for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men… 1 Kings 8:39

But You know me, O LORD; You see me; And You examine my heart’s attitude toward You… Jeremiah 12:3

As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. 1 Chronicles 28:9

O LORD, You have searched me and known me. Psalm 139:1

Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart. Psalm 44:21

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How does it make you feel to know God knows your heart?
2. What do you think would be written on your heart for God to see?
3. Would you be happy if everyone could see what was written on your heart? Why/why not?
4. How do you think Jesus can help heal and transform your heart?
5. Is there anything that you are worried about right now?
6. What would help you with that worry?

 

SENSE How You Feel:

Imagine you were one of the disciples.

How does it feel giving Jesus the bread and fishes to be multiplied?

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

1. Share a picnic meal as you discuss the story.
2. Re-enact the story with props for the food and costumes.
3. Tissue paper the Feeding the 5000 Craft picture by sticking it to the picture with glue.
4. Use playdough or clay to make the food and put it on a paper plate. Children could even make their favorite food.
5. Color/Fill in the Two Way Traffic activity sheets for 5-7s and 8-11s. 
6. Check out our Feeding the 5000 Pinterest board for other ideas.

 

 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Did Jesus need help to feed the 5000? Why/why not?
2. How would you feel as one of the people that was given bread and fish in the crowd?
3. How would it feel to see Jesus break the bread and the fish to feed 5000?
4. As a disciple, how would you feel to trust Jesus with the bread/fishes?
5. There were 12 basketfuls of food left over. What does this tell you about God?

 

SEEK God:

You will need the Heart Printable.

Acetate Hearts. Using hearts made with acetate plastic have the children come and write things on their hearts that they need Jesus to help them with, or things that they want Jesus to wipe clean from their head or their heart. Play some worship music in the background and give the children time to pray. They may want you to be ready to pray with and for them also.