Lesson 5: The family of God.
Passage: Luke 8:19-21 - Once when Jesus was teaching, his mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t reach him due to the large crowd surrounding him. Someone informed him that his mother and brothers were looking for him, and he took the opportunity to teach the crowd that anyone who listens to and obeys God’s word are his mother and brothers.
Big Idea: We are part of God’s family.
For Teachers:
Lesson plan.
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Welcome — Activity Leader
Have the children sit in a circle on the circle time rug. Welcome them to class.
Warm Up Activity: — Activity Leader
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today we’re going to be learning about another one of Jesus’ teachings! Some of the teachings that we’ve learned so far are that God loves and welcomes the little children, that Jesus is the light of the world that shows us the way to live a good life, that sometimes following Jesus might not be easy, and that Jesus gives us strength to follow him when it’s hard.
Do you think that Jesus’ teachings are good for us to learn and follow?
Today’s story goes like this:
One time Jesus was teaching a big crowd of people and his mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t reach him because there were so many people all around him. So they sent a message to him through the crowd and someone told Jesus that his mother and brothers were there to see him. But Jesus replied, “My mother and brothers are those who listen to God’s words and does them.”
Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Can you think of someone who you love very much, who you feel really close to, and who makes you feel safe?
Usually our family are the closest people to us, right? Our parents or brothers or sisters or grandparents?
Do you have any really good friends that are kind of like family? What makes someone a good friend?
Did you know that the church is also like a family too? How do you think we should treat each other in God’s family?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
“Dear God, thank you for the teaching of Jesus that we learned today about how we are all part of your family. You are like a parent to us because you love and care for each one of us so much, and we are like brothers and sisters too. Please help us to love one another just like you love us, and to treat each other like family. Please help us to learn more about you and follow in all of your ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Activity: Scratch Art Hearts + Colouring Pages — Activity Leader
If a child is uninterested in the activity, allow them to move to free play.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.
-
Welcome — Activity Leader
Have the children sit in a circle on the circle time rug. Welcome them to class.
Warm Up Activity: — Activity Leader
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today we’re going to be learning about another one of Jesus’ teachings! Some of the teachings that we’ve learned so far are that God loves and welcomes the little children, that Jesus is the light of the world that shows us the way to live a good life, that sometimes following Jesus might not be easy, and that Jesus gives us strength to follow him when it’s hard.
Do you think that Jesus’ teachings are good for us to learn and follow?
Today’s story goes like this:
One time Jesus was teaching a big crowd of people and his mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t reach him because there were so many people all around him. So they sent a message to him through the crowd and someone told Jesus that his mother and brothers were there to see him. But Jesus replied, “My mother and brothers are those who listen to God’s words and does them.”
Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Can you think of someone who you love very much, who you feel really close to, and who makes you feel safe?
Usually our family are the closest people to us, right? Our parents or brothers or sisters or grandparents?
Do you have any really good friends that are kind of like family? What makes someone a good friend?
Did you know that the church is also like a family too? How do you think we should treat each other in God’s family?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
“Dear God, thank you for the teaching of Jesus that we learned today about how we are all part of your family. You are like a parent to us because you love and care for each one of us so much, and we are like brothers and sisters too. Please help us to love one another just like you love us, and to treat each other like family. Please help us to learn more about you and follow in all of your ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Activity: Scratch Art Hearts + Colouring Pages — Activity Leader
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.
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Welcome — Activity Leader
Introduce yourself and welcome the kids to class.
Warm Up Activity: Dice Madness — Activity Leader
Have each of the kids sit in a circle. Each child needs a piece of paper. The children will share one dice and one marker.
Going in a circle have each child roll the dice. If they roll a 6 they need to grab the marker and try to write all the numbers 1-100 on their page. They will continue writing until someone else in the circle rolls a 6. Once they roll a 6, they will take the pen and start writing numbers 1-100 on their page. The first child to write all the numbers 1-100 is the winner.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today is the last Sunday of our series on the teachings of Jesus!
Can anyone remember what some of the teachings are that we’ve talked about so far? (God loves and welcomes little children; Jesus is the light of the world; it’s not always easy to follow Jesus; and Jesus gives us strength to follow him when it’s hard)
Which of Jesus’ teachings is your favourite or is the most helpful to you?
We’ve got one last teaching to talk about, and the story goes like this:
One time Jesus was teaching big a crowd of people and his mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t reach him because there were so many people surrounding him. So they sent a message to him through the crowd and someone told Jesus that his mother and brothers were there to see him. But Jesus replied “My mother and brothers are those who listen to God’s words and put them into practice.”
Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
How would you define family? What makes someone like family to you?
What do you think are important things that make a healthy and happy family?
Do you think Jesus was insulting his mother and brothers in the story when he said that those who listen to and obey God are his family? Or was he just taking the opportunity to teach something about God’s family?
When you think of the church as God’s family, do you think it’s meant to be exclusive or inclusive? Why?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
“Dear God, thank you for the teaching of Jesus that we learned today about how we are all part of your family. You are like a parent to us because you love and care for each one of us , and we are like siblings too. Please help us to love one another just like you love us, and to treat each other like family, welcoming and accepting one another despite our differences, knowing that you welcome and accept us too. Please help us to learn more about you and follow in all of your ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Activity: Scratch Art Hearts — Activity Leader
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.
For Parents:
Follow-up questions.
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What was the story you learned about in class today?
What does family mean to you? Who do you think of as family?
Do you think that we are also part of God’s family? Who do you think belongs in God’s family?
What kind of things do you think make the church like a family?
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What was the story you learned about in class today?
What does family mean to you? Who do you consider family?
Who do you think belongs to God’s family? Do you think that God leaves some people out or welcomes everyone?
What kind of things do you think make the church like a family?
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What was the story you learned about in class today?
What does family mean to you? Are there many different definitions of family in the world?
What do you think God’s family is like? Who do you think belongs?
What can we do when we find it hard to love others in God's family?
