We tend to hear about Jesus as either the baby in the manger or during His ministry as an adult.It is hard to imagine Him as a child, but clearly that was part of His experience of life on earth.This week’s lesson focuses on those childhood years in Jesus’ life. As you do these activities with your preschooler this week, remind them that Jesus was a child just like them. Let that reality remind you just how human Jesus was and that He really can sympathize with your weaknesses. Thank Him for being both God and man.
HIGHLIGHTS from the Weekend…
This week your child learned that Jesus was a child on this earth and that He experienced all we experience. Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him at the temple. There some Godly servants, Simeon and Anna, told Mary and Joseph that Jesus would be the one to offer redemption to all people.
Jesus grew up in the town of Nazareth in Galilee. Every year He returned to Jerusalem with His parents for a special time to worship God called Passover. One year, when He was twelve, His parents left for home after Passover, but Jesus stayed in Jerusalem to talk about the Scriptures with some religious leaders. Mary and Joseph came back to look for Him and found Him in the temple, learning about God’s Word. Jesus returned home and was obedient to His parents. He grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man (Luke 2: 21-52).
Teaching Truths:
- Jesus was a boy who grew just like you and me.
- Jesus is God's Son
Memory Verses
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14
3 Activities that Help Us Learn That Jesus was a Boy who Grew Just Like Us and is God's Son:
1. Create a Scroll
Go on a walk with your child and help him find two sticks about the length of a sheet of paper (the straighter, the better). When home, grab some brown construction paper and tape. Tape a stick to each end of the brown paper and write the memory verse (Matthew 19:14) on the paper. Explain to your child that there were no books when Jesus was on the earth and that when Jesus studied God’s Word it was on scrolls, sort of like this one. Continue to talk with your child using these questions:
1. Jesus loved to study God’s Word. What are some of your favorite stories you’ve read in the Bible?
2. What are some things you’ve learned from the Bible that God wants us to do?
3. What is wisdom? How do we grow in wisdom like Jesus did?
2. Where is Jesus?
Use a shoe box turned upside down to create a temple. Cut a door and windows and let your child decorate it. Using small Lego or doll figures, act out the story of Jesus staying in the temple while his parents were looking for him. Now, hide the temple and Jesus somewhere in the room and have your child pretend to be Mary or Joseph looking for Jesus while trying to find the “hidden” temple.
3. Just Like Me
Get a long sheet of butcher paper and have your child lay down on it very still. Trace the outline of his body. Once you have finished tracing, help your child color his body by drawing eyes, nose, mouth, clothes, etc. Talk to your child about how Jesus was a child just like him.
Pray
God we thank you for Jesus and the ways he can teach us about you. We pray that you would use the Truths we learn here to bring us closer to you.