Children's Church Lesson: The Miracle of Easter!

Story 

Say: Today is a special day…what is today? (Easter)  What makes it so special (give children time to answer).  Those are all good answers!  Today we are going to read the story of the very first Easter!  Are you ready?

Read  the Easter Story from any Children's bible.

Lesson

Say:  What did Jesus ride into Jerusalem?   (Donkey)  What did he say he say the bread and the cup were? (His body and blood) After Jesus was arrested what happened to him? (hurt, died on a cross).  Did he stay dead (No, he rose on the third day!)  That’s right, Jesus died on the cross but he didn’t stay dead.  When Jesus beat death and he beat sin!  The bible says that God loved the world so much that he sent his only son so than anyone who believes in him will live forever  (John 3:16).  That means if we believe that Jesus can take away our sins and if we ask him to do that than we will live forever with him!  If you want to know more about that ask your mom and dad or you can talk to Pastor Riley.

Big Idea

Jesus is our savior because he died for us and rose again!  If we believe that he can take away our sins and ask him to do that than we will live forever with him!

Memory Verse

God loved the world so much that he sent his only son so than anyone who believes in him will live forever – John 3:16

Prayer

Take time to see if children have any prayer requests or prayer joys.  Say a short prayer thanking God for sending Jesus to save us.

Children's Church Lesson: Palm Sunday

Story

Say: What did you get today at church? (Palm Leaves)  Why did you get them? (Let the children share)  That’s right!  What day is it today? (Palm Sunday)  Today we are going to look at the story of the very first Palm Sunday!  I see you all have your palm leaves with you!  Pay very close attention to the story.  There  is a part in the story where the people wave palm leaves, just like yours and say “Hosanna!” During that part I want you to wave your palm leaves and say “Hosanna” too! Are you ready? 

Read “Palm Sunday” in any children's book.  Pause during the "Hosanna" part.

Lesson

Say:  What did Jesus want to celebrate with his disciples? (Passover – the celebration of the Exodus of God’s people from Egypt)  What did Jesus ask his disciples to borrow? (A donkey for Him to ride into Jerusalem)  What did the people shout as Jesus rode by? (Hosanna) That’s right!  Hosanna means save us.  These people wanted Jesus to be their savior.  Jesus is our Savior too.  Did you know that?  How did Jesus save us? (Died on the cross and came back to life to take away our sins).  The bible says that “God loved the world so much that he sent his only son so than anyone who believes in him will live forever”  (John 3:16).  That means if we believe that Jesus can take away our sins and if we ask him to do that than we will live forever with him!  If you want to know more about that ask your mom and dad or talk to Pastor Riley.

Memory Verse

God loved the world so much that he sent his only son so than anyone who believes in him will live forever – John 3:16

Big Idea

Jesus is our savior!  If we believe that he can take away our sins and ask him to do that than we will live forever with him!

Prayer

Take time to see if children have any prayer requests or prayer joys.  Say a short prayer thanking God for sending Jesus to save us.

Craft

Children will color and cut out donkey template pieces and glue them to a paper bag to make a donkey puppet.

Game Options

Incorporate the palm leaves in a game of Simon Says.

Children's Church Lesson: Fruit of the Spirit

Story

Say: What did you talk about during today children’s moment? (Growing up in our relationship with God)  Just like we grow up in our physical bodies, we also need to continue to grow in our relationship with God.  Today’s story tells us about some of the ways we can do that.

 Read “Fruit of the Spirit” in the Spark Story Bible (Page 550).

Lesson

Say: In our story who did Paul write a letter too? (The church in Galatia) What did this church need? (Help)  What was one of their problems? (They were always arguing)  What were they arguing about?  (lots of things, what it meant to be a church and what rules to follow)  Why was it so bad that they were always arguing? (They had a hard time getting along, and it was getting in the way of them being a good church)  Why did Paul write a letter to the Galatians?  (To tell them to stop fighting)  How did Paul suggest that they stop fighting? (By living with the fruit of the Spirit in mind, and by letting God’s love fill them)

We need to get along and live by the Fruit of the Spirit too (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control)  Let’s take some time to learn what the fruit of the spirit is (go over the memory verse multiple times with the children)

Memory Verse

The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. –Galatians 5:22 & 23

Big Idea:  

We need to get along with one another and live out the fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control).

Prayer

See if children have prayer requests.  Say a short prayer thanking God loving us and asking Him to help us to get along with each other and live out the fruit of the spirit. 

Song

Fruit of the Spirit Song:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFumjSll68s

Craft

Have the Children color the fruit and basket, cut out the fruit and glue them to their basket.  Keep reviewing the fruit of the spirit with them during the craft time. http://www.christianpreschoolprintables.com/Pages/BibleCrafts/BibleCraftsFruitoftheSpirit.html