Who Is Jesus?

What if Jesus Is a Loser? Key Faith Foundation: Jesus Is the Biggest Winner Key Scriptures: John 16:28-33; Colossians 2:13-15 Bible basis for teachers John 16:28-33; Colossians 2:13-15

O GRAPPLE QUESTION: What if Jesus Is a Loser? O KEY FAITH FOUNDATION: Jesus Is the Biggest Winner

ome people believe that Jesus is a big loser because he didn’t accomplish Ssome things that we might think are important—he never attained much wealth or a high level of education, for example. Use this lesson to help kids understand that Jesus is the biggest winner. Jesus took on death and conquered it. He died on the cross and came back to life. No one but Jesus has ever done that. In John 16:28-33, the disciples recognize several things that set Jesus apart from everyone else. They recognize that Jesus knows all things, Jesus “came from God,” and Jesus has “overcome the world.” No one else can truthfully make those claims. Use this passage to help kids compare the things they What if Jesus Is a Loser?

3. believe make someone a winner to what Jesus accomplished. Colossians 2:13-15 continues listing things that make Jesus a winner. Most importantly, Jesus provided forgiveness for our sins through his triumph on the cross. Jesus accomplished something that not even the richest, smartest, and most powerful person could ever do. Jesus doesn’t need to brag about what he’s done or who he is. Jesus is the Son of God and Savior of the world. Help kids realize they have no need to be ashamed or afraid to follow Jesus, because he is the biggest winner ever.

understanding preteens The preteen years are the beginning of many changes and growing pains as they struggle to define who they are. Knowing Jesus is a winner and is bigger than all the hardships that come along in their lives gives preteens something solid to stand on.

56 the lesson at a glance

LESSON SEQUENCE WHAT KIDS WILL DO SUPPLIES 1 grapple Build relationships. • DVD player community • snacks (5 minutes) • Christian music CD • CD player 2 grapple games Choose two games to play. • classroom supplies (10-15 minutes) • coin 3 grapple time Make lists about different • paper (10 minutes) famous people. Decide • pencils which person is “the • tape biggest loser.” Discuss whether Jesus is a loser.

grapple team Create lists of things that • Bibles 4 What if Jesus Is a Loser?

time make Jesus a winner. • pencils 3. (15 minutes) Create skits to show what’s • copy of the Grapple Team happening in a Bible Guide for each person passage. 5 grapple team Report what they learned • Bibles reports from the Bible passage they • paper (10 minutes) studied. • pencils 6 grapple prayer Choose a prayer option. • paper (5 minutes) • pencils 7 grapple dare Hear the Grapple dare.

57 1 grapple community

Play Christian music as kids enjoy snacks and friendship. Give kids this discussion starter as they eat. Say: Find out from every person in your Grapple Team if they have ever won an award, trophy, or ribbon.

2 grapple games Say: We’re going to play a game, but you’ll get to choose. Would you rather play Gimme Five (p. 104), where you work in groups of five to name items in a category? Or would you like to play Wheelbarrow Racing (p. 105), where you work with a partner to get through a classroom supply obstacle course? Have kids vote on the game they’d like to play. Then lead kids in play- ing the game. Say: Now we’ll play another game. Would you rather play Bodyguard (p. 103), which is a game of tag where bodyguards try to prevent fans from tagging

What if Jesus Is a Loser? the stars? Or would you like to play Heads or Tails (p. 104), where some 3. of you are “heads” and others of you are “tails” and when I flip a coin, depending on which side lands up, one group will chase and tag the other group? Have kids vote on the game they’d like to play. Then lead kids in play- ing the game.

3 grapple time Beforehand, make a “Jesus List” with these things on it: “worked with his hands,” “great speaker,” “exercised a lot,” “had lots of friends,” “gave generously.” Hide Jesus’ name by folding the paper over and taping it down. Lead the entire group in the following: Say: We’re going to play The Biggest Loser! Work with your Grapple Team to think of someone famous. The goal is to come up with the person who will not be The Biggest Loser… so go for winners! Then list five things about that person that make him or her anything but a loser! For example, maybe the person has a lot of money or is very successful. Allow time for kids to make their lists. Then have them hide the name of their contestant by folding their paper and taping the fold shut. Collect all the lists and redistribute them. As you hand out 58 lists, secretly trade your “Jesus List” for one team’s list, quietly keeping one list out. Say: OK, don’t look at your new contestant’s name. I’ll read statements, and your team will get 500 points for each statement on your list that matches the statement I read. Say, “You are not The Biggest Loser if…” before each of these statements: your parents are rich; you have a famous job; you wrote a book; you hold a political office; you’re married with children; you graduated from college; you’ve traveled more than 200 miles from your home; and you have a fan-club Web site. Then have teams tally up their points without looking at their contestant’s name. Declare the biggest winner. Then find out who’s the biggest loser. Have the team with the losing list hold it up. It should be your “Jesus List.” Say: You mean you didn’t get any points? It wasn’t that tough…make a lot of money, be famous, write a book, or go to college. The rest of you can look at your winning contestants now. What if Jesus Is a Loser?

Take the list from the losing team, and open the Jesus list. 3. Wow! Guess who this is! It’s Jesus! So Jesus is The Biggest Loser? Is that true? Review the biggest winner statements, and affirm that Jesus didn’t do any of those things. What if Jesus is a loser? Let’s go to our Grapple Team Time and discover if Jesus really is the biggest loser.

4 grapple team time Break into Grapple Teams. Encourage Grapple Team leaders to check in with kids about their week. Grapple Team leaders will facilitate discussion, using the Grapple Team Guide on pages 61-62.

5 grapple team reports At the end of Grapple Team Time, have kids work with their team to choose one of the options below to report what they discovered. Option 1: Letter to a Friend As a team, list things you discovered about Jesus as if you’re writing a letter to a friend. Read the letter aloud to the group. Option 2: Body Rhythm Create a musical rhythm by stomping your feet or clapping your hands as you share what you discovered. 59 Match Grapple Teams that chose Option 1 with Grapple Teams that chose Option 2. Have teams present their reports. (Do this one team at a time if you have only two Grapple Teams.)

6 grapple prayer Read the Grapple Prayer options. Have the group choose one prayer option that everyone will do. Allow kids time to pray about what they discovered. Then close in prayer. Option 1: Hug Prayers Wrap your arms around yourself tightly. Close your eyes while you take time to enjoy a hug from God and listen for what God has to teach you about today’s lesson. Option 2: Picture Prayers Draw a picture of who Jesus is to you (it could be a symbol or a word that you decorate), and tell Jesus what you’re thinking

What if Jesus Is a Loser? about. 3.

7 grapple dare Say: Some people believe that Jesus is a big loser. We just learned, though, that Jesus took on death and conquered it. He died on the cross and came back to life. No one but Jesus has ever done that. Jesus is the biggest winner. I dare you to act like a winner this week because you’re a Christian—a follower of Christ—the ultimate winner! Maybe there’s someone who makes fun of you because you’re a Christian. This week, know that you believe in a winner. Maybe you’re embarrassed to tell kids that you love Jesus. This week, be a winner and let people know!

(Find the Parent Page for this lesson on the enhanced DVD. Have each child give a copy to his or her parent. Alternatively, send the file to parents via e-mail.)

60 grapple team guide

In your Grapple Team, use this guide to grapple with today’s question.

OK, so is Jesus a loser? What do you think? You have 60 seconds to make a list of things that make Jesus a winner. Time’s up! Read aloud all the ways that Jesus is a winner. So is Jesus a winner or a loser? What does the Bible say? Read the following Bible passages and find winning things about Jesus.

Read John 16:28-33. (List at least three things.)

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______What if Jesus Is a Loser? 3.

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Read Colossians 2:13-15. (List at least four things.)

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What things make someone a real winner, according to these Scriptures? Dig deeper into Colossians 2:13-15. As a team, create a skit that shows exactly what’s happening in this Bible passage. Don’t leave out any details! After you’ve created your skit, discuss the following questions: What could you say to someone who called Jesus a loser now? What examples could you give to back up your answer? What’s one thing you learned about Jesus from today’s Grapple Team Time? Write your answer here.

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grapple team reports With your team, choose one of the options below to report what you discovered.

Option 1: Letter to a Friend As a team, list things you discovered about Jesus as if you’re writing a letter to a friend. Read the letter aloud to the group. Option 2: Body Rhythm Create a musical rhythm by stomping your feet or clapping your hands as you share what you discovered. What if Jesus Is a Loser? 3.

W grapple team guide