Kidzone KG and 1St Grade Small Group April 19, 2015
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Sunday, Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group April 19, 2015 TEACHER BIBLE STUDY The Rich Young Ruler Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30 Jesus had set out on a journey. He and His disciples were likely heading to Jerusalem. (See Mark 10:32.) Suddenly, a man ran up to meet Jesus. The man knelt before Jesus and asked Him a question. “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus reminded the rich young ruler of the commandments. Perhaps the man had kept the commandments relating to others, but Jesus revealed the man’s failure to keep the first commandment—“Do not have other gods besides Me”—by asking him to give up his wealth. The man went away sad because his wealth was his god. Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were surprised. Wasn’t wealth a sign of God’s favor? Wealthy people could freely give in the synagogue and make sacrifices. If a rich person could not enter God’s kingdom, who could? Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” What was Jesus saying? Pushing a piece of thread through the eye of a needle is hard enough, but a several hundred-pound mammal? Impossible! Being wealthy is certainly not a sin in itself; everything we have is a gift from God. But as the rich young ruler shows, wealth can be a great hindrance when a person loves his wealth more than he loves the One who gave it to him. But Jesus pointed out that all things are possible with God. God has the power to change people’s hearts. Salvation comes by His grace, which enables sinners to repent and follow Jesus. Then Peter said, “We have left everything and followed You.” The disciples sacrificed a lot to follow Jesus, but Jesus assured them that anything they left behind would pale in comparison to the fellowship of believers and the treasures that awaited them in heaven. Jesus is better than anything He asks us to give up to follow Him. Not only does He offer us Himself, He offers eternal life. YOUNGER KIDS BIBLE STUDY OVERVIEW Session Title: The Rich Young Ruler Bible Passage: Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30 Big Picture Question: Can a person earn his way into heaven by doing good deeds? No, salvation is a gift from God. Key Passage: Luke 18:31 Unit Christ Connection: Jesus’ life and teachings are examples for His followers of true holy living. Unit 31 Session 1 – Younger Elementary 1 Sunday, Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group April 19, 2015 Small Group Time Welcome time Bible story review (10 minutes) Activity page (5 minutes) Activity choice (10 minutes) Session starter (10 minutes) Journal (5 minutes) Key passage activity (5 minutes) Prayer (5 minutes) THE BIBLE STORY The Rich Young Ruler Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30 One day, Jesus was leaving on a journey. All of a sudden, a young man ran up to Jesus. The man was a Jewish ruler. He knelt down and said, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except for God.” Jesus was testing the young man to see if he believed Jesus is more than just a good teacher. Jesus is more than a good teacher—He is God the Son. Then Jesus reminded the man of some of the commandments God had given to Moses long ago. These commandments were part of God’s law: “Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother.” The man said, “I have kept all of these commandments since I was a boy.” When Jesus heard this, He said to the man, “You are still missing something. Sell everything that you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” The young ruler was very sad about what Jesus said. He was very rich; he had a lot of possessions. The young man decided not to follow Jesus. Jesus saw that the man was sad, and He said to His disciples, “It will be hard for people who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” Then Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus’ disciples were surprised. They said to each other, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God. All things are possible with God.” Then Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, said, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.” Jesus said, “I promise you that anyone who leaves behind his house or family to follow Me will Unit 31 Session 1 – Younger Elementary 2 Sunday, Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group April 19, 2015 get more in this life than he left behind, and he will get the reward of eternal life.” Christ Connection: The rich young ruler loved his possessions more than he loved Jesus. Jesus asks us to be willing to give up everything and follow Him, because He is ultimately the only One worth following. Jesus is better than any treasure on earth. As people who know and love Jesus, we receive eternal life. SMALL GROUP OPENING Session Title: The Rich Young Ruler Bible Passage: Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30 Big Picture Question: Can a person earn his way into heaven by doing good deeds? No, salvation is a gift from God. Key Passage: Luke 18:31 Unit Christ Connection: Jesus’ life and teachings are examples for His followers of true holy living. Welcome time: Arriving Activity: Commandments concentration • “commandments concentration” Print the concentration cards onto heavyweight paper and cut apart. Mix up the cards and place them facedown on a flat surface. Allow kids to take turns flipping over two cards to find a match. Read the commandments on the cards as children turn them over. If a child discovers a match, she may keep the cards and play again. continue until kids discover all the matches. Play again as time allows. Say • In today’s Bible story, a rich young man said that he had kept all of God’s commandments. I have not kept all of God’s commandments. Have you? Activity page (5 minutes) • “Search for Treasure” activity page, 1 per kid • pencils Guide boys and girls to complete the activity page. (Answer key: Jesus is the greatest treasure.) Say • In today’s Bible story, we will discover that Jesus is the greatest treasure of all! Unit 31 Session 1 – Younger Elementary 3 Sunday, Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group April 19, 2015 Session starter (10 minutes) Option 1: Follow the leader Select one child to be the leader. Encourage other children to follow the leader around the room, mimicking his or her movements. The leader may dance, hop, walk, skip, jump, bear crawl, crab walk, and so forth. After a minute or two, guide the leader to move to the back of the line, and the next child in line becomes the leader. Play as time allows. Say • In today’s Bible story, Jesus told a young man who was a wealthy Jewish leader to follow Him. Listen to find out if the rich young ruler followed Jesus. Option 2: Impossible obstacle course • blunt-tipped needle • items for an obstacle course: tables chairs hula hoops balance beams pop-up tunnels Create an obstacle course in your classroom using various objects you have available such as tables, chairs, hula hoops, balance beams, pop-up tunnels, and so forth. Instruct kids to take turns going through the obstacle course. Add or remove items to make the course more or less challenging. Repeat as time allows. Before time is up, tell kids they may run the obstacle course one last time but with a special challenge at the end. Hold up the blunt-tipped needle. Tell kids the final obstacle is to go through the eye of the needle. Say • It is impossible for you to fit through this needle! Could you imagine an animal trying to fit through this needle? In today’s Bible story, Jesus said something is harder than a camel going through the eye of a needle. SMALL GROUP LEADER Session Title: The Rich Young Ruler Bible Passage: Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30 Big Picture Question: Can a person earn his way into heaven by doing good deeds? No, salvation is a gift from God. Key Passage: Luke 18:31 Unit Christ Connection: Jesus’ life and teachings are examples for His followers of true holy living. Unit 31 Session 1 – Younger Elementary 4 Sunday, Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group April 19, 2015 Key passage activity (5 minutes) • Key Passage Slide or Poster • dry erase board and markers (optional) Make sure the key passage, Luke 18:31, is visible for each child, either as the printed poster or written on a dry erase board. Read the verse together. Say • Jesus’ disciples still did not understand what was going to happen to Jesus, but they would understand soon enough.