Jesus Is God's Son

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March 5-6, 2016 Small Group Grade School

Bible Passage: Luke 3:1–22 (Baptism of Jesus)

Jesus Is God’s Son

REMEMBER VERSE “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3

Schedule ANTICIPATE 5–10 minutes

CELEBRATE 35–55 minutes

RESPOND 15–20 minutes

BLESS 5 minutes

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March 5-6, 2016 Small Group Grade School

Inspire My husband and I recently had the blessing of standing as a family in front of our congregation to state our desire to lead our children toward Christ. As the pastor prayed for our family, he said some words that grabbed my heart. He prayed that our daughters would grow up in a home where they would never doubt who they were or whose they were. When I became a mother and looked into the eyes of my daughters for the first time, I realized I would do anything to keep them safe. For me, this meant placing them in the arms of God. I grew up in a secular home, and although I can see God’s hand in my life, sometimes I wish I had known as a child that I was loved by Jesus. Because of this, my spirit is burdened for my girls. I pray every day that God would give me the wisdom to help them find their identity in Christ as they search for who they are. Through motherhood, I came to a deeper realization of just how much God loves me and, in turn, just how much He loves my children. God was willing to give Jesus, His only Son—His beloved—for me and for my girls. What amazing love! It’s this love I want my girls to know firsthand. This love that tells them they belong. This love that tells them they are special, redeemed, cared about, and important. I know Christ loves my girls. I pray that in this world of uncertainty and doubt, He would solidify in their hearts the knowledge of whom they belong to, how much we love them, and the fact that Jesus loves them even more. Patty Santos Yorba Linda Friends, Yorba Linda CA.

Equip Jesus is God’s beloved. In the account of Jesus’ baptism, the Father demonstrates His love for His Son in a variety of ways. He prepares the people for His Son’s arrival by sending John the Baptist to announce the Messiah’s coming. He opens up heaven and speaks audibly, saying Jesus is His beloved Son. God also gives the Gospel readers evidence of Jesus’ credentials by including genealogies in Luke and in Matthew. Together these genealogies demonstrate that Jesus is entitled to the throne both by blood and by legal title. Matthew’s genealogy demonstrates Jesus’ legal title to the throne of David through Joseph. Luke’s genealogy shows His tie to the royal bloodline of David through Mary. During Jesus’ time, women normally didn’t inherit anything, so it was rare to offer a woman’s genealogy. But here, it was necessary. When the Jews were deported to Babylon some 600 years before Jesus’ birth, Judah had a wicked king named Jeconiah of whom God had said, “None of his offspring will prosper, none will sit on the throne of David” (Jeremiah 22:30). Because of this blood curse, God’s ancient promise to David seemed to be in jeopardy. Through the two separate genealogies, God showed that His promise was never in jeopardy. Mary’s genealogy bypasses the blood curse by following David’s line through Nathan. Joseph’s genealogy still follows the legal line through Solomon, but Joseph wasn’t Jesus’ biological father. He was his legal, adopted father. Jesus is entitled to the throne legally and by blood. Through these genealogies, Jesus’ baptism, and many other signs, God the Father demonstrated that Jesus is His beloved Son. We too are God’s beloved. God has gone to incredible lengths to declare that love to us— even to the point of sacrificing His beloved Son on the cross.

God’s Promise to King David In 2 Samuel 7:11b–14, 16 this passage describes God’s covenant with David. Although the word covenant doesn’t appear in this passage, David uses it many times in the book of Psalms to describe the experience in 2 Samuel. Christ came from David’s family line. God’s promise to give David an eternal “kingdom” is ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

Support God the Father goes to great lengths to demonstrate to Jesus and to us that Jesus is God’s beloved. Jesus is the firstborn among many brothers (Romans 8:29b). This means we are Jesus’ siblings. We are co-heirs with Him. What belongs to Jesus belongs to us! Jesus is God’s beloved Son, and we are God’s beloved children through Jesus. Ponder this amazing truth through the words of Paul to the Ephesians (2:4–8): Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ … God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms … in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Praise God who saves us through His Son. Who loves us enough to declare we belong to Him. Who raises us up and calls us beloved.

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March 5-6, 2016 Small Group Grade School

SMALL GROUP SECTION

ANTICIPATE// 5–10 min. Children engage in fun, creative activities designed to pique their curiosity about the day’s portion of The Big God Story.

Time Capsules When John the Baptist announced the arrival of the Messiah, God was using him to tell the world about His Son. For hundreds of years, through the words of prophets, promises, and songs, God had been telling His people His Son was coming. So when God used John to prepare the way for Jesus, it was as if He was opening up an ancient time capsule full of the ways He had been preparing people for the arrival of His Son. SUPPLIES • Time Capsule template (see Resources) • Pens and/or pencils (1 per child) • envelopes 1 per child SET UP Print a Time Capsule template for each child. Set out the supplies. RELATE Time capsules give us a great way to remember and celebrate life. When you look at a time capsule, it reminds you of the hopes, dreams, and prayers you had when you put it together—and how God led you through each one. Encourage everyone to create a personal time capsule. The kids can use the time capsule template page to write down important things they may want to remember years from now. Have them write a future date on the envelope to say when they will open their time capsule!

LARGE GROUP

CELEBRATE// 35–55 min. Children participate in traditions, connect through fun questions and activities, experience The Big God Story through creative storytelling techniques, and respond to God in worship—all within the faith community.

Welcome and Traditions Give the children mementos (such as rocks, marbles, or blocks) for accomplishments such as memorizing the Remember Verse or bringing their Bibles. Have them put the objects into a clear container or add them to a structure, and celebrate when it’s complete. SUPPLIES • Mementos for your church Traditions (rocks, marbles, gumballs, etc.)

Remember Verse This week’s Remember Verse focuses on a character trait of God that’s highlighted in today’s portion of The Big God Story.

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 SUPPLIES • Remember Verse animation (see Resources) • Remember Verse slide (see Resources)

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Spring Lesson 1

Connect Encourage the members of your community to get to know one another through engaging questions, energizing games, and creative activities.

Question If you were going to live out in the desert for a month, what three items would you bring?

Guess Who! A Silly Tradition Have fun getting to know one another! Every time you gather together, select one leader or child and ask her to give you three random facts about herself. Share the random facts and see if the children can guess who it is!

Legend: () – this symbol indicates an opportunity for you , the Communicator, to ask the kids to open their bibles and follow along as you read the Scripture passage () –this symbol indicates a cue for the tech team to play designated audio, video or lighting elements

The Big God Story Bible Passage: Luke 3:1–22 Storytelling Technique: Hidden Clues and Visuals Ponder Point: Jesus Is God’s Son

Prayer of Release The Prayer of Release allows children and leaders to pause, be still, and ask God to quiet their hearts and minds. Before you pray, you might ask the kids to hold out their hands, palms up, in a spirit of releasing their worries and distractions in order to better receive what the Holy Spirit might have for them today. Then encourage the kids to quiet their voices, take a seat, and pray with you.

SUPPLIES • Bible • Timeline slide and animation (see Resources) • Object to be used as a “time capsule” (see Anticipate)

• Paper (2 sheets) • Marker

• Jar of honey • Slides: Locust, “Messiah,” Jordan River, Map of Galilee and Surrounding Areas, John Baptizing Jesus, Dove Descending (see Resources) • Audio: Luke 3:22 (see Resources)

SET UP Roll up a sheet of paper into a scroll and write “Isaiah” on the outside. Write “Messiah” on another sheet of paper. Find an object to use as a “time capsule” and place the “Messiah” paper, “Isaiah” scroll, and jar of honey inside it. RELATE Last week we celebrated many of the wonderful things God did for His people—from protecting David when Saul wanted to kill him, to sending fire down from heaven on Elijah’s sacrifice, to restoring His people and bringing them back to Jerusalem! Today we’re going to skip forward in The Big God Story to the time God’s people had hoped and waited for—the time when Jesus, God’s Son, came to earth and started His ministry. Before we do, let’s pray. Lead children in a Prayer of Release. This is my time capsule. Take out time capsule. Imagine with me that people throughout The Big God Story—people such as prophets and others—filled it with clues about things they were excited about. You see, throughout The Big God Story, God prepared His people’s hearts to receive His Son, Jesus. So this time capsule is full of some of the cool clues God gave people about Jesus coming to earth. Let’s look at the first clue. Pull out the jar of honey.. ()Tech: Cue Locust slide. Hmm … a locust and a jar of honey. Does anyone know what person in the Bible ate locusts and honey in the wild? Yes, John

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Spring Lesson 1 the Baptist! Hundreds of years before John the Baptist’s birth, the prophet Isaiah gave a clue that John the Baptist would be born. He said that there would be, “A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD …” (Isaiah 40:3; Luke 3:4–6). That voice was John the Baptist. God used John the Baptist to prepare people’s hearts to receive their long-awaited Messiah, Jesus, God’s Son. Invite children to say, “Jesus is God’s Son” with you. ()Tech: Jesus is God’s Son slide. John the Baptist knew that in order for people to receive the Messiah, they needed to repent. Who knows what the word repent means? Allow the kids to answer. Right! It means to turn away from sin. Once someone decided to repent, John baptized him. Getting baptized is a way to show others that you’ve turned away from sin and decided to follow Jesus. Invite children to say, “Jesus is God’s Son” with you. ()Tech: Jesus is God’s Son slide. If you haven’t been baptized yet, you can see some people get baptized in just a couple weeks! If you have any questions about baptism you can talk to your Small Group leader today. Okay, let’s look at our second clue. Take out the sheet with the word “Messiah.” ()Tech: Cue Messiah slide. For hundreds of years God had promised that the Messiah would come to earth. Invite children to open to Luke 3:15 and follow along as you read. “The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John was the Messiah.” So whenever someone asked John the Baptist if he was the long-awaited Messiah, John told them, () (have children follow along in Luke 3:16) “One more powerful than I will come.” So repent! And be baptized! Who was the real Messiah? Allow kids to respond. Jesus. Invite children to say, “Jesus is God’s Son” with you. ()Tech: Jesus is God’s Son slide. Meanwhile Jesus was living in Galilee. While John the Baptist was baptizing people in the Jordan River () (Tech: Cue Jordan River slide), Jesus traveled all of the way from Galilee to the River. ()Tech: Cue Map of Galilee and Surrounding Areas slide. One day, while John was baptizing people, Jesus asked John to baptize Him! John tried to refuse! John told Jesus, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (Matthew 3:14). You see, John had been preaching about repentance—turning away from sins. And Jesus is sinless! He is the perfect Son of God, so why would Jesus want be baptized? Maybe our next clue can help us with this question. Pull out scroll with “Isaiah” on it. Many people think Jesus wanted to be baptized because of another prophecy that came from the book of Isaiah. Isaiah announced that Jesus would be “numbered with the [sinners]” (Isaiah 53:12). That means He would be seen with them, He would be their friend, and He would, one day, take on their sin as His own. Okay, let’s think about this for a moment. Think about the president of our country or the most famous celebrity in the world. Does this person just go around hanging out with normal people—let alone poor or outcast people? Does he or she even call common people “friends”? Probably not, right? So if these human beings don’t “identify” with common people, it’s amazing that Jesus, the Son of the God and the creator of the whole universe, did! It’s amazing that He humbled himself and was baptized along with sinners! Even though John didn’t want to baptize Jesus because He was sinless, he obeyed Jesus’ request and baptized Him. ()Tech: Cue John Baptizing Jesus slide. When John baptized Jesus, something amazing happened! ()Encourage children to open to Luke 3:21-22a and follow along as you read. “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove …” (Luke 3:21-22a). As the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, another amazing thing happened! God’s voice came from heaven, saying () (Tech: Cue Luke 3:22 audio clip): “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Wow! Invite children to say, “Jesus is God’s Son” with you. ()Tech: Jesus is God’s Son slide. Through this announcement, God told everyone who Jesus is: His Son, whom He loves deeply. Invite children to say, “Jesus is God’s Son” with you. ()Tech: Jesus is God’s Son slide. Through this part of The Big God Story, God confirmed with Jesus and the rest of the world that Jesus is God’s Son. Invite children to say, “Jesus is God’s Son” with you. ()Tech: Jesus is God’s Son slide. God prepared His people to receive Jesus. And God spoke from heaven to declare that Jesus is God’s Son. Invite children to say, “Jesus is God’s Son” with you. ()Tech: Jesus is God’s Son slide. You know what’s amazing about Jesus being God’s Son? God loves us deeply and sent Jesus so that we could become God’s children too! Through Jesus, we can know how much God loves us because He sent Jesus to die for us on the cross (Romans 5:8). Through Jesus, we belong to God, and He loves us! Share a personal story of a time you knew you were deeply loved by God, your Father.

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Spring Lesson 1

Worship Response This time allows kids to respond to God through worship. Make plans for your worship time, but prepare yourself and your team to hold them loosely if the Holy Spirit leads the group in a different direction. SUPPLIES • Loved cards (see Resources) • Soft worship music (suggestion: “Remain,” • Scissors TruWorship Sincerely Yours or “Come Unto Me,” • Pencils and/or pens (1 per child) TruWorship You Are) • Slide: Romans 8:38–39 (see Resources) SET UP Print the Loved cards, cut them apart, and place them onstage. Ahead of time, ask leaders to pass out the cards to the kids during the response time. RELATE Jesus is God’s Son. Because of Him, we can be called God’s children too. It’s a pretty amazing thought: The God of the universe loves us as His children and calls us His own. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine that we’re truly God’s beloved children. But the Bible says that () (Cue Romans 8:38–39 slide) “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39). Sit quietly for a moment and ponder these verses. Think about this amazing fact: Nothing can separate us from God’s love. Nothing! If we were in outer space, we would still have God’s love; when we’re in scary or sad situations, God still loves us; when we’re happy at a party, God still loves us and calls us His own! Give the kids a moment to sit and ponder this. Play quiet music. After a moment, encourage them to come to the stage. A leader will ask each child her name, write, “Dear (child’s name)” on the blank side of a Loved card, and hand the card to the child. Encourage each child to flip over his card. The back reads, “You are loved.” If they want, your kids can write prayers of thanksgiving on their cards, thanking God for the fact that nothing can separate them from His love for them. Note: If you have a very large group, ask leaders to walk around and hand the cards to the children. Or hand out the cards and allow the kids to sit in silence as they ponder what it means to be loved by God.

Resource Tip As the Holy Spirit leads, be prepared to talk to any kids who show an interest in trusting Jesus as their Savior. Refer to the God’s Good News Booklet and feel free to send it home with kids as well.

SMALL GROUP

RESPOND// 15–20 min. Children respond to what the Holy Spirit is teaching them as they reflect on the day’s portion of The Big God Story, engage in relationship, and create meaningful pieces of art individually or together.

Reflect: Jesus Is God’s Son Jesus is God’s Son. To make sure the people watching His baptism knew this, God parted the clouds and said so out loud! Amazing! It’s even more amazing that God sent His Son to die for our sins because He loves us. Encourage the kids to open their Bibles and read the suggested passages.

Questions for Younger Kids • Who was John the Baptist? How did God use him? Luke 3:2, 4 • What did God call Jesus when He spoke from heaven? Why was this important? Luke 3:22 • Are we God’s beloved children? How do we know? Romans 5:8; John 3:16 • How does it make you feel to know you are God’s child? • How have you seen God show His love to you?

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Spring Lesson 1

Questions for Older Kids • Who was John the Baptist? How did God use him? Luke 3:2, 4 • What did God say when He spoke from heaven after Jesus was baptized? Why was this important? Luke 3:22 • Are we God’s beloved children? How do we know? Romans 5:8; John 3:16 • How does it make you feel to know you are God’s child? • How does it make you feel to know God loves you as much as He loves Jesus? • How have you seen God show His love to you?

Create: I Am God’s Child SUPPLIES • Bibles • Clear contact paper (approx. 8.5” x 11”, 1 sheet per child) • Tissue paper (various colors, enough for approx. 50–70 1–inch pieces per child)

• Scissors (1 pair per child) • Permanent markers (several) • Photo Example (see Resources) • Verses template (see Resources)

SET UP Print the Verses template and Photo Example. RELATE When John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, God showed John and everyone listening that Jesus is His Son. God opened up the heavens and spoke out loud for everyone to hear. Through prophecies and many other signs, God had also prepared His people for hundreds of years to receive His Son. God went to great lengths to show His people that He loved Jesus. God has also gone to great lengths to show that He loves us too. The fact that God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins is the biggest and best example of His great love for us. God loves each one of us personally and wants us to know that through faith in His Son, we’re also His beloved children. Today let’s read what the Bible says about how we’re loved by God. Encourage the kids to open their Bibles and read the verses on the verse sheet out loud. For younger kids, choose one or two verses and read them out loud to everyone. For older kids, let them take turns looking up verses and reading. Once the kids engage with God’s Word, help them create a “stained glass window” to remind them how much God loves them. Have the kids peel the back off the contact paper. Then the kids can rip up pieces of tissue paper and stick them onto the contact paper. (Encourage older kids to think of cool-looking patterns for their stained glass windows.) They can stick the project back to the contact paper backing when they are done to take it home. Once each child creates his stained glass window, have him use a marker to write, “(Child’s name) is God’s son/daughter” in the center. When the kids get home, they can stick the contact paper to a window and enjoy their reminder that they’re known and loved by God.

BLESS//

5 min.

Children are blessed through a prayer of commission, a portion of Scripture, or words of encouragement and guidance. SUPPLIES • Bible RELATE As you bless your kids, tell them they have the opportunity to also be a blessing to others. Encourage them to freely share the joy and love they have received from God. Open a Bible and read John 1:12 as you bless them: Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. Bless them with the following:

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Spring Lesson 1 (Child’s name), may you know that God loves you very much and will never stop loving you, no matter what you do. May you understand that nothing can make God’s love for you go away.

Please remember to hand out the Family First Look each week!

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