VBC Kids Sunday Online

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3/29 Bible Story:  Jesus at the Temple (Luke 2:40-52)

Bible Verse: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” – 1 Timothy 1:15

Babies Gospel Gems:

• Jesus went to the temple to worship God.
• Jesus came to earth to do God’s plan.
• Jesus obeyed God and His earthly parents too.
• Main Point: Jesus is God’s Son.

Family Activities:

1. BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY SHEET (PRINTABLE)
   
   
2. SING A SONG - Sing to the tune of “London Bridge”:
   “God sent Jesus down to earth, down to earth, down to earth!
   God sent Jesus down to earth; Jesus is God’s Son!”
   SAY: Jesus was born in Bethlehem. God sent Jesus because He loves us. JESUS IS GOD’S SON
   Watch the videos below and sing along!

3. DRIVE BY THE CHURCH - If you’re on an essential outing drive past the church or through the church parking lot. (Please practice safe social distancing). Point out places for people to learn about God. SAY: Jesus went to the temple to worship God. JESUS IS GOD’S SON. Because of Jesus, we can worship God anywhere!

4. SING! - Sing to the tune of “The Muffin Man”: “(Child’s Name) likes to go to church, to go to church, to go to church, (Child’s Name) like to go to church, with his/her family.” Sing again and have your toddler think of one of their friends from church and put his/her name in the blank. Keep singing until you can’t think of more names or you are tired. (You will probably get tired before your toddler does, they LOVE repetition!). SAY: Jesus went to the temple to worship God. JESUS IS GOD’S SON. Because of Jesus, we can worship God anywhere! 

5. MAKE SCROLL ART - Provide paper for your toddler to decorate a “scroll” with crayons and stickers. Write JESUS IS GOD’S SON or Jesus came to earth to do God’s plan on the scroll before rolling it. Tie it with yarn. SAY: Jesus went to the temple to worship God. Jesus obeyed God and His earthly parents too. JESUS IS GOD’S SON.

6. BUILD THE TEMPLE - Gather wooden blocks or Duplos for your toddler to stack to make a temple. Use little people figures (Duplo people, Little People, Candyland game pieces, etc.) for your toddler to play with in the temple. Retell the Bible story and have your child use the people to act it out. SAY: Jesus went to the temple to worship God. Jesus came to earth to do God’s plan. JESUS IS GOD’S SON.
   
   
7. WHERE IS JESUS? Print this picture. Tape the picture to a wall at your toddler's eye level or to your table. You may also want to use a non-breaking magnifying glass (have any iSpy books lying around?) or toy binoculars for toddlers to search for Jesus. SAY: Mary and Joseph searched everywhere for Jesus. JESUS IS GOD’S SON. Jesus came to do God’s plan.

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Bible Story:  Jesus at the Temple (Luke 2:40-52)
Bible Verse: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” – 1 Timothy 1:15

Gospel Gems:

• Jesus went to the temple to worship God.
• Jesus came to earth to do God’s plan.
• Jesus obeyed God and His earthly parents too.
• Main Point: Jesus is God’s Son.

Big Picture Question: What makes Jesus different? Jesus is God's One and Only Son.

Bible Story Video Questions: (Watch the video and ask your kids these questions)

1. How old was Jesus? (12 years old)
2. Why couldn’t Joseph and Mary find Jesus? (Jesus stayed behind in the temple)
3. What was Jesus doing in the temple? (listening to the teachers and asking them questions)
4. What makes Jesus different? Jesus is God’s One and Only Son.

Family Discussion Starters:

1. Mary, Joseph, and Joseph and Jesus traveled to Jerusalem for Passover.  Mary and Joseph started for home, but they did not realize Jesus was not with them.  They went back to Jerusalem to look for Jesus.  Can you guess where they found Him? If Jesus came back today, what would He find you doing?

2. What kind of questions do you think Jesus asked the teachers? What would you ask the teachers?

Family Activities:

1. BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY SHEET (PRINTABLE)
   

2. PLAY “I Spy” – Choose and object in plain sight in the room. I spy something...(describe the object).  Invite your child to guess the object. Offer additional words to descripbe it until your child guesses the object.  When he/she guesses correctly, allow him/her to choose the next object.
   SAY: Good job finding items in the room! In today’s Bible story, Mary and Joseph were looking for something. Actually, Mary and Joseph were looking for Someone—Who were they looking for? (Jesus!) If we want to find Jesus, where do we look?

3. SING - Have a family worship time singing the songs at the bottom of this section or the VBC Kids songs in the links below!
   

   No, Not One 

   I Will Not Be Afraid

   My Hope is in the Lord

4. MAKE A HEIGHT CHART – Tape a large sheet of paper to the wall. Invite your child to stand against the wall.  Use a marker to mark the height on the paper.  Demonstrate how to use the tape measure to determine his height.  Write your child’s name and height on the paper.  Compare heights with other family members. SAY: Jesus was a baby in last week’s Bible story.  In today’s Bible story, Jesus is 12 years old.  Jesus grew taller as the years went on, just like you are growing taller every day.  The Bible tells us that Jesus also grew wiser as He was growing taller.  

4. PLAY HIDE AND SEEK - Get swaddling blankets and a baby doll for toddlers. Demonstrate how to swaddle babies, and then invite toddlers to try. Talk about how Mary wrapped Jesus in cloth to keep Him warm.
   SAY: In the Bible story today, where did Jesus' parents find Him? (In the Temple) Where is Jesus now? (In heaven)

5. TAKE A WALK OUTSIDE – Take your preschooler on a walk outside and talk about the journey that Jesus and His family took every year to Jerusalem.  Remind her/him that Jesus’ family traveled with a large group of family and friends.  Explain that there were no cars, buses, planes, or trains in Bible times. SAY: Jesus and His family had to travel by foot and it took a long time. Jesus came to earth to do God’s plan. Sometimes God's plan is hard and sometimes it takes a long time. 

6. BUILD THE TEMPLE – Gather wooden blocks or Duplos for your toddler to stack to make a temple. Use little people figures (Duplo people, Little People, Candyland game pieces, etc.) for your toddler to play with in the temple. You can also build it out of Playdough or small boxes. Retell the Bible story and have your child use the people to act it out. SAY: Jesus went to the temple to worship God. Jesus came to earth to do God’s plan. JESUS IS GOD’S SON.

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3/29 Bible Story:  Jesus at the Temple (Luke 2:40-52)

Bible Verse: 1 Timothy 1:15 “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” – 1 Timothy 1:15

VBC KIDS WORSHIP SONGS:

No, Not One 

I Will Not Be Afraid

My Hope is in the Lord

 

Main Point: Jesus came to earth to do His Father's plan.

Bible Story Video Questions: (Watch the video and ask your kids these questions)

1. Why did Jesus’ family travel to Jerusalem? (to celebrate Passover, Luke 2:41)
2. How old was Jesus in today’s Bible story? (12 years old, Luke 2:42)
3. Where did Mary and Joseph find Jesus? (at the temple, Luke 2:46)
4. What was Jesus doing at the temple? (listening to the teachers and asking them questions, Luke 2:46)
5. Did Jesus sin by staying behind in Jerusalem? (No, Jesus never sinned; Luke 2:51; 2 Cor. 5:21)
6. What makes Jesus different? Jesus is fully God and fully man.

SAY • Jesus came to earth to do His Father’s plan. He was in the temple—His Father’s house—because that’s where He belonged. As Jesus grew up, He became strong and wise. God blessed Jesus as He got ready to follow His Father’s plan: to die on the cross and rescue people from sin.

Discussion Starter Video Questions: (Watch the video and ask your kids these questions)

1. What's the most important thing to you? (You can figure out what's important by what you spend time on)
2. Do you set aside time to read the Bible and pray? Why or why not?
3. Do you think it's important to God that you do these things?
4. Why is it sometimes difficult to make these things a priority in our lives?

SAY: How we live won’t always make sense to other people. God has specific plans for each of us, but He calls all of us to tell others the good news about Jesus and what He has done to rescue people from sin. Jesus came to bring us to God. We can get to know Him more through His Word, the Bible. We can show His love by serving others.

Family Activities:

1. BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY SHEET FOR YOUNGER KIDS (PRINTABLE)
   BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY SHEET FOR OLDER KIDS (PRINTABLE)
   
   
2. WHERE AM I? - Invite kids to play a game of 20 questions. Explain that you are thinking of a place. Kids may take turns asking up to 20 yes-or-no questions to try to figure out what place you are thinking of. For example, “Do you go here every day?” “Is this place warm?” or “Is this place crowded?” Keep track of how many questions kids ask. If they are unable to guess the place after asking 20 questions, reveal the answer. Play multiple rounds as time allows. (Ideas: school, church, aquarium, library, etc.)

   SAY • Today in the Bible story, Mary and Joseph couldn’t find Jesus, and they looked everywhere for Him. Where did they eventually find Him? If Jesus came back in 1 month, where would He most likely find you? Where do you spend the most time?  How is that like or unlike Jesus?

3. WHO BELONGS HERE? - Google the locations below for each place people belong.  See if you kids can guess who belongs there.

   Outer space (astronaut)
   Ocean (diver/marine biologist)
   Hospital (doctor/nurse/surgeon)
   Basketball court (Basketball player/coach)
   Busy city streets (Taxi cab driver, hot dog vendor, people busy to get to work)
   Beach (lifeguard/surfer/families)
   Church (???)

   SAY: You wouldn’t be surprised to see each of these people in these places; that’s where they belong! In today’s Bible story, Mary and Joseph couldn’t find Jesus, but they found Him exactly where He was supposed to be!

   THINK ABOUT IT: Who belongs at church? Is anyone welcome at church? Why or why not? Do you feel like you belong at church?  Why or why not?

4. HOT & COLD! -

   Pick something to hide in the room. Direct kids to find it by telling them they are getting hotter as they approach it or colder as they stray away from it. When the kids find it, discuss if it would be hard to find without clues.

   SAY: Jesus’ earthly parents took Him to Jerusalem for the Passover festival each year. One year, they left without Him! How do you think His parents felt when they finally found Him? Have you ever lost something you loved? How did you feel when you found it? Check out these verses where Jesus talks about a lost coin and how much He cares for people! Luke 15:8-10 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

5. GROW, GROWING, GONE - Use a tape measure to find the height of your kids. Ask them to guess how tall you are, then measure your own height. Allow kids to stand safely on a step ladder or stool to measure how tall they think they might be when they grow up.

   SAY: You will grow taller than you are now. You may even grow taller than me! Jesus grew up too. Last week we learned about when Jesus was born, but in today’s story, He was 12 years old! He grew up like us, but He was also different from us. Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. What made Jesus different than us? (Jesus was God’s Son, Jesus never sinned, Jesus died to save us, etc.) Our verse this unit: 1 Timothy 1:15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

6. WALK IT OFF! – Go for a walk and pay attention to the scenery.  As you walk, ask these questions:

   What’s the farthest you’ve ever walked? SAY: In Bible times they walked everywhere. Jesus’ parents traveled for a whole day before they realized Jesus wasn’t with them. 
   How do you think they felt as they were walking back looking for Him? (worried) His parents were probably really worried. 
   Are you worried about anything? 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.  Casting is when you’re going fishing and you throw your fishing line out as far away from you as you can.  God wants you to throw your fear and worry on Him because He loves and cares for you very much. 

   As you finish your walk, talk to God about the things that worry you and “cast” your cares on Him!

7. WHAT'S THE PLAN STAN? Does your family know what to do if you get separated? Talk about a few places you go and create a plan for what your kids should do if they get separated from you in those places. (i.e. Target, park, Disneyland, etc.)

8. BUILD 'ER UP! Grab something around the house kids can build a tower with.  Legos, toothpicks and marshmallows, paper and tape, straws, paper cups, whatever you have around the house.  On a piece of paper, draw specific plans for how you want them to build their tower. Give them a few minutes to complete it. 

   ASK: Did you follow the plans? Was it easy or hard to follow the plans? God has a plan for each of us. How do we know what God’s plan is for our lives? (In His Word, the Bible)
   1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

   SAY: God had a plan for Jesus too.  His plan was to save people from their sin. Jesus came to earth to do His Father’s plan. Even as a child, Jesus wanted to do His Father’s plan.  As Jesus grew up, He became strong and wise. God blessed Jesus as He got ready to follow His Father’s plan: to die on the cross and rescue people from sin. Jesus followed God’s plan because He loves us. We deserve to die for our sin, but Jesus came to take the punishment in our place. When we trust in Him, God forgives our sin and gives us eternal life. Romans 10:9 "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Extra Family Discussion Starters:

1. Jesus and His family worshipped God at the Temple. Where do you worship God?
2. Why do you think Jesus stayed behind? (Doing His Father’s business, Luke 2:49 "Why were you searching for me?" He asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?")
3. Who was Jesus talking about when He said He had to be in His Father's house? (God, His Father)
4. How can we know God is our Father too? (John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name)

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NOTE TO PARENTS!:

Hi Parents! Each week we let the kids grapple with questions they have about God, His Word, and the World! They dig deep in the Bible to find answers to life’s tough questions.  Below is the question they’ll get to explore today.  We encourage you to let your kids go through the questions below using a Bible, a sheet of paper, and a device to read the questions on.  Feel free to go through them yourself or even with your kids.  Discover what God has to say about the questions your kids wonder about!

Grapple Question: What if My Parent Asks Me to Do Something Wrong?

Kids Learn: God’s Law Is Above Man’s Law

Dig Into the Bible: Daniel 3:8-30; Acts 5:25-29; Philippians 4:13

Talk About It:  We have an awesome responsibility and opportunity as parents! God has entrusted us with the moral upbringing of our kids-His creation. Our kids watch and hear everything we do and say, and they learn more from us than we probably realize. If we were to ask them to tell a “little white lie,” they’ll learn that lying is no big deal. Yikes! We need to be careful with our choices—large and small—as your kids are always learning from us.
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. - Proverbs 22:6
Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire. - Proverbs 29:17
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. – Hebrews 12:11
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. – Ephesians 6:4

 

AGES 10+:

1	grapple guide

Today’s Grapple Question: What if My Parent Asks Me to Do Something Wrong?
Here's the situation: You're buying tickets for a movie. You're a year older than the age limit for a child's ticket, but your parents want you to say you're younger than you are to get the discount. What do you do?
Here's another one: The phone rings and you answer it. It's a phone call for your mom from someone she doesn't want to talk to at that moment. She asks you to tell the person she's not home. What do you do?
Maybe you haven't faced such situations, but would you know what to do if your mom or dad asked you to do something wrong? Let's see what the Bible says.

Grab a blank piece of paper and Bible or look up these verses online. If you find them in your Bible, mark them to remind you of what you learned this week!  If you don’t understand a verse, ask someone in your house with you and talk about it together.

Read Acts 5:25-29. 

What can you learn from the disciples' choice to obey God over the high council? Based on these verses, when are times you might decide to obey God rather than your parents? What if you don't know if something's right or wrong?

Read Daniel 3:8-30. 

Compare the experience these three men had with the experience Peter and the apostles had. How are the experiences similar or different?

Based on these verses, is it ever okay to obey God over your parents? If so, give an example of when it's okay.

Read Philippians 4:13. 

Look back at the two situations you discussed at the beginning of Grapple Time, and think about how you can use this verse to help you do the right thing. How could you respectfully tell your parents you have to obey God rather than them?

2	grapple reports

Option 1:  Extra! Extra!
Come up with a news report to share what you learned today. Record it and have your parents post it online or send it to [email protected]

Option 2:  Silent Witness
Silently act a short play to describe what you discovered today and send us the video!

3	grapple prayer

Option 1:  People Prayers
Call someone you feel comfortable praying with, list 3 areas in your life where you need help in determining what is right. Pray for each other.

Option 2:  Song Prayers
Choose a favorite praise song that helps you keep your focus on God, and use it as your prayer.

4	grapple dare

Sometimes we have to make choices, tough choices. God commands us to obey our parents, but what if they ask us to do something wrong? Peter and the apostles said it best when they said, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” This week I dare you to stand up for what’s right and obey God above all else. But remember to do it respectfully; you may not fully understand what your parents are asking you to do. Ask them to help you understand because you feel that what they’re asking might be wrong. I dare you to be different, and ask God to give you the courage to stand up for the right thing no matter who’s telling you what to do.

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