YEA Lesson Library
Bread of Life
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches about the Israelites coming out of Egypt and why we eat unleavened bread (and celebrate this Feast) today.
Scriptures
Exodus 12:15-20
Leviticus 23:4-8
2 Chronicles 30:21
Ezra 6:22
Mark 14:1-2
John 6:35
1 Corinthians 5:6-8
Words to Know
TORTILLA - a round thin cake of unleavened bread
UNLEAVENED BREAD - flat bread made without any leavening
WILDERNESS - a place where people haven’t lived
The Lesson
We learned last week that Moses went to see Pharaoh. He told him that God said, “Let my people go.” Do you remember why God wanted Pharaoh to let His people go? He wanted them to go into the wilderness and have a feast to worship Him. At sunset, when the Passover was over, God’s feast days started. This feast is called the Days of Unleavened Bread.
That night, God’s people left Egypt in a big hurry. They took food and clothes with them. But they left in such a hurry that they didn’t have time for their bread to become big and fluffy. So they ate flat bread, like a tortilla! It was called unleavened bread because there was nothing in it to make it rise. God said we have to eat unleavened bread for seven days. That means that you can’t eat a hamburger or pizza for seven days. But there are a lot of good things you can eat.
The first day and the last day are holy days. God says that we should not work on these feast days. They are days of rest. He wants us to celebrate these days by going to church. We can sing and praise God. And we should pray and give Him an offering. It’s a day for another special potluck meal with lots of good food.
For seven days we should eat unleavened bread to help us remember that Jesus is the Bread of Life. Jesus told His disciples, “I am the bread of life.” He came and died for all the bad things we do. He saved the Israelites from Pharaoh being mean to them. He can save us from sin – all the bad things we do – so that we can live with Jesus forever some day.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Exodus 12:17
Monday - Exodus 12:19
Tuesday - 1 Corinthians 5:6-8
Wednesday - Mark 14:1-2
Thursday - Leviticus 23:4-8
Friday - 2 Chronicles 30:21
Saturday - Ezra 6:22
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, children will be able to:
1. Explain why the Israelites ate flat bread.
2. Tell how long the Days of Unleavened Bread last.
3. Give the name by which we call the flat bread - unleavened.
4. State that Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.”
Topics & Themes
Bread of Life
Days of Unleavened
Bread
Eating Unleavened
Bread
Egypt, Coming Out
Eternal Life
Holy Days
Jesus, Death of
Jesus, Savior
Leavening
Offering
Unleavened
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA students’ and teacher’s books, music player and CD or Tape, magazine pictures of food, construction paper, glue, corn tortillas, food items for the “Activity”
Preparation
Children in the Beginner age group learn best by doing. Provide materials they can touch, smell, see and even taste. Use lesson-related objects and activities to relate Scripture truths to the child’s life. These activities can be arts and crafts, games and home living.
For the opening object lesson, cut several pictures out of magazines of food items (fruit, candy, ice cream, cookies, cake, hamburgers, pizza, chicken, etc.). Glue each picture onto a piece of construction paper to give it stability.
Review Questions
Ask the review questions while the children are eating their “feast” for the Activity.
1. Why did the Israelites eat flat bread instead of fluffy bread like a roll?
2. What do we call the flat bread?
3. How many days did the Israelites celebrate this feast?
4. What are some things we do to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread?
5. What did Jesus say that reminds us of why we eat unleavened bread?
REACH Activity
Letter: FL
Words: flee, flat, fluffy
Sentence: THE PEOPLE HAD TO FLEE EGYPT. THEIR BREAD WASN'T FLUFFY. IT WAS FLAT.
Song
“God Is So Good” is on page 87 of Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Lead the children in a prayer of thanksgiving for leading the Israelites out of Egypt, and for the food He provides for them – especially the flat bread to help them remember.
Printable Pages
