YEA Lesson Library

Objectives

At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Tell that they can pray to God when they have a need.

2. Give the reason why Jesus had to die.

3. Trust God to do what is best for them.

4. Recite their memory verse. 


Topics & Themes

Disciples (Judas)
Eternal Life
Falling Asleep
Gethsemane
God’s Love
Jesus, Crucifixion of
Jesus, Death of
Jesus, Savior
Jesus Sets Example
Jesus - Without Sin
Judas
Prayer
Sin
Trusting God

Materials Needed

Bible, YEA Students’ and Teacher’s books, attendance and memory verse charts, stars or stickers, construction paper footprints for path, Scotch tape, songbook, CD or tape, music player

Preparation

“Our purpose should be to equip the students with the skills, tools, and motivation to become lifelong Christians with a lifelong commitment” (Basic Principles of Effective Teaching, by June Crabtree). We want them to not only know who Jesus and God are, but to understand that they can be trusted. We want them to learn early on that God loves them and cares about them. He cares when they are sick or when they are frightened. It is important that they know that Jesus loves them, and that He gave His life for them.

Prayer is an important first step for the primary aged child. Because of their emotional immaturity and insecurity, they need constant reassurance. The assurance that God both hears and answers their prayers will encourage them to tell Him their needs. When they come to understand that God wants the very best for them, they will gain confidence.

Even as mature adults, we do not always understand the ways of God. It is in these times that we must all learn to trust Him by faith. Since the primary child is literal in his thinking, he may ask questions as to “how, when or why.” He may ask why God just didn’t make another way for sins to be forgiven. Or, he may wonder if he will have to suffer too. It is essential that you let him know that God’s thoughts and ways are much higher than our thoughts and ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), and that there are some things we will not be able to understand. We will have to be like Jesus, and trust that God’s ways are best.

Today’s key word is prayer.

Cut out enough construction paper footprints to make a path on the classroom floor. Begin at one end of the room, placing the footprints about six inches apart. At the halfway point, make a “fork” in your path, having footprints going in two different directions. Make two directional signs for your paths, saying “God’s way” and “My way.” Place the signs on the floor next to each fork in the path.

How to Teach This Lesson

In order to teach the children to trust God, you must teach them to make choices. Using the following scenarios, have one child at a time walk on the footprints to the fork. There they must choose to go their way or God’s way.

1. Pretend you are like Connie in our story. You are very sick. Your mother wants you to go to the doctor. You are afraid the doctor will give you a shot. But you want to get better. (Walk to the fork) Will you go God’s way and do what your mother thinks is best, or will you tell her you don’t want to go because you are afraid? What will help you not be afraid?

2. You have a new teacher at school. She is very strict. You are afraid she will punish you for not doing your homework. (Walk to the fork) Will you go your way and pretend you are sick so you can stay home? Will you go God’s way and go to school, telling your teacher that you are sorry you forgot to do your homework? What do think might help you?

3. Your little sister got into your room and scattered your books all over the floor. You know your mother wants your room kept clean. (Walk to the fork.) Will you go your way and yell at your little sister because you don’t want to get into trouble? Will you go God’s way and help her pick up the books? How can you keep from getting mad at your sister?

4. One of the boys in your class made fun of you because you struck out in the baseball game. He was calling you names. (Walk to the fork.) Will you go your way and think of some names to call him? Will you go God’s way and forgive him, and practice your swing? How can you forgive when someone does something bad to you?

5. You were in a store with your dad. You wanted a candy bar, but Dad wouldn’t buy it for you. You picked it up and put it in your pocket. Later Dad saw you with the candy and asked you where you got it. (Walk to the fork.) Will you go your way and tell him you don’t remember where you got it? Will you go God’s way and tell the truth, even if you will get into trouble? What will give you courage to do what is right?

Jesus knew that He would have to suffer. He would have to pay the penalty for our sins. He went to the garden to pray to His Father. Ask: What if Jesus told His Father that He didn’t want to die for our sins? If He didn’t obey God, He would not be perfect. But, we know that Jesus was perfect. He chose to do what God wanted.

We can always trust that God’s way is best for us. It may seem hard to do things God’s way, but if we ask Him, He will help us.

Review Questions

Use the footprints when asking the review questions. Allow the children to “walk” their answers.

1. When Jesus was here on earth whose way did He walk?

2. When He prayed in the garden to His Father, did He tell Him that He didn’t want to die?

3. Did Jesus get mad because He had to die for our sins?

4. When we are afraid, what should we do?

5. If we think we will get in trouble, what should we do?

6. Which way is the best way?

7. What will give you the courage to do what is right?

Teacher-Directed Activity

Line the children up at the beginning of the footprints. One at a time, blindfold the children and lead them to the fork. You may switch the signs, or leave them the same. The blindfolded child must choose which path to take by listening to the hints of the other children – they may call out, “God’s way,” or “My way” as the blindfolded child turns in one direction or the other. The object of the activity is for the child to choose to go God’s way.

REACH Activity

Special Materials: hole punch, ribbon or string, Bible stickers, clay, Bible map, string, tape recorder or video recorder and tape or smart phone, clear contact paper, postcard, post-it notes

1. Have children ask their parents if they know of someone who needs prayer: relative, church family member, or friend. Then they should set aside some time to ask God to do what is best for them.

2. Let students create and design a prayer journal/book. Have them decide on what kind of paper they would like, punch holes in the edges of the paper, and use twine, ribbon, or string to make a book with the pages. They can use the prayer journal to record prayer needs of relatives, friends, and church family members, and write God’s answer next to each prayer. Say: Give praise to God for answered prayer. God will always do what is best! They can also record Scripture verses and decorate them with stickers or pictures.

3. Ask kids to describe how it feels when they must do something they really don’t want to do. Say: Remember it was harder for Jesus. When your mother or father asks you to do something, you must respect and love them by doing it. Ask: What is the Fifth Commandment? Don’t forget the other nine!

4. Tell children to think of a time when their parents wanted them to do something, but they didn’t want to. Ask: Did you obey? Why or why not? Why did your parents want you to do that thing?

5. Ask: Were you ever blamed for something you didn’t do? You may have even been punished for it! Jesus had the best solution: He prayed. If you ever feel that you have been treated unfairly, pray. You can pray that God will teach you how to live your life, even if it is sometimes hard. Let kids use clay to form the letters and words of their memory verse.

6. The garden where Jesus went to pray was called Gethsemane. On a Bible map of Jerusalem, let students find the Garden of Gethsemane. On a piece of cardboard or poster board, have them draw an outline of Jerusalem and glue string around the outline. If they can, label: Kidron Valley, the Temple, Caiphas’s house, and the Garden of Gethsemane.

7. Have children write a song about Jesus and the disciples praying in the Garden of Gethsemane using the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”

8. Tell students to write important words from their YEA lesson on one side of index cards, shuffle the cards, and pull out a card. Then explain how the word relates to the lesson.

9. Kids can choose one of the Gospel accounts of the YEA lesson and record it on tape as they read the Scriptures.

10. Students should add this lesson to the timeline.

11. Has one of your family members, or close friends been badly hurt? How did that make you feel? Why?

12. Ask: Have you been hurt? How did it happen? How did your parents feel when you were hurt? How did you feel?

13. Trace the child(ren)’s foot on a piece of construction paper and have them cut it out. Then they should write this week’s memory verse on the footprint and have an adult help them cover the footprint with clear contact paper on the front and the back. Trim off the extra contact paper. Use the footprint as a bookmark.

14. Ask: Can you think of a prayer you really want God to answer today? Kids can go tell their mom or dad about it and ask them to help pray an appropriate prayer.

15. Students can send an encouraging postcard to someone they know who has asked for prayers. Have them ask mom or dad to help address and stamp it. Then mail it.

16. Jesus wanted His disciples to watch and pray in the Garden. They fell asleep. It’s important to remember to pray when someone you know asks for prayer. Tell children if they know someone who needs prayer, to write their name on five post-it notes and stick the notes in plain sight around your home. When they see the name, they should stop and pray for that person. Say: The post-it notes will help you (and your family) to remember to pray for them.

17. Sing “Wonderful Words of Life” on page 43 of the CEM Hymnal. Ask: What words can you add to your Bible notebook from this week’s lesson? They should add those to their Bible notebook.

Song

“Whisper A Prayer” is on page 57 of the Kids Classics Collection.

Closing Prayer

Ask one of the children if they would like to lead in prayer, asking God to help them make right choices, and thanking Him for hearing their prayer.