LOOKING FOR JESUS

REFERENCES: Lk 2:41-50

DECLARATION AT THE CLASSROOM DOOR (Gate of Praise):

  • When JESUS was a boy, His family took Him to the Temple in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover.  The Temple was the place where Jews gathered to celebrate and worship God, their Heavenly Father.
  • Let’s declare together, “JESUS was in the FATHER’S HOUSE!” pdf

 

WORKTABLE: pdf

 

BIBLE STORY:

  • We heard the story about JESUS who was born in the stable in Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary took good care of Jesus while he grew bigger and bigger. Our story today happened when Jesus was 12 years old. (The height of the average 12 year old boy is 58” / Stand up and indicate chin height)
  • Read: LOOKING FOR JESUS by LDF

 

OPTIONAL STORY TELLING WITH MANIPULATIVES:

  • It was Passover (a very special holiday for Jewish families). Joseph and Mary took Jesus on the long journey from their home in Nazareth to the City of Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover Feast. Many people were traveling to Jerusalem for the Feast. (Move the cube people as a group).
  • Jerusalem was a big, busy city, with lots of things to see and do. (Here is a pretend Jerusalem with lots of houses… a circle house, a square house, a triangle house, an oval house, a rectangle house, a diamond house, and the Father’s House/Temple)
  • The best place to be during Passover was in the Father’s House hearing the Story of the First Passover. Remember the story… the Lamb had to die; God’s people put the blood of the Lamb on the door post; that night when death came to the land of Egypt, God’s people were SAFE under the blood of the lamb! What a wonderful story to remember! God saved His people. Death passed over and did not hurt them!
  • Joseph’s family heard the story, sang songs to God, and ate the Passover Meal. When the Feast was over, Joseph’s family headed back home. (Move cube people back home but inconspicuously leave the Jesus cube in the Father’s House)
  • On the way home Joseph and Mary discovered that Jesus was NOT with them. (Is Jesus with you? Where is Jesus?)
  • They hurried back to Jerusalem to look for their boy. (Maybe He is in the circle house… tip it over to reveal the cube is not inside. Continue till all the shape houses have been searched)
  • After searching for three days, Joseph and Mary finally found Jesus. He was in the Father’s House. He was talking to the teachers about the Kingdom of God. (Tip over the Father’s House to reveal the Jesus cube)
  • Mary said, “Jesus, didn’t You know we would be worried about You?”
  • Jesus answered, “Why were you looking for Me? Didn’t you know I would be in My Father’s House, doing My Father’s work?”
  • Joseph was Jesus’ dad on earth, but GOD was His Father in Heaven. Jesus was doing God’s work. He had hidden God’s Word in His heart and He was teaching others about God’s Kingdom.

 

PRAYER: pdf

  • What is one of your favorite parts of the story? (Lay out FIRST, NEXT, THEN, FINALLY story sequence cards)
  • We have the VERY SAME HEAVENLY FATHER. God INVITES us to do His work WITH Him. Who wants to be growing bigger and bigger WITH God inside them… working together WITH Him?
  • Invite children to stand if they want God to hide HIS WORD in their hearts. “Dear Heavenly Father, we want YOU to hide YOUR WORD in our hearts.  Protect Your Word in us. Keep it sharp in us. Help us to grow strong in Your WORD! In JESUS name”

 

FREE PLAY IN CENTERS:

  • Release children one at a time, with their play cards, to choose a center.
  • DRY TABLE: Cube Stacking/Counting Center:
  •       
  • TRAIN TABLE: Roadway with Cars, Trucks, Buses and Houses/Buildings
  • KITCHEN: Standard Set-Up
  • PLAY DOUGH: Assorted Playdough Colors / Shape Cutters
  • EASEL: Coloring Page LOOKING FOR JESUS
  • CRAFT:

 

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

CLEAN-UP:

Students must tidy up the centers where they were playing when the timer rang. Teachers/Helpers oversee this activity.  Students learn to sort and return items to their proper place.  In so doing, they are learning to take care of the classroom.  It also helps them be prepared for dismissal.  Once the centers are tidy, students move to the BOOK NOOK and quietly look at books.

GAME:

If parents have not arrived after 5 minutes of quiet reading, lead the children in a game (such as Bean Bag Toss, Duck Duck Goose, Doggie Doggie Who Has My Bone, I Spy, etc). Featured Game: WHAT’S MISSING. Place 4-6 items (cubes) in a row.  Instruct the students to look carefully.  Then ask students to close their eyes. Remove 1 item. Students open their eyes and guess which item is missing.

 

DISMISSAL:

Assign an adult to greet parents/guardians.

Call students ONE AT A TIME when families arrive.  Prompt the remaining student to call out, “GOODBYE (student’s name).”

Families check mailboxes.  Today’s TAKE HOME: shapes worksheet; B+W Mini Booklet: LOOKING FOR JESUS.