{"id":1428,"date":"2025-01-05T21:27:24","date_gmt":"2025-01-05T21:27:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/?page_id=1428"},"modified":"2026-02-11T20:07:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T20:07:16","slug":"looking-for-jesus","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/index.php\/looking-for-jesus\/","title":{"rendered":"LOOKING FOR JESUS"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>JESUS WAS IN THE FATHER&#8217;S HOUSE, DOING THE FATHER&#8217;S WORK<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>REFERENCES<\/strong>: Lk 2:41-50<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/BJ0.jpg\" width=\"275\" height=\"178\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>DECLARATION AT THE CLASSROOM DOOR<\/strong><\/span> (Gate of Praise):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When JESUS was a boy, His family took Him to the Temple in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover.\u00a0 The Temple was the place where Jews gathered to celebrate and worship God, their Heavenly Father.<\/li>\n<li>Let&#8217;s declare together, &#8220;JESUS was in the FATHER&#8217;S HOUSE!&#8221;<a href=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/LFJ-printing-lines-scaled.jpg\"> pdf<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/LFJ-printing-lines-scaled.jpg\" width=\"139\" height=\"180\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">WORKTABLE<\/span><\/strong>: <a href=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/worksheet-FATHERS-HOUSE2-scaled.jpg\">pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Demonstrate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=alOvhWFq09U\">ASL for FATHER&#8217;S HOUSE<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Printing: JESUS was in the FATHER&#8217;S HOUSE<\/li>\n<li>Tracing:Shapes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/worksheet-FATHERS-HOUSE2-scaled.jpg\" width=\"241\" height=\"187\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong>BIBLE STORY PREPARATION<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Song: Holy Spirit Teach Us<\/span> \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=dWhA-hOMf7o\">Tune only<\/a> \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9pKWVtTUVGg\">Lyrics and Actions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Oh, Oh, Oh&#8230;I Want To Grow, Grow Grow \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/DV1p9QxW8As?si=tBN9tEtg8rzEq9Iz\">tune only on keyboard<\/a> \/\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/w9AfjyJLSiM?si=2bsHKT7r--sXI1pM\">actions to part 1<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">BIBLE STORY<\/span><\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>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\u201d \/ Stand up and indicate chin height)<\/li>\n<li>Read: <a href=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/BJ0.pdf\">LOOKING FOR JESUS<\/a> by LDF<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">OPTIONAL STORYTELLING WITH<\/span><\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Looking-for-Jesus-manipulatives.jpg\">MANIPULATIVES<\/a>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>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. <strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">(Move the cube people as a group)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Jerusalem was a big, busy city, with lots of things to see and do. (Here is a pretend Jerusalem with lots of houses\u2026 a circle house, a square house, a triangle house, an oval house, a rectangle house, a diamond house, and the Father\u2019s House\/Temple)<\/li>\n<li>The best place to be during Passover was in the Father\u2019s House hearing the Story of the First Passover. Remember the story\u2026 the Lamb had to die; God\u2019s people put the blood of the Lamb on the door post; that night when death came to the land of Egypt, God\u2019s 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!<\/li>\n<li>Joseph\u2019s family heard the story, sang songs to God, and ate the Passover Meal. When the Feast was over, Joseph\u2019s family headed back home. <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>(Move cube people back home but inconspicuously leave the Jesus cube in the Father\u2019s House)<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li>On the way home Joseph and Mary discovered that Jesus was NOT with them. <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>(Is Jesus with you? Where is Jesus?)<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li>They hurried back to Jerusalem to look for their boy. <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>(&#8220;Is He in the circle house?\u2026 tip it over to reveal the cube is not inside. Continue till all the houses have been searched)<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li>After searching for three days, Joseph and Mary finally found Jesus. He was in the Father\u2019s House. He was talking to the teachers about the Kingdom of God. <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>(Tip over the Father\u2019s House to reveal the Jesus cube)<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li>Mary said, \u201cJesus, didn\u2019t You know we would be worried about You?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Jesus answered, \u201cWhy were you looking for Me? Didn\u2019t you know I would be in My Father\u2019s House, doing My Father\u2019s work?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Joseph was Jesus\u2019 dad on earth, but GOD was His Father in Heaven. Jesus was doing God\u2019s work. He had hidden God&#8217;s Word in His heart and He was teaching others about God\u2019s Kingdom.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>PRAYER<\/strong><\/span>: <a href=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/prayer-LOOKING-FOR-JESUS-1.jpg\">pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What is one of your favorite parts of the story? (Lay out FIRST, NEXT, THEN, FINALLY <a href=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/LFJ-FNTF-scaled.jpg\">story sequence<\/a> cards)<\/li>\n<li>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\u2026 working together WITH Him?<\/li>\n<li>Invite children to stand if they want God to hide HIS WORD in their hearts. \u201cDear Heavenly Father, we want YOU to hide YOUR WORD in our hearts. \u00a0Protect Your Word in us. Keep it sharp in us. Help us to grow strong in Your WORD! In JESUS name\u201d<\/li>\n<li><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/prayer-LOOKING-FOR-JESUS-1.jpg\" width=\"185\" height=\"143\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>FREE PLAY IN CENTERS<\/strong><\/span>: Release children one at a time, with their play cards, to choose a center.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>DRY TABLE: Cube Stacking\/Counting Center:<\/li>\n<li><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/DT-cubes.jpg\" width=\"142\" height=\"150\" \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/colorful-cubes.jpg\" width=\"87\" height=\"87\" \/><\/li>\n<li>TRAIN TABLE: Roadway with Cars, Trucks, Buses and Houses\/Buildings (City Buildings from bible story)<\/li>\n<li>KITCHEN: Standard Set-Up \/ Passover Foods (Lamb Chops, Matzo Bread, etc)<\/li>\n<li>PLAY DOUGH: Assorted Playdough Colors \/ Shape Cutters (circle, triangle, square, rectangle, oval, rhombus)<\/li>\n<li>EASEL: Coloring Page <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/577797827212499702\/\">LOOKING FOR JESUS<\/a><\/li>\n<li><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/52-FREE-Bible-Coloring-Pages-for-Kids-from-Popular-Stories-scaled.jpg\" width=\"139\" height=\"177\" \/><\/li>\n<li>CRAFT: <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/3tmL1ZHGALA\">Jerusalem Buildings<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-10-at-3.01.15-PM.png\" width=\"103\" height=\"133\" \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-10-at-2.49.06-PM.png\" width=\"114\" height=\"100\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"color: #000000;\">BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS<\/strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Storybook-for-Boy-Jesus-in-the-FATHERS-HOUSEj-scaled.jpg\" width=\"298\" height=\"129\" \/><\/p>\n<h6><strong>CLEAN-UP:<\/strong><\/h6>\n<p>Students must tidy up the centers where they were playing when the timer rang. Teachers\/Helpers oversee this activity.\u00a0 Students learn to sort and return items to their proper place.\u00a0 In so doing, they are learning to take care of the classroom.\u00a0 It also helps them be prepared for dismissal.\u00a0 Once the centers are tidy, students move to the BOOK NOOK and quietly look at books.<\/p>\n<h6><strong>GAME:<\/strong><\/h6>\n<p>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). <strong>Featured Game<\/strong>: WHAT&#8217;S MISSING. Place 4-6 items (cubes) in a row.\u00a0 Instruct the students to look carefully.\u00a0 Then ask students to close their eyes. Remove 1 item. Students open their eyes and guess which item is missing.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cubes-1.jpg\" width=\"342\" height=\"120\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/cubes-2.jpg\" width=\"345\" height=\"113\" \/><\/p>\n<h6><strong>DISMISSAL:<\/strong><\/h6>\n<p>Assign an adult to greet parents\/guardians.<\/p>\n<p>Call students ONE AT A TIME when families arrive.\u00a0 Prompt the remaining student to call out, &#8220;GOODBYE (student&#8217;s name).&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Families check mailboxes.\u00a0 Today&#8217;s TAKE HOME: shapes worksheet; B+W Mini Booklet: <a href=\"http:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/LFJ1.pdf\">LOOKING FOR JESUS<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>JESUS WAS IN THE FATHER&#8217;S HOUSE, DOING THE FATHER&#8217;S WORK 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.\u00a0 The Temple was the place where Jews gathered to celebrate and worship God, their Heavenly Father. Let&#8217;s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1428","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1428","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1428"}],"version-history":[{"count":86,"href":"https:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1428\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3054,"href":"https:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1428\/revisions\/3054"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelessons4children.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}