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    • Optional Memory Verse: 

    Today's Theme:

     

     

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    Today's Story:

    		Doubting Thomas
    John 20 
    Optional Memory verse: 
    		"For God loved the world so much that he gave his only 
    Son. God gave his Son so that whoever believes in him 
    may not be lost, but have eternal life." John 3:16
    International Children's Bible, New Century Version
     
    Jesus wants us to know for sure that He's alive!
    • Materials Needed:
    		Christ figure,
    5 or 6 Fisher Price or similar type men figures
    2 different kinds of boxes such as a shoe box and a small packing box.
    		Put a favorite snack, divided in two parts, into each box.
    Try to make the boxes feel like they are holding something different.
    Tape each securely shut.

     

    • Game:  "Know for sure" relay
    		Set up a relay with two teams.
    Place the snack boxes at another point in the room for each team to run for.
    		Don't give the kids any hints about what's in the boxes.
    The first in line from each team runs to the box, carries it back to his team and gives it to the next child in line.
    This child runs it back to it's starting point and leaves it there. He then returns and goes to the end of the line.
    Repeat until all kids have had a turn.
    Bring the boxes to the story circle.

     

    • *John 2:28

    Closing Discussion:

    • Close in Prayer: 

    • Telling the Story: 

    Instead of using the Promised Land mat, have the kids make a closed room with chairs or masking tape.

    		The teacher will sit in the center of the room to tell the story,
    The kids will be the walls.
    		Making a square of chairs for the kids to sit on.
    If you don't have chairs, draw a square on the floor with masking tape and have the kids sit on the tape.
    If you don't have enough kids:
    		Use a wall or a corner of the room, or
    Make the other walls with empty chairs, pillows or anything you can come up with to make an enclosed space.
    What do you think is in this box?
    		Hold up one of the boxes
    Get kids ideas.
    What about this box? 
    		Hold up the other box and get the kids ideas.
    Do you think both boxes have the same thing inside?
    Do you know for sure what's inside the boxes?
    		No.
    How can you know for sure what's inside?
    		By opening up the boxes and looking.
    We have to see with our eyes to know for sure what's in these boxes don't we?
    Let's open up the boxes and see if you're right.
    		Let the kids open up the boxes and see what's inside.
    We're going to have this for our snack later.
    		Set the boxes aside
    In today's story we're learning that Jesus wants us to know for sure that He's alive.
    Let's listen to find out how Jesus helps us to know for sure that He's alive.
    I want all of you to sit close together and imagine that this is  a closed room.
    Each one of you is a piece of the wall.
    And the door is shut tightly and locked.
    Now I want you to close your eyes and I want each of you to think of a time when you saw or heard something happen and when you tried to tell someone about it they wouldn't believe you.
    No matter how hard you tried to tell someone that it was really true, they would not believe you.
    If this has ever happened to you raise your hand.
    Now I want you to think of how it made you feel to not be believed.
    You can put your hands down now and open your eyes.
    How do you feel when someone doesn't believe you about something that you know is true?
    		Frustrated, it makes you angry, etc.
    Today's story is about a man who didn't believe that Jesus is alive. 
    Listen carefully to find out who that person was.
    And listen to find out if he ever believed that Jesus was alive.
    One evening Jesus' disciples were together in a locked room.
    		Place all but one of the men figures on the floor in front of you. Exclude the Jesus figure also.
    The disciples had the door locked because they were afraid.
    They had heard that Jesus was alive.
    And they were afraid that the priests would accuse them of stealing Jesus' body.
    So they were hiding in this room with the door locked.
    Suddenly Jesus was there with them!
    		Place the Christ figure in the midst of the men figures.
    He didn't come in through the door.  He just appeared.
    The disciples were very surprised and happy to see Jesus.
    Jesus showed them the marks on his hands where the nails had been.
    And he showed them the place where a sword had pierced his side.  
    That helped them to know for sure that He was really alive.
    Jesus talked with them for a little while.
    Then He left.
    		Remove the Christ figure.
    Jesus showed them that He is alive so that we can know for sure that He's alive.
    Later the disciples saw one of the other disciples who hadn't been with them when they saw Jesus.
    		Add the last man figure.
    This man's name was Thomas.
    		Point to the last figure.
    The disciples told Thomas how they had seen Jesus.
    But Thomas did not believe it.
    Now I want you to pretend that you're the disciples trying to convince Thomas that Jesus is alive because you saw Him.
    What do you think you would say to Thomas if you were the disciples?
    		Discuss kids ideas. Then pick one or two for all the kids to say together.
    I'll be Thomas and you be the disciples and I want you to convince me that Jesus is really alive. When I wave my hand it will be time for all of you to stop.
    		Lead the kids in a dialogue  something like:
    		Thomas: I don't believe you.
    Kids: But we saw him. We know He's alive!
    Thomas:  I think your just making it up.
    Kids:  But we touched his hands!
    Thomas: You're all just tired and upset from everything that's happened.  You saw him die. You know as well as I do that he couldn't be alive.
    Kids: We know he's alive!
    Wave your hand to end the dialogue.
    Do you think the disciples were able to convince Thomas that Jesus is alive?
    No they weren't.  Listen carefully to what Thomas said, 
    "Unless I put my own hand into his side and touch his hands where the nails were, I will never believe!"
    About a week later the disciples were altogether in the locked room again.
    This time Thomas was with them.
    Suddenly Jesus was there!
    Jesus knew that Thomas didn't believe.
    So he walked right up to Thomas and said to him,
    		Walk Christ figure up to the Thomas figure.
    "Thomas, put your fingers here in the places where the nails hurt my hands.  
    Now put your hand in the place where the sword hurt my side. 
    See, I really am alive.  
    Stop doubting and believe!"
    Do you think Thomas believed now?
    He sure did.  He cried out "My Lord and my God!"*
    And Jesus said to him, "You believe because you can see me.
    People who believe that I'm alive even if they can't see me will be very happy."
    Who didn't believe that Jesus is alive? 
    		Thomas
    Did he ever believe that Jesus is alive?
    		Yes
    Who convinced Thomas that Jesus is alive?
    		Jesus
    How did Jesus convince Thomas that He is alive?
    		By showing himself to Thomas letting him touch his hands and side.
    Thomas saw Jesus alive with his eyes.
    He touched Jesus with his hands.
    How did Jesus help us to know for sure that He's is alive?
    		He Jesus let his disciples see him with their eyes and touch him with their hands.
    They wrote down in the Bible that they saw Jesus alive so that we can know, too.
    We can know for sure that Jesus is alive because Jesus let people see him with their eyes and touch him with their hands.
    Thank God that Jesus let people see him with their eyes and touch him with their hands so we can know, too, that He is alive.
    Asking God to help us believe that Jesus is really alive.
    Optional Snack:  Box surprise
    		Let the kids snack on the surprise from the boxes in the relay race.

     

    Supplemental Bible Readings:  The Home Sower,
    (Suggested daily readings)

     

    • Materials Needed:
    		Promised Land mat
    Children's Bible
    Christ figure (before class attach a string to him so you can pull him up for his ascension, (make the string about 4 feet or 122 cm long),
    5 or 6 Fisher Price or similar type men figures
    white generic paper plates (dinner size, one per child or at least 6)
    cotton balls or cotton batting,
    glue or glue sticks',
    stapler,
    masking tape
    plain bed sheet (for a backdrop),
    2  flashlights
    Three weeks from now you will need a Paul Figure:
    		Suggestion: 
    		If you're making a homemade Paul from my pattern, make him as a flip figure who flips from an evil man to a good man.

     

    © 2000 Linda Lawler.  
    Permission granted to copy for personal use only.  Not for resale.

    Home Sower 44     Lesson 41    Home Sower 41    Lesson 42    

    Home Sower 42    Lesson 43    Home Sower 43     Lesson 45    

    Home Sower 45   Lesson 46    Home Sower 46    Lesson 47    

    Home Sower 47    Lesson 48   Home Sower 48   

    Lesson 49    Home Sower 49    Lesson 50    Home Sower 50    Lesson 51  

    Home Sower 51    Lesson 52    Home Sower 52

    Hit Counter     

    Lessons 1-12    Lessons 13-27     Lessons 28-33    

    Lessons 34-40    Lessons 41-46    Lessons 47-52