Big Idea: Jesus feels compassion for us when we’re sad, so we can cry out to Him.
Bible Basis: John 11:1-44
Key Verse: “My tears have been my food day and night…When I remember what has happened, I tell God all of my troubles.” Psalm 42:3-4
OPENING PRAYER
Lord, open now my heart to hear, And through your Word to me draw near. Let me your Word ever pure retain; Let me your child and heir remain. All this I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN
Simply ask your child to share one good thing that happened today or this week (thumbs up) and one not-so-good thing (thumbs down). This is a great way to share celebrations and struggles with one another.
BIBLE LESSON VIDEO
ASK THESE QUESTIONS
For younger kids:
What was your favorite part of this story? Why?
Are you surprised that Jesus cried? Why or why not?
For older kids:
Why do you think Peter started to doubt Jesus?
Jesus knew that Lazarus would be raised from the dead, so why do you think he cried?
REFLECT AND RESPOND
After the video, have your child pick one or more of the prompts on the GO! Home Guide.
Prayer Station prompt: Write a prayer to Jesus. Tell Him about something that makes you sad.
Journal Station prompt: The Book of Psalms are filled with songs and poems to God. Write your own song or poem to God about something that makes you sad. Tell Him what you do when you’re sad. And just like the psalms, the words don’t have to rhyme.
Bible Station prompt: Read it for yourself: John 11:1-44. Draw a picture of the story or write to God about your favorite part of the story. Tell Him why you liked it.
Art Station prompt: Draw a picture of Jesus crying. While you’re drawing, remember that when you feel sad, Jesus feels sad for you.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
+ Artrageour Community Builder
- Directions: Give each kid a piece of paper and some markers. Tell the kids to imagine that their favorite pet was just carried away by a fire breathing dragon. Encourage them to create an emoji that shows how they would feel about that. When finished, allow the kids to show their emoji to the group. After showing their emojis, ask them the following question.
- Question: Wow—those are some pretty worried looking emojis. When is the last time you made a face like that? What happened?
+ Tissue Issues (Application Activity)
- Supplies: markers, facial tissues
- Say: Everyone gets sad sometimes! Even Jesus got sad. But we don’t have to keep our sadness to ourselves, we can share those things with each other. We’re going to do an activity right now that will help us do that.
- Directions: Place some markers in the middle of your group and give each kid a facial tissue. Tell the kids to draw a picture of something on the facial tissue that has recently made them sad. When finished, allow the kids to show and explain their drawing to the group.
- Say: It’s helpful to share our sadness with each other, but in Psalm 42:4, it tells something even better to do. The psalmist says, “When I remember what has happened, I tell God all of my troubles.” I have a challenge for you that’s going to help you remember to do that.
- Directions: Tell the kids to look up at the ceiling and place their facial tissue over their face. Count to 3 and tell them blow their tissue up to God. Watch to see who blew it the highest and announce them as the winner of the challenge. You can repeat this for a number of rounds. When finished, tell the kids to see that as a reminder for them to give their sadness over to God. Close the activity by opening your group in prayer. Encourage the kids to pray about the things that make them sad and to ask God to bring their joy back.
+ Bible Emoji (Bible Memorization Activity)
- Set Up: Print 2 copies of the “Bible Emoji Pieces.” Each copy will have 4 different pieces to an emoji (mouth, eyes, tongue, etc.) Each piece will have one of the numbers 2-5 on it. Cut the pieces out.
- Directions: Place the “Bible Verse” sign in the middle of your group. Read the verse several times with your group so that they can begin to memorize it. Today’s Bible verse says: “My tears have been my food day and night...When I remember what has happened, I tell God all of my troubles.” Psalm 42:3-4. When ready, remove the Bible verse sign and divide your group into two teams. Choose a team to go first and have them recite the Bible verse together. If they fail to recite it, the turn moves to the other team. If they recite it successfully, allow that team to roll a dice. If they roll a 1, give them the plate. If they roll a 2-5, give them the emoji piece with that number on it. If they roll a 6, they can choose the plate or any emoji piece they want. If they roll a number that they’ve already rolled, they receive no additional piece and the turn moves to the other team. Have each team take turns reciting the verse and rolling the dice until one team has successfully collected all of the pieces and assembled their emoji.
- Question: Why do you think it’s good to tell God about your troubles? How do you think it helps?
+ Artrageous Prayers (Prayer Activity)
- Set up: Provide one plain white self-adhesive name badge for each kid in the group. Hang a piece of poster board or butcher block paper on a wall in the room. At the top of the board write the words, “I give my SADNESS to God."
- Directions: Give each kid in your group a blank name badge sticker. Place some colored markers in the middle of the group. Today we learned that we can tell God about the things that make us sad. Tell the kids to think of something that makes them sad and draw or write about it on their name badge. When finished, allow the kids to show their prayer art and talk about it. Next, lead your group in a closing prayer. Encourage the kids to pray that God would take their sadness away from them. Finally, when the prayer is over, lead the kids to the poster board sign that says, “I give my SADNESS to God.” Tell them to give their sadness over to God by removing the sticker and sticking it to the sign. In the end, the kids will have created a visual art collage. Consider keeping the collages on the wall throughout the remainder of the “Artrageous” series.
(Due to copyright restrictions, the printable materials described in the activities above are only available to those who have registered for Our Savior’s Kids. To register your child(ren), click the button below)
CLOSING PRAYER
Dear God, You are so powerful. You have power even over death. Thank you for your promise that you have not only forgiven all of my sins, but promised to raise me from the dead on the Last Day so that I will live with you forever. Amen.
DURING THE WEEK
Read in the Bible the story that was the basis for this week’s lesson:
John 11:1-44
Do more of the activities list above with your child.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LESSON?
Leave them in the comments below!