Jesus died so that we could live forever with him
Sun 16 April 2006
| Bible Bite | Jesus died so that we could live forever with him. |
|---|---|
| Date | 2006-4-16 |
| Passage | John 12.24 |
| Passage Text | |
| Tags | Easter, Jesus, Cross, Salvation |
| Other Refs | |
| Key Points | Jesus didn't deserve to die; he died in our place to take our punishment for saying No to God. |
| His death was God's plan, to give us life. | |
| Props/Materials | Small seed |
| Big pot plant | |
| Preparation | |
| Debrief | Easter Friday |
[ Introduction: leader picks child to knock on bin, everyone calls 'come out Stinky!', Stinky comes out singing his intro tune ]
STINKY: I'm a bit worried...
LEADER: Why?
STINKY: Someone gave me this little seed as a gift; they said a plant would grow from it. But I've been waiting for a long time, and still there's no plant!
LEADER: Oh, Stinky! That's not how seeds usually grow. Kids, what do you have to do to a seed so that it grows into a plant?
Kids: plant it, bury it in the ground.
STINKY: Bury it! But it will die if I bury it in the ground! And if it dies, it will be dead! And if it's dead, it'll never grow into a big plant!
LEADER: No stinky, with seeds, you have to bury them in the ground, then the seed dies, but a big plant grows out of it. Look at this plant here! This grew from a little seed like yours, because someone planted the seed.
STINKY: That's amazing!! [Leader], this reminds me of something. Today is Good Friday, when we remember when Jesus died. It's a bit funny remembering someone dying; we usually have parties for people being born! Why did Jesus die? What's so special about him dying? Why do we remember Jesus dying?
LEADER: That's a good question! What do you think kids? [answers] Well, let's see what the Bible says - let's see what Robbie the Robot finds...
[ Slide: Robbie appears with John 12.24, Leader gets child to read ]
LEADER: This is something that Jesus told his friends, to explain his death just before it happened. It was his way of saying that his death would bring life to many people - and us. He didn't deserve to die. He died in our place, to take the punishment we deserved for saying 'No' to God, so that we could live forever with him. If we ask him to make us right with God, and trust him, he will give us new life with God. It was all God's plan - and now there are many many people all around the world who trust him, and have new life with him, because he died. That's why we remember Jesus' death today Stinky.
STINKY: Wow! That's a good thing to remember! What's the Bible Bite for today?
[ Slide: Bible Bite, leader asks child to read, then asks Stinky and he gets it wrong, then all say it together. ]
STINKY: I learnt a good lesson today: Jesus died to so that we could live forever with him. That's great. Like the seed, he died so that we could live. I better go and plant my little seed, so that it grows into a big plant. Thanks for teaching me about Jesus, [leader]. See you later little monkeys!
[ Exit, leader instructs kids to return to seat. ]