5.

Jesus and the Children (Matthew 19:13-15)

A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him.”
Matthew 3:17

PLAN
Session Outline Supplies
1. Gather 3. Respond Basic Supplies: See page 6
Greeting Stop and Go
Bible-times Toy Heart Prints Gather: Dolls | Doll blankets | Bible-times
Act Out the Story Family Faith Missions costumes
Transition to Explore Transition to Bless
Explore: Piece of cloth
2. Explore 4. Bless
Respond: Hand wipes | Plastic, washable
Sacred Conversations Gathering Together
toys from nursery | Tub with soapy water |
Hear and See the Bible Praising Time
Story Tub with water, no soap | Washcloths |
Blessing
Interact with the Bible Story Towels
At Home with God
Say the Bible Verse
Bless: Bowl | Water | Towel
Transition to Respond

Before You Teach

I n today’s lesson, we’ll explore the familiar Bible story of Jesus blessing the little children. The
disciples tried to keep the children from Jesus. Children can relate to being told not to do
something. Help your children think about how they feel when they are not allowed to do
something (even if there is a good reason for the restriction). Help the children imagine how
the children must have felt when they were not allowed to go to Jesus.

When the disciples discouraged the parents from bringing their children to see Jesus, they
weren’t intentionally being mean to the children. They were acting in a way consistent with the
social norms and expectations of the time. At the time Jesus lived, children were not viewed as
persons in their own right. Children were considered to be their father’s property. Thus,
children should not be allowed to disturb Jesus while he was teaching.

When Jesus reprimanded the disciples, he made a clear statement that God’s love was for
everyone. There are no “non-persons” in God’s kingdom.

By blessing the children, Jesus showed that they were full members in God’s family. Use this
week’s lesson as an opportunity to affirm the children in your class. Let them know that they
are an integral part of God’s family and of your church family.

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5. Jesus and the Children (Matthew 19:13-15)
A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him.”
Matthew 3:17

GATHER
Greeting
Before class: Display the Attendance Chart (Class Kit—pp. 16–17) at eye level.
• Play, “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” (Adventure DVD), as you welcome each child with a greeting
ritual.
• Show the children where to place their offerings on the worship table.
• Help each child put a Jesus and the children attendance Sticker on the Attendance Chart.
SAY: Today our Bible story is about how Jesus blessed children. Jesus showed us that people of all
ages are important in God’s family.
TIP: Welcome each child with a special handshake. Ask the child what kind of handshake he or she
would like. You might give the child a high five, fist bump, or draw a smiley face on the back of one
hand. Make this a greeting ritual each week.

A—Bible-times Toy (Activity Sheet)

Before class: Punch out “Bible-times Toy” (Activity Sheets—p. 5) for each child.
• Help each child follow the directions to make the pull toy.
SAY: Children in Bible times played with toy animals made of clay. Jesus blessed children of all ages.

OR

B—Act Out the Story (Drama)

Before class: Set up an area of your room with Bible-times costumes, dolls, and doll blankets.
• Invite the children to dress up in Bible-times costumes.
• Choose a child to be Jesus. Have Jesus stand away from the other children.
• Encourage the children to wrap the dolls in blankets and start to walk to Jesus.
SAY: Stop! Jesus does not have time for children. (Stop the children.) Wait! Come back! Jesus wants
to see you!
• Have the children go to Jesus.

Transition to Explore
• Have the children stop their activities and clean up. Sing the cleanup song (Bible Story Sheets—
Songs and Poems).
• Encourage the children to pull their Bible-times toys as they move to your story area. Or have the
children crawl like babies to your story area.
TIP: Give the children a five-minute warning before ending activities and transitioning to story time.

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5. Jesus and the Children (Matthew 19:13-15)
A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him.”
Matthew 3:17

EXPLORE
Sacred Conversations
• Have the children sit down in your story area and put their toys away.
ASK: I wonder,
o how do you feel today? Are you happy? Are you sad?
o what’s the best thing that happened today?
o what’s one thing you’re thankful for?

Hear and See the Bible Story

Before class: Cut out the Jesus and the children Bible mural figure (Class Kit—p. 28).
SAY: Today our Bible story is about a time when some parents took their children to see Jesus.
• Place a piece of cloth or a piece of colored construction paper in the middle of the story area.
• Place the Jesus and the children figure on the cloth or paper.
• Tell the children the story, “Jesus and the Children” (Deep Blue Bible Storybook—pp. 239–241).
• Watch the Deep Blue Adventure for Session 5 with the children.
SAY: I wonder how the children felt when they met Jesus. What do you think?

Interact with the Bible Story

• Read “Jesus and the Children” (Bible Story Sheets—Session 5) to the children. Have the children
find the people named in italics in each picture.

Say the Bible Verse

Before class: Remove the Bible Verse Poster for Unit 1 (Class Kit—p. 5).
• Hold up the Bible Verse Poster. Repeat the Bible verse with the children.
• Teach the children the signs from American Sign Language for some of the words in the Bible
verse (Leader Guide—p. 92).
SAY: These are words God said to Jesus. I wonder how Jesus felt when he heard God’s words.

Transition to Respond
• Sing “Thank You, God” (Bible Story Sheets—Songs and Poems) as the children move to the next
activity.
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5. Jesus and the Children (Matthew 19:13-15)
A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him.”
Matthew 3:17

RESPOND
A—Stop and Go (Game)
• Have the children move to an open area of the room.
• Play, “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” (Adventure DVD), or sing, “Jesus Loves Me” (Class Kit—p. 29).
• Encourage the children to move to the music.
SAY: Stop! Don’t bother Jesus!
• Stop the music and have the children freeze (stop moving).
SAY: Go! Jesus wants to see you!
• Start the music and play the game again.

OR

B—Heart Prints (Art)

Before class: Photocopy “Heart Prints” (Leader Guide—p. 36) for each child.
• Show the children how to color a thumb with a watercolor marker and then press the thumb
inside the heart to make prints. Encourage the children to fill their hearts with thumbprints.
• Use hand wipes to clean the children’s thumbs.
SAY: Each of us has different thumbprints, and each of us is an important part of God’s family.

Faith Family Missions

Before class: Gather plastic, washable toys from your church nursery.
SAY: Jesus welcomed children and showed us that children are important to the family of God.
ASK: What are some things our church family could do to welcome children?
SAY: One thing we could do is wash the toys for our church nursery. Having clean toys in the nursery
is one way we welcome babies to our church family.
• Set a tub of water and the second tub of soap and water on a table.
• Show the children how to use a washcloth to wash the toys in the soapy water and then rinse
them in the water without soap.
• Set the toys on towels to dry. Return the toys to the nursery.

Transition to Bless
• Have the children stop their activities and clean up. Sing the cleanup song (Bible Story Sheets—
Songs and Poems).
• Encourage the children to take baby steps to your worship area.

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5. Jesus and the Children (Matthew 19:13-15)
A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him.”
Matthew 3:17

BLESS
Inviting
Before class: Post “Bible Mural” (Class Kit—pp. 14 & 19) on a wall or bulletin board.
• Play the song, “Deep Blue Family” (Adventure DVD). Have the children dance as the video plays.
• Gather the children around the Bible Mural. Invite a child to tape the Jesus and the children figure
(Class Kit—p. 28) to the Bible Mural.
PRAY: Thank you, God, for stories about Jesus that show me I am an important part of your big
family. Amen.

Praising
Before class: Cut out “Song Cards” (Class Kit—p. 29).
• Show the children the song cards and name each song.
• Choose one child to pick a card.
• Sing the song on that card.

PRAY: Dear God, thank you for our church families. It’s fun to sing songs together. Amen.

TIP: If time permits, let the children choose more songs to sing.

Blessing
Before class: Fill a bowl with water. Have a towel for drying hands.

• Show how to gently dip your fingers in the water and let the water drip from your fingers back
into the bowl.

• One at a time, invite a child to gently dip her or his fingers in the water.
• Dry the child’s hand with the towel.
SAY: (Child’s name), you are a part of God’s family.
PRAY: Dear God, thank you for Jesus’ family and for including me in your big family. Amen.

At Home with God

ASK: What’s one thing that happened today that you want to tell your family?
• Send Bible Story Sheets—Session 5 home with each child.

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5. Jesus and the Children (Matthew 19:13-15)
A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him.”
Matthew 3:17

Heart Prints

Preschool Permission is granted to duplicate this page for local church use only. © 2018 Cokesbury Leader Guide
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