Words of Encouragement #20 - Eagerly Awaiting

As I sit here typing a few short paragraphs this afternoon, I am eagerly awaiting my aunt's arrival from a few states away. I have cleaned for two days! Not that she is expecting everything in tip-top order, but I am the one who wants it that way. I want everything to be shiny and clean for her visit. I find that when my house is in order, I can visit with an easy mind and can enjoy her visit so much more. I am prepared for her and our time together.

Thinking about all of the preparation I have done for her visit and thinking about how I am looking out the window every few minutes to see if she is coming down the lane, I am also thinking about how I can apply the things I have done for her to my Bible classroom. What they both have in common is preparation.

When a Bible classroom is prepared and waiting for students, there is a feeling of anticipation in the air that may only last for a few minutes, but it is still there just the same. The Bibles are on the tables, the chairs are neatly pushed in, the room is clutter-free, the title of the Lesson is on the chalkboard, the Bible map is in the corner, and the materials for the Activity anxiously await the students' arrival. Everything is prepared for our Bible class together. Certainly, the Bible teacher can think clearly, knowing that everything is in place and wanting it that way. 

The room is prepared and we eagerly await our students. May this always be our plan.

Lesson - The Widow's Mites

VERSES:  Mark 12:41-44;  Luke 21:1-4

MEMORY VERSE:  Mark 12:42.  "And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites..."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:  Review all the Old Testament books that have been memorized so far from Genesis to the Song of Solomon.

PRAYER:  Let us always give as much as we can to the Lord and pray that it is used to spread the gospel around the world. May we do the best that we can with what we have.

SPECIAL SONG:   How Do Christians Worship God? (see May 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #5 on this blog. Click on orange circle to hear tune.)

VISUAL AID:   Large Activity (see below under Activity)

LESSON POINTS:

• Before Jesus left the temple, He sat close by the treasury or offering box where people were coming by to put in their money. He noticed that many rich people were putting in a lot of money, but then He saw a poor widow who put in only two small copper coins called mites. They were not worth much, in fact they were smallest of all the coins at that time, yet Jesus noticed.
• Jesus called His disciples over to Him and said, "Truly, I say that this poor widow has put more into the offering box than anyone here. The rich people had very much, but gave very little. This poor widow, even though she had very little, gave all that she had."
• Two small coins are not very much, but when that is all that you have, it is a great gift.

"Older Student" Tips:

• Jesus noticed, not only the rich people, but He noticed a poor widow. Sometimes we don't think that it matters what we are doing because we don't think anyone notices. Jesus notices and He cares.
• There is a quotation that is not found in the Bible that says, "Give until it hurts." The poor widow gave a great gift because she sacrificed much. Is there something else she could have done with her two mites? Of course, but she gave all that she could which was everything on which she had to live. Even when we are very poor, there is always something we can give or something we can do for the Lord. 

ACTIVITY:  The Widow's Mites
Materials needed:  9" x 12" tan construction paper, scrap of gold paper, scissors, marker, tape.

1. Hand out tan paper.
2. Fold paper in half.
3. Fold paper in half again.
4. Not unfolding paper yet, fold 2" on each side.
5. Unfold paper completely.
   
6. Cut paper on sides only.
   
7. Fold top panel and third panel.
   
8. Fold up bottom edge.
   
9. Tape to secure.
10. Fold up bottom again.
11. Tape to secure. This is the bottom of the box.
    
12. Tape side flaps to secure. At this point, the paper should look like a box with an open lid.
13. Write "The Widow's Mites" and "Mark 12:41-44" on top of box lid.
14. Trim remaining sides of lid..
    
15. Tuck top sides inside bottom of box. 
    
16. Hand out gold scrap paper.
17. Cut out two small circles. These are the widow's mites.
    
18. Place mites in box.
    
19. Take home.

Lesson - Woe To The Pharisees

VERSES:   Matthew 23:1-39

MEMORY VERSE:   Matthew 23:23  "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!..."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:   Song of Solomon. Write "Song Of Solomon" on small slips of paper and hand out to students at the end of class, so they make memorize another Old Testament book at home.

PRAYER:  Pray that we are always humble, ever kind and compassionate, and obedient to God's Word.

SPECIAL SONG:  No, Not One - (see June 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #6 on this blog. Click on orange circle to hear tune.)

VISUAL AID:  Make a list of the Pharisees' deeds on chalkboard or white board. (See ideas in bullets below under Activity.)

LESSON POINTS:

• The Pharisees were a leading party in the Jewish religion. The Pharisees were everything the Lord wanted them NOT to be. They believed that they were more important than everyone else. On the outside, they pretended to be holy and righteous, but, on the inside, they were wicked and arrogant. 
• The entire chapter of Matthew 23 is devoted to Jesus rebuking or scolding the scribes and Pharisees for their wicked behavior. These were two groups of people who should have known God's will. They were educated, they could read, and they had money; none of which helped them as far as Jesus was concerned.
• Jesus never backed down to sin. We remember how Jesus drove all the people out of the temple because they were buying and selling cattle and other animals there which displeased and angered Jesus. Jesus told people the things they needed to hear even if they didn't want to hear it.
• Jesus spoke to the disciples and the huge crowd that was gathered around Him in the temple. He talked about the Pharisees behavior. He told the people that whatever the scribes and Pharisees told them to do, to do it, but NOT to do what they did because they said and did not. They gave others tremendous jobs to do, but they themselves would not even lift one finger to do anything. Everything the Pharisees did was to be seen by others; nothing came from their hearts. The clothes they wore were fancy and were showy, so others could see them. They loved the uppermost or best rooms at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues. They loved to be greeted in the market places and loved to be called Rabbi which meant Master, but Jesus said not to call anyone Rabbi or father on the earth. Jesus said we have one Rabbi and father and that is our Father in Heaven! He said to call no one Master because there is only one Master and that was Christ. Jesus said if someone wanted to be considered great among the people, then he should be a servant. Whoever built themselves up would be brought down, and whoever was humble would be exalted.
• Jesus then told the scribes and Pharisees what they were doing wrong. Jesus could do that because He was the Son of God and He was perfect. No one else ever scolded the scribes and Pharisees except Jesus. Then, Jesus told them many 'woes.' A woe is something very sad. No one should ever want a 'woe' said to them, especially by Jesus!
• Jesus said, "Woe!" to the scribes and Pharisees, and then He called them what they really were--hypocrites. 
• They pretended to be holy and good, but they were not. 
• They were stumbling blocks to other people. They made others stumble and fall because of their deeds.
• They took widow's houses from them. 
• They made long and loud prayers only to be seen of men. 
• They taught others to be wicked like they were. 
• They were so careful to pay their tithes or offerings, but they forgot the more important things like judgment, mercy, and faith.
• They strained at a gnat, yet swallowed a camel.
• They made a great deal out of washing the outside of a cup and platter, but inside, they were robbers and loved excess.
• They appeared beautiful on the outside, but inside were full of dead men's bones (which was not something good).
• They killed and crucified the prophets, stoning them, and persecuting them from city to city.
• When Jesus was finished speaking, He said that the people would not see Him until they said, "Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord."  That was the last time that Jesus was in the temple.

"Older Student" Tips:

• Read Matthew 23:17, 19, 33. What else did Jesus call the scribes and Pharisees?
• Read Matthew 23:24. What does this verse mean?
• Read Matthew 23:37. Did Jesus have compassion on the city of Jerusalem? What did He want to do?
• What can we learn from the Pharisees? 

ACTIVITY:  The Wicked Scribes And Pharisees
Materials needed:  9" x 9" turquoise construction paper, crayons.

• Hand out turquoise paper.
• Place on table with one point up, like a diamond shape.
• Fold paper in the middle.
• Fold again in the middle.
• Fold one last time in the middle, so that the paper is in the shape of a triangle.
• On outside of smallest triangle, write, "WOE to the Pharisees!"
  
• Open paper one time.
• On the triangle that is touching the table, write, "Matthew 23."
  
• Open paper so four triangles are showing.
• Trace three lines.
• In bottom left triangle, write, "WHAT WE LEARN FROM THE PHARISEES..."
• In another triangle, write, "We should be humble."
• In another triangle, write, "We should be sincere."
• In the last triangle, write, "We should remember judgment, mercy, and faith."
  
• Unfold paper one last time.
• Trace all lines.
• Write, "WOE!" at the top of each box.
• In Box 1: write, "The Pharisees pretended to be holy, but were not."
• In Box 2: write, "They were stumbling blocks to the people."
• In Box 3: write, "The Pharisees took away the widows' houses."
• In Box 4: write, "They said long and loud prayers only to be seen of men."
• In Box 5: write, "The Pharisees taught others to be wicked."
• In Box 6: write, "They forgot judgment, mercy, and faith."
• In Box 7: write: "They strained at a gnat, nut swallowed a camel."
• In Box 8: write, "They killed and crucified prophets."
  
• Fold paper into smallest triangle and take home.

Lesson - Jesus Answers 'Tricky' Questions

VERSES:  Matthew 22:15-46

MEMORY VERSE:   Matthew 22:46  "And no man was able to answer him a word..."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:   Ecclesiastes. Write "Ecclesiastes" on small slips of paper, so the students may memorize another Old Testament book at home.

PRAYER:   Words are powerful. Pray that we might always be careful of what we say.

SPECIAL SONG:  Be Patient And Kind (see April 2014 - Lesson - Joseph Meets His Brothers Who Hated Him on this blog. Click on orange circle to hear tune.), Be Careful Little Eyes What you See (see March 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog. Click on orange circle to hear tune.)

VISUAL AID:   TV Box (see February - Visual Aids #1 on this blog for directions); a few coins, showing men's faces on them.

LESSON POINTS:

• The Pharisees and other groups of people, like the Herodians and the Sadducees, were people with power in Bible times who wanted to stop Jesus from preaching and teaching even if it meant killing Him (Mark 3:6). They were always trying to trick Jesus into saying something wrong, but Jesus, being perfect and knowing the hearts of the people, always knew what they intended to do and answered them with amazing words.
• The Pharisees met together and talked about how they could entangle Jesus with their words. They decided to send a group of Pharisees with a group of Herodians to Jesus and ask Him questions. First, they presented Him with a little truth. They called Jesus 'Master' or 'Teacher', then they said more truthful things like how Jesus was true and taught the way of God in truth and how Jesus treated everyone with the same respect and care. All of those things were true! But, then, they asked a question that they hoped would trick Jesus. They asked if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, the highest official in Rome. Jesus knew their wicked ways and what they were trying to do. He answered them by saying, "Why are you trying to tempt me, you hypocrites? Show me a coin that is used for paying taxes." They brought him a penny, and then Jesus said to them, "Whose image is on this coin?" The Herodians said, "Caesar's." Jesus said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's." When the men heard Jesus' answer, they were amazed at His words. Jesus had answered perfectly!
• That same day, the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, asked Him another question, trying to trick Jesus again. They asked Jesus about Moses and the Law. They asked about marriage after people die. They thought people were still married after they died, but Jesus said, "You do not know the scriptures! In the resurrection after people die, they do not marry, but they are like the angels of heaven. As for the resurrection is concerned, God is not the God of the dead, He is the God of the living!" Again, when the crowds of people heard Jesus' words, they were amazed!
• When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees with His answer, they gathered together again, trying to trick Jesus through their speech. One of the Pharisees was a lawyer and the lawyer asked Jesus another question. The lawyer did not have a pure heart and did not want to truly know the answer to his question. He, too, wanted to tempt Jesus. He asked Jesus, "Master, what is the greatest commandment?" Jesus didn't hesitate a moment! He said, "You should love the Lord God will all of your heart, soul and mind. That is the first and great commandment. The second is like it. You should love your neighbor as yourself." 
• Then, Jesus had a question for the Pharisees. While they gathered together again, he asked them, "What do you think of Christ? Whose son is He?" The Pharisees said, "The son of David." Jesus then asked them a harder question. He asked, "Then, how can David, in spirit, call him Lord, saying, 'The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit on my right side until I make your enemies your footstool?' If David called him Lord, how is he his son?" This was too much for the Pharisees! No one was able to answer Jesus' question and from that day on, no one asked Him anymore questions. All of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians were all silenced.

"Older Student" Tips:

• It is interesting to note that in each of these situations, the ones who were asking Jesus questions, had a little bit of truth to each of their questions. However, there is a little bit of good grain mixed with poison. Poison will kill something, no matter how much good grain there is. Apply this thought to this lesson. Discuss.

ACTIVITY:   Three "Trick" Questions For Jesus
Materials needed:   9" x 12" light green construction paper, crayons, marker.  (NOTE: Using the top picture as a guide, crayons highlighting different columns make the information very clearly understood.)

1. Hand out green paper.
2. Fold paper in half.
3. Fold paper in half again.
4. Open paper.
5. Trace over fold lines with green crayon.
6. In the FIRST COLUMN:  Write, "3 "TRICK" Questions For Jesus" and "Matthew 22."
   
7. Draw a line about 1" down from top of paper, drawing ONLY across the three last boxes.
8. Draw a line about 1/2" down from the first line, drawing ONLY across the three last boxes.
9. Draw a line about 2" down from second line, drawing ONLY across the three last boxes.
10. Draw a line about 2" down from third line, drawing ONLY across the three last boxes.
11. (Note: It is easier for the students to write in columns, instead of writing across the page.)
12. In the SECOND COLUMN: 
• In top box--write "#1." 
• In second box--write, "Herodians."
• In third box--write "Question," "v. 17," and "Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar?"
• In the fourth box--write "Answer," "v. 21," and "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
• In the fifth box--write "Conclusion:," "v. 22," and "They marvelled!"
  
13. In the THIRD COLUMN: 
• In top box--write "#2." 
• In second box--write, "Sadducees."
• In third box--write "Question," "v. 28," and "In the resurrection, whose wife will she be?"
• In the fourth box--write "Answer," "v. 30, 32," and "You don't know the scriptures! They don't marry in heaven. They are as angels. God is the God of the living."
• In the fifth box--write, "Conclusion:," "v. 33," and "They were astonished!"
  
14. In the FOURTH COLUMN: 
• In top box--write "#3."
• In second box--write, "Lawyer/Pharisees."
• In third box--write "Question," "v. 36," and "What is the greatest commandment?"
• In the fourth box--write "Answer," "v. 37, 39," and "Love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind. Love neighbor as yourself." 
• In the fifth box--write, "Conclusion:," "v. 46," and "No man was able to answer Him!"
  

Lesson - The Parable Of The Two Sons

VERSES:  Matthew 21:28-32

MEMORY VERSE:  Matthew 21:31  "Which of the two did the will of his father?..."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:   Proverbs. Write "Proverbs" on small slips of paper and hand out to the students at the end of class that they may memorize another Old Testament book at home.

PRAYER:   Pray that we will always do the will of our Father in heaven.

SPECIAL SONG: Jesus Taught By Parable And Miracle (see March 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #4 on this blog. Click on orange circle to hear tune.)

VISUAL AID:  Large Activity (see Activity below)

LESSON POINTS:  

• In the last week that Jesus lived on the earth, He continued to teach by telling  parables to the people. He had been talking to the chief priests and elders in the temple when Jesus asked them, "What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to his first son and said, "Son, go and work today in my vineyard." The son said, "I will not go," but after a while, he changed his mind and went. The man went to his second son and said the same thing, "Son, go and work in my vineyard today." But this son said, "I will go," but did not go. 
• Jesus asked those who were standing around listening to Him, "Which of the two sons obeyed his father?" The chief priests and elders said, "The first son." Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and the wicked women will go into the kingdom of God before you. John came to show you the way of righteousness, but you did not believe him. The tax collectors and the wicked women believed John, and, you, even after you had seen this, did not repent or change your minds and believe John."
• The publicans or tax collectors and the wicked women were some of the people that the chief priests and Pharisees thought were lower, less honorable, and more sinful than they were. It was really the other way around. The Pharisees, chief priests, and elders were actually less honorable than the sinners that Jesus had mentioned. The Pharisees and others were hypocrites. They pretended to be holy and righteous, but inside they were eaten up with wickedness. They did not practice what they preached. They told other people what to do and how to live, but they did not do those things themselves. Jesus said that the Pharisees "say, but do not." (Matthew 23:3). Jesus knew their hearts. But the tax collectors and wicked women were better than the chief priests and elders because they had believed John and changed their way of living. The Pharisees, chief priests, and scribes had not. We will study more about the Pharisees at a later time.

"Older Student" Tips:

• What is better--to say you are going to do something and don't do it or to say you are not going to do something and then change your mind and do it. That was Jesus' question. Discuss.

ACTIVITY:   The Parable Of The Two Sons
Materials needed:  three 2" x 12" strips of tan construction paper, crayons, markers, tape.

1. Hand out all strips of paper.
2. Fold all three papers in half.
3. Fold all three papers' open ends up 1.5".
   
4. Draw each man on both sides of paper, remembering not to draw below the fold.
   
5. Open all three papers.
6. Choose one man to be the father. Write "Matthew 21:28-32" on the bottom 1.5" edge.
7. Write, "Son, go and work today in my vineyard" on both sides of paper.
8. Choose one man to be the first son. Write "The First Son" on the bottom 1.5" edge.
9. Write, "I will not go." on one side. Turn over. Write, "I will not go. He changed his mind and went" on the other side.
10. On the second son's paper, write, "I will go." on one side. Turn over. Write, "I will go." But he did not go. Write "The Second Son" on the bottom 1.5" edge.
    
11. Tape ends together to secure. They should stand.
    
12. Using the father and two sons, rehearse the story.
    
    
    
    

Lesson - Jesus' Authority Questioned

VERSES:  Matthew 21:23-27

MEMORY VERSE:  Matthew 21:27  "...And he said, "Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:  Psalms.  Write "Psalms" on small slips of paper and hand out to the students at the end of class, so they may taken them home to memorize another Old Testament book.  It is always good to recite all the books of the Old testament as a class.

PRAYER:  May we always have a pure heart that will accept the Truth.

SPECIAL SONG:  Jesus Taught By Parable And Miracle (see March 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #4 on this blog. Click on orange circle to hear tune.)  Since this is a shorter lesson than some, perhaps this would be a good time to sing some of the songs that the class has learned over the past few weeks. For new songs, scroll down to Special Articles - List - Songs on this blog.

VISUAL AID:  Using a white board or chalkboard, draw Jesus talking to the chief priests and elders as you tell this short lesson.

LESSON POINTS:

• The chief priests, the elders of the people, and the Pharisees were always trying to trick Jesus into saying things that were not true or they would twist His words into meaning something different than what Jesus meant. Sometimes they lied about what Jesus said, but Jesus knew all things, so He knew what their hearts' intentions were. 
• When Jesus went into the temple, the chief priests and elders of the people went to Jesus while He was teaching and asked Him, "By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?" Jesus knew their hearts. They already knew the answer to the question they were asking Jesus, yet they were still challenging Jesus.
• But Jesus did something that they did not expect. Jesus asked them a question! Jesus said, I will ask you one thing. If you tell me the answer, then I will answer your question. Where did the baptism of John come from? Was it from heaven or from men?"
• The chief priests and elders got together and talked about Jesus' question. They said among themselves, "If we say John's baptism was from heaven, then he will ask us why did we not believe John; but if we say that John's baptism was of men, then we fear the people who are listening to this conversation because everyone considered John a prophet." So, the chief priests and the elders lied to Jesus and said, "We cannot tell." Jesus said to them, "Then I cannot tell you by what authority I do these things."

"Older student" Tips:

• There are many verses in the Bible that tell us that Jesus knew the hearts of people (Matthew 12:25; Mark 2:8; Luke 6:8; Luke 11:17). Jesus knows what is in our hearts, too. When we do not answer truthfully, then we are being deceitful and not being honest. God wants our hearts to be pure (Matthew 5:8).

ACTIVITY:  Jesus Answers A Question With A Question
Materials needed:   9" x 12" yellow construction paper, crayons, scissors.

1. Hand out yellow paper.
2. Holding the paper portrait-style, fold the paper down 2" at the top of the paper and fold the paper up 2" from the bottom.
3. Trace on fold lines.
4. Draw a line down the middle of the top box and a line in the bottom box.
5. Cut both short lines.
   
6. In top left box, write, "By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?"
7. In top right box, write, "Where did the baptism of John come from? From heaven or from men?
8. In bottom left box, write, "We cannot tell."
9. In bottom right box, write, "Then I cannot tell you by what authority I do these things."
10. Fold top and bottom boxes towards the back of the paper.
11. Draw a line 1" from the top boxes.
12. In this long top box, write with bright crayon, "Jesus' Authority Questioned."
13. Draw a line 1" from the bottom boxes.
14. In this long bottom box, write, "Matthew 21:23-27."
15. In the large box in the middle, draw Jesus talking to the chief priests and elders in the temple.
16. The way it works:  

• All 'cut' boxes are folded towards the back of the paper, so they cannot be seen. 
• The chief priests and elders ask their question of Jesus by unfolding their question, so it pops up and can be read aloud, then folded back down again.)
  
• Jesus then asks his question (unfold Jesus' question, so it pops up and can be read aloud, then folded back down again.)
  
• The chief priests and elders' answer is revealed, read, and folded up again.
  
• Jesus' answer is revealed, read, and folded up again.
  

Lesson - God's Word Will Judge Us

VERSES:  John 12:20- 50

MEMORY VERSE:  John 12:48  "...the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:   Job.  Write "Job" on small slips of paper and hand out at the end of Bible class, so the students may memorize another Old Testament book at home. Note: "Job" is pronounced with a long "o" sound and rhymes with "robe."

PRAYER:  Thank God for being a just God and for His perfect Word that will judge us in the last day. Pray that we will read the Bible every day and apply all that we learn to our lives.

SPECIAL SONG:  Read, Read Every Day (see February 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #1 on this blog. Click orange circle for tune.), The Bible, The Bible (see February 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog. Click orange circle for tune.), The B-I-B-L-E (see February 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog. Click on orange circle for tune).

VISUAL AID:  Drawing of the Activity on the white board or chalkboard. (see below)

LESSON POINTS:

• Many people today may have heard that there is a Judgment at the end of time, but few believe that it will happen, some live in fear of an "unknown" outcome, and others do not think that it is necessary to live any differently than they are living now since God is a loving God. Has God left us on our own without any true guidance until that day? Must we live in fear and be afraid of what our judgment will be? Must we change our life?
• Jesus had just finished talking about the death that He was going to endure in a few days. He talked to the Greek men that Philip and Andrew had brought to Him. Jesus said that His hour had come. He wanted everyone to serve and follow Him. Jesus said that anyone who would serve Him would be honored by His Father in Heaven. All that people had to do was to obey Jesus' commands.
• While Jesus was saying these things, there came a voice from heaven that said, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." All the people who stood by and heard it thought that it sounded like thunder. Other people said that an angel spoke to Jesus. But Jesus said that the voice came for the people's behalf, not because of Him. Jesus said that He would be lifted up from the earth and all men would be drawn to Him. Jesus was telling the people how He was going to die, but the people did not understand.
• The people had seen many miracles that Jesus had performed. He had healed many, many different sick people during the three and a half years that Jesus had been preaching and teaching, but some still did not believe that He was the Son of God. Isaiah had prophesied about Jesus and all of his prophesies were coming true. Many of the chief rulers or important people believed on Jesus, but they were afraid that the Pharisees would throw them out of the synagogue because they loved the praise of men rather than the praise of God. 
• Jesus said that the person who rejected His words had one that would judge him. The words that Jesus had spoken would judge him in the last day. What did Jesus say would judge every person? HIS WORDS! It will not be a surprise or a secret what we will be held accountable to at the end of time. We know what standard to which the Lord will hold us. HIS WORDS. All the things that Jesus had spoken came from God, His Father, and in this lesson, we learn that HIS WORDS will be what will judge us in the last day. We will be accountable for doing the Lord's Will, and we know where all of those things written. They are written in the Bible.
• God is definitely a loving God, but He is also a just God. 
• He tells us that there will be a Judgment Day where we will account for all the things we have done in this life, the good and the bad. 
• We do not need to live in fear if we are living the way that the Lord wants us to live and we have obeyed Him.
• We must live the way God wants us to live in order to please Him. If we are not living that way, then, yes, we need to change the way that we are living. God's way is best.

"Older Student" Tips:

• People will tell us that we only need to live by what we feel is right. They say that the Bible is just another book. They say it does not matter how we live, we only need to feel that is the right way. Not true! The Bible is from God and is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). We will not be judged by "what I feel is right"; we will be judged by the Word of God as it says in our lesson today. Do we believe what people say or do we believe what God says in the Bible?
• God has given us warning! We need to live in a way that is accordance to His Will which we find in the Bible. Many people will be disappointed on that last great day. It will be a worse feeling than arriving at school and discovering there will be a very important test that day and we haven't studied a bit. There is more to lose by not living God's way. We can lose our soul's salvation.
• Read 2 Corinthians 5:10. Discuss the words "must," "all," and "whether it be good or bad."

ACTIVITY:  "What Will Judge Us In The Last Day?"
Materials needed:  8.5" x 11" white paper, markers, crayons.

1. Hand out white paper.
2. Fold white paper in half.
3. On the outside of the folded paper, write "What Will Judge Us In The Last Day?"
4. Open paper.
5. With a crayon or marker, round corners and draw a line down the fold.
   
6. With crayon or markers, draw parallel lines on the left and right sides of the unfolded paper. This should resemble a book.
   
7. Draw curved lines, so the age looks like an open book.
8. Draw small black lines between parallel lines to resemble pages.
9. Color pages yellow.
10. In the middle of the unfolded paper, write "John 12:48" and "...the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."
    
11. Fold paper to the back.
12. On the back of the paper, write "There should be no surprises! It's not 'what I feel is right'--it's God's Word!"
    
13. Fold paper to take home.

Lesson - Jesus' Triumphant Entry Into Jerusalem

VERSES:   Matthew 21:1-9;  Luke 19:29-40;  John 12:12-19

MEMORY VERSE:   Matthew 21:9  "...Hosanna to the Son of David..."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:  Review all the books of the Old Testament from Genesis to Esther. Because this is a shorter lesson, perhaps more time could be invested in reciting the Books of the Old Testament a few times together as a class.

PRAYER:   Pray that we would receive Jesus' teachings the way that the people received Jesus in this lesson--joyfully!

SPECIAL SONG:   Jesus Loves The Little Children - (see February 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #2 on this blog. Click orange circle to hear tune.)

VISUAL AID:   Large Activity (a few palm branches could be used as bulletin board aids around the class, if desired); Bible map showing Bethphage, Bethany, Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives.

LESSON POINTS:

• Note: Three of the four Gospels, Matthew, Luke, and John, tell about how Jesus was celebrated by the people as He traveled into Jerusalem. By the Bible teacher reading and studying all three passages of scripture together in advance, they are able to understand and teach the details of these events.
• When Jesus and His disciples drew close to Jerusalem and had arrived in Bethphage, which was close to the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples into the village. He told them to bring to Him a donkey and her colt that were tied there. Jesus said that no man had never sat on the colt before which normally would be a hard task to undertake. He also said if anyone asked what they were doing to just tell them that their master needed them. All of this was prophesied in Zechariah 9:9 and now was coming true. 
• When the disciples found the donkey and her colt, the owners of the animals asked them just like Jesus had said, "Why are you untying these animals?" So, the disciples answered them, "The Lord needs them," and then they brought them to Jesus. The disciples put their garments or coats on top of the colt and then Jesus sat on its back. As Jesus traveled on this colt that had never been ridden before, there was a huge crowd of people who were in Jerusalem for the Passover. They were gathered along the sides of the road. Some people had placed their garments on the road and others had also cut down palm branches from the trees and placed them on the road, too. All the crowds of people who were in front of Jesus and behind Him, cried out, "Hosanna to the son of David; Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.," and "Blessed is the King of Israel." As they got close to the Mount of Olives, everyone was happy and praised God with loud voices. The people had seen all the miracles that Jesus had done like raising Lazarus to life after he had died. They knew that there was something special about Jesus, making Him very popular. They thought He might be a prophet, so they were honoring Jesus.
• But, some of the Pharisees who were in the huge crowd told Jesus to scold His disciples, but Jesus said that if His disciples were told to be quiet that even the stones would immediately cry out. At that time, Jesus' disciples did not understand what Jesus' riding into Jerusalem meant, but after Jesus was glorified or raised up, they remembered everything that had been written about Him and all of those things were done to Him. The prophecies had all come true.

"Older Student" Tips:

• Prophesies from God always came true. That is how the people would know if the prophet was from God or not. Read Deuteronomy 18:21, 22.
• The reason why the people placed their coats and the branches of palm trees on the road was to honor and celebrate Jesus' coming into Jerusalem just like He was a king returning into the city.

ACTIVITY: The Triumphant Entry Into Jerusalem  
Materials needed:  4" x 18" brown construction paper use brown poster board, if a stiffer branch is desired. I used construction paper), 9" x 12" green construction paper, marker, staples, stapler, scissors.

1. Hand out brown paper.
2. Fold brown paper in half, lengthwise.
3. Fold brown paper again in half, lengthwise.This is the branch.
4. Write "Jesus' Triumphant Entry Into Jerusalem" on one side of brown paper.
5. Turn paper over.
6. Write "Matthew 21:1-9," "Luke 19:29-40," and "John 12:12-19" on folded brown paper.
7. Hand out green paper.
8. Round two corners of green paper.
   
9. Fold green paper like an accordion-style (folded in and out, in and out). This is the palm leaf.
   
   
10. Place edge of folded branch inside the edge of the palm leaf.
11. Staple leaf to branch.

Lesson - Mary And The Alabaster Box

VERSES:   Matthew 26:6-13;  Mark 14:3-9;  John 12:1-9

MEMORY VERSE:  Mark 14:8  "She hath done what she could..."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:  Esther.  Write "Esther" on small slips of paper, so the students may take them home to learn another Old Testament book. We are working our way though all of the Old Testament books. It may be beneficial to recite all 17 books of the Old Testament together as a class.

PRAYER:   Pray that we will always do the very best we can in whatever we attempt, especially in spiritual things.

SPECIAL SONG:  Jesus Taught By Parable And Miracle (see March 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #4 on this blog. Click on orange circle for tune.) Mary, Martha, And Lazarus (see May 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #5 on this blog. Click orange circle for tune.) The Books Of The Old Testament (see March 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog. Click orange circle to hear the tune.)

VISUAL AID:  A large Activity (see below)

LESSON POINTS:

• Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived in the town of Bethany at the house of Simon, the leper.. This was the same town where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived and where Lazarus had died. Remember Jesus had brought Lazarus back to to life after he had been dead for four days. Many of the Jews had believed that Jesus was the Son of God, but some had not.
• They had made a supper for Jesus. Martha was in charge of the serving and Lazarus was one of the ones who sat at the table with Jesus. While they were at the table, Mary took a pound of very expensive ointment called spikenard that was kept in an alabaster box and anointed or poured the ointment on Jesus' feet, wiping his feet with her hair. We might think that this was unusual, but in Bible times, this was not unusual. The house was filled with the good smell of the ointment.
• There was one of Jesus' disciples named Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Jesus in just a few days. To betray means to pretend that you are a friend, but you really are not. Judas said to Jesus, "Why wasn't this ointment sold for a great amount of money and given to the poor?" Judas asked this question, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief! As Jesus and His disciples traveled, there was one disciple who carried their small amount of money in a bag. That disciple was Judas Iscariot. He was more concerned about the money than the poor people. The people complained about Mary and what she had done.. 
• But Jesus told Judas Iscariot to leave Mary alone. She had done a good work, an act of kindness for Jesus. Jesus said that there would always be poor people, but that they would not always have Jesus with them. Mary had done what she could. Jesus knew that he would die soon, so he said that Mary had anointed his body with the nice smelling ointment. Jesus continued to say that wherever the gospel would be preached throughout the whole world, people would hear about Mary and what she done, and it would as a memorial to her. We are reading about her today, aren't we? We are remembering a story about Mary just like Jesus said we would.

"Older Student" Tips:

• The ointment that Mary used to wipe her hair on Jesus' feet was called spikenard. Spikenard was a very expensive perfumed amber-colored ointment in Bible times. The opintment was inside an alabaster box. Alabaster looks a lot like marble. Many times alabaster is confused with marble. 

ACTIVITY:  Mary's Alabaster Box
Materials needed:  two 4" x 4" white paper (I used bond or typing paper), 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" amber (yellowish) paper (I used a report card envelope like the one below, but any yellowish paper will be just fine), marker, tape, scissors.

1.  Hand out both pieces of white paper.
2. Fold 1/2" all around each of the four edges of each paper.
   
3. In the larger flat area of one of the two folded papers, write "Mary's Alabaster Box" and "John 12:1-9." This is the top lid of the box.
4. On opposite sides of each white paper, cut on short folded lines. These are the sides of the boxes.
   
5. Fold edges up, taping them to the connecting edge, forming a box lid. Do this on both papers.
   
6. Hand out amber colored paper. This is the ointment.
7. Write "Expensive Spikenard Ointment Mary Used To Anoint Jesus' Feet" on amber paper.
8. Place ointment inside bottom of box. 
   
9. Place box lid on top of the bottom of the box.
10. Gently, carry home.

Lesson - The Jews Search For Jesus

VERSES:  John 11:53-57

MEMORY VERSES:   John 11:54  "Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews..."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:   Nehemiah.  Write "Nehemiah" on small slips of paper and hand out at the end of Bible class, so the students may memorize another Old Testament book at home.

PRAYER:   Thank God for sending His son to this earth to die on the cross, so that we might have eternal life if we obey His commands.

SPECIAL SONG:   No, Not One (see June 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #6 on this blog. Click on orange circle for tune.)

VISUAL AID:   Bible Map of Palestine, showing Judea, the Dead Sea, Jordan River, Ephraim, Bethel, Jerusalem, Bethany, Bethlehem, and Hebron.  Large Activity (see Activity below)

LESSON POINTS:

• After Jesus had raised his friend, Lazarus, from being dead for four days and made him come to life again, many of the Jews believed that Jesus was the Son of God, but there were still some who did not believe. Some of those Jews who did not believe were the Pharisees. The Pharisees were Jews, but the Pharisees had a little power and prestige and thought they were better than other Jews. These were the ones who did not believe in Jesus and they talked together about putting Jesus to death. From then on, Jesus did not walk freely among the people like He had been. Instead, He and His disciples went and stayed in the wilderness city of Ephraim.
• It was almost time for one of the Jews' special feasts called the Passover. Every year, all of the Jews stopped what they were doing and observed the Passover. On the Passover, the people remembered the time when God delivered His people out of the hand of the Egyptians by plaguing them with ten plagues:  The water turned to blood, frogs, lice, flies, murrain which was a cattle disease, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and finally the death of the firstborn. It was the tenth and last plague that made the hardhearted Egyptian Pharaoh let God's people go. Every house that did not have the blood of the lamb on the doorpost and the sides of the doors was plagued that night. A son or daughter who was born first in that house's family died. When there was a great cry in Egypt, even in Pharaoh's own house, over the death of the firstborn, Pharaoh told Moses and God's people to leave Egypt and they did, leaving very quickly. (For the whole story, see May 2014 - Lesson - Plague #10 on this blog).
• It was this Passover feast that was coming soon and the Jews were getting ready. Many of the Jews traveled up to Jerusalem before the Passover for their purification or to cleanse themselves. Then, their thoughts turned to Jesus. As they stood in the temple, they looked for Jesus and talked among themselves. They said to each other, "What do you think? Will Jesus come to the feast or not?" The chief priests and the Pharisees had ordered a command that said if anyone knew where Jesus was, then they should tell them, so they could arrest Jesus. 

"Older Student" Tips:

• In six days, Jesus would be arrested, tried, sentenced by Pilate, and put to death on the cross. The chief priests and Pharisees were committed to finding and killing Jesus..
• The chief priests and Pharisees should have been thinking about the Passover and how God's people were freed from Egyptian slavery, but they, instead, were thinking about killing Jesus, God's only begotten Son. (John 3:16)

ACTIVITY:   The Jews seek Jesus.
Materials needed:   9" x 12" light brown construction paper, 2" x 7" yellow construction paper, 1.5" x  5" red construction paper, marker, crayons, scissors, glue.

1. Hand out light brown paper.
2. Draw lines to resemble Judea. Look at Bible map for guidance or the finished map at top.
   
3. Cut on lines EXCEPT the Dead Sea .
4. Label Dead Sea.
5. Color Dead Sea.
6. Cut out other country (old Philistia where the giant, Goliath, used to live) on left, if it is not cut out already.
   
7. Add line and label Jordan River.
8. Write "The Jews Search For Jesus" and "John 11:53-57 at top of light brown paper.
9. About two inches from the bottom of the brown paper, write "Judea" in large print.
10. Hand out yellow paper.
11. Fold yellow paper into sixths.
12. Cut six circles, using most of the paper.
13. Fold top edges of circles.
14. Write "Ephraim," "Bethel," "Jerusalem,"."Bethany," "Bethlehem," and "Hebron" in the middle of the yellow circles.
    
15. Look on map to find the cities listed above.
16. Glue TOP EDGE ONLY of circles and place in appropriate places.
17. Under Ephraim, write "YES!" in red crayon. Write small enough, so that when the yellow circle is pushed down, the word is hidden.
18. Write "NO" under all the other yellow circles.
19. Below the word "Judea," write in small print, "Jesus...went...unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim..." v.54."
20. Hand out red paper.
21. Fold top edge of red paper.
22. Glue EDGE ONLY of red paper.
23. Place red paper over small printed words.
    
24. On top of red paper, write, "Jesus...walked no more openly among the Jews, but..."
25. The way it works:  Yellow circles that with different cities are scattered around the mad of Judea. Circles can be pushed up or down, revealing where Jesus might have been. Finally, Ephraim is pushed up, showing that Jesus and His disciples were staying in this small city near the wilderness. Also, the red paper may be pushed up to reveal the answer from the Bible.