Lesson - The Betrayal

VERSES:  Matthew 26:47-56;  Mark 14:43-52;  Luke 22:47-53;  John 18:3-13

MEMORY VERSE:  John 18:7.  "Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth."

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

PRAYER:   Thank God for sending His only begotten Son to die on the cross for our sins.

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.) Jesus Loves Me (see February 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #2 on this blog. Click on orange circle to hear tune.)

VISUAL AID:  Large Activity (see below) or draw a picture on the white board or chalkboard.

LESSON POINTS:

• While Jesus was still talking to the rest of His disciples about getting up from their sleep because the one who was going to betray Him was near, Judas came with a huge crowd who were holding lanterns, torches, swords and wooden posts called staves. In the crowd, there were chief priests, elders, Pharisees and scribes. 
• Before they entered the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas had made an agreement with these Jews. For thirty pieces of silver (about $15.00), he would identify which man in the small group was Jesus. Judas would betray Jesus with a kiss, pretending to be Jesus' friend, but really only wanting the money that he was promised from the Jews. The kiss was a sign that meant to the Jews that THIS man was Jesus and to take Him away safely. 
• As soon as Judas came to Jesus, Judas said, "Hail, Master," and kissed Him. Jesus called Judas a friend. He said, "Friend, from where did you come? Judas, will you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" He asked the crowd whom they were looking for. They answered Him, saying, "Jesus of Nazareth." Judas was standing with the large crowd. As soon as Jesus said "I am He," the men fell backward to the ground. Even though Jesus knew the answer, He asked them again, "Who are you looking for?"  They said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus told the crowd, "I told you that I am the one you are looking for; let these other men go."  Then the Jews laid their hands on Jesus and took Him.
• That is when Peter drew his sword and cut off Malchus, the high priest's servant's right ear! Jesus told Peter to put up his sword and said, "The cup that My Father has given Me, I must drink it." Then, Jesus touched Malchus' ear and healed him. Jesus said to the large crowd, "Why have you come out with swords and staves like I was a thief? Was I not in the temple with you every day, but you did not arrest me then. But now is your hour, the hour of darkness." 
• That is when all the disciples ran away and left Jesus bound. The crowd led Him away to the high priest. Jesus' friends deserted Him and He was left alone with the Jews.

"Older Student" Tips:

• Reading all four of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) at the same sitting and blending them or harmonizing them together is a great way to learn the whole story of Jesus life, death, and resurrection, or as much as the Lord has revealed to us. By God choosing to have four writers tell the same story, the reader receives the benefit of small details one writer might leave out, but another includes. 
• When Jesus healed Malchus, the high priest's right ear, a person might have thought that was enough for everyone to know right then that Jesus was the Son of God, if they had not known before. They must not have cared by that time; they were too fixated on arresting Jesus.
• It is interesting to notice that, of the four authors of the four Gospels, Luke, the doctor (Colossians 4:14), was the one who mentioned that Peter had cut off Malchus' right ear and healed the ear. Other writers had mentioned that someone had cut the high priest's servant's ear off, but no one but Luke mentioned that Jesus had healed his right ear. Perhaps this was because Luke's occupation was being a doctor.
• Jesus knew that all that had happened to Him was in God's plan. He was to die on the cross to save the people from their sins. Had Jesus done anything wrong? Had He done anything worthy of death? No. Jesus was innocent and pure just like the unblemished lamb that was to be sacrificed in the Old Testament (1 Peter 1:19). 

ACTIVITY:  Hail, Master!
Materials needed:  9" x 12" tan construction paper, crayons, marker, scraps of shiny red and silver foil, glue, scissors.

1. Hand out tan paper.
2. Draw a mob of men looking angry with torches and swords in their hands.
3. Add a couple of olive trees.
4. Color.
5. Hand out red and silver foil.
6. Cut small ovals with points out of both colors of foil.
7. Glue red foil at the end of the torches and silver foil where a sword should be.
8. Write "HAIL, MASTER!" in red crayon in the middle of the blank area.
9. Write "Matthew 26:49" below "Hail, Master!"
10. In black crayon, write "The Betrayal" at the bottom of the paper.
11. Write "Judas" on the one selected to be Judas.

Lesson - Jesus Prays In The Garden

VERSES:   Matthew 26:30-46; Mark 14:26-42; Luke 22:39-46; John 17:1-26

MEMORY VERSE:  John 17:17.  "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth."

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

PRAYER:  May we pray with our whole heart as Jesus prayed.

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)

LESSON POINTS:

• After Jesus and His disciples had sung a hymn or a song, they went to the Mount of Olives. Near the foot of the mountain, there was a garden called the Garden of Gethsemane. As they walked, Jesus told His disciples that soon they would be upset because of what would happen to Jesus that night. Peter spoke up and said, "Even if everyone else is upset or offended, I will not be."  Jesus knows everything. Jesus told Peter that before the rooster crowed two times, he would deny Jesus three times. Peter spoke even more passionately and said that he even if he would die with Jesus, he would not deny Him. All of the other disciples began to say the same thing, but Jesus did not say anymore about it.
• When they arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told the disciples to stay there while He went a little farther to pray. Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him and began to feel extremely sorrowful or sad. He knew what was going to happen soon. He instructed the three men to stay there and to stay alert and watch.
• Jesus went a little farther into the garden and knelt down on the ground and prayed. He prayed for many things, including that if it were possible, that He might be spared the suffering that was coming soon. He prayed so fervently that His sweat was like great drops of blood falling to the ground. Jesus was praying hard! He went back to Peter, James and John and found them sleeping because they were so sad. He asked Peter, "Are you sleeping? Could you not watch for one hour?" He said to watch and pray, then went away and prayed again, praying the same words. When he returned to them, again, He found them sleeping because their eyes were very heavy. The disciples did not know how to answer Him.
• Some of the things Jesus prayed for during this difficult time are found in John 17. This chapter is truly the Lord's prayer. Jesus, praying fervently, prayed to God, His Father. 
• He prayed that God would glorify Him that would glorify God as well.  
• He said that He had finished the work which God had given Him to do.
• He said that His disciples believed that Jesus was God's Son.
• He told God that none of the disciples that God had given Him were lost, except the one who betrayed Him. He called Judas the son of perdition.
• He said that He had given the disciples His Word which was Truth.
• He asked God to sanctify them or set them apart with the Truth.
• He prayed for the unity of His disciples.
• But in all things, Jesus prayed that the Lord's Will be done, not His own will.
• When Jesus returned to His disciples the third time, He found them sleeping again. Jesus told His disciples to get up because the one who had betrayed Him was close by.

"Older Student" Tips:

• As we can see from Jesus prayer, He was very sad and grieved, knowing what was to come and what He must go through to save the world from their sins. 
• Jesus was deeply concerned for His disciples. He knew what was going to happen to Him, but they did not. He had given them all of the comforting words He had. He had told them to be watchful. He had told them to pray. 
• We need to watch and pray, too.

ACTIVITY:  Jesus Prays In The Garden - Tear Art Project
Materials needed:  9" x 12" black construction paper, 9" x 10" brown construction paper, 4" x 4" green construction paper, scraps of brown, blue, orange, purple, white, tan paper, glue, marker, crayons (no scissors needed!).

1. Hand out black paper. This is the foundation.
2. Hand out brown paper.
3. Tear top  edge of brown. This is the Mount of Olives.
4. Hand out scrap of brown paper.
5. Tear brown strip of paper for tree trunk.
6. Glue tree trunk.
7. Hand out green paper.
8. Tear corners of green paper to form tree top.
9. Glue tree top to top of trunk.
10. Hand out blue, orange, purple, white, tan and brown scraps of paper.
11. Tear brown strip for sign post.
12. Glue sign post to the middle bottom of the picture
13. Tear small rectangle out of the white paper.
14. Write "Garden of Gethsemane" in the middle of the white rectangle.
15. Glue sign to the top of the sign post.
16. Tear four triangles out of blue, orange, purple and white paper. These are the men's robes.
17. Tear four small circles out of tan paper. These are the men's heads.
18. Glue tan circle to the top of each torn triangle.
19. Write "Peter," "James," "John," and "Jesus" at the bottom of their robes. 
20. Draw sleeping faces on Peter, James, and John.
21. Glue Peter, James, and John sleeping on the ground.
22. Tear a small triangle out of Jesus' robe to make him look like he is kneeling.
23. Draw Jesus' face, praying.
24. Write "Mount of Olives" on top of mountain.
25. Write "Jesus Prays In The Garden" and "Matthew 26:30-46" and "John 17" at top of black paper.
26. Draw black olives on tree.
27. Draw grass on ground.

Lesson - Jesus' Words Of Comfort

VERSES:   John 14:1-31

MEMORY VERSE:   John 14:1  "Let not your heart be troubled..."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:  Hosea. Write "Hosea" on small slips of paper, so the students may take the book home to memorize.

PRAYER:  We pray that we may always be close to the Lord and do His Will. If we study His Word, we will be drawn closer to God.

SPECIAL SONG:   The Books Of The Old Testament (see March 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog. Click orange circle to hear tune.) 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.)

VISUAL AID:  The Bible. A Large Activity (see below)

LESSON POINTS:

• Jesus knew what was in His future--a death on a cruel cross. He had said to His disciples on different occasions that  His hour was come (John 12:23), that it was because of this hour that He had come to the earth (John 12:27), that He would be lifted up from the earth (John 12:32, 33), that He was going to be with the disciples for only a little while (John 13:33), and that where He was going they could not go (John 13:36). 
• Jesus was concerned about His disciples, so He told them many comforting words. He said not to be worried or troubled. He told His disciples to believe in Him as they believed in God. He said that there were many mansions in His Father's house and that He was telling them the truth. He was going to prepare a place for them, but He was coming back again and would gather His disciples, so that they could go to where He was going--which was heaven.
• While we have the Bible and can read these things that happened for ourselves, the disciples could not see everything like we can. We have the Bible today, but at that time, they were doing the things that were written in the Bible! The disciples did not entirely understand everything that Jesus was telling them, but Jesus said that His Father would send them a Comforter, which was the Holy Spirit,  who would teach them all things and would bring all things that had happened to their memories (John 14:26).
• Jesus also said that if His disciples loved Him, then they would keep His commandments. That is still how we show Jesus that we love Him by keeping His commandments.
• Jesus told His disciples that He would not be talking with them as much as He had been because of the things that were going to happen shortly. He said that He was going to do the things that His Father had commanded that the world might know know that He loved His Father in heaven.

"Older Student" Tips:

• Not only was Jesus going to prepare a home for His disciples, He went to prepare a place for all those who did His will, even us! We might not live in a fancy house here on this earth, but in heaven, there is a mansion for all those who obey Him.
• In John 14:26, Jesus tells us what the Holy Ghost does and that is teach! Some mistaken people say that the Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit enters their bodies and makes them jump around and say words that no one knows what they mean, but that is not what John says here in these passages. God chose preaching to save the lost (1 Corinthians 1:21). The Holy Spirit furnishes the words (Mark 13:11 and Acts 2:4). The Holy Spirit sends preachers to teach (Acts 8:29). The Holy Spirit does the same as God's Word, the Bible--it teaches (John 14:26).

ACTIVITY:  If you love me, keep my commandments.
Materials needed:  9" x 12" red construction paper, scraps of gold and white paper, scissors, marker, crayons, glue.

1. Hand out red paper.
2. Fold red paper in half, width-wise.
3. Draw a half of a heart on red paper with fold in the middle.
4. Cut on curved line.
   
5. Open heart.
6. Write "IF YOU" on right side of heart.
7. Write "Me," towards the right edge of paper, leaving room for a gold heart to the left of 'ME.'
8. Hand out gold scrap of paper.
9. Fold gold paper in half, width-wise.
10. Draw a half of a heart on gold paper with fold in the middle.
11. Cut on curved line.
12. Open heart.
13. Cut gold heart on folded line.
14. Fold 1/4" outside edges of gold heart. 
15. Glue EDGES ONLY of tiny gold heart.
16. Place on the left of the word 'ME.'.
17. Open heart.
18. Write "LOVE" under gold heart.
    
19. Hand out white scrap of paper.
20. Fold white paper in half, width-wise.
21. Draw a half of a heart on white paper with fold in the middle.
22. Cut on curved line.
23. Open heart.
24. Cut white heart on folded line.
25. Fold 1/4" outside edges of white heart. 
26. Glue EDGES ONLY of small white heart.
27. Place both pieces of white heart on the bottom middle of red heart's fold line.
28. Open white heart.
29. Write "Keep my commandments." under the white heart.
    
30. Decorate.

Lesson - The Last Supper

VERSES:  Matthew 26:17-29;  Mark 14:12-25;  Luke 22:7-23

MEMORY VERSES:  Luke 22:19  "...do this in remembrance of me."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:  Daniel.  Write "Daniel" on small slips of paper for the students to take home and memorize.

PRAYER:  Pray that we always do things God's way and not what we think is best.

SPECIAL SONG:  Jesus Loves Me (see February 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #2 on this blog.)  No, Not One (see June 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #6 on this blog. Click on orange circles to hear tune.)

LESSON POINTS:

• Finally, the Day of the Unleavened Bread or the Passover had come and the Passover lamb needed to be prepared. Jesus instructed Peter and John to go and prepare the Passover lamb. When they asked where they should prepare it, Jesus told Peter and John to go into the city. He said as they entered the city, they would meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Jesus said to follow the man into a house. Then, they were to ask the good man of that house, 'The Master asks where is the guest chamber where He should eat the Passover with His disciples?' The man would show them a large furnished upstairs room and it was there that they should get everything ready for the Passover. Peter and John did exactly as Jesus said and everything that Jesus said happened.
• When it was evening, Jesus came to that upper room with the twelve disciples. He sat down and ate at the table with His disciples. Jesus knew that it would soon be time to suffer on the cross, so He told His disciples that He wanted to eat the Passover with them before it was time for Him to suffer. He said that He would not be eating anymore with them until the kingdom of God was fulfilled. 
• Jesus then said something very interesting. He said that one of the twelve men who sat with Him right there at the table would betray Him. Soon, everyone was asking, "Is it I? Is it I?" Jesus answered and said that it was one who dipped his hand with Him in the dish. Jesus said how sad it would be for the one who betrayed Him. He said that it would have been better if that person had never been born. 
• We learned last time who had plotted with the chief priests to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver! What was his name? It was Judas. Judas did not think that Jesus knew it was him who had betrayed Him to the chief priests because even Judas pretended to be innocent and asked Jesus, "Is it I?" just like the other disciples. But Jesus did know all about Judas and what he had done. Jesus simply said to him, "You have said."
• Then, as they were eating,Jesus took the unleavened bread, blessed it, and gave it to His disciples. Jesus told everyone, "Take, eat; this is my body. Do this in remembrance of me." Then, Jesus took the cup, gave thanks for it, and gave the cup to the disciples, too. Jesus said, "Drink all of it. For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
• This same unleavened bread and fruit of the vine that was in the cup is what is used in the worship of the church today. The unleavened bread is a symbol of His body on the cross and the fruit of the vine or grape juice is taken by Christians to remember Jesus' blood that was shed on the cross. The disciples might not have entirely understood what Jesus was saying at this last supper, but they would remember later and do exactly as Jesus commanded.

"Older Student" Tips:

• Jesus knows everything. He knew when and how he was going to die and He knew it was Judas who was going to betray Him. We need to remember that Jesus knows what we do even when other people do not. Judas would suffer the consequences of that terrible deed of betraying Jesus and we, too, will pay for our wicked deeds. let us always do those good things that the Lord would be proud of.
• Some people mistakenly teach that the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine really become Jesus' body and blood, but that is not what is said here in these verses or in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. In the worship of the Lord's church, this memorial is called the Lord's Supper and it is taken every first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). That is why Christians continue to partake in the Lord's Supper today. God wants it that way.

ACTIVITY:   The Last Supper
Materials needed:  9" x 12" brown construction paper, 4.5" x 12" tan construction paper, twelve different colors of scrap construction paper, scissors, crayons, marker, tape, glue.

1. Hand out brown construction paper.
2. Fold brown paper in half, lengthwise.
3. Fold brown paper in half again, lengthwise.
4. Unfold paper.
   
5. Fold two edges of the paper, so they meet in the middle.
6. Tape edges together.
   
7. On one 'panel, write "The Last Supper" and "Matthew 26:17-29."
8. Unfold paper, so that it stands up like a table. This is the table.
9. Cut twelve heads with necks out of tan paper.
   
10. Cut twelve shirts out of different colored scraps of paper.
    
11. Draw faces and hair on both sides of all twelve heads.
12. Glue shirts on to all twelve necks.
13. Select one person to be Jesus.
14. Write "Jesus" across his shirt.
15. Apply glue to the bottom of ten shirts, including Jesus.
16. Beginning with Jesus, glue Jesus to the middle of the side of the table.
17. Glue and press nine more men around the two long edges of the table.
18. On the two remaining men, fold the bottom of each man's shirt up 1/2".
    
19. Apply glue only to edge of these two men's shirts.
20. On the short edges of the table, press the bottom edge of one man's shirts under the table.

Lesson - A Plot To Betray Jesus

VERSES:   Matthew 26:1-5; 14-16;  Mark 14:1, 2; 10-11;  Luke 22:1-6

MEMORY VERSE:   Luke 22:6  "And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them..."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:  Ezekiel.  Write "Ezekiel" on small slips of paper for the students to take home and memorize.

PRAYER:  Pray that we will always be a good friend like Jesus was. Jesus gave His life for His friends.

SPECIAL SONG:  No, Not One -(see June 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #6 for the words and tune to this song. Click on orange button.)

VISUAL AID: Large Activity (see below). Perhaps use real silver coins.

LESSON POINTS:

• It was almost time for the Feast of the Unleavened Bread which was also called the Passover. We remember that on the Passover, God's people, the Old Testament nation of Israel, were to remember how God had led His people out of Egyptian slavery. On the tenth and last plague, God had commanded His people to put the blood of an unblemished lamb on both sides of their doors and over their mantles. When the LORD saw the blood on the door, then the LORD would "pass over" that home and that family would be spared the death of their firstborn. The reason God's people observed the Passover feast year after year was to remember (see Lesson - Plague #10 - May 2014). It was to be a memorial for them (Exodus 12:14). This was the feast that Jesus said was coming in two days and Jesus, the Son of Man, was to be betrayed and crucified.
• The chief priests, the scribes and the elders of the people gathered together into the palace of Caiaphas, the high priest, and talked about how they might slyly take Jesus and kill Him. But they did not want to to kill Jesus on the feast day because they were afraid that the people might get into an uproar.
• Meanwhile, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve of Jesus' disciples, was greedy, selfish, and did not love Jesus with his whole heart. Judas went privately to the chief priests and asked them what they would give him if he delivered Jesus to them. The chief priests gladly promised Judas thirty pieces of silver if he would tell them which man was Jesus. By always being grouped together with the disciples, the chief priests did not exactly know which one of the men in the group was Jesus, but Judas promised to tell them. After that meeting, Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus when the crowds of people were not around.  Satan was behind Judas' betrayal of Jesus, but it was Judas who chose to betray Jesus.
• To betray someone means to give information about a friend to an enemy. or to pretend to be a friend, but really you are not. Judas said he would betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Thirty pieces of silver was not much money, but Judas was greedy. Judas held the disciples' purse that they used for their expenses and Judas stole from this purse his own purposes. Judas was definitely selfish and thought only about his needs and desires.

"Older Student" Tips:

• Read Luke 22:6. After Judas promised to give Jesus to the chief priests and scribes, Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus, Truly, Judas chose to betray his friend, Jesus.
• This was only the beginning of Judas' betrayal of Jesus. By going to the chief priests, scribes, and elders with this proposition, God's plan for redeeming man by the blood of Christ would soon come to pass.

ACTIVITY:  Judas' Purse With 30 Pieces of Silver
Material needed:  10" circle of thin black material, 30" of yarn or lace or twine, 8.5" x 11" piece of silver poster board (less expensive white poster board can just as easily be used, but I had to purchase a roll of aluminum foil at the Dollar Store. If money is tight, the students can color the white poster board gray or silver), 3" x 3" scrap paper, hole punch, scissors.

1. Preparation:  I have found that preparing the circles in advance is quite helpful. Simply find a 10" circle--I used a lid to a cooking pot--and trace on black fabric with a white crayon. I tried white chalk, but I could see the crayon easier. Cut out circles.
   
2. Hand out circles of fabric.
   
3. Fold fabric in half.
4. About 1/2" down from the edge of the fabric, cut a small circle large enough for yarn or ribbon to fit through.
   
5. Leaving the fabric folded, cut another hole on the opposite edge.
6. Refold fabric on, so that the already-cut holes are in the middle of the fabric's edge.
7. Cut two holes opposite of each other. (see picture below)
   
8. Refold fabric, and continue to cut holes in the fabric around the circle. The advantage of cutting the fabric this way is that is will not be necessary to count to the holes to make certain there is an even number. If there is an odd number of holes, the yarn or ribbon's ends will not be threaded through on the same side. Eight evenly places holes should be enough. 
   
9. Hand out ribbon (see above picture).
10. Thread ribbon through holes. Both ends should come out on the same side.
    
11. Turn black circle over. (This way, when the coins are counted on top of the purse, the purse can be closed easily.)
12. Hand out poster board.
13. Cut out 30 tiny circles (about 1/2" each). These are the 30 coins.
    
14. If using white poster board and foil, hand out foil in two 4" x 12" strips. Tear strips of foil to cover coins. Cover coins. It is easier to count coins as they are covered. I placed mine in groups of five.
    
    
    
    
15. Hand out scrap of paper.
16. Punch a hole in top right corner of scrap of paper.
17. Write, "A Plot To Betray Jesus" and "Matthew 26:14-16." This is the label.
    
18. Thread label onto one end of ribbon.
    
19. By pulling on both ends of ribbon at one time, the fabric will naturally be pulled into a 'purse."
    
20. Tie ribbon ends into a bow.
    

Lesson - I Want To Be A Sheep!

VERSES:  Matthew 25:31-46

MEMORY VERSE:  Matthew 25:34  "...Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:  Jeremiah.  Write "Jeremiah" on small slips of paper for the students to take home and memorize.

PRAYER:  Pray that we will do everything we can for others and be a good example of how God wants us to live.

SPECIAL SONGS:  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); Read, Read Every Day  (see February 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #1 on this blog. Click on orange circle to hear tune.)

VISUAL AID:  Write "I WANT TO BE A SHEEP!" on the whiteboard or chalkboard. Draw a sheep in the middle of the board. Write the good things about the sheep all around the board as the lesson is told (see below for possible words). 

LESSON POINTS:

• Jesus continued teaching His disciples in parables as the Passover drew near. He told them about when He would come back again. He said that when the Son of Man would come in His glory and all of His holy angels with Him, then He would sit upon the His glorious throne. All nations would be gathered before Him, and He would separate them from each other as a shepherd would divide his sheep from the goats. He would set the sheep on His right side and the goats would be on His left side.
• Then the King would say to all the sheep or the righteous ones on His right side, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared from you from the foundation of the world." The King said that those on His right side gave Him food when He was hungry, gave Him a drink when He was thirsty, gave Him a place to stay when He was a stranger, and gave Him clothes when He had no clothes. When He was sick, they visited Him and when He was in prison, they came to see Him.
• The sheep or the righteous ones asked the King, "When did we see you hungry and thirsty? When did we see you when you were a stranger and took you in? When did we see you without clothes or sick or in prison?" The King answered them, "When you did any of these things to the least of my disciples, you did it to me."
• Then He said to all the goats or the unrighteous ones on His left side, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels. I was hungry and you did not feed Me, I was thirsty and you did not give me anything to drink, I was a stranger and you did not give Me a place to stay, I had no clothes and you gave Me no clothing, and I was in prison and you did not visit Me."
• The goats or the unrighteous ones asked Him, "When did we see you hungry and thirsty? When did we see you when you were a stranger and took you in? When did we see you without clothes or sick or in prison?" The King then answered them, "When you did not do any of these things to the least of my disciples, you did not do it to Me. These will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous ones will go into life eternal."
• We should all want to be rewarded with eternal life like the sheep were rewarded. They did the will of their Father in heaven, obeying what He wanted them to do, and, in the end, were rewarded with a wonderful home in heaven where God and Jesus would be. On the other hand, the goats or the ones who did whatever they wanted to do in this earthly life, were punished an everlasting punishment. We should want to be the sheep and not the goats in this parable!

"Older Student" Tips:

• Jesus was talking about the Judgment Day when He would come back to judge the people according to what they had done in this life on earth. The ones who were good and obedient were rewarded for their efforts on the earth, but the ones who neglected their Father's Will were punished just like a father rewards or punishes his children. 
• Matthew 25:34 said that the kingdom that the sheep were going to inherit was a PREPARED place. Heaven was not an afterthought; it was prepared just as a place of punishment was PREPARED for the devil and his angels. As terrible a place as 'everlasting punishment' is, that will be the opposite of a wonderful, loving, and beautiful place called heaven.
• Some people do not want to believe that God will punish bad people who do not obey Him, but this parable and verses in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 tell us--warn us--that there will be a time where there will be a difference in the righteous and unrighteous. We are taught that there are TWO places prepared and they are very different places. Even if there are people who do not want to believe that a loving God could send the disobedient to an everlasting punishment does not make it so. God is a loving God, but He is also a just God and never fails in keeping His promises as we learned last time in Matthew 25:14-30 when we talked about the parables of the talents. God says what He means and means what He says.

ACTIVITY:  I Want to be a Sheep!
Materials needed:  9" x 12" turquoise construction paper, cotton balls, crayons, marker, glue.

1. Hand out turquoise paper.
2. In the very middle draw a sheep.
   
3. At the top of the paper, write "I WANT TO BE A"
4. At the bottom of the paper, write "SHEEP!"
5. At the bottom of the paper, write "Matthew 25:31-46."
   
6. Glue cotton balls on to sheep.
7. With a marker, make a dot for the sheep's eye.
8. All around the sheep, write 

• "Come, ye blessed of my Father"
• "You gave me food."
• "You gave me a drink."
• "You gave me clothes."
• "You visited me."
• "You gave me a play to stay."
• "The righteous in life eternal."

Lesson - Parable Of The Talents

VERSES:  Matthew 25:14-30

MEMORY VERSE:  Matthew 25:21  "...Well done, thou good and faithful servant..."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:   Isaiah. Write "Isaiah" on small slips of paper and hand out to students at the end of class, so they may take them home to memorize.

PRAYER:  Thank God for the blessings He gives us. Everything good comes from God.

SPECIAL SONG:  This Little Light Of Mine (see March 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog.  Click on the orange circle to hear tune.)

VISUAL AID:  Large Activity (see below)

LESSON POINTS:

• During the last few days of His life, Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives when His disciples came to Him privately and asked Him to explain a few things that Jesus had said before. Jesus began to talk about things that were going to happen in Jerusalem, about how heaven and earth would pass away, but His words would not pass away, about the fact that Jesus did not know when He was coming back again, but only His Father in heaven knew when that would happen, and how important it was to be watchful and working (Matthew 24). Jesus then taught in parables.
• Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven was like a man who was getting ready to make a long journey. The man called in three of his servants and gave them a portion of what he owned. He gave the first servant five talents, the second servant received two talents, and the third servant received one talent. In Bible times, a "talent" was a weight of something valuable like gold or silver. In this parable, it does not say if the man gave gold or silver, but whatever it was, it was very valuable. The man put thought in to what he was giving each servant because he gave them according to what they were able to handle responsibly. 
• To the first servant, he gave ten talents. To the second servant, he gave five talents. To the last servant, he gave one talent. Then the man immediately left on his trip. The first servant who was given five talents, traded until he had made five more talents. The second servant did the same and gained two more talents. But, the third servant who had received one talent went and dug a hole in the dirt and hid his master's money.
• After a long time has passed, the man who had gone on a journey finally came back home. He called his servants to him to see what they had done with his talents. He found out that the servant who was given five talents had earned five more talents, so he had a total of ten talents! The master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things; I will make you a ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."
• The servant who had received two talents showed his master that he had gained two more talents for a total of four talents! His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things; I will make you a ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."
• Then the servant who had been given one talent said to his master, "Lord, I knew you were a hard or strict man, reaping what you have not sowed and gathering where you have not strawed. I was afraid and went and hid my talent into the earth. Here is the one talent you gave me." The master answered him and said, "You wicked and lazy servant! You knew that I reap where I do not sow and gather where I do not straw. You should have put my money into the bank and it would have at least gathered interest!" He told his other servants to take away his one talent and give it to the servant who had ten talents. "Cast this unprofitable servant into outer darkness where there will be crying and terrible things!"
• In this parable, the talents were something measured, something valuable, and something to be responsible for. Two men used their talents responsibly by doubling what they had been given; one did not. Two men were busy, working responsibly for their master; one was not. Two men were not afraid; one was afraid. Jesus was telling His disciples to be busy, to be working, not to be lazy, not to be afraid. He is telling that to us today.
• Today, we also have talents; some have the ability to speak, some to sing, some who know how to handle money, and some who know how to care for people. There are many talents that people have. In order for our talents or abilities to grow, we need to nurture them and care for them. If we know how to speak well, we need to be preaching and teaching the Gospel. If we know how to sing well, we need to be teaching or leading in the singing. There are many things to do in the Lord's vineyard! We need to be busy and never lazy.

"Older Student" Tips:

• Notice that there was a promise made to the ones who did their master's work and that promise was joy (Matthew 25:21, 23). Yet, the one who was lazy and only buried his talent was given harsh words, stripped of his talent, and cast outside the loving and warm care of his master. The same will be true for us whether we are working or whether we are lazy. The choice is ours because we know that God always keeps His promises. Always. Read 1 Kings 8:56. God's Word never fails.
• Should we ever be afraid? Read Matthew 14:27 and Revelation 21:8. There are grave consequences for being afraid. We need to trust in the Lord and He will keep us safe. He always watches over His own.
• Just as these servants were judged by their master, we, too, will be judged by the things that we do and the things that we do not do. Read James 4:17. We need to be prepared!

ACTIVITY:   Parable of the Ten Talents
Materials needed:  9" x 12" light blue construction paper, 3" x 12" green, orange, and turquoise construction papers, crayons, glue, scissors.

1. Hand out light blue paper.
2. Fold top edge down two inches.
3. Unfold.
4. Trace folded line with crayon. This is the background.
5. Write "Parable of the TALENTS" and "Matthew 25:14" in this top area.
6. Hand out green, orange, and turquoise papers. These are the bags.
7. Fold green, orange, and turquoise papers in half.
8. With folded side up, draw one 'bag' on each color.
9. Cut out three bags; one of each color.
10. Place bags evenly spaced on light blue paper under line.
11. Draw two lines between bags.
12. Glue one bag in each area, so the top folds up.
13. Draw string on each bag. It looks cute with a little tie on the side of each bag. (Just make a little sideways '8' with two lines pointing down.)
14. Write "5 talents" on the first bag.
15. Write "2 talents" on the second bag.
16. Write 1 talent" on the third bag.
    
17. Fold tops of bags up, making a crease in the 'string' area.
18. Inside each bag, glue ONLY from folded edge to string area. (Don't glue the bag completely shut!)
19. Inside the first bag, write "Well Done!" on the top of the bag and "10 talents!" on the bottom of the bag.
20. Inside the second bag, write "Well Done!" on the top of the bag and "5 talents!" on the bottom of the bag.
21. Inside the third bag, write "Wicked and Lazy!" on the top of the bag and "1 talent" on the bottom of the bag.
    
22. Close bags.
23. Under the first bag AND the second bags, write "Enter into the JOY of your lord."
24. Under the third bag, write "Cast him into outer darkness."

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.