Kids Church

LESSON FOR: March 4-5, 2023 – Week 1 of Series

JESUS: STORY MODE – Jesus at the Temple

POWER TRUTH: I will be more like Jesus.

POWER VERSE: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. ~ 2 Peter 3:18 WEB

OBJECTIVE: At the end of the series, the kids will understand the significance of the episodes
in Jesus’ story– that Jesus made the right choices while on earth, in order to make heaven
available to those who believe. And with that, kids will appreciate the life that Jesus lived and
therefore live a life that also seeks to honor God.

INTRODUCTION

Today we are starting a new series entitled Jesus: Story Mode, where we will learn about
Jesus’ life and ministry here on earth. For our first week, we will talk about an event in Jesus’
life when he was 12 years old. But before that, let’s play a game!

CONNECT Find Jesus

Materials: printout or slide of Find Jesus puzzle:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/gaj3l9xom0bmfj7wkrycp/h/Primary%20and%20Preteens/
1.Jesus%20at%20the%20Temple?
dl=0&preview=Connect+Game.jpg&subfolder_nav_tracking=1

Instructions: Have you heard of the game, “Where’s Waldo”? We will play something similar
today. I will flash an image on the screen and for the next three minutes, you have to find
Jesus in the picture (flash the image of the Jesus figure). If you have spotted Jesus, raise your
hand and don’t shout the answer! A teacher will approach you and you just whisper where you
think Jesus is. The first three kids to find Jesus will receive 500 KC Bucks each. But if you
shout out where Jesus is, you won’t receive the KC Bucks. So remember to be quiet and
simply raise your hand.

Timer starts NOW!

Spiel: Good job! The reason why we played that game is because our Bible story today is
about the time Joseph and Mary accidentally left Jesus in Jerusalem and they had to go and
find Him. Let’s watch the lesson video…

WORD Luke 2:41-52 ICB

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Jesus at the Temple

Every year, Jesus’ earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, would bring their whole family to
Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. After the Passover when Jesus was twelve years old,
Joseph and Mary headed home only to discover along the way that they had left Jesus behind!
They quickly returned to Jerusalem to find Him. They discovered Him in the temple listening to
religious leaders and asking questions.

Luke 2:48-51 ICB When Jesus’ parents saw him, they were amazed. His mother said to him,
“Son, why did you do this to us? Your father and I were very worried about you. We have been
looking for you.”

49 Jesus asked, “Why did you have to look for me? You should have known that I must be
where my Father’s work is!” 50 But they did not understand the meaning of what he said.

After that, Jesus went home with them to Nazareth. He grew up and continued to learn more
and more. The people liked him and God was pleased with him.

POINT: Everything Jesus did was in obedience to God.

Verse 49 shows the first words Jesus ever spoke in the book of Luke. His first words were, “I
must be where my Father’s work is.” Because His parents had accidentally left Him behind,
Jesus made use of His time learning more of God and the scriptures by hanging out with the
religious leaders. A normal 12-year old boy would probably want to play. But not Jesus. He
knew His mission on earth and set about equipping Himself with the extra time He had.

When Jesus was born, angels and people announced that the Messiah—the savior of the
people, had now come to Earth. In our story, we hear it from Jesus Himself. Bible scholars
believe that this was Jesus declaring that He was on the mission that his Father set Him out to
do. Whatever His Father told Him to do, He would do. Jesus obeyed God the Father through
and through. Not once did He disobey.

Jesus’ life is an example of how we can live ours. Our obedience to God should be full and
complete. In fact, you are never too young to obey God. We can be obedient to God by
honoring and obeying our parents just like how Jesus obeyed and honored His parents. We
can also be actively “looking for Jesus” by practicing spiritual disciplines like reading our Bible
and spending time in prayer.

To the parents and adults watching, let us model to the children that we do not stop obeying
God. Obedience to God is a lifestyle no matter the age. Let them witness with their own eyes
how we value God’s Word and put it into practice ourselves.

SERIES POWER TRUTH: I will be more like Jesus.

SERIES POWER VERSE: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. ~ 2 Peter
3:18 WEB
POINT TO JESUS

Jesus never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). He lived a perfect life in obedience to God, even as a child. So
on the day that God called Him to the cross, He was fully qualified to trade His perfect obedience

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for our disobedience and sin. Jesus took the punishment that was supposed to be ours. Because
of what He did on the cross, our sins are forgiven and we have been made right
with God.

PRAYER

Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to show us how it is to live a life that makes you
happy. We pray for grace so that our decisions and actions will be in obedience to you so that
we can model Jesus to other people. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!

CRAFTS Obedient Heart

https://youtu.be/w963K7BVL_M

Materials: Coloring page template, red paper, scissors, glue, pen or marker

Instructions: Print the coloring page template. Cut four pieces of red hearts of the same size.
Fold them in half, and glue them together until they resemble a book. Glue the hearts on the
center of the coloring page and write “right away, happily, completely, and without complaints”
on the hearts.

Spiel: Today we learned that Jesus lived a life in full obedience to God. We can practice
obedience to God through obeying our parents. Obedience is not just about following what you
are told to do. We must also have an obedient heart. An obedient heart obeys right away,
happily, completely, and without complaints.

QUESTIONS

Huddle Question: How can we be more obedient to God this week?

Family Con: What makes it hard for you to obey your parents?

Classroom Questions: (Please pick appropriate questions for your class’ age group)

1. What were the names of Jesus’ earthly parents? (Joseph and Mary)
2. Where did Jesus and His parents go to celebrate Passover? (Answer: Jerusalem)
3. After the Passover, Jesus’ family returned home. What did Joseph and Mary discover
on their way home? (Jesus was not with them.)
4. Where did they find Jesus? (In the temple.)
5. What was Jesus doing in the temple? (He was listening to religious leaders and asking
them questions)
6. What were Jesus’ first words in the book of Luke? (I must be where my Father’s work is.)
7. Did Jesus ever disobey God? (No)
8. What is one way you can be obedient to God? (Obey your parents, read Bible, pray)