Dear Parents,

Thanks for joining us again as we do Children’s Worship from home!   

Note: Please let us know about how your family is enjoying Children’s Worship!  Take some pictures of your family participating in Children’s Worship or share a story. You can post to the Gold Avenue Church Facebook page or send by email at goldavechurch@gmail.com

Working on the Sabbath?

Based on: Mark 2:23-28; 3:1-6

 

EQUIP:  

(It’s not an activity, but just a little background on the story for you, the parent, to read.) 

 

One Sunday, I watched as a visiting family arrived early to the worship service and chose a place to sit. A few moments later, a family who had attended our church for many years came and found that “their” seats were taken. Instead of finding another place to sit, they left, and the following week they made sure they arrived at church earlier. It was sad that the family missed out on seeing God at work in the visitors’ lives.

 

If we’re not careful, we can find ourselves in similar situations. That’s what happened to the Pharisees. They stuck to their traditions and were upset when Jesus healed someone during “their” Sabbath service. This week, examine areas of your life where traditions or being comfortable where you are may hinder you from being a part of something wonderful that God has planned.

 

When Jesus’ actions on the Sabbath went against the established rules of the Pharisees, He showed the authority given to Him as God’s Son, the Savior. When we decide to be followers of Jesus, we give Him authority over our lives, too. We choose to love Him and follow His example of loving others.

 

Lisa Pham, Editor

 

Activity One:  Read the intro. Watch the video of the story.

Activity Two: Discuss the story using provided questions as prompts. Prayer.

Worship: Singing 

Activity Three:  Respond to the story by doing the activity. 

Activity Four:  Bless your children 

 

Activity 1:  STORY

 

Introduction to read the children:

 

By now, Jesus and His friends had become pretty well known. And no matter what Jesus did or said, it seemed that there was always someone watching Him who complained, argued or even told Jesus that He was breaking a rule! Today’s Bible story starts on one of those days when the Pharisees, the religious leaders, were watching Jesus.

 

Watch video:

 

Conclusion to read to the children

 

Jesus showed what God’s love is really like when He cared about the needs of the people around Him. And He chose to do that every day, not just on days when other people thought He should!  Jesus wants us to show God’s love every day, too.

 

Following Jesus is about more than just obeying a bunch of rules. When we follow Jesus, we do the things He did—we show love to other people and care about their needs. And we choose to do these things because we know that Jesus really loves us! 

 

A Bible verse tells us how we can show God’s love to others! Galatians 6:2 says: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”  We carry each other’s burdens when we help each other and care about problems that other people have.

 

Activity 2:  DISCUSSION

• Why were the Pharisees upset with Jesus? (They cared more about their way of doing things than about showing love to others.) 

• What did Jesus want them to do instead?

• What did the Pharisees choose to do? Why?

• What would Jesus tell kids your age about doing what’s right?

• What do you think the law of Christ is? (Following Jesus by showing His love to others. What does Galatians 6:2 tell us to do? (Carry each other’s burdens. Help each other.) Helping and caring for others is a way to do what’s right in Jesus’ eyes! How have you helped someone who was having a hard time? How has someone helped you?

Encourage children to pray for God to help them with helping others this week in their own words. Then, transition into a time of prayer for personal requests.

 

Worship Songs:

 

Activity 3: RESPONSE ACTIVITY #1

Jesus Heals Craft

 

Help kids remember this Bible story about Jesus healing the man with the withered hand and how we need to help others for Jesus. 

To make this helping hands craft, you will want to cut hands out of brightly colored construction paper.

 

Next, have kids tape (or you could glue) hands to make a circle. We found that 7 was the perfect number and made a good size circle.

 

Have the child write by themselves or with help ideas of how they can use their hands to serve Jesus by helping others. Some of the ideas included:

• set the table
• do my best in school
• hold the door open for someone else
• hug my grandma
• rake neighbors leaves
• clapping praise during worship

 

Response Activity #2  Print and Color

Activity 4: CLOSING BLESSING

 

Helping each other is a way to do what’s right. No matter what you do this week, look for ways to do what’s right in Jesus’ eyes!

 

(______________), once again, may you find ways to go beyond what is expected in helping others this week