John 6:25-35 JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE
We see signs all around us every day. As we walk down the halls at school, we may see signs that tell the different rooms in the school. Each classroom probably has a sign by the door with the teacher’s name on it so students will be able to find their classrooms.
When we travel around our town, we see signs that tell us what we should or should not do.
Our lesson today is about signs of a different kind–not a sign you can touch, but something that would prove to people that Jesus really was sent by God. Like when Jesus fed 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. That was a sign that Jesus was from God, but the people totally missed it. They wanted even more signs, more proof.
The Bible says when people realised Jesus had left that place and gone somewhere else, they went looking for Him. They found Him way over on the other side of the lake.
Jesus said to them, “You came looking for me not because you saw God in my actions, but because I fed you. You shouldn’t be so concerned about things like food. Instead, you should be seeking the eternal life that I can give you.”
Here’s how the people responded: “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? After all, Moses gave our ancestors bread from heaven to eat when they were in the wilderness. Can you do that?”
Jesus answered them, “The true bread of God is the One who comes down from Heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Give us that bread! Give it to us every day,” the people said.
Jesus replied, “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
Some people today are still asking for some special sign that will prove that Jesus was sent from God. But God has given us all the signs we need right here in the Bible. All God wants is for us to believe in the one He sent.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Son Jesus, who is the Bread of Life. We don’t need a sign. We believe in Him, which means He gives us life forever with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Mark 5:21-43
One day Jesus was walking through a large crowd. The people were crowding around so that he could hardly move. There was a woman in the crowd who was not well; her body had been bleeding for 12 years. There wasn’t even a doctor who could help her. But she thought Jesus could heal her. She thought, “If I could just get close enough to touch his robe, I would be healed.” So she pushed through the crowd and did it! And she was immediately better!
When the woman touched Jesus, He felt the power go out of Him. When He found out who touched Him, He said, “Your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free from your suffering.”
At this same time, Jesus was actually on His way to help a church leader whose daughter was very sick. After the woman had touched Him, He learned the girl had died. Then He told everyone, “Have faith!” and He made His way to the church leader’s home. When Jesus saw the people crying over the girl’s death, He told them she was only sleeping. This made them laugh, but He still went and touched her hand and said a prayer. And she got up!
The power in Jesus’ touch is amazing!
Dear God, we long to reach out and touch You and to feel Your power in our lives. Please help us see and feel Your power. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
power_in_a_touch_Activity sheet
PENTECOST SUNDAY-Pentecost Sunday Activity Sheet
When God sent His Holy Spirit to be with His people for the first time, it was like a mighty, rushing wind. Many churches still celebrate that special day. It’s called the day of Pentecost. A bunch of believers were all gathered together. When the loud wind came, they saw what looked like tongues of fire that came to rest on each of them, and all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. How would you feel if you saw fire coming down on your head? Would you be scared?
The Holy Spirit helped them share God’s message of love with everyone around by speaking other languages! When we believe, God puts His Holy Spirit in us, too.
There are so many ways the Holy Spirit helps us every day. You might say, “He is the wind in your socks!”
Dear God, we thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to comfort us, guide us, and live within us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
When God sent His Holy Spirit to be with His people for the first time, it was like a mighty, rushing wind. Many churches still celebrate that special day. It’s called the day of Pentecost. A bunch of believers were all gathered together. When the loud wind came, they saw what looked like tongues of fire that came to rest on each of them, and all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. How would you feel if you saw fire coming down on your head? Would you be scared?
The Holy Spirit helped them share God’s message of love with everyone around by speaking other languages! When we believe, God puts His Holy Spirit in us, too.
There are so many ways the Holy Spirit helps us every day. You might say, “He is the wind in your socks!”
Dear God, we thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to comfort us, guide us, and live within us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
‘As I have loved you’ John 15: 9-17
Love One Another Activity Sheet
- When was a time you felt left out or were chosen last?
- How did that make you feel?
Did you know you weren’t alone in that sad time? Jesus was with you! He doesn’t want anyone to be left out. In the Bible, He reminded His friends that He loves ALL the children, no matter what they look like or what their interests and talents are. And He wants us to love others like that, too. He said, “Love each other as I have loved you.” Today we’re going to think more about how to love everyone and not leave anyone out.
Dear Father, help us to remember that Jesus taught us to love one another just as You loved Him and as He loved us. In Jesus’ name, amen
‘I am the Vine, You are the branches’ John 15:1-8
True Vine Activity sheet
Jesus said, “I am the vine and you are the branches. If you remain in me, you will have much fruit, but apart from me, you can do nothing.” Jesus wants us to produce fruit. Good fruit, like kindness, generosity, and faithfulness. Most of all, He wants us to love others as He has loved us.
But we can’t do it on our own. Just as the lamp must be plugged in before its light can shine, and just as the branches must be connected to the vine before they can produce fruit, you and I must stay connected to Jesus to produce the good fruit that God expects of us.
Dear God, help us remember that we need to stay plugged into Jesus if we’re going to produce the kind of fruit You expect. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Good Shepherd Sunday- John 10:11
John 20:19-31 We Believe In Jesus
On the evening of the first Sunday after Jesus had been crucified, His disciples were together in a locked room. They were afraid of those who had crucified Jesus. Suddenly, Jesus appeared there in the locked room with the disciples. It was hard to believe but they saw Him, and Jesus showed them His wounds in His hands and His side, so they knew it was Him.
One of the disciples, Thomas, was not with the others when Jesus appeared to them. When they told Thomas, he didn’t believe them. He had seen Jesus crucified and buried. How could He be alive? Thomas said, “Unless I see the wound in His side and put my finger in the holes where the nails were in His hands, I will not believe it!”
A week later, the disciples were in the locked room again, and this time, Thomas was with them. Again, Jesus came and stood among the disciples. Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas fell on his knees and answered Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
You and I have never seen Jesus with our own eyes. The question is, will we be one of those who is blessed because we believe, even though we have not seen?
Dear God, help us to believe in our heart the truths we find in Your Holy Word, even though we have not seen them with our own eyes. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Seeing is Believing Activity Sheet
EASTER SUNDAY: John 20:1-28
Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb where Jesus had been buried. She found that the stone was rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and another disciple, John. She told them, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put Him!”
Peter and John started out for the tomb. They were both running, but John outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He noticed the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. Then John saw and believed for until then, they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. Then they went home.
Mary stayed behind, weeping. As she knelt down and looked inside the tomb, she saw two angels dressed in white. They asked her why she was crying. She told them she didn’t know where they had taken Jesus. Then, Mary turned and saw a man standing behind her. It was Jesus, but Mary did not recognize Him. She thought He was the gardener. Then Jesus called her by name and, when she heard His voice, she recognized Him. After she saw that it was Jesus, she went to the disciples and said to them, “I’ve just seen Jesus! He is alive!”
Some people, like Mary, Peter, and John can’t see Jesus because they are looking for Him in a grave or on a cross. He isn’t there! He is risen and is seated at the right hand of His Father in heaven. If you want to see Jesus, look in His Word, He will reveal Himself to you, just as He did to Mary!
Dear God, we thank You that Jesus, our Savior, is not in a grave. He is alive! We serve a risen Savior! Hallelujah! In Jesus’ name, amen.
I’ve Seen Jesus
Mark 11:1-11 Lesson of the week – Palm Sunday –
Joyful_celebration_bulletin -activity sheet
Lesson of the week-The Power of God’s Love- John 12: 28-33
Lesson of the week- Measure That!
Sometimes we measure ingredients. If I were making some cookies, which of these would I use to make sure that I put in exactly the right amount of flour, sugar, and milk? (Allow kids to pick between the measuring cup, a tape measure, and a watch.) That’s right, we would use a measuring cup for cookies, but I wonder if we might use a measuring cup to measure God’s love? The Bible says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want….my cup runneth over” (Psalm 23:1,5). Well, if our cup runs over with God’s love, I guess we couldn’t use a measuring cup to measure it.
If we were building something, which of these would I use to measure the length, width, and height of different things? (Allow kids to pick between the measuring cup, a tape measure, and a watch.) That’s right, a tape measure, but I wonder if we might use a tape measure to measure God’s love? The Bible tells us that God’s love is higher than the heavens (Psalm 108:4). If God’s love is higher than the heavens, I don’t think we could use a tape measure to measure it, could we?
Which of these would I use to measure time? (Allow kids to pick between the measuring cup, a tape measure, and a watch.) We use a watch to measure time. There will probably be some people here this morning who will use their watches to measure how long the pastor’s sermon lasts. I wonder if we could use a watch to measure how long God’s love will last. The Bible tells us that God’s love is from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 103:17). Wow! If God’s love is from everlasting to everlasting, I guess we couldn’t measure it with a watch.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” How do you measure a love like that? We can’t measure it. We don’t need to, but we do need to experience it.
My prayer for you today is, “That you may understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May you experience it, though it is so great you will never fully understand it” (Ephesians 3:18-19).
Dear God, we thank You for Your love—a love so great that You gave Your one and only Son so that we could have eternal life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Jesus Cleans the Temple
TAKE TIME FOR JESUS
Take time to think- It is the source of power
Take time to read- It is the foundation of wisdom
Take time to play- It is the secret of staying young
Take time to be quiet- it is the opportunity to seek God
Take time to be aware- It is the opportunity to help others
Take time to love and be loved- It is God’s greatest gift
Take time to laugh – It is the music of the soul
Take time to be friendly- It is the road to happiness
Take time to dream- It is what the future is made of
Take time to pray- It is the greatest power on earth
Click on the link for nice stories and activities
THE ROSARY- Explained for children