March 18 - What We Believe - Jesus

Lesson Plans:  What We Believe – Jesus

Relevant Texts:

John 10:1-18

The Shepherd and the Flock

 1 "What I'm about to tell you is true. What if someone does not enter the sheep pen through the gate but climbs in another way? That person is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him. The sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought all of his own sheep out, he goes on ahead of them. His sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger. In fact, they will run away from him. They don't recognize a stranger's voice."

 6 Jesus used this story. But the Jews who were there didn't understand what he was telling them.

 7 So Jesus said again, "What I'm about to tell you is true. I am like a gate for the sheep. 8 All those who ever came before me were thieves and robbers. But the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I'm like a gate. Anyone who enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out. And he will find plenty of food. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so they can have life. I want them to have it in the fullest possible way.

 11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. 12 The hired man is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when the hired man sees the wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired man. He does not care about the sheep.

 14 "I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and my sheep know me. 15 They know me just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I give my life for the sheep.

 16 "I have other sheep that do not belong to this sheep pen. I must bring them in too. They also will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

 17 "The reason my Father loves me is that I give up my life. But I will take it back again. 18 No one takes it from me. I give it up myself. I have the authority to give it up. And I have the authority to take it back again. I received this command from my Father."

Overview:

This is the second installment in the series on the Trinity.  Jesus is the second person of the Trinity.  He was begotten by the Father.  It is through Jesus that God the Father carries out the pinnacle act of his plan of salvation.  Though it happened 2000 years ago, Christ’s atoning death also exists outside of time and acts on the souls of people who yet to be born. 

Jesus may be the most familiar person of the Trinity because he became human and lived among us.  It’s easier to connect with someone like us.  We can sort of understand Jesus as a man.  Jesus had a finite human life in which he experienced earthly things and accomplished tasks.  There isn’t anything mysterious about that.  People saw and heard him.  The “historic” Jesus is concrete enough for us that we can understand the concept of him even at an early age.  Very young people may not understand the full story of his atoning and sacrificial acts, but they can know how he treated people and what he taught.

One of the things Jesus did to help people understand him was to compare himself to a shepherd.  In fact, one of the many names of Jesus is “the Good Shepherd.”  There are several places in Jesus’ conversations where he makes reference to the care of sheep in the context of him being the shepherd.  The passage above refers to the Good Shepherd narrative in which Jesus describes how he cares for his flock and how they respond.  It’s a beautiful story of Jesus’ gentle and fiercely protective care. We can easily and personally connect to this story as the sheep.  This is a story that is easy for young children to understand as well. 

The Good Shepherd is just one of many names for Jesus.  Like the many names of God that we looked at last week, the names of Jesus tell us about his character.  Though Jesus is fully united with the other persons of the Trinity, the names we see are ways that we can know Jesus in his distinctness from the other persons.  Jesus’ incarnation gives him a different category in which we relate to him as a fully human person.  This humanity shows up in some of the names in the list below.

As if the nature of the Trinity isn’t confusing enough, within one of the persons of the Trinity exists two natures.  Jesus is both fully God and fully man.  He is able to be 100% both things at the same time.  He does not have to set aside one nature to let the other exist.  In fact, there are a few heresies based on people not understanding this dual nature.  What is most important that we understand is that when Jesus was incarnate (made man), it was complete.  He wasn’t just sort of human or even super human.  He was a regular person in is humanity.  The only thing that set him apart from other humans is that he is the only human that was perfect.  He was completely without sin.  He lived life the way we do.  He ate, drank, slept, hurt, bled, got tried, angry, sad and happy.  At the same time, Jesus did not set aside his godhood.  He was perfectly united with his Father and the Holy Spirit throughout his incarnation.  Jesus was the ultimate multi-tasker! 

PreK – Kinder Lesson Notes:                                                                                                       

This group will be learning about the Good Shepherd.  The Good Shepherd is a loving and approachable image of God, Our Savior.  Children at this age cannot understand death and would not be able to make the connections of an atoning death.  Instead this is the time to teach them how much Jesus loves them.  He cares for them in the same way a really dedicated shepherd cares for his sheep.  Jesus explains this in the reading from John above. 

Objectives: 

·         Help the children understand that the shepherd in the story is Jesus and we are his sheep.

·         The way that the shepherd cares for the sheep is the way that Jesus cares for us.  

·         Even though we don’t see Jesus with us today, he still takes care of us just the way the shepherd did in the story.

·         Jesus knows us very personally the way the shepherd knows his sheep.  For example, he knows them all by name. 

·         The sheep know their master by his voice and by his care.  We know Jesus by his Word and his care.

·         We are kept safe in Jesus’ Church the way the sheep were safe in the sheepfold.

Activity:

·         Illustrate the story of the Good Shepherd as you tell it by using the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd story set.  This is a round sheep pen with a shepherd and a dozen sheep all made of wood.  It is in the shelves by the door.  As you speak move the figures to represent the action of the story.  To draw the children into the story speak quietly, be very focused on the set in front of you, and do not speak when you are moving the figures.  Speak, then move for each little piece of the story. You’ll be amazed at how captivated the children will be. 

Crafts:

·         Color a picture of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

·         Cotton Ball Sheep.  These can be made in a number of ways from flat to 3D with a variety of materials.

·         Shepherd TP Roll Craft from http://www.dltk-bible.com/mabel.htm Materials you will need for the shepherd are a tp roll, printer, glue, scissors, something to color with and a piece of paper.

INSTRUCTIONS

       Print out the template of choice.

       Color the pieces as appropriate and cut them out.

       Glue the large rectangular piece around the toilet paper tube.

       Glue the long rectangle (belt) around the middle of the tube.

       Glue the head onto the top of the tube and the arms on the sides.

       Fold the tabs of the feet and glue them under the tube to make a 3 D effect.

       Glue the sheep into the shepherd's arms or onto the front of the tube near his feet.

Lower Elementary Lesson Notes:                                                                                                

This class will continue its study of the names of each of the persons of the Trinity.  The names of Jesus teach us a lot about who is, what he did and does, and his character.  The list of names of Jesus is in a separate document.  Look it over and make sure your favorite name is in there.  Share that with your students.

Objectives:

·         Help students understand Jesus’ character based on the names he has been called in scripture an over the years. 

·         Help students understand that some of Jesus’ names reflect him being a man who lived among us and some of his names reflect him being God.

·         Help students develop a more personal relationship with Jesus by knowing his many “nicknames.”

Activities:

·         Look at the list of names and decide which names describe a human and which are more appropriate to God.  Make a chart of the different types of names.  Some may fit in both categories depending on how you think about them.

·         Have the children pick out a name they had not heard before.  Ask them to say what that name makes them think of and why they like it.

·         Let the children share what name they think of when they are thinking of Jesus. 

Crafts:

·         Name of Jesus Windsock.  Supplies:  white paper (some in one piece, some cut into long strips), glue sticks, tape, hole punch, markers, yarn.  Have the students fold their full piece of paper into thirds making good creases in the paper.  Unfold and decorate each section with a different name of Jesus.  One side should say “Jesus.”  The other two can be the following different translations of the name. 

In Hebrew, it looks like this:

יֵשׁוּעַ = Yeshua

            In Greek it is:

ΙΗΣΟΥΣ

Using the long sections of paper, the children will write different names of Jesus from the list.  They can put as many on one “streamer” as they like.  Be sure to leave a space at the top for gluing to the body of the windsock so that no part of the words are lost in the attachment.  They can decorate the triangle and the strips with bright markers (using Christian symbols would be great).  Attach all the streamers to the bottom of the windsock while it is still unfolded.  Then bring the two short edges together to form the triangular tube.  This can be closed with tape.  Make two hole punches at the top and string with yarn for hanging.

Upper Elementary Lesson Notes:                                                                                                

This class will focus on the dual nature of Jesus.  Jesus was fully God and fully man.  His natures were indivisible.  This is a hard concept to understand because we can’t do it.  We don’t have any other example of it.  One way that we can see two distinctly different natures happening at the same time is in an inanimate object.  Think of a candle.  The flame emits both light and heat.  The light is not heat because a flashlight is not hot.  The heat is not light because a heating blanket emits no light.  Each of these natures is distinct, different and yet present at the same time in the same place.  Their source is the flame.  Jesus is like this.  He is both God and man at the same time.  These distinct properties are emitted from the same source.

Objectives:

·         Help the children understand that Jesus was fully God and fully man.  Jesus was not just born a man leaving behind his godliness to try out being human for a while.  Jesus was also not just a visiting God having nothing in common with those he came to see (He was not like Superman, hiding his superpowers under his street clothes).  He was always both at the same time.

·         Explain the dual nature of Jesus in the context of the candle flame.

Activity:

·         Demonstrate the aspects of light and heat mentioned above so that the children can see the two aspects as separate.  Bring a candle, a flashlight, and something that emits heat without light (like a heating pad). 

Craft:

·         Make candles.  These can be made by rolling beeswax, melting wax beads, or even decorating a premade candle.  Be sure to instruct the children never to light a candle without an adult present. 

Names of Jesus:

Advocate 1Jo 2:1
Almighty Rev 1:8
Alpha and Omega Rev 1:8; 22:13
Amen Rev 3:14
Apostle of Our Profession Heb 3:1
Arm of the Lord Is 51:9; 53:1
Author and Finisher of our Faith Heb 12:2
Author of Eternal Salvation Heb 5:9
Beginning of the Creation of God Rev 3:14
Beloved Son Matt 12:18
Blessed and only Potentate 1Tim 6:15
Branch Is 4:2
Bread of Life Jo 6:32
Captain of Salvation Heb 2:10
Chief Shepherd 1Pet 5:4
Christ of God Lu 9:20
Consolation of Israel Lu 2:25
Cornerstone Ps 118:22
Counsellor Is 9:6
Creator Jo 1:3
Dayspring Lu 1:78
Deliverer Rom 11:26
Desired of All Nations Hag 2:7
Door Jo 10:7
Elect of God Is 42:1
Everlasting Father Is 9:6
Faithful Witness Rev 1:5
First and Last Rev 1:17
First Begotten Rev 1:5
Forerunner Heb 6:20
Glory of the Lord Is 40:5
God Is 40:3; Jo 20:28
God Blessed Rom 9:5
Good Shepherd Jo 10:11
Governor Matt 2:6
Great High Priest Heb 4:14
Head of the Church Eph 1:22
Heir of all Things Heb 1:2
Holy Child Acts 4:27
Holy One of Israel Is 41:14
Horn of Salvation Lu 1:69
I Am Jo 8:58
Image of God 2Cor 4:4
Immanuel Is 7:14
Jehovah Is 26:4
Jesus Matt 1:21
Jesus of Nazareth Matt 21:11
Judge of Israel Mic 5:1
Just One Acts 7:52
King Zech 9:9
King of Kings 1Tim 6:15
King of Saints Rev 15:3
King of the Ages 1Tim 1:17
King of the Jews Matt 2:2
Lawgiver Is 33:22
Lamb Rev 13:8
Lamb of God Jo 1:29
Leader Is 55:4
Life Jo 14:6
Light of the World Jo 8:12
Lion of the Tribe of Judah Rev 5:5
Lord of All Acts 10:36
Lord of Glory 1Cor 2:8
Lord of Lords 1Tim 6:15
Lord Our Righteousness Jer 23:6
Man of Sorrows Is 53:3
Mediator 1 Tim 2:5
Messenger of the Covenant Mal 3:1
Messiah Dan 9:25; Jo 1:41
Mighty God Is 9:6
Mighty One Is 60:16
Morning Star Rev 22:16
Nazarene Matt 2:23
Only Begotten Son Jo 1:18
Our Passover 1Cor 5:7
Prince of Kings Rev 1:5
Prince of Life Acts 3:15
Prince of Peace Prophet Lu 24:19; Acts 3:22
Redeemer Job 10:25
Resurrection and Life Jo 11:25
Redemption 1Co 1:30
Righteousness 1Co 1:30
Rock 1Cor 10:4
Root of David Rev 22:16
Rose of Sharon SofS 2:1
Sanctification 1Co 1:30
Savior Lu 2:11
Son of David Matt 1:1
Son of God Matt 2:15
Son of Man Matt 8:20
Son of Righteousness Mal 4:2
Son of the Blessed Mk 14:61
Son of the Highest Lu1:32
True Light Jo 1:9
True Vine Jo 15:1
Truth Jo 1:14
Wisdom 1Co 1:30
Witness Is 55:4
Word Jo 1:1
Word of God Rev 19:13