Curriculum
God’s Eyewitnesses
Memory Verse:
“‘I have seen this happen. So I tell people: ‘He is the Son of God.’” (John 1:34)
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
John the Baptist spent his life preparing the way for Jesus. When the time came for Jesus’ ministry to begin, John didn’t keep the good news of the gospel to himself. He introduced Jesus and His good news to others.
Scripture Summary
Mary, who was the chosen mother of Jesus, and Elizabeth were relatives. Zechariah and Elizabeth were older and weren’t able to have children. But God blessed them with a son, and He sent an angel to share that John would be powerful in God’s Kingdom and make way for Jesus, the Messiah.
John’s entire life was dedicated to his calling. He lived in the wilderness, dressed in camels’ hair, and ate locusts and wild honey. He lived a life in solitude until it was time to begin his ministry of preaching the good news. John the Baptist urged people to turn from their sinful ways and accept God’s ways…and he told of a Savior, the Messiah, who was soon coming.
God had given John a sign to know that Jesus was, in fact, the true Messiah. The Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, would come down and remain on the Messiah. This happened when John baptized Jesus. What an exciting moment to see God’s confirmation of Jesus as the Messiah!
In John’s fruitful ministry, he had disciples and many followers. Two disciples were following John the Baptist: John, who scholars suspect wrote this book, and Andrew. And John the Baptist wanted them to leave him and follow Jesus.
When the first disciples began to follow Jesus, He asked them, “What do you want?” Jesus knew and communicated that following Him wasn’t enough; He focused on the heart’s desire behind the behavior. He wanted His disciples to follow Him with their whole heart.
Why Is This Important
Jesus’ good news is for everyone. It’s for you and me, and we’re to share this good news with others in our family, neighborhood, school, and community.
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
“‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’” (John 10:10)
A friend recently joked with me about preparing a nice meal for a family with a new baby—while her own family ate leftovers. Her children voiced their opinion about how unfair they saw the situation.
I get it. When we offer to share a meal with someone else, we want to take the time and effort to provide something yummy. And sometimes there’s just not enough time or resources to prepare the best for both families.
I’m glad God’s resources and His good news don’t work that way.
God loves us and does everything in His infinite power to bring about the best for us. He wants us to have an abundant life—a life to the full. His best for someone else doesn’t mean we get leftovers. No, He has plenty of “best” for everyone. That’s truly good news.
While Jesus’ good news provides us access to eternal life in heaven, we don’t have to wait until heaven to experience His good news.
Consider your answers to these questions:
- How do you define Jesus’ good news for your own life?
- Who in your life needs to hear a bit more about the good news you’ve experienced? Take a moment to ponder and listen for God’s prompting.
- What will you do this week to share Jesus’ good news with someone?
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for Your incredible work in my life and for wanting me to have life to the full. I know I don’t have to wait until heaven to experience Your good news. Please help me share Your good news with someone today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
“‘I have seen this happen. So I tell people: ‘He is the Son of God.’” (John 1:34)
Form three groups.
SAY: There are three parts to being an eyewitness. The first part is to see something. The second part is to tell something. And the third part is what you tell.
Tell kids that they’re going to learn today’s Bible memory verse through a chant.
Assign the following parts of the verse to each group: Group 1: I have seen this happen.
Group 2: So I tell people:
Group 3: He is the Son of God.
Start slow and point to groups to say their part. Then go faster and faster. Encourage kids to practice saying the Bible memory verse at home.
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need: Bible
SAY: In our Bible lesson for today, there are lots of words that make us think of being an eyewitness. Words like “look” or “saw” or even “heard.” We’re going to read the Scripture and see how many of these words we can find.
ASK: Do you know what the five senses to experience the world are?
(sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste)
SAY: God has given us these senses so we can experience things. Let’s find all the sensory words we can. When you hear a word that uses your eyes, point to your eyes.
Read aloud John 1:29-34, stopping on the boldfaced words below to let kids do their actions.
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, “Look, the Lamb of God. He takes away the sins of the world! 30 This is the One I was talking about. I said, ‘A man will come after me, but he is greater than I am, because he was living before me.’ 31 Even I did not know who he was. But I came baptizing with water so that the people of Israel could know who he is.”
32-33 Then John said, “I did not know who the Christ was. But God sent me to baptize with water. And God told me, ‘You will see the Spirit come down and rest on a man. That man is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’” John said, “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven. The Spirit looked like a dove and rested on him. 34 I have seen this happen. So I tell people: ‘He is the Son of God.’”
SAY: Our Bible lesson today is about being EYEwitnesses to all that God is doing. When Jesus walked the earth, people saw and heard Him do all kinds of things.
Tell kids about something you’ve witnessed God do in your life. Your example and story is a powerful illustration for kids.
ASK:
- What is something about God that you could tell your friends about?
SAY: God is working all the time in our lives. And we can be eyewitnesses to God’s work. Let’s look for God this week and tell others what we experience and see.
Snack
Eyewitness Snacks
You’ll Need: Variety of snacks, Bag that’s large enough to hold the snacks
Get Ready: Put the snacks in the bag before class.
Have kids sit in a circle. Pass the bag around and have kids pull out one snack each. Before kids eat, have them tell something about the snack that they witness, such as it has chocolate, it’s round, and it’s sweet. Or it’s in a bag, it’s salty, and it’s crunchy.
Afterward, congratulate kids on their eyewitness skills.
SAY: You guys did a great job being eyewitnesses about your snacks. Let’s keep looking for things about Jesus that we can witness and tell others this week.
Game
I Spy Game
Tell children that you’re going to find something in the room and describe it. They will need to guess what it might be until they get it right.
Give clues one at a time like this for a blue ball… I spy something that is round.
I spy something that is blue.
I spy something that bounces.
Play several times. Kids may want to take turns “spying” and describing the item.
Afterward, encourage children to “spy” things that Jesus does in their lives this week.
Craft
Eyewitness Glasses
You’ll Need: “Eyewitness Glasses” handout, Scissors, Markers, Small stickers, Stapler, Clear tape
Get Ready: Watch the God’s Eyewitnesses How-to Video to learn how to make Eyewitness Glasses.
Give each child an “Eyewitness Glasses” handout. Help kids follow these steps:
- Cut out your glasses.
- Decorate your glasses with markers and stickers.
- Staple the ear pieces to the glasses.
- Fold.
- Cover the staples with clear tape.
- Enjoy!
SAY: God is at work around us all the time. This week, use your Eyewitness Glasses to look for things that God is doing. Once you see those things, you can be God’s witnesses by telling others about what you see.
Prayer
I Spy Prayer
Have kids sit in a circle and lead them in this prayer.
PRAY: Dear God, thank You for all You do in our lives. Thank You for loving us. I spy someone You love very much. God, please help (fill in a child’s name) be Your eyewitness this week.
Pray this prayer for each child.
