Curriculum

Speak Up

Speak Up Go to Curriculum multi-week pack

Bible Background

What Kids Will Learn

Just as blind Bartimaeus cried out multiple times for Jesus to heal him, God wants us to speak up and tell Him what we need.

Scripture Summary

Jesus’ ministry continued to grow as more people heard about His great teaching and healing powers. Jesus and His disciples often traveled with a crowd of people following them and listening to every word.

As they were leaving Jericho, there was a blind man, Bartimaeus, begging by the side of the road. Many jobs required manual labor, so those with disabilities couldn’t find work and resorted to begging. Blindness was thought to be one of God’s punishments for sin (John 9:2), but Jesus intentionally gave sight to the blind to disprove the idea.

Bartimeaus called Jesus the “Son of David.” This was a common name for Jesus as the Messiah, as the prophets said that the Messiah would be a descendant of King David. Bartimaeus had faith in Jesus the Messiah to heal him. And Bartimaeus continued to cry out until Jesus paid attention.

Jesus called for Bartimaeus and asked what he wanted Him to do. While this seemed to be an odd question, Jesus engaged in a relationship with Bartimaeus. He wanted Bartimaeus to identify and speak up about his need.

Because of the man’s faith, Jesus healed him. Bartimaeus regained his sight and began following Jesus and His disciples with the crowd down the road.

Why Is This Important

Jesus wants us to speak up with our problems, needs, and challenges. We can come to Him with any request, big or small.

Teacher Devotion

Scripture

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.” (Colossians 1:9)

It’s an honor to lift up my friends and family in prayer. I’ve taken seriously the requests for job interviews, struggles with wayward children, wisdom for decisions, healing from diagnoses, and navigating life’s ups and downs.

And there was a time I was desperate for others to pray for me. My husband and I had navigated an extra-long time of unemployment, and I could feel myself crumbling under the weight of decisions and what-ifs. I knew in my heart that God had a plan. And while I prayed to God and trusted in His sovereignty, I was weary.

God prompted me to reach out to ladies in my life for prayer. And I argued. (I know…God always wins these arguments!) My family had their own plates full. I didn’t want to seem weak in front of my friends, but I finally gave in.

I contacted seven women in my life—my mom, my sister, and dear friends. I asked each one if she would pray for me on the same day each week. On that day, she would text me a prayer, Scripture, word of encouragement, or a really good joke. Each one eagerly said yes.

For several weeks, I received a text each day reminding me of God’s love for me, encouraging me to make it through the day, and giving me hope for tomorrow. These texts and friends became a lifeline through a tough season.

Thankfully, that season is far behind me, but I cherish the friends, their prayers, and their words of encouragement for me. I often thank God for His prompting me to speak up.

Prayer

Dear God, I thank You that we can come to You in prayer. Anytime. Anywhere. About anything. And thank You for putting people in my life—prayer warriors who can pray for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Get the full Sunday school lesson plan

  • Bible Memory Verse
  • Interactive Bible Experience
  • Animated video with companion questions

Bible Memory Verse

You’ll Need: Bibles, “Sight Words” handouts, Scissors, Paper clips

Get Ready: Before class, print the “Sight Words” handout on card stock. You’ll need one copy for every four kids. Cut out the sunglasses, and bundle together each set with a paper clip.

“‘Go,’ said Jesus, ‘your faith has healed you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.” (Mark 10:52)

Lead kids in these steps to learn today’s Bible memory verse:

  • Invite kids to open their Bibles to Mark 10:52.
  • Invite volunteers to read aloud the verse multiple times so it becomes familiar to all the kids.
  • Form teams of four, and give each team a set of sunglasses.
  • Invite kids to cover their eyes with the sunglasses and then try to stand in order of the Bible memory verse.

SAY: Wow! Today’s verse tells us that someone was healed. Let’s dig in more and learn about how he was healed and why we should make our requests known to God.

Interactive Bible Experience

You’ll Need: Bibles, Sunglasses

  • Divide the class into two groups.
  • Invite kids to open their Bibles to Mark 10:46-52.
  • Give one group the sunglasses, and explain they will play the part of the blind man in the story. The other group will play the part of Jesus.
  • Read aloud the passage, pausing for kids to act out each part.
  • After you have read the passage once, invite kids to switch parts, and reread the passage.

ASK:

  • Why do you think people shushed the man who was crying out to Jesus?
  • What does Jesus’ response to the man tell you about Him?
  • How might Jesus’ response encourage you to go to Him when you have a need?

SAY: The blind man sure wasn’t shy about making his requests known, and we don’t need to be either. Jesus wants us to share our hurts, fears, and requests with Him, and He will respond out of His love for us.

Snack

Blind Treats Snack

You’ll Need: Paper plates, Napkins, Rice cakes, Blueberries, Blindfolds

Follow these steps for the “Blind Treats Snack”:

  • Give each child a paper plate, a napkin, a rice cake, some blueberries, and a blindfold.
  • Blindfold each child, then have kids try to make a face on the rice cake without being able to see what they’re doing.
  • Have kids remove their blindfolds, then invite kids to share their creations and enjoy!

SAY: In today’s true story, a blind man called out to Jesus to heal him. He really made his requests known, didn’t he?

ASK:

  • If Jesus walked by right now, what would you want to call out to Him?
  • Explain whether you might be tempted to be shy about calling out like the man did, and why.

Game

Jesus Heals the Blind Man

You’ll Need: Blindfold

To play the “Jesus Heals the Blind Man” game, have kids follow these steps:

  • Have the class stand in a large circle facing the center.
  • Select one child to be the “blind man.” Have the child stand in the center of the circle with the blindfold on.
  • Invite the class to move around in the circle until the blind man shouts, “I want to see.”
  • Choose one child to tap the blind man on the shoulder and return to the circle.
  • Invite the blind man to remove the blindfold and guess who “healed” him or her.
  • Reveal who the healer was. The healer will become the blind man for the next round.

ASK:

  • What was it like to try to guess who the healer was in this game?

SAY: The blind man had a reason to call out to Jesus. He had a need, and we have needs, too! God wants us to call out to Him with our needs.

Craft

I Can See Craft

You’ll Need: Black construction paper, Pens, “Sight Words” cutouts, Scissors, Hole punch, Chenille wires

Have kids follow these steps to make the “I Can See” craft:

  • Give each child a sheet of black construction paper, a pen, and one of the Bible memory verse cutouts from the “Sight Words” handout used earlier in the lesson.
  • Have each child use a pen to trace the “Sight Words” sunglasses onto the black construction paper before cutting them out.
  • Demonstrate for kids how to cut semicircle flaps from each of the two lens areas. You can do this by folding each lens area in half, toward the nosepiece, then cutting along the lower curve of the glasses. (Note: do not cut the semi- circle out of the glasses; only cut the bottom half to create a flap.)
  • Fold the semicircle flaps upward.
  • Have kids write on the folded-up parts so when folded down, the writing does not appear. They’ll write “Let your requests be known to God” on one lens and “Mark 10:46-52” on the other lens.
  • Help kids make a hole punch on each side of the sunglasses near the top outer edges to attach the earpieces.
  • Give each child two chenille wires, and invite kids to loop the wires through the holes on each side of the glasses. Have them bend over the ends near the holes to secure them to the construction paper. Have kids make a hook at the opposite end of each chenille wire to go around their ears.
  • Kids can hook the chenille wires around their ears to wear the glasses.

SAY: Take these home as a reminder that, like the blind man, you can reach out to Jesus with your requests.

Prayer

Googly-Eye Prayers

You’ll Need: Googly-eye stickers, Butcher paper, Markers, Tape

Get Ready: Create a large smiley face on butcher paper and tape it on the wall.

  • Give each child several googly-eye stickers.
  • Invite kids to let their requests be known to God by praying a prayer and then putting a sticker on the smiley face. Allow kids to pray as many prayers as they want.

PRAY: Dear God, help us to be bold and let You know our requests. You know all our needs, but You also want us to cry out to You for help. Thank You for hearing our prayers. In Jesus’ name, amen.