Curriculum

It All Depends on Jesus

It All Depends on Jesus Go to Curriculum multi-week pack

Bible Background

What Kids Will Learn

Jesus’ ministry took work—more work than He and His disciples could accomplish. So Jesus chose even more people to be good friends with others and share His good news.

Scripture Summary

Jesus’ ministry was growing. As He traveled from town to town, word about His good news, miracles, and healings spread across the land. Jesus knew that the work to be done far outweighed what He and His disciples could reasonably do. So Jesus appointed another 72 people to go before Him and develop relationships with others residing in the towns where Jesus was headed.

While it might have seemed efficient to send out individuals—covering more territory—that’s not what Jesus did. In His expertise, Jesus knew that ministry was relational. Each person sent needed to be in relationship with Jesus and with others, so Jesus sent them out in pairs. In fact, He was sending them as “lambs among wolves” (verse 3). Jesus knew that they would receive resistance and even persecution for sharing the good news.

These 36 teams of two were to ask God for more workers in the area in which they ministered. The first step was to mobilize people into areas to pray. God would grow the ministry and send workers. The disciples were to pray, receive hospitality, and heal the sick.

Hospitality was immensely important during this time. Jesus’ instruction to stay in just one house not only honored the disciples’ hosts, but it eliminated much of the logistical challenges of moving from home to home.

Jesus’ instructions also came with warnings. There was an urgency in Jesus’ message; he wanted to save the lost—and not have these communities destroyed by God for their wickedness. Jesus also warned against the disciples excessively celebrating ministry victories. He realigned their motivation and encouraged them to be thankful for their own salvation.

Why Is This Important

No one can do it all on their own. God created us to need Him and the community of believers. Even Jesus and His disciples didn’t minister alone. Jesus brings workers for the harvest—even today.

Teacher Devotion

Scripture

“Two by two they came into the boat, representing every living thing that breathes.” (Genesis 7:15)

Children love the story of Noah’s Ark. And can you blame them? What an incredible—and treacherous—story of how God saved those who loved Him, using a huge boat and countless animals. He prompted two of each kind of animal, knowing full well that two animals would be required to repopulate the world.

Our creative God uses the number two quite often. In Luke 10, we hear of Jesus sending out dozens of people—in pairs—ahead of Him to share the good news. What other pairs do you notice in life? How is God using the number two to impact your everyday life?

As you ponder your own list, consider these ways that God has used the number two:

  • People have two eyes that individually provide a limited perspective, but together offer a more accurate and robust view.
  • A two-way conversation with a friend is much more enjoyable and fruitful than a one-sided conversation with yourself.
  • Have you tried to open a water bottle with just one hand? God intentionally gave us two hands in order to accomplish the task of holding the bottle and unscrewing the top.
  • Even in sports, we see the need for one player to throw the ball—and another player to catch the ball.

And I’m sure you came up with other examples. Our God created each of us to need a relationship with Him and with others in community. No one can successfully go it alone.

Consider who God has brought into your life to share your load in life and in ministry. Send those people a note or even a quick text thanking them for their encouragement.

Prayer

Dear God, I thank You that I’m not alone. You created me to need You and to need others in my life. I thank You for them. Please help me be a good friend to others. 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: Bible, Suitcase

“He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.’ ” (Luke 10:2)

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

  • Open your Bible to Luke 10:2.
  • Read the Bible memory verse several times, and invite kids to repeat phrases after you.
  • Invite kids to gather in a large circle, and give one child a suitcase.
  • Help kids recite a word or phrase from the Bible verse, passing around the suitcase after each word or phrase.
  • Play several rounds as time allows.

SAY: Great job learning today’s Bible memory verse! Today we’re learning that Jesus sent workers to bring in the harvest, and He’s still sending us out to spread the good news today.

Interactive Bible Experience

You’ll Need: Bible

  • Open your Bible to Luke 10:1-11, 16-20.
  • Read aloud the passage.
  • Have kids form pairs. Each pair will link arms.
  • Explain that you’re going to call out different places around the room for pairs to walk to and how they’ll get there, such as by hopping or walking backward. They can’t separate arms at all or they have to restart at the next round.
  • At each new place around the room, pairs will have to link up with another pair before moving on to the next location.
  • By the end of the game, all of the kids should be linked together in one big group.

ASK:

  • What did you notice happened each time you added another pair to your group?
  • What did Jesus mean when He said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few?”

SAY: In our passage today, Jesus sent out people to bring in the harvest. The harvest Jesus was talking about was not cotton, fruit, or vegetables. He was sending out workers to bring a harvest of people into the kingdom of God. Let’s learn more about that now.

Snack

Road Mix

You’ll Need: Chex cereal, M&M’s candies, Pretzels, Goldfish crackers, Small paper cups, Paper plates, Napkins

Get Ready: Before the snack, have kids clean their hands.

Follow these steps for the “Road Mix” snacks:

  • Give each child a plate and napkin.
  • Use the small paper cups to give each child a small scoop of each snack item.
  • Invite kids to mix the items together on their plates.
  • Enjoy!

ASK:

  • How would you respond to Jesus’ instructions?
  • How can you bring others into the kingdom of God?

SAY: Great job making today’s snack mix! Jesus is still looking for people who will work for Him and bring people into His kingdom. It won’t always be easy. In fact, it will be hard. But as we saw in today’s story, the work is always worth it.

Game

Suitcase Relay

You’ll Need: Large playing area, 2 suitcases, 3 chairs per team

Get Ready: Before the activity, set up an obstacle course of chairs for each of the two teams.

To play the “Suitcase Relay” game, have kids follow these steps:

  • Form two teams and have them line up at one end of the room.
  • Place a suitcase in front of each team.
  • Explain that when you say “Go,” the first member of each team will safely run between the chairs with the suitcase in tow until they reach the opposite end of the room. (This can be a wall or a final chair they have to navigate around.)
  • They’ll make their way back to their team and hand off the suitcase for the next team member to take their turn.
  • If any team member knocks over a chair, they have to return to the start and begin again.
  • The first team to have all of its members returned and sitting down wins.

ASK:

  • If you could take only one thing with you on a trip, what would it be?
  • What are some ways you can be willing to work for Jesus?

SAY: There are many souls who need to be brought into God’s kingdom, but there just aren’t enough workers. How can you be one of Jesus’ workers today?

Craft

Fingerprint Harvest

You’ll Need: Stamp pads in several colors, Card stock, Fine-tipped markers, Scissors

Get Ready: Before the activity, cut the sheets of card stock in half.

Have kids follow these steps to make the “Fingerprint Harvest” craft:

  • Give each child a half sheet of card stock.
  • Have kids use the variety of stamp pads to create a scene of their choosing, such as rainbows, towns, etc., with their thumbs.
  • When kids have finished, invite them to use markers to draw arms, legs, and faces on each thumbprint to represent all the people in those scenes who need to hear about Jesus.

SAY: Look at what you created using your thumbs! Take these crafts home as a reminder that the harvest is plentiful, and you have the power to be a worker for Jesus and help grow His kingdom.

Prayer

Harvest Prayers

Follow these steps to lead kids in prayer.

  • Invite kids to gather in a large circle.
  • Select one child to start the prayer. That child can give thanks to Jesus for something or someone they’re thankful for, ask for help spreading the good news, or pray for a friend or family member. When finished, that child will choose the next person to pray out loud by linking arms with someone across from them in the circle, popcorn-prayer style.
  • Once linked, the next child will say a prayer, then link to another child.
  • Continue until every child has had a chance to pray.
  • Close in prayer.

PRAY: Dear Jesus, we want to be faithful workers telling others about Your goodness and Your love. Help us reach people with the good news. In Your name, amen.