Curriculum

What Did Jesus Do?

What Did Jesus Do? Go to Curriculum multi-week pack

Bible Background

What Kids Will Learn

We’re all tempted—even perfect Jesus was tempted. But Jesus stood up to Satan, and we can learn from His response.

Scripture Summary

Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit led him into the desert. We often think that the Spirit’s leading will only produce success, affirmation, and even peaceful journeys. That isn’t always the case. The Spirit led Jesus (and leads us) to the next step in fulfilling His purpose.

The same Satan who tempted Adam and Eve in the garden intentionally tempted Jesus. Satan is real, and he prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour and destroy (1 Peter 5:8).

Satan tempted Jesus three times. Jesus was hungry, so Satan tempted Him to use His power for food. Jesus was beginning His ministry, and Satan tempted Him with worldwide fame. Jesus wasn’t backing down, so Satan manipulated Scripture and tempted Him to abuse His godly power.

Even though He was God, it was necessary for Jesus to be tempted. Temptation is common for all humans, and there’s nothing wrong with being tempted. Each time, Jesus had a choice for how to respond to temptation—standing up for God’s truth or giving in to sin.

Jesus fought back each time by quoting Scripture, God’s Word, the only consistent truth in the world. Jesus wholeheartedly believed in God’s truth and His faithfulness. And Jesus won this battle against Satan.

Why Is This Important

This side of heaven, we will all be tempted. Whether we’re tempted to short-cut God’s plan, prioritize our selfish motives, or take life into our own hands, we can stand up to Satan and his schemes. Remember, God has already won the war against Satan.

Teacher Devotion

Scripture

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forebearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

The Bible provides dozens of accounts where people were led by or filled with the Holy Spirit. Othniel was a judge in Israel, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and gave him a military victory that led to 40 years of peace (Judges 3). Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit and led by the Spirit into the wilderness” (Luke 4:1). The Spirit lives in each of Christ’s followers (Romans 8:11).

I often gravitate to the big, earth-shattering positions and events that are orchestrated by the Holy Spirit. But if the Spirit lives in each of us, what does that look like in everyday, ordinary life?

Paul gives us a list of attributes—of fruit—produced by the Spirit. And these can be seen in the smallest of life’s events.

  • Love: Letting a family member have the last cookie
  • Joy: Seeing the good in a hard situation
  • Peace: Focusing on Christ and believing He is at work
  • Patience: Choosing the longer line at the grocery store
  • Kindness: Opening the door for someone behind you
  • Goodness: Giving a gift of appreciation to a friend or service worker, just because
  • Faithfulness: Inviting a friend to coffee again—even though she doesn’t initiate with you
  • Gentleness: Sitting with a friend “under a dark cloud” without trying to solve the problem
  • Self-Control: Choosing to say no when the added responsibility will be too much

Take note that the list above has nothing to do with circumstances. There are times I can mistakenly assume that the easier, more successful way is led by the Spirit. Though, He can lead us over the mountaintops and into the deepest valley. Look again at the list of what the Spirit can and will do within you. Ponder your answers to these questions:

  • Which fruit of the Spirit stood out to you? Why do you think that is?
  • In what ways can the Spirit display His fruit through you today?

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for Your work in my life. And I’m thankful that the fruit of Your Spirit is not a to-do list for me. Please help me create the space for You to produce Your fruit in 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, Stones or construction paper cut into stone shapes

Get Ready: Write words or phrases on the stones from the verse.

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for 40 days He was tempted by the devil.” (Luke 4:1-2)

  • Lead kids in opening their Bibles to Luke 4:1-2.
  • Invite a child to read the Scripture aloud.
  • Have kids put the stones in the order of the verse.
  • Say the verse aloud together.
  • Remove a few stones, and have kids try to say the verse without the missing words.
  • Repeat until all the stones are gone.

ASK:

  • In our activity, we removed all the stones. How might the idea of removing something that’s tempting you help you to make the right choice?

SAY: Jesus removed His temptations by quoting Scripture. And we can follow His example by quoting this verse to remind us to use His power when we’re tempted.

Interactive Bible Experience

You’ll Need: Bibles, Butcher paper, Markers

SAY: Today we’re learning about a time God’s Spirit led Jesus into the desert and while He was there, Satan, or the devil, came along and tempted Jesus. Jesus used God’s Word to fight the temptations; so let’s make banners to remind us of the Scripture Jesus used.

Lead kids to make the banners following these steps:

  • Give each child a piece of butcher paper and some markers.
  • Have kids divide their pieces of butcher paper into three equal sections.
  • Invite a child to read aloud Luke 4:1-4.
  • In the first section, have kids draw a large stone and around the stone write the words Jesus used to fight the temptation.

ASK:

  • What surprised you about how Jesus responded to the devil?
  • Invite a child to read aloud Luke 4:5-8.
  • In the second section, have kids draw some mountains and along the top edges of the mountains write the words Jesus used to fight that temptation.

ASK:

  • Why is it wrong to worship God’s enemy, the devil?
  • Invite a child to read aloud Luke 4:9-13.
  • In the third section, have kids draw a temple and on the roof of the temple write the words Jesus used to fight that temptation.

ASK:

  • What can you do when you’re tempted to make a wrong choice?

SAY: All of us are tempted to make wrong choices. Even Jesus knows what it feels like. And Jesus shows us we can remember what the Bible says about right and wrong to help us do what’s best for us and others.

Snack

Popcorn Knock Down

You’ll Need: Popcorn, Napkins, Glass of water, Index card, Pen, Tape

Get Ready: Write “God’s Word” on the index card, and tape it to the glass with the words facing out.

Follow these steps to make the snacks:

  • Have kids clean their hands.
  • Give each child five pieces of popcorn on a napkin.
  • Explain that the popcorn represents temptation.
  • Invite kids to try to knock over “God’s Word” by tossing popcorn at it. (Throw away the tossed pieces of popcorn.)
  • Invite kids to talk about why this example is like Jesus’ example and how it can be used in their fight against temptation.
  • Distribute fresh popcorn to the kids to enjoy.

SAY: Jesus knows temptation isn’t easy because He has been through it, too. But He also knows when we rely on God’s Word to guide us, that temptation has no power.

Game

Trash Temptation

You’ll Need: Clean garbage can, Paper, Markers, Tape, Paper towel tubes, Styrofoam balls, Masking tape, Timer

Get Ready: Write “God’s Word” on the paper and tape it to the garbage can. Divide the balls into four sets, and mark each set of balls with a different color. Set the garbage can in the center of the room. Use masking tape to mark four lines on the floor equal distances around the garbage can.

SAY: Today we learned the devil tried to hit Jesus with temptation, but Jesus used God’s Word and took care of it. Let’s play a game to help us think about that.

Follow these steps to play the game:

  • Choose four kids to play first, and give each child a paper towel tube.
  • Give each of the four kids an equal number of balls, and have each child stand on one of the masking-tape lines on the floor.
  • Explain that the balls represent temptations.
  • On “Go” they’ll have one minute to try to hit the balls into the garbage can while standing on their masking-tape lines.
  • Play, and then count how many balls each child got into the garbage can.
  • Congratulate the kids, and repeat with four new kids.
  • Repeat until everyone has played at least once.

SAY: Wow! You really took care of those temptations by using God’s Word. Remember how Jesus fought temptation when you’re faced with temptation in your life.

Craft

Resist the Devil Chalk Talk

You’ll Need: Chalk, Card stock, Tissue

To make the craft, have kids follow these steps:

  • Give each child a piece of card stock and some chalk.
  • Have kids fold the card stock into four quadrants.
  • Have kids write or draw in one quadrant a temptation that the children in your group might face.
  • Invite kids to tell what they could do to face the temptation by following Jesus’ example.
  • Have kids “erase” their first drawings by rubbing the chalk away with tissue, and have them write or draw over the original picture how they’d follow Jesus’ example.
  • Repeat for each of the remaining three quadrants.
  • Have kids fold up their card stock and write on the outside, “What would Jesus do?”

SAY: Put these “What would Jesus do?” cards in a school book or planner that you use often. Use it to help you know what to do when you face temptations.

Prayer

Prayers for Temptation

Lead kids to pray in this way:

  • Have kids sit in pairs.
  • Invite them to briefly share with their partner a temptation they have.
  • Have the partners pray for one another about their temptations.
  • Close in prayer.

PRAY: Dear God, help us to follow Jesus’ example when we’re faced with temptations. We trust that You’ll give us power to face them and make the right choices. In Jesus’ name, amen.