Curriculum
Take Up Your Cross
Memory Verse:
“Then, calling the crowd to join His disciples, He said, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.’” (Mark 8:34, NLT)
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
A life with Jesus requires submission. And when we take up our cross and follow Jesus, He allows us to discover true life.
Scripture Summary
The city of Caesarea Philippi was exceptionally pagan. People were known for worshipping Greek gods, and even the city temple was built to honor an ancient god, Pan. Philip, the city’s ruler, changed the city’s name from Caesarea to Caesarea Philippi because he didn’t want the city confused with Caesarea, a coastal city.
As Jesus was talking with His disciples, He asked them who others were saying Jesus was. And the disciples answered that many people thought Jesus was John the Baptist or a prophet. Jesus then asked the disciples the very same question. Who did His disciples say Jesus was? Jesus wanted to know what the disciples truly believed with their whole beings.
Peter was the one who spoke up, saying that Jesus was the Christ. And Jesus responded by asking the disciples not to tell anyone about Him. While this probably seemed odd, Jesus knew that they needed more time to grow in their own faith and ministry before sharing it with others.
When Jesus predicts His own torture, death, and resurrection, Peter argued with Him. Peter was devoted to Jesus and wanted Him to be King, without all of the suffering. And Peter also wanted to follow Jesus, the Messiah, but not be tortured for it.
Mark wrote his book initially to the Romans, and they knew what it meant to take up a cross. Before crucifixion, the criminal would carry his own cross to the place of execution. This was a symbol of submission, and Jesus used this example to portray the ultimate submission required of His followers. The beauty of this submission is that we’re able to save our life by losing it—yet another way Jesus turned this world upside down.
Why Is This Important
Jesus doesn’t need (or want) half-hearted followers. To be a true follower of Jesus, we need to be all in. When we take up our cross and follow Jesus, we find that His way is best.
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children.” (Ephesians 5:1, NLT)
In Mark 8, Jesus asks His disciples who they say He is. This was a profound moment between Jesus and His disciples. It’s much easier to simply be in the presence of someone without really knowing each other. It was a probing question seeking the evidence of true understanding. But what if we stop and ask Jesus that very question? Jesus, who do you say I am?
Would He list the many hats we wear—chef, child, leader, runner, writer, delivery driver, friend, police officer, parent, clerk, teacher, paddleboarder, sibling, shopper, student, binge-watcher?
Or would He call out our personality descriptors—kind, stubborn, outgoing, adventurous, gentle, entertaining, innovative, thrill-seeker, dependable, selfish, social, achieving, creative, dedicated, approachable, empowering?
Or maybe He would simply boil it down in just one sentence—You are a beloved child of God.
Sit with that statement for a moment. And then say this simple sentence, out loud if possible, five times slowly.
I am a beloved child of God.
As you continue pondering the statement, also consider your answers to these questions:
- What do you feel inside when you say aloud, “I am a beloved child of God?”
- How has God shown you His love for you today?
- In what ways does being a beloved child of God affect other areas of your life?
- How would it change your relationships if you saw others as beloved children of God?
Sometimes it can be hard to remember simple things. Consider posting a note to your bathroom mirror or changing your phone wallpaper to reflect that you are a beloved child of God. When you see your reminder, say a quick prayer of thanksgiving to God.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for loving me and giving me my identity. I pray that You help me remember that I am your beloved child. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
You’ll Need: Bibles, “Cross” handouts, Scissors, Markers, Stickers
Get Ready: Before class, print the “Cross” handout on card stock. You’ll need one for each child.
“Then, calling the crowd to join His disciples, He said, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.’ ” (Mark 8:34, NLT)
Lead kids in these steps to learn today’s Bible memory verse:
- Invite kids to open their Bibles to Mark 8:34.
- Give each child a “Cross” handout and a pair of scissors.
- Invite children to cut out the cross and then decorate it using markers and stickers.
- Invite all the children to say the Bible verse together as a class.
SAY: Jesus said to deny yourself and take up your cross if you want to follow Him. Today we’re going to learn more about what that means.
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need: Bibles, Large wooden cross, Candy bars, Several sports balls, Video game controllers, TV remote controls, Dollar bills
Get Ready: Before the activity, lay the large wooden cross on the floor in the center of the classroom.
- Invite kids to open their Bibles to Mark 8:27-38.
- Read aloud the passage.
- Start with one volunteer and fill that child’s arms and hands with sports balls, video game and television controllers, money, and candy bars.
- Explain that each of these objects represents something that we often prioritize over Jesus in our lives (sports, fun, riches, worldly delights).
- With arms and hands full of priorities, have the volunteer try to pick up the cross. (It should be difficult.)
- Invite the child to set down all of the props and try picking up the cross again with both hands.
- Repeat until each child has had a turn.
ASK:
- Explain how difficult it was to hold all of the props and pick up the cross.
- Explain whether denying yourself and following Jesus is difficult for you.
SAY: This activity helps us understand that following Jesus is a sacrifice. When we follow Jesus, we choose to put Him before anything else in our lives. We lay ourselves and our wants down, take up our cross, and follow Him.
Snack
Crosses Snack
You’ll Need: Paper plates, Napkins, Large pretzel rods, Twizzlers Pull ’N’ Peel candy
Get Ready: Have kids clean their hands.
Follow these steps for the “Crosses Snack”:
- Give each child a paper plate, a napkin, and two large pretzel rods.
- Invite kids to form a cross with their rods.
- Give each child some Twizzlers Pull ’N’ Peel candy strings.
- Invite kids to use the Twizzlers strings to wrap around the cross shape to hold the pretzel rods together.
- Enjoy!
SAY: Great job making the crosses for your snack. When Jesus said that His disciples needed to deny themselves and take up their crosses to follow Him, He meant that He needs to be first in our lives. All the other priorities come second to Him.
Game
Cross Relay
You’ll Need: Rulers, Masking tape, Baskets
Get Ready: Before class, create two crosses using the rulers and masking tape. Make a starting line for each team at one end of the room using masking tape. Place the baskets at the opposite end of the room.
To play the “Cross Relay” game, follow these steps:
- Divide the class into two teams and have the teams line up at their starting line.
- Place one cross in each basket.
- Each team will send one player at a time to the basket to pick up the team’s cross.
- When the player picks up the cross, they’ll need to balance it on their back as they make their way across the room to the team, then back again to the basket.
- The player will return the cross to their team’s basket, then run back to their team before the next player takes a turn.
- The first team to have every team member complete the “Cross Relay” wins.
SAY: You did a great job playing that game and taking up your cross. When we follow Jesus, He wants us to give up our own ways and put Him first.
ASK:
- What are some specific ways you can follow Jesus?
Craft
Colorful Craft Necklace
You’ll Need: Pony beads ( purple, red, white, blue, green, and yellow), Thin cord, Scissors, Clear glue
Get Ready: Before class, cut a necklace-length cord (about 3 feet long) for each child.
Follow these steps to make the “Colorful Cross Necklace” craft:
- Give each child a length of cord and six beads, one each of purple, red, white, blue, green, and yellow.
- String the yellow bead onto the center of the cord.
- Bring the cord ends together and pull them through the green bead until it rests above the yellow bead.
- String the red bead onto one side of the cord, and string the blue bead onto the other side.
- Bring the cord ends together and pull them through the purple bead.
- Place a small dot of glue between the red and blue beads at the center of the cross where they touch.
- Wedge the white bead between the red and blue beads, with the holes of the white bead touching the sides of the blue and red beads.
- Tightly pull the cord and tie a knot against the top of the purple bead.
- Tie off the necklace ends.
SAY: These necklaces tell an amazing story. The purple bead is a symbol of the darkness of our sin. That sin separates us from God. The red bead is a symbol of Jesus’ blood. Jesus came to rescue us from our sin and took our punishment by dying on the cross. The white bead reminds us Jesus washes away our sin. The blue bead reminds us of the water of baptism. Baptism is a symbol of our new life in Christ. The green bead represents growing in faith. When we come to Christ, we don’t come perfectly. We grow to look more like Him every day. The yellow bead is a symbol of eternal life with Jesus in Heaven. In Heaven there will be no more suffering, sickness, or tears. We will get to spend eternity forever with Jesus.
Prayer
Praise Prayers
You’ll Need: Masking tape, Markers
Get Ready: Using the masking tape make many cross shapes on the floor.
SAY: In today’s lesson, we learned that Jesus wanted to know who Peter thought He was. Many had opinions on who Jesus was, but Peter knew Jesus as the Messiah. “Messiah” means “promised deliverer.” Let’s write Messiah on one of the crosses on the floor. Now think about what words you would use to describe Jesus.
- Ask kids to call out different words they would choose to describe Jesus, such as Savior, Lord, King, loving, kind, and so on.
- Write each word on one of the cross shapes on the floor.
- Invite kids to quietly walk from cross to cross and praise Jesus for who He is.
PRAY: Dear God, we thank You for Jesus. Help us understand that we need Jesus to rescue us from our sins. Help us follow Jesus and put Him first. In Jesus’ name, amen.
