FAITH QUEST
Resurrection
Scripture: Matthew 28 (entire chapter)
Memory Verse: “Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the
end of the world.” (Matthew 28:19-20
CEV)
Concepts:
·
God raised Jesus from
the dead.
·
Even Disciples sometimes
doubt.
·
Jesus tells us to teach
others how to be his disciples.
Objectives:
The children will create a
call and response chant, with some portraying and responding as disciples and
others portraying and questioning as doubters.
Procedure:
Welcome and Introductions:
1. Greet the children and introduce yourself. Wear your nametag.
2. Explain the purpose of this workshop: We’re going to create a chant today. You will all play disciples who were
followers of Jesus. Some of you will
have doubts and questions about what has happened and others of you will have
the answers.
Scripture/Bible Story:
Read aloud and/or review the Bible story. Have children find the chapter and read
along with you. Use the CEV. They will be referring to the story to
answer the questions for the chant.
Application:
All: God raised Jesus from the dead
Doubters: How did Jesus die?
Disciples: (He
was crucified; He was nailed to a cross) – Elicit from kids; discuss what
crucified means.
All: God raised Jesus from the dead.
Doubters: How do you know he was crucified?
Disciples: (elicit:
We saw him hanging on the cross, We laid him in the tomb, We held his feet)Ref.
vs.9
All: God raised Jesus from the dead
Doubters: Where is Jesus now?
Disciples: (elicit:
He was raised from the dead or He is alive!
He’s not in the tomb, the stone was rolled away, He is with us)Refer to
vs. 5-7
All: God raised Jesus from the dead.
Doubters: What does Jesus want us to do?
Disciples: (Elicit:
Make disciples of all nations, Baptize them in the name of the Father and the
Son and the Holy Spirit)Refer to vs.19
All: God raised Jesus from the dead.
Doubters: Why
does Jesus want us to that? (Alternate
question: Why should we do what Jesus said?)
Disciples: (elicit:
Jesus has authority in heaven and on earth)Ref.vs.18(Alternate answer: Because
he will be with us always, even until the end of the world.)Ref. vs.20
All: God raised Jesus from the dead.
Doubters: How should we teach others to be?
Disciples(or All): Like Jesus!
All: God raised Jesus from the dead!
Once the
answers are ready, divide children into two groups: one disciples, the other
doubters.
Practice
the chant a couple times through, cuing groups as necessary and/or using a
drum, hand clap or other simple instrument to keep a steady beat. As they become comfortable with the chant,
add a simple movement pattern to the chorus line “God raised Jesus from the
dead” (e.g. Crouch and touch toes, slowly lift arms over head and let body rise
up as you say the words. –or- Use sign
language for the word God and raise hands over head with a shaking action; any
simple actions or gestures that seem to fit would be appropriate.) This is a good time to get ideas from
children. Try letting them work in
pairs or teams to create the movement if time allows.
Again
practice the chant with disciple and doubter groups, adding the action each
time the chorus line is repeated. Try variations: start softly and get louder.
Switch
groups: let the doubters be disciples and let disciples be doubters. Practice
again. Remind the children that even the disciples doubted what had happened.
We believe because we have faith.
Older
children: They should be able to find the answers by
looking back at the reading.
Younger
Children They may need more leading
questions to arrive at appropriate answers rather than finding them in the
reading. Or rather than a fill in the
blank chart, have questions and answers written out on separate sentence strips
(one question or one answer per strip)
Have children play a match game to match up which answers go with each
question. Once they are matched, then
you can use them for the call and response chant
Reflection Time:
Ask the shepherds to pass out
the journal sheets and pencils/markers. Suggestion: You may wish to give the
children a sticker or some memento to paste in their journal as a reminder of
the story or activity.
Prompts for journal writing: What parts of this story are hard for you to believe or understand? What parts are easy to accept or believe? What can you do this week to go and teach others what Jesus taught his disciples? What things does Jesus want us to teach others? What did He teach his disciples?
Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for your son Jesus. Help us to understand and believe the story
of his resurrection. We pray for your guidance in learning to be his disciples
and in teaching others to be his disciples, too. Amen
Tidy and Dismissal: Ask children to help tidy up.
Teacher preparation
in advance:
1. Read the scripture passages and attend the Faith Quest Leaders Bible Study.
2. Prepare a closing prayer.
3. Check out the room before your first Sunday workshop so that you know where everything is located.
4. Use flip chart paper to prepare a large chart of questions (see below). You will need plenty of room to answer the questions and to add the chorus line. For the chorus, make several strips of paper with the words: God raised Jesus from the dead! These will be inserted at the appropriate place on the chart when the children have answered the questions.
Supply List
·
Chart with questions and markers, chart stand or tape
·
Or sentence strips to match
· Hand drum, rhythm instruments
Chart
All:
Doubters: How did Jesus die?
Disciples:
All:
Doubters: How do you know he was crucified?
Disciples:
All:
Doubters: Where is Jesus now?
Disciples:
All:
Doubters: What does Jesus want us to do?
Disciples:
All:
Doubters: Why
does Jesus want us to that? (Alternate
question: Why should we do what Jesus said?)
Disciples:
All:
Doubters: How should we teach others to be?
Disciples (or All):
All: