75 Lesson 7 Preschool/Ages 3 & 4 Winter Quarter Lesson 7 Peter and Andrew Meet Jesus John 1:35-42 Bible Point Jesus is our friend. Key Verse If we believe in Jesus, we become God’s children (adapted from John 1:12). Weaving Faith Into Life Children will begin a friendship with Jesus. Y oung children are just beginning to develop friendships with other children. Playing at the park with a friend, going to a birthday party, and just seeing a friend in public are exciting events. Children are beginning to understand the value in getting to know someone as a friend. This is a perfect time to introduce them to Jesus. Tell them that Jesus wants us to be his friend. LESSON WHAT CHILDREN DO SUPPLIES EASY PREP 1 Getting Started about 5 min. Welcome and Celebrate Welcome each other, and praise God through music. CD player Teacher Pack: CD 2 Key Verse Activity about 10 min. I Believe Sing a song together to help them remember the Key Verse. Bible, CD player Teacher Pack: CD 3 Bible Exploration about 15 min. Puppy Pointers Hear how Theo wants to make new friends. CD player, Theo puppet, jump-rope Teacher Pack: CD Tie a jump-rope around Theo’s paw. Bible Time: Getting to Know You Experience Peter and Andrew meeting Jesus. Bible, jingle bell bracelets from Lesson 1 Teacher Pack: “Andrew Brings Peter to Jesus” poster (from the Big Bible Poster Pack)
Transcript
75
Lesson 7 Preschool/Ages 3 & 4 Winter Quarter
Lesson 7
Peter and Andrew Meet JesusJohn 1:35-42
�Bible Point Jesus is our friend.
Key VerseIf we believe in Jesus, we become God’s children (adapted from John 1:12).
Weaving Faith Into Life Children will begin a friendship with Jesus.
Y oung children are just beginning to develop friendships with other children. Playing at the park with a friend, going to a birthday party, and just seeing a friend in public
are exciting events. Children are beginning to understand the value in getting to know someone as a friend. This is a perfect time to introduce them to Jesus. Tell them that Jesus wants us to be his friend.
LESSON WHAT CHILDREN DO SUPPLIES EASY PREP
1
Getting Startedabout 5 min.
Welcome and CelebrateWelcome each other, and praise God through music.
CD playerTeacher Pack: CD
2
Key Verse Activityabout 10 min.
I BelieveSing a song together to help them remember the Key Verse.
Bible, CD playerTeacher Pack: CD
3
Bible Exploration
about 15 min.
Puppy PointersHear how Theo wants to make new friends.
CD player, Theo puppet, jump-ropeTeacher Pack: CD
Tie a jump-rope around Theo’s paw.
Bible Time: Getting to Know YouExperience Peter and Andrew meeting Jesus.
Bible, jingle bell bracelets from Lesson 1Teacher Pack: “Andrew Brings Peter to Jesus” poster (from the Big Bible Poster Pack)
Lesson 7 Preschool/Ages 3 & 4Winter Quarter
76
LESSON WHAT CHILDREN DO SUPPLIES EASY PREP
4
Weaving Faith
Into Lifeabout 20 min.
(Choose 2 centers.)
Center 1: Jesus Is My FriendCreate a picture of Jesus playing ball with a friend.
My Bible Hugs, one 8-inch piece of yarn for each child, tape, round stickers, scissors
Remove the Lesson 7 pages from each My Bible Hugs student book, and write children’s names on them.
Center 2: Friendship FacesMake a snack with and for a friend.
1 small paper plate, 1/2 bagel, 1 plastic knife, and 1 red-apple slice per child; cream cheese; chocolate chips; antibacterial gel (optional)
Center 3: Friendship CircleCreate a friendship circle with blocks.
blocks
Center 4: What I LikeTell Jesus about their favorite things.
crayons or markersTeacher Pack: “Andrew Brings Peter to Jesus” poster (from the Big Bible Poster Pack)
5
Lasting Impressions
about 10 min.
Be a FaithWeaverChoose a Daily Challenge to apply God’s Word.
My Bible Hugs
Action PrayerThank God for their friends.
Weaving Faith at HomeTalk about how to share what they learned with their families.
77
Lesson 7 Preschool/Ages 3 & 4 Winter Quarter
Peter and Andrew Meet JesusJohn 1:35-42
BIBLe BACKGROUND FOR LEADERS
Jesus Begins His Ministry
The disciple of John the Baptist who is unnamed in this passage was likely John, the author of this Gospel. This unnamed disciple and Andrew had been following John the Baptist, but at this point they began to follow Jesus. John the Baptist didn’t try to persuade the two to stay with him. He knew his place and was ready for his disciples to transfer their allegiance to Jesus. Jesus Gives an Invitation
The first of Jesus’ words that are recorded by John are found in John 1:38: “What do you want?” he asked John’s disciples. Jesus’ question is significant: He knew these men were looking for something, not really for someone. They responded to Jesus with their own question: “Where are you staying?” On the surface this question may have indicated that they needed to know where Jesus lived if they were to come to him for teaching. Jesus’ response to that question didn’t give them the answer they may have wanted; it was an immediate invitation for them to follow and learn from him. He didn’t say, “Come tomorrow,” or “I’ll meet you at the boat dock.” Instead he immediately opened up himself and the place he was staying to these first two disciples. Jesus Changes Lives
After spending a day with Jesus, Andrew knew he had found something special—his first response was to find his brother Simon and tell him he’d found the Messiah. In characteristic fashion, Simon responded quickly and went with Andrew to meet Jesus.
For Jesus, the Son of God, it took only one look at Simon to know who he was and who he was to become. So he gave Simon a new name, Peter, which means “rock.” At that moment and throughout
Jesus’ earthly ministry, Peter displayed little of the strength and stability of a rock, however. He was impulsive and impetuous, and in his haste, he often made bad decisions. So the name that Jesus gave Peter was not based on his life up to that point, but on who Jesus knew Peter would become as a result of following Jesus. When Peter got to know Jesus, his life changed. He eventually became a new person; empowered by his faith in Christ, he dedicated his life to spreading the word about Jesus to the world.
The Jesus Connection
Jesus knows us even better than we know ourselves. Thank Jesus not only for being your Savior but also for being your friend!
Think about the time you first met Jesus. How have you grown closer to him since then? What room for growth do you still see in your friendship with him? Over the next week, ask God to help you grow closer to Jesus. You can write your prayer here.
Lesson 7 Preschool/Ages 3 & 4Winter Quarter
78
GETTING STARTED
Welcome and Celebrate
Tip Consistently use the same signal to announce a transition to the next activity. You could flip the lights off and on, use a train whistle, have a puppet rustling inside a bag, or sing cleanup songs. Keep it simple, consistent, and fun.
What You’ll Do As the children arrive, greet each one with a smile. When it’s time to begin, use your signal to bring the children together in a circle on the floor.
Lead children in singing “Don’t You Love to Come to God’s House?” (track 12 on the CD) to the tune of “Did You Ever See a Lassie?” Encourage kids to join you in singing the verses and doing the hand motions.
Don’t you love to come to God’s house, to God’s house, to God’s house? (form a roof over your head with your hands)
Don’t you love to come to God’s house to worship and pray? (fold your hands in prayer)
God’s children together all worship the Savior. (stretch your arms to heaven)Don’t you love to come to God’s house to worship and pray? (form a roof over your
head with your hands; then fold your hands in prayer)(Repeat.)
Lead children in singing “One and Only Son” (John 1:14b) (track 29 on the CD). Repeat the song several times so children learn the words.
The glory, the glory, the glory of the Son.The glory, the glory, the glory of the Son.
And we have seen the glory, the gloryOf the Father’s one and only Son.The glory, the gloryOf the Father’s one and only Son.
The glory, the glory, the glory of the Son.And we have seen the glory, the gloryOf the Father’s one and only Son.The glory, the gloryOf the Father’s one and only Son.
Welcome and CelebrateSupplies
CD playerTeacher PackCD: “Don’t You Love to Come to God’s House?” (track 12), “One and Only Son” (John 1:14b) (track 29)
79
Lesson 7 Preschool/Ages 3 & 4 Winter Quarter
The glory, the gloryOf the Father’s one and only Son.The glory, the gloryOf the Father’s one and only Son.
The glory, the glory, the glory of the Son.The glory, the glory, the glory of the Son.
Say: JESUS IS OUR FRIEND who we can tell our troubles to. Spending time with someone is the very best way to get to know that person better. It’s the same with Jesus; the more time we spend with him, the more we get to know Jesus.
2 KEY VERSE ACTIVITY
I Believe
What You’ll Do Have the children form a circle and sit down. Open your Bible to John 1:12, and show children the words.
Say: Our Key Verse from the Bible says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” This means that if we believe in Jesus, we become God’s children. Let’s say that together. Lead the children in repeating the simplified Key Verse with you: If we believe in Jesus, we become God’s children (John 1:12).
Explain to the children that when we believe in Jesus, we become part of God’s family.
Sing “I Believe” (track 18 on the CD) to the tune of “Three Blind Mice.” Encourage kids to join you in the motions in parentheses.
I believe. (put one hand on your heart)I believe. (put your other hand on your heart)That Jesus is God, (point up with one index finger)That Jesus is God. (point up with both index fingers)Since I believe that Jesus is (put one hand on your heart)The Son of God, then I will be (put your other hand on your heart)A child of God most happily, (hug yourself)A child of God. (hug yourself)(Repeat 2x.)
Have children form two groups, and have the groups stand on opposite sides of the room. Assign one group the first half of the Key Verse (“If we believe in Jesus”), and assign the other group the second half of the Key Verse (“we become God’s children”). Have the groups practice their parts a few times. Then stand in the center of the room and tell the groups that when you point to them, they’ll need to shout out their parts. Have them shout the Key Verse several times. Then bring kids back together.
Talk With Kids Lead children in this discussion.
Ask: n Tell something you know about someone in your family. n What do you know about Jesus?
Say: JESUS IS OUR FRIEND. When we believe in him, we become God’s children and that makes us part of God’s family.
3 BIBLE EXPLORATION
Puppy Pointers
What You’ll Do Say: Listen, everyone, Theo’s coming! He has something to show us. Let’s find out what it is. Play “Here, Theo” (track 3 on the CD), and bring out Theophilus the FaithRetriever with a jump-rope tied to his paw. Then follow along with the script.
Theo: Hi, everybody!Teacher: Hello, Theo! It’s so good to see you at church with us today. What did you bring with you?Theo: I brought my jump-rope.Teacher: Why did you bring your jump-rope? Are you learning how to use it?Theo: No, I already know how to use it by myself, but I want to learn some jump-rope games to play with my friends.Teacher: That sounds like a lot of fun!Theo: I need a friend to jump rope with me.Teacher: You know, Theo, we’ve been learning that JESUS IS OUR FRIEND. He wants to get to know all of us. Friends, can you tell Theo our Bible Point for today?(Lead children in saying the Bible Point for Theo: JESUS IS OUR FRIEND.)Teacher: Isn’t that great, Theo? We can get to know Jesus as our friend!Theo: I want to be Jesus’ friend, too!Teacher: I’m glad you want to be Jesus’ friend; Jesus wants to be friends with everyone! Well, have fun learning your jump-rope games and making new friends. Friends, let’s say goodbye to Theo.
Puppy PointersSupplies
CD playerTheo puppetjump-ropeTeacher PackCD: “Here, Theo” (track 3)
Puppy PointersEasy Prep
Tie a jump-rope around Theo’s paw.
81
Lesson 7 Preschool/Ages 3 & 4 Winter Quarter
Encourage the children to wave or say goodbye to Theo. Then put Theo away in a safe place for next week’s use.
Talk With Kids Lead children in this discussion.
Ask: n Why did Theo need a friend? n Why do we need Jesus to be our friend?
Say: Having friends is a lot of fun. When we have friends, we want to spend time having fun and getting to know them. Today we’re going to learn about two men who got to know Jesus and became his friends. Let’s find out how JESUS IS OUR FRIEND, too!
Bible Time: Getting to Know You
What You’ll Do Open your Bible to John 1, and show the children the words.
Say: The Bible tells us how JESUS IS OUR FRIEND. Hold up the jingle bell bracelets. Let’s call these bracelets “friendship bells.” When we hear them ring, they’ll remind us that JESUS IS OUR FRIEND. Today you’re going to hear about the first men who got to be friends with Jesus. When I say, “Get to know Jesus,” ring the friendship bells and say, “Jesus is our friend!”
Give each child a “friendship bell” to hold. Practice the cue a couple of times until children are comfortable, and then begin.
Say: For many years, people had been waiting for Jesus, God’s Son, to come. God had told many men like Solomon and John the Baptist to tell everyone that Jesus would come so people could get to know Jesus. Have kids shake the friendship bells and say, “Jesus is our friend.”
Now that Jesus was born and grown up, he was going to start the work God sent him to do. Many people were excited to see who Jesus was. One day, after Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, John showed his friends who Jesus was. Two of his friends said goodbye to John the Baptist and left to follow Jesus. They wanted to get to know Jesus. Have kids shake the friendship bells and say, “Jesus is our friend.”
The two men asked Jesus where he was staying, and Jesus invited them to his house. The men spent all day with Jesus, so they could get to know him. Have kids shake the friendship bells and say, “Jesus is our friend.”
One of the men, Andrew, was so excited to meet Jesus that he ran to tell his brother Simon. Simon had been waiting for many years for Jesus to come. He
Bible Time: Getting to Know YouSupplies
Biblejingle bell bracelets from Lesson 1
Teacher Pack“Andrew Brings Peter to Jesus” poster (from the Big Bible Poster Pack)
Lesson 7 Preschool/Ages 3 & 4Winter Quarter
82
wanted to get to know Jesus, too. Have kids shake the friendship bells and say, “Jesus is our friend.”
So both brothers ran back to where Jesus was staying so they could get to know Jesus better. Have kids shake the friendship bells and say, “Jesus is our friend.”
Jesus loved to meet people and get to know them. When Jesus met Simon, Jesus liked him so much that he gave Simon a new name: Peter—Simon Peter. Jesus got to know Andrew and Peter. Andrew and Peter were Jesus’ first friends and disciples because they wanted to get to know Jesus. Have kids shake the friendship bells and say, “Jesus is our friend.”
We can get to know Jesus, too. Have kids shake the friendship bells and say, “Jesus is our friend.”
When we come to church and learn from the Bible, we get to know Jesus. Have kids shake the friendship bells and say, “Jesus is our friend.”
When we listen to our parents or friends tell us about the Bible and the things Jesus said, we get to know Jesus. Have kids shake the friendship bells and say, “Jesus is our friend.”
Talk With Kids Lead children in this discussion.
Ask: n What do you do to get to know a friend? n What can you do to get to know Jesus as your friend?
Say: This week, you can do all the things you mentioned because JESUS IS OUR FRIEND.
4 WEAVING FAITH INTO LIFE
Choose at least two of the learning centers to help reinforce today’s Bible lesson. Gather the needed materials, and put the supplies in an out-of-sight area until you’re ready for them. Allow the children to choose which center they’d like to explore first. Then circulate among the children as they create and explore. Encourage them to make connections between their activities and the Bible by asking them the questions included with each center’s description.
83
Lesson 7 Preschool/Ages 3 & 4 Winter Quarter
CENTER 1:
Jesus Is My Friend
What You’ll Do Give each child a My Bible Hugs page, a piece of yarn, and two large round stickers. Remind the children how Theo wanted to learn jump-rope games. Point out the picture of a child wanting to play ball with Jesus. Have children tape one end of the yarn between Jesus and the child. Have kids attach the other end to one of the stickers and then attach the other sticker to the back of the first sticker to create a ball. Encourage kids to find a partner. Have one partner pretend to be Jesus and the other pretend to be the child and “toss” the attached sticker ball back and forth from one side of the page to the other. Remind kids that spending time with someone helps you get to know him or her better.
Talk With Kids Lead children in this discussion.
Ask: n What are some things you do with your friends? n What can you do with Jesus this week to get to know him better?
Say: JESUS IS OUR FRIEND. And he wants to get to know us better. He won’t actually play ball with us, but he does want to talk with us through the Bible and prayer.
CENTER 2:
Friendship Faces
What You’ll Do Have kids clean their hands. Help the children form pairs. Give each pair of children two plates with a glob of cream cheese on each plate, two bagel halves, two plastic knives, two apple slices and some chocolate chips.
Remind children that after Andrew met Jesus, he went and found his brother Peter and brought him to Jesus. He showed his brother that JESUS IS OUR FRIEND.
Show the children how to spread the cream cheese onto the bagel and place the apple slice and chocolate chips on the bagel to make a face. Tell the children they’ll make the snack for their partner. Encourage the children to tell their partner one thing they know about Jesus as they prepare the snacks for each other.
Talk With Kids Invite one child to thank God for the snack. Then lead children in this discussion as they eat.
Center 1: Jesus Is My FriendSupplies
My Bible Hugsone 8-inch piece of yarn for each child
taperound stickersscissors
Center 1: Jesus Is My FriendEasy Prep
Remove the Lesson 7 pages from each My Bible Hugs student book, and write children’s names on them.
Center 2: Friendship FacesSupplies
1 small paper plate, 1/2 bagel, 1 plastic knife, and 1 red-apple slice per child
cream cheesechocolate chipsantibacterial gel (optional)
! ALLERGY ALERT
Lesson 7 Preschool/Ages 3 & 4Winter Quarter
84
Ask: n Who helps you get to know Jesus? n What did you learn about Jesus from your partner today? n What could you tell a friend this week about Jesus?
Say: Today we made a snack with a friend and helped each other get to know Jesus. You can help other friends get to know Jesus, too.
CENTER 3:
Friendship Circle
What You’ll Do Have children use as many blocks as they can to build a large circle that everyone can fit inside. As each block is placed, have a child say the name of one of his or her friends who’s inside the circle. When the circle is finished and everyone is inside, have kids take turns pointing to a friend and asking simple questions to get to know each other, such as “What’s your favorite color?” or “What food do you like to eat?”
Talk With Kids Lead children in this discussion.
Ask: n What did you learn about someone today? n What did you learn about your friend Jesus today?
Say: JESUS IS OUR FRIEND. When we spend time listening to the Bible and coming to church, we get to know Jesus. When we believe in Jesus, we become God’s children.
CENTER 4:
What I Like
What You’ll Do Have the kids sit in a circle at a table or on the floor. Set the “Andrew Brings Peter to Jesus” poster in the center of the circle. Give each child a marker or a crayon.
Say: JESUS IS OUR FRIEND. One way that we get to know people and become friends is by telling each other some of our favorite things. Let’s all get to know Jesus better by telling him something about ourselves. You can tell Jesus what your favorite toy is by drawing it on this poster.
Help kids draw their favorite toys on the poster.
Center 3: Friendship CircleSupplies
blocks
Center 4: What I LikeSupplies
crayons or markersTeacher Pack“Andrew Brings Peter to Jesus” poster (from the Big Bible Poster Pack)
85
Lesson 7 Preschool/Ages 3 & 4 Winter Quarter
Talk With Kids Lead children in this discussion.
Ask: n What’s your favorite thing that you want Jesus to know about? n What do you think are some of Jesus’ favorite things? n What can you do to get to know Jesus better?
Say: We can get to know Jesus, like Andrew and Peter did, in many different ways. We can pray, we can tell Jesus our favorite things, we can listen to the Bible, and we can come to church, like you did today. JESUS IS OUR FRIEND. When we come to church, we get to know Jesus better.
5 LASTING IMPRESSIONS
Be a FaithWeaver
What You’ll Do After the children have cleaned up their centers, bring everyone back to a circle area on the floor. Review the lesson activities and the Bible Point, and then encourage the children to share what they remember about what they learned from the Bible today.
Also use this time to challenge kids in their faith. Encourage them to choose a Daily Challenge for applying today’s lesson to their lives this week. Use this challenge for encouraging your children’s growing relationships with Jesus.
Say: Today we learned that JESUS IS OUR FRIEND. I would like each of you to choose a way to get to know your friend Jesus better this week.
Talk With Kids Read the three ideas for children to choose from: n Draw a picture for Jesus. On your picture, draw some of your favorite
things. n Watch a children’s movie about Jesus. n While you’re playing, pray and talk to Jesus.
Have kids each whisper in your ear or tell you which idea they’ve chosen, and then circle it on each child’s My Bible Hugs page. Make sure you tell kids the challenge you choose. Your commitment will inspire children and will give them an opportunity to see God at work in your life as well as in theirs!
Be a FaithWeaverSupplies
My Bible Hugs
Lesson 7 Preschool/Ages 3 & 4Winter Quarter
86
Action Prayer
What You’ll Do Have children sit in a circle and hold hands. Begin praying the following prayer. At the pause in the prayer, have each child take turns saying the name of the friend sitting to his or her right. Remind kids of the names of the children sitting next to them if they need help, and then continue the prayer. Let everyone say the closing line with you.
Pray: Thank you, Jesus, for giving us friends to play with, like (pause for kids to say the names of their classroom friends). Thank you for being our friend and for loving us. Help us to get to know you better. In your name, amen.
Weaving Faith at HomeHave children take home their My Bible Hugs pages whether they worked on them or not. Have the children tell their parents the challenge they committed to in the “Be a FaithWeaver” activity. Encourage the parents to help their kids fulfill this commitment throughout the week. By working together and focusing on the same goals, you and parents can help children weave faith into their lives!
Talk to your Director about emailing the FREE FamilyConnect to all your church’s families. Available at group.com/digital.
