Who is Jesus? Easter - Jesus Returns - 19 April 2020
Here are some ideas that you could do with your children at home, that link the children’s everyday experiences to the Bible. As you play or create, you can talk about what happened when Jesus returned. How did the disciples feel initially and then after they had seen Jesus?
TEACHING POINT
Jesus will never leave us. John 20-21
PROGRAMME
Let’s Pretend
Make a boat that you can fit into, could be out of cardboard boxes, the washing basket, some old blankets and cushions, use your imagination. Make some fish to swim around in your sea (could use blue material for your sea if you have any) and then make a fishing rod out of string and a stick. You could even try sticking a magnet on the end and paperclips onto your fish so you can really catch your fish.
Book corner
Couple of beanbags in the corner – cosy up and read a story together, maybe you have one about breakfasts, fishing or boats otherwise you could look for a book about friends, celebrations or share a story about Jesus.
Construction
Can you make a net to catch fish? Could use a stick and a bucket or bag? Do your parents have a piece of netting hiding in the garage you could use? Or an old rag that you could attach to a kitchen roll tube? Could you crisscross string to make your net?
Small world/messy
Create a small world beach scene back drop to play with your dolls/animals/any other small world that want to visit the beach!
Here’s what you’ll need to make your own beach: white construction paper, blue paint, fine sand, and seashells/stones
Have your child paint the entire page blue and let it dry. If you are feeling adventurous you could do this in a shoebox or other box instead.
Add glue to the bottom of the page, then have your child smear it around with their finger so that there is a smooth (somewhat thick) coat of glue covering the entire bottom part of the paper.
Carefully let your child pour the sand on top of the glue. Let it sit for at least 20 minutes before pouring the excess sand off. You could use salt and have white sands or sand paper or make it a stony beach.
Add seashells, stones and/or a palm tree!
Sand/water
Water- put some bath foam/bubbles in a tub and put some objects to fish for under the water- could be fish, sand, stones but could also be other items that have unfortunately got into the sea- bottle top, plastic toy, ball, metal spoon. Do any float or sink? Could lead to talking about how we need to look after Gods world.
Game - Sponge Relay
Have two bowls- one full of water, the other empty. Place them two meters apart, could be further if you have older children. The children have a sponge, dip the sponge in water so it is soaked. How many times does it take to fill up your empty bowl? (could use a cup for younger children, if they struggle to squeeze a sponge). Older children- predict how many times it will take/ keep a tally/ is it the same the next time you do it?
Craft - Net and fish
Here’s what you’ll need to make one as well: a paper plate, fingerpaint (markers or crayons would work too), construction paper, clear plastic wrap, and a Sharpie marker.
Have your child finger paint to completely cover the entire paper plate. Let it dry.
Cut some fish out of card.
Once dry, place the fish onto the paper plate. Cover with clingfilm.
Using a Sharpie, draw “net” lines on the clingfilm.
That’s it! Now let your child retell the Bible story using her very own net full of fish!
STORY TIME
Find your Bible at home and read the story of Jesus returning together.
You could read this story from the Beginners Bible page 459-465 (or in your Bible John 20-21) sharing the book with your child or act it out with the children, one person being Jesus on the beach and the disciples, in the boat that you created, catching fish.
Jesus Returns
The disciples had locked themselves in a small room because they were afraid the leaders would send soldiers to arrest them.
Suddenly, Jesus appeared to them!
He said “Peace be with you.”
They thought he was a ghost. But Jesus said, “Touch my hands and my feet so that you will know it is really me.”
The disciples cheered! They were very, very happy to see Jesus again.
A net full of fish
Peter went fishing with some of the disciples. They fished from their boats all night, but they did not catch even one fish.
Early the next morning, someone from the shore shouted, “You have not caught any fish, have you?”
“No,” they replied. “Cast your net out over the right- hand side of the boat”, the man said.
As soon as they did, their net was full of fish! Then Peter knew the man was Jesus. He jumped out of the boat and swam to shore.
Jesus asked him, “Do you love me?” Peter said, “You know I do.”
Jesus said, “If you love me, then take good care of my people.”
MESSAGE AND PRAYER TIME
Up to 3 years old (Fruitshoots)
Thank you Jesus, that you will never leave us and that you love us so much. Help us to know that we can be your friend this week.
From 3 years to Reception age (Acorns)
Thank you Jesus, that you love us so much. You tell us that you will never leave us and that when we talk to you, you will always listen. Just like the disciples were your friends, thank you that we get to be your friend too. Help us to hear you speaking to us this week. You love to tell us special things!
School years 1-6 (Hive)
A question: After Jesus told the disciples to throw their net on the other side of their boat, Jesus sat down to have breakfast with his disciples. If you could have breakfast with Jesus what would you ask him?
Pray together… Thank you Jesus, that you are so good to us. Thank you, that you love us and will never leave us, just like you never left the disciples. Thank you, that you have so much to tell us. Thank you that you love to hear us talking to you and we pray this week that just like you sat down with the disciples on the beach to have breakfast and talk with them. We pray that this week, we will make time to talk to you and listen to what you want to tell us. You have so much to say!!! Help us to know how special we are to you.