The Boy Jesus in the Temple

Well now, let's get into some ideas for the first lesson on the plan for this year based on Luke 2:41-52.  These are the only verses in the Bible that give us a glimpse into Jesus' childhood.  One aspect of this account that is crystal clear is Jesus' love for the Word of God at a young age.  We also see that Jesus had to learn and grow just like every other human being.  Children can identify with the humanity of Jesus, who was a child, like them.  Jesus embraced, and loved God's Word as a child, and we want to cultivate the same love in the hearts of the children we teach.

Bible Truth: Jesus teaches me to love God's Word.
Bible Story:  Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple talking with the teachers about God's Word.
Bible Study: Luke 2:41-52; Psalm 119:9-16

teach

I begin teaching a Bible story, holding my Bible open, and telling the children that what we are learning today is in the Bible.  I say, "God put this story in the Bible because He wanted us to know about it, and He wants to teach us something."  I also have a set of pocket New Testament Bibles that I found at the dollar store years ago, and when I teach the lesson in small groups, I give each child a Bible to hold as I'm teaching.  This reinforces the concept that I am teaching God's words and not my words.  I am telling them a true story that really happened, not a fantasy or fairy tale.  As they hold their Bibles, I also teach them to care for their Bible by not ripping pages, putting it in their mouth, etc.  The Bible is a special book.  It is God's Word.  We love our Bibles.

Then I will open whichever Children's Bible I am using for the lesson, and say, "This Bible has pictures in it for you to see.  Let's read the story that God wants us to learn today."  You will find a list of the Children's Bibles that I currently use and recommend on my resources page if you are looking for one.

show

Use an assortment of tools, either toys or real tools, to help explain that Jesus learned from His father Joseph how to be a carpenter and build things out of wood.

Another visual aid for this lesson is to create a scroll by rolling up a long sheet of paper.  If you have time, add dowels to the ends to make it look more authentic.  Explain that the Bible Jesus read looked different than our Bible, but it had the same words from God in it.

sing

Here are some songs to sing that go well with this lesson.  Below there are links to both the lyrics and a video in case these are new songs to you.

• The B-I-B-L-E
• Read Your Bible and Pray Everyday (see lesson video for tune and actions)
• God Made Me (In My Bible Book)

craft

I have three different craft ideas for this lesson to share with you.  Two are very simple, requiring minimal materials, and the third involves more materials and preparation, but I think it's really cute!

scroll coloring

The first idea is to turn a coloring sheet of young Jesus in the temple into a scroll.   All you need for this craft is:

• this coloring page, which I modified (I found the coloring sheet on Pinterest but I was unable to trace it back to it's original source.)
• two jumbo craft sticks for each child
• glue
• crayons
• yarn or string  

Trim off the wide margin of the coloring page.  Glue one craft stick on the top, the other on the bottom, color, roll, and tie with string or yarn.  Very simple, but I promise you the children will love their "scrolls."

find jesus in the temple

The second idea was inspired by this blog.  It requires some pre-cutting prep.  You will need:

• this picture of a temple (print page 1 in black & white, and choose landscape from properties / page setup)
• this heading
• this cropped picture of Jesus
• scissors
• construction paper
• glue
• crayons

Cut the doorway of the temple as shown below.  For each child, cut the heading into a strip, and cut out the picture of Jesus.  In class, help the children glue their temple to a sheet of construction paper, leaving the cut doorway clear of glue.

Fold the doors back and glue Jesus inside the temple.  Add the heading to the paper, color and wa-la!  Children can actively retell the story as they open and close the temple doors.

i spy jesus bottle

*This craft involves small objects that may be a choking hazard, and a hot glue gun.  Be sure that children are monitored at all times.

For this craft you will need:

• an empty, dry, clean water bottle for each child 
• a funnel (A paper made one will work just as well.)
• enough rice to fill each water bottle about 3/4 full
• these miniature pictures of Jesus that I cropped and minimized
• tape
• a variety of small objects such as foamie shapes, beads, buttons, pom-poms, sequins, jewels, etc.  (Use whatever you have on hand and whatever you can find at the dollar store.)
• a hot glue
• this label

Cut out the picture of Jesus in pairs as demonstrated by the red box.  Fold each picture in half and tape it to make it a double-sided picture.

Use a funnel to pour the rice into the water bottles.

Allow the children to choose objects, and put them into their bottle.  Just be sure every child has a picture of Jesus.

Use a hot glue gun to glue the cap to the bottle.  Tape the label to the bottle.  Shake and mix up the contents of the bottle.  Can you find Jesus?

Comment below to let me know if you use any of these ideas, and how they work out for you!

P.S.  I believe that at this time in Jesus' life He began to understand who He was, and His purpose.  He had to make the conscious decision to submit himself to Joseph and Mary's authority (verse 51).  Isn't that an incredible thought?!