Holy Week, Week 3 (Mar. 24, 2024)
Jesus is Arrested
Bible Passage: Matthew 26:47-56
Big Idea: Jesus’ Way Is Peace
Preschool-Kindergarten
Welcome — Activity Leader — 2 minutes
Have the children sit in a circle on the circle time rug. Welcome them to class and introduce yourselves.
Warm-Up Activity: Storytime — Activity Leader — 3 minutes
Read: “Loved” (from Lord’s Prayer book)
Intro & Bible Story— Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
Today we are going to be continuing our Easter story. So far, we learned about Jesus’ last supper with his friends, then we learned about Jesus praying to God in the garden when he was scared. Today is all about Jesus being taken under arrest by the people who didn’t like him.
Let’s watch our vide to find out more about what happened…
Video Lesson — 5 minutes
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
Can anyone remember the name of Jesus’ friend who tried to protect him when Jesus was about to be arrested? (Peter)
How did Peter try to help Jesus? (he took his sword and hurt the ear of one of the people trying to capture Jesus)
What did Jesus say about this? (Jesus didn’t like it, and told Peter to put away his sword)
What did Jesus do next? (he healed the ear of the man who was hurt)
Why do you think that Jesus didn’t want to fight back against the people who were trying to arrest him? (Jesus taught us that fighting and hurting each other is not the right way, and that it is better to be peaceful and kind even when others are not being peaceful and kind to us)
Do you think that’s a hard thing to do not to fight back when others are being mean? What do you think is a better thing to do?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader — 1 minute
“Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about how Jesus refused to fight back even though he was being treated so unfairly. Thank you for how this teaches us that Jesus loves peace, and that it is better to be kind and peaceful to others even when they’re not being kind to us. Please help us to do the right thing and think about what Jesus would do when we go through hard things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Craft: Jesus Arrested Mural — Activity Leader — 7 minutes
Kids will add to our mural by making a torn paper mosaic to represent the sadness of being betrayed and arrested. Kids are encouraged to make a landscape or a picture of Jesus, his disciples, some soldiers… however they interpret the story.
If a child is not interested in the activity, allow them to move to free play.
Free Play — Both — 7 minutes
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver
Grades 1-3
Welcome —Both— 3 minutes
Have the children sit near the TV. Welcome them to class. Introduce yourselves .
Warm Up Activity: Storytime — Activity Leader — 3 minutes
Read: “Bare Tree and Little Wind”
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader —5 minutes
Today we are going to be continuing our Easter story. So far, we learned about Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, then we learned about Jesus praying to God in the garden when he was scared. Today is all about Jesus being taken under arrest by the religious leaders who didn’t like him.
Let’s watch our video to find out more about that part of the story…
Video Lesson — 5 minutes
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
Can anyone remember what the signal was that Judas used to betray Jesus to the people who wanted to arrest him? (he greeted Jesus with a kiss to let them know which one he was)
Which of the disciples tried to protect Jesus? (Peter)
How did Peter try to do this? (he took his sword and injured one of the men who were trying to capture Jesus)
What did Jesus say and do after this? (he told Peter to put away his sword and then healed the man who’s ear was injured)
What do you think that tells us about Jesus that he didn’t want to fight back? (It shows us that Jesus’ way is peace, and that Jesus doesn’t approve of using violence or fighting back against those who wrong us)
Do you think it’s difficult to be peaceful when others aren’t being peaceful towards us?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader — 1 minute
“Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about Jesus being taken under arrest, and what it teaches us about Jesus’ way of peace .Thank you that Jesus always practiced what he preached, and showed us the best way to live, that is to always show peace and kindness to people even when they are not doing the same to us. Please help us to do the right thing in difficult situations, just like Jesus showed us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Craft: Jesus Arrested Mural — Activity Leader — 10 mins
Kids will add to our mural by making a torn paper mosaic to represent the sadness of being betrayed and arrested. Kids are encouraged to make a landscape or a picture of Jesus, his disciples, some soldiers… however they interpret the story.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver
Grades 4-6
Welcome and Warm-Up — Activity Leader— 5 minutes
Welcome the kids to class, introduce yourselves.
Game: Heads Up Seven Up
Choose seven volunteers (or fewer, depending on the size of the group). The rest of the kids will sit on the floor with their eyes closed (with space to walk around) and their thumbs up.
The volunteers silently tap the thumb of one kid each and return to the front of the room. The seven kids whose thumbs were picked stand up and try to guess who tapped them.
If they guess correctly, they get to be a picker next round. If not, they sit back down and the person who picked them gets to stay up for another round.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader —5 minutes
Today we are continuing on with our Easter story, which is all about the last week of Jesus’ life on earth. Can anyone remember the first part of the story we talked about? (Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples) And then what about the second part that we discussed last Sunday? (Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane)
What’s one interesting thing that you’ve taken away from the story so far
Today we’re going to be hearing about the part of the story where Jesus is betrayed by Judas and taken under arrest by the religious leaders.
Let’s watch our video to find out more…
Video Lesson — 4 minutes
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
Can anyone remember what the signal was that Judas used to betray Jesus to the people who wanted to arrest him? (he greeted Jesus with a kiss to let them know which one he was)
Which of the disciples tried to protect Jesus? (Peter)
How did Peter try to do this? (he took his sword and injured one of the men who were trying to capture Jesus)
What did Jesus say and do after this? (he told Peter to put away his sword and then healed the man who’s ear was injured)
What do you think that tells us about Jesus that he didn’t want to fight back? (It shows us that Jesus’ way is peace, and that Jesus doesn’t approve of using violence or fighting back against those who wrong us)
Do you think it’s difficult to be peaceful when others aren’t being peaceful towards us? Have you ever had a similar experience?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader — 1 minute
“Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about Jesus being taken under arrest, and what it teaches us about Jesus’ way of peace .Thank you that Jesus always practiced what he preached, and showed us the best way to live, that is to always show peace and kindness to people even when they are not doing the same to us. Please help us to do the right thing in difficult situations, just like Jesus showed us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Craft: Jesus Arrested Mural — Activity Leader — 10 minutes
Kids will add to our mural by making a torn paper mosaic to represent the sadness of being betrayed and arrested. Kids are encouraged to make a landscape or a picture of Jesus, his disciples, some soldiers… however they interpret the story.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver
