Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: NT Lesson 5 “The Beatitudes”

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Featured Passage: Matthew 5

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NT-L3L5 The BeatitudesDownload/Print

Jesus Christ had begun His ministry on earth. Many people followed Him, excited to see what miracles He would perform and to hear what He had to say. One day, Jesus  went up on a mountain to teach the people and His disciples some very important lessons. The speech he gave that day is one of the most famous ever given, and it is often called “The Sermon on the Mount”. He began His speech with a list of qualities we call “The Beatitudes”. “The Beatitudes” is a good place to start learning what Christ looks for in a Christian.

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Discuss:

  1. Beatitudes express attitudes that should be part of a Christian. What are the beatitudes Christ teaches? 
  2. The Greek word for “blessed” can also be translated as happy. What conclusion can you reach about people who have these qualities?
  3. What does it mean to be poor in spirit?
  4. What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness? (Psalm 119:172 tells us what righteousness means)
  5. Think of an example in which you can act as a peacemaker.
  6. Christ said true Christians would experience persecution. Have you ever experienced persecution for Christ’s sake? Can you think of any examples of Christians who have? 
  7. What are the promises God offers to those who have the qualities mentioned in the Beatitudes?
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Memory Challenge:

Matthew 5:3-12 

Memorize the Beatitudes!

Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: NT Lesson 5 “The Pool of Bethsaida”

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Featured Passage: John 5

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NT-L2L5 The Pool of BethsaidaDownload/Print

It was the Feast of Tabernacles, and the city of Jerusalem swarmed with people from all around. In Jerusalem there was a pool where at certain times an angel would come and stir the waters in the pool, and the first person to get in the waters would be healed. Many sick people were at the pool for this reason, but only one could be made well. Out of compassion, Jesus healed a man who lay there, but not everyone was happy that the lame man could walk again.

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Discuss:

  1. Why was Jesus in Jerusalem at this time? 
  2. How long had the man that Jesus healed been sick?
  3. What law did the Jews think the man was breaking by carrying his bed? Why were they upset that the man had been healed? 
  4. Why did the Jews want to kill Jesus? 
  5. What did Jesus say about His relationship with the Father? 
  6. What authority did God give to Jesus Christ?
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Memory Challenge:

John 5:19 

Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.”

Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: NT Lesson 6 “The Model Prayer”

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Featured Passage: Matthew 6

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NT-L3L6 The Model PrayerDownload/Print

Prayer is something that God wants us to do. When we pray, we are coming before the Eternal’s magnificent throne to talk to our Heavenly Father. You may be curious about how to pray and wonder if you are doing it correctly. No worries! You are in good company; the disciples also wanted to learn how to pray (Luke 11:1). Jesus Christ left us instructions written in His word so that we can know how to pray.

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Discuss:

  1. What does Christ say about prayers that are recited to get attention? Where did Christ say we should go when we pray? Does this mean we have to be in a specific place when we pray? 
  2. How often should we pray? Can you think of any examples of people in the Bible who prayed regularly? 
  3. To Whom did Jesus say we should address our prayers?
  4. What does the word hallowed mean? How can we hallow God’s name?
  5. Why did Christ say that we need to pray for God’s kingdom to come? What are some reasons that we need His kingdom to come? 
  6. What are some things we should regularly pray about? For each thing that you mention, why do you think God wants us to pray about those things? 
  7. Imagine someone you are close to. How did you build a relationship with them? How does praying help us build a relationship with God? 
  8. Why does God want us to pray?
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Memory Challenge:

Matthew 6:6 

“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: NT Lesson 6 “Jesus Goes to the Feast”

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Featured Passage: John 7

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NT-L2L6 Jesus Goes to the FeastDownload/Print

Jesus was becoming popular, and everyone was talking about Him. Who was this man? Was He the prophet of who Moses had written about (Deuteronomy 18:15)? Was He the Messiah who had come to save them, or was He just deceiving people? Jesus’ own family did not even believe Him, and the Pharisees and chief priests were out to kill Him! It was time to keep the Feast of Tabernacles as God had commanded. Jesus needed to keep the feast in Jerusalem, but how could He go when it was so dangerous? 

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Discuss:

  1. What did Jesus’ brothers tell Him to do? What was Jesus’ response?
  2. Why did Jesus not go up to Jerusalem with His brothers? What did He do instead?
  3. Why were the people arguing about Jesus?
  4. Where did the people believe Jesus was born? Why did it matter?
  5. What is doctrine? From whom did Jesus say He received His doctrine?
  6. How did Jesus make His presence known at the Feast?
  7. What did Jesus preach about on the eighth day? What do we call the eighth day of the feast? 
  8. Why do you think God did not allow the Jews to capture Jesus?
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Memory Challenge:

John 7:28-29

Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”

Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: NT Lesson 7 “Jesus Heals a Blind Man”

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Featured Passage: John 9

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NT-L2L7 Jesus Heals a Blind ManDownload/Print

As Jesus  taught and worked many wonderful miracles, the Jewish leaders were becoming very jealous and angry. One day, when Jesus was teaching in the temple, He said something that made the Jews so mad they wanted to stone Him! Jesus quickly hid and escaped out of the temple, but as He was leaving He noticed a man who had been blind from birth. Jesus’ disciples asked Him why the man was born blind and He told them God had something very special planned for this particular man.

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Discuss:

  1. What explanation did the disciples say was the reason the man was born blind? How did Jesus answer them?
  2. What did Jesus do to heal the man? What instructions did he give to the man? 
  3. On what day of the week did this miracle occur? 
  4. When questioned, who did the man say had healed him? Why do you think the Pharisees wanted the man to deny that Jesus had healed him?
  5. Why did the Pharisees question the man’s parents? 
  6. What did the Pharisees say was their reason for not believing Jesus was from God? Why did the man who was healed believe that Jesus was from God?
  7. What did Jesus mean when He said, “those who see may be made blind”? 
  8. What things did you learn about who Jesus is in this passage?
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Memory Challenge:

John 9:39 

“For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: NT Lesson 7 “Put God First”

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Featured Passage: Matthew 6

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NT-L3L7 Put God First Download/Print

In the message He gave on the mountain (often known as “The Sermon on the Mount”), Jesus first encouraged His disciples in the attitudes they should have to be blessed and happy. He then began to address the importance of keeping the Commandments – emphasizing that Christians should keep the spiritual intent of the law and not just the letter of the law. Jesus Christ continued the message by talking about everyday circumstances that people have and the usual concerns that this life brings. Christ told them, and tells us today, that the answer to life’s problems is to put God first.

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Discuss:

  1. What does it mean to do “charitable deeds”? Can you think of some charitable deeds that you could do?
  2. When we do a good deed, should we tell everyone? Why or why not?
  3. What does it mean to fast? What are some instructions Jesus tells us about fasting in this passage?
  4. Do you worry about things? What does God say about worrying? What are some solutions to keep from worrying about things?
  5. What things did God say we should seek first? What is righteousness? How do we seek the kingdom and God’s righteousness?
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Memory Challenge:

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: NT Lesson 8 “The Good Shepherd”

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Featured Passage: John 10

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NT-L2L8 The Good ShepherdDownload/Print

After Jesus healed a man who was blind from birth, the Pharisees wanted to know who He was. Some of the Jews thought He was evil and crazy, while others realized His good works could not be performed by an evil person. Jesus had compared those who did not understand His message with those who could not see, saying they were spiritually blind. He then spoke a parable to them about something most people understood during that time – sheep and shepherds. The Pharisees, not satisfied with Jesus’ answer, surrounded Him hoping that this time He would not get away!

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Discuss:

  1. Why did Jesus often use parables when speaking to the people? (Hint: Look in John 10 or Matthew 13 for the answer)
  2. Who are the sheep in the parable? What do you think sheep can teach us about being Christians?
  3. What does Jesus mean when He calls Himself the door to the sheep? How does Jesus describe those who do not come through the door?
  4. How does Jesus describe a good shepherd? In what ways is Jesus the good shepherd?
  5. What reward does Jesus have for His sheep? 
  6. Why did the Pharisees want to stone Jesus?
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Memory Challenge:

John 10:11

“I am the good shepherd. The shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”

Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: NT Lesson 8 “The Narrow Gate”

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Featured Passage: Matthew 7

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NT-L3L8 The Narrow GateDownload/Print

Jesus Christ taught His disciples about how they should conduct themselves as they go through this life. After giving principles of how we should not worry but seek the kingdom and put God first Jesus concluded His message with some very wise and very important advice for Christians. One thing He made clear is that trying to follow God and His teachings is not easy, but it is worth it!

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Discuss:

  1. What does it mean to have a “plank in your eye”? 
  2. How does a person ask, seek and knock? What does God promise to those who do?
  3. Verse 12 is often called the “Golden Rule”. What is the “golden rule” and how can you follow it? 
  4. What did Christ mean when He spoke of the narrow gate and the broad way? How does a person enter through the “narrow gate”? Why would you say it is worth it to take the difficult, narrow gate even though the other way is way easier?
  5. Christ used the analogy of a wolf in sheep’s clothing to describe false prophets. How did He say we could tell the difference?
  6. What does Christ say about those who call Him Lord, but do not obey the law? 
  7. When Christ tells us to build on the rock, what does He mean? How can we make sure we aren’t building our house on the sand?
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Memory Challenge:

Matthew 7:13-14

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: NT Lesson 9 “The Messiah Enters Jerusalem”

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Featured Passage: Matthew 21

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NT-L3L9 The Messiah Enters Jerusalem Download/Print

It was nearing the time for the Passover, and Jerusalem was beginning to fill with pilgrims traveling from many different places near and far. The streets were abuzz with talk about a man from Nazareth called Jesus. Many had witnessed His miracles of healing the sick and heard about His unique teachings. Some said they knew for a fact that He had raised a man, Lazarus, from the dead (John 12:1, 9-11). Many wondered, could this Jesus be the Messiah, the Savior of Israel who would come from the line of David? Imagine their excitement when they saw Jesus entering the city in a way which fulfilled a special prophecy about the Messiah. 

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Discuss:

  1. How did Jesus enter Jerusalem? How did the multitudes respond as Jesus entered the city? What do you think it would have been like to be there? (This fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9)
  2. What happened when Jesus arrived at the temple? What did the religious authorities think about all this?
  3. What lesson did Jesus intend the disciples to learn from the death of the fig tree?
  4. When the chief priests and elders questioned His authority, Jesus asked them a question in return. Why do you think they would not answer Christ’s question?
  5. In the parable about the landowner who leased his vineyard, who represented the landowner, vinedressers, and the son? What punishment did the elders say should be administered to the vinedressers?
  6. What was the point Jesus was making when He quoted Psalm 118:22? Do you think the chief priests and Pharisees knew what Jesus was talking about?
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Memory Challenge:

Matthew 21:9 

“Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’”

Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: NT Lesson 9 “Lazarus”

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Featured Passage: John 11

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NT-L2L9 LazarusDownload/Print

The Pharisees wanted to stone Jesus and tried to catch Him, but Jesus escaped out of their hands. He went to a region beyond the Jordan River where John used to baptise people and many came there to listen to Jesus teach. During this time, one of His dear friends, named Lazarus, became very ill. Jesus had healed many people, so He could certainly heal his friend too! However, the disciples reminded Jesus it was dangerous to travel back to Judea because the Jews still wanted to kill him. Jesus was not worried about that, but He delayed going to Lazarus for another purpose.

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Discuss:

  1. Who were Lazarus’ sisters? Can you think of any other stories in the Bible that talk about them?
  2. Why do you think Jesus waited until Lazarus was already dead before He decided to go to him? 
  3. How long had Lazarus been dead when Jesus arrived? Why do you think this was important? 
  4. What did Jesus say to Martha about the resurrection? What things do you know about the resurrection? 
  5. What was Jesus’ response when Mary came to Him crying? What can we learn about who Jesus is from His reaction? 
  6. How did the Pharisees react to Lazarus being raised from the dead? Why did they consider Jesus a threat to their positions?
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Memory Challenge:

John 11:25

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life, He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.’