Bring a battery-operated toy. Take the batteries out ahead of time. Show the kids the neat toy you brought and then try to get it to work. Then bring the batteries and put them in and watch the toy work! Talk about how when we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and we have a new life.
2. STORY (based on Luke 7:11-17)
One day, Jesus went to a town called Nain (Na’in). His disciples and a large crowd followed Him. After all, this was a man who could heal the sick and perform many miracles.
When Jesus came to the town’s gate, He saw a dead person being carried out with a large crowd following behind.
This dead person was the only son of a widow.
What’s a widow? A widow is a woman whose husband has died.
How many of you have mummies who work in the office? In those days, married women didn’t go out to work as they had to take care of the household. They depended on the men in the household to provide for them and protect them.
When this woman’s husband died, she would have depended on her son to take care of her. But now, her son, her only son, had died. Without a man in the household, she was penniless, alone and helpless. Of course she was also very sad.
When Jesus saw the widow, His heart went out to her. He had compassion on her. And He said, “Don’t cry.”
Jesus understood what the widow was going through.
Many times, when something bad happens, when we feel alone, helpless and very sad, we think nobody understands. We wonder where God is. But the truth is: He is there, He understands, and He is filled with love and compassion for us.
Then Jesus went and touched the coffin of the dead man.
According to the law then, touching a dead body was a taboo — it would make you “unclean” for 7 days.
But Jesus didn’t let that stop Him. Jesus touched and healed lepers even though they were unclean and contagious?
Then Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” And the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
Those who saw this miracle were filled with awe and praised God. And news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
3. LESSON: Good News for today! Jesus has authority over DEATH
Today we see that Jesus has authority over death. When He commands life to come, life comes. When He commands death to leave, death leaves. Hallelujah!
Not only did Jesus have power over death, but He also defeated death by rising from the dead.
Like the WIDOW’S Son, we were all DEAD in our SIN.
Like the WIDOW, we were all HELPLESS and HOPELESS on our own.
But Jesus came to give us LIFE.
When we believe in Jesus, His HOLY SPIRIT comes into us — like the battery gives life to the toy, the Holy Spirit gives us ETERNAL LIFE so that we can live forever with God.
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26;Memory Verse)
So as children of God, we don’t need to fear death. We can speak Jesus’ life into ourselves, other people, our situations etc.
Let’s pray: Thank you Jesus that You conquered death so that we can have Your eternal life in us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
4. ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS
Memory Verse: Use an activity/game to help kids memorise John 11:25-26
“Young man, I say to you, arise”
Have the class lie down on the floor motionless. Make sure that they do not move a muscle, acting as if they are really dead. Let them lay there long enough that it starts to feel a little uncomfortable. Explain to them that when you say, “Young man, I say to you, arise,” they are to sit up and start jumping. After a little while say, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” Have the children get up and jump up and down to get all their wiggles out.
