Week 11 - Jesus is Man

Like regular volleyball, the kids will be divided into two teams, with a net separating them on either side of the gym. Instead of using a volleyball, the kids will try to hit one or more large ball (beach ball-sized) over the net to the other side without allowing the ball to hit the ground on their side. If the ball hits the ground, or goes out of bounds after touching a player, the team that sent the ball over the net will gain a point. If the ball goes out of bounds without touching a receiving player, the receiving team gains a point.

Rounds will be played to 15 points. At least two balls will be in play at all times, with more balls being added as the kids become familiar with the game.

What is something that makes you disgusted? Maybe it’s something you could eat, something that you have to do, or something that you smell.

Visual 1 - Show pictures of vegetables for dinner, a bathroom to be cleaned, and dirty feet in sandals.

When God made the world, He made it perfect. Everything in it was very good, He said. But Adam and Eve disobeyed God — do you remember what they did? — they sinned for the first time. And since then, all people have been sinners and want to do things that are wrong and not do things that are right. Sin has made all sorts of problems: death, sickness, anger, fighting, pain, sadness. Sinning people are mean people, sad people, angry people, dirty people. If you lived in a perfect place like heaven, where there was no sadness, pain, fighting, or sin, would you want to leave heaven to go be around nasty, sinful people?

Visual 2 - Show picture of a cave/stable

God loved the people that He made too much to just let them live in sin and all the horrible things that happen because of sin. But sin has to be punished—which means that people needed someone perfect to take their sin for them. They needed a substitute. And that’s why Jesus was born. He is God, and He created the world, and He lived in heaven, but He gave up His place in heaven to become a human being. We celebrate when Jesus was born at Christmastime. When someone makes themselves low like that, they are humbling themselves. Jesus was humbled.

Visual 3 - Show picture of the disciples together

Back when Jesus lived, most everyone wore sandals on their feet. When you wear sandals all the time, your feet get really dirty. One night, Jesus and His friends the disciples were going to have a holiday meal. How many of you ate a special holiday meal recently? This holiday was to celebrate God’s love for them. After eating together, Jesus did something very unexpected.

Visual 4 - John 13:4-5 “He riseth from supper . . . and took a towel . . . He poureth water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet.”

How disgusting! Maybe you would let someone else wash your feet if that was their job or if they weren’t very important. Otherwise you should probably wash your own feet. But Jesus was more important than any of the disciples. He’s more important than any person in the whole world! But Jesus was not proud. He was humble.

Visual 5 - Show picture of Jesus washing Peter’s feet

When Jesus came to Peter, he stopped Jesus. He was shocked that Jesus, the Lord, would act like a servant. “You will never wash my feet!” Peter said to Jesus.

Jesus replied, “If you don’t let me do this, then you will not be one of my disciples.” Peter then asked Jesus to wash his feet and all of his body. But Jesus said that only his feet needed washed because Jesus had washed all of him when he got saved. But then Jesus said, “One of you isn’t washed.” Who do you think Jesus was talking about? Judas, one of the disciples was going to go get people to kill Jesus that night. He didn’t believe on Jesus and get saved. But Jesus still washed his nasty, stinky feet.

Visual 6 - John 13:15 “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done unto you.”

Jesus was teaching His disciples something. They needed to humble themselves in order to help each other, just like Jesus did. They needed to show kindness and forgiveness to each other and even to their enemies. And they needed to do it with love instead of anger, because that’s how Jesus did it.

Visual 7 - Jesus was humbled, but He never grumbled!

• Maybe you need to be saved

• Maybe you need to ask Jesus to forgive you for being proud

• Maybe you need to ask Jesus to forgive you for anger

• Maybe you need to to be kind to someone that you don’t like

Group Activity: I’ll provide a package of baby wipes to your table. Have each kid take a wipe and help clean the shoes of another kid. As the kids wipe each other’s shoes, ask them to think about what it would be like if Jesus was washing their feet.

Group Discussion: Ask the kids the following questions -

• Where was Jesus before He was born at Christmastime? in heaven

• How long has Jesus been God? forever

• Why did Jesus become a human being? God loved us so much that He didn't want us to stay in sin.

• What else did Jesus do humble Himself? He served others, He washed His disciples feet, He died on the cross

• How are we able to follow Jesus' example? We need to serve others

• Some people don't want to be like Jesus. How do they show it? They want their own way. They don't want to help others. They show anger and fighting instead of love.

• Can you think of any examples of something someone said or did that showed that they don’t care that Jesus became a human for them?

• Could someone read our verse for the day?

• What does this verse teach us about Jesus?

• Explain the parts of the verse that are hard to understand.

• How can this verse help me to obey Jesus . . .

  • when I’m in school?

  • when I’m at home?

  • when I’m playing?

  • when I’m at church?

Prayer: Because Jesus went through that and never sinned, He can help you get through it too. He offers grace to you.

List some of the human struggles we all have. Pray to Jesus for grace to help you honor and please Him while you go through that struggle. (example: obeying parents, studying in school, getting along with siblings, working hard, etc.)