Rotation.org Writing Team

JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

BANNERS/TEXTILES

PASSAGE

Bible Story: Luke 2:41-52
Key/Memory Verse: Luke 2:52

PURPOSE

To learn about how we, like Jesus, belong to a community of believers.

OBJECTIVES FOR ROTATION

After completing this Rotation, participants will be able to:

• Locate the story in the Bible;
  
• Identify the book of Luke as a New Testament Gospel;
  
• Tell the story of Jesus in the temple as a young boy;
  
• Explore the ways this story shows us that Jesus is human as well as divine;
  
• Identify Jesus' priority to learn in the house of God and relate our need to do likewise;
  
• Realize that participation in a community of faith helps us to learn our identity as a child of God;
  
• Compare Mary and Joseph's search for Jesus to our own search for God's presence in our lives.
  

OBJECTIVES FOR BANNERS/TEXTILES WORKSHOP

At the end of this lesson the children will:

• Locate the story in the Bible.
  
• Identify the book of Luke as a New Testament Gospel.
  
• Realize that participation in a community of faith helps us to learn our identity as a child of God.
  

PREPARATION

Read Bible Background

Materials List

• Bibles
  
• Chalk or markers
  
• Chalkboard or newsprint pad
  
• Fabric
  
• Markers for fabric
  
• Scissors
  
• Sewing machine (Optional)
  
• Smocks or large t-shirts
  
• Yarn
  

Advance Preparation Requirements

• Label two columns on the paper or board: Our church and Jesus’ temple
  
• Cut the fabric into large squares, 12” x 12”.
  
• If the fabric squares will be sewn together, recruit someone with a portable sewing machine to be present for the lesson or to complete this step after the class.
  

PRESENTATION

Open – Introduction

Greet the children as they enter. Ask them to tell you their favorite part of church. This could be anything from Sunday School to worship to groups and activities. List their suggestions on the paper or board. Explain that there are so many ways to be a part of the church and all help us understand the unique gifts God has given us. Tell the children they will be learning about belonging to a church today and what it might have been like to belong to a church when Jesus was a boy.

Dig - Main Content

Have the children look up Luke 2:41-52 in their Bibles. Tell the children to listen for the action in the story – what was Jesus doing? Read or have a child read the scripture.

Ask the children to identify what Jesus was doing in the temple (learning). Have them guess what other things might have been happening in the temple and list on the paper or board. If they are stuck, have them look at the following scripture passages:

Mark 12:35 (teaching)
Jeremiah 36:8 (read scriptures)
Mark 12:41 (offerings)
2 Chronicles 20:28 (music)
1 Kings 8:29 (prayer)

Hand out the smocks or t-shirts to protect clothing from the markers.

Give each child a piece of fabric and provide fabric markers to share. Tell the children to draw a symbol or picture representing one of the activities listed on the board on the piece of material. Tell the children their fabric squares will be put together in one large banner to show all the different ways we can come together to worship God and be part of a church family.

Reflect - Closure

As the children finish the squares, have them share with you what they have drawn. Ask them how participating in this activity helps them to feel like they are part of the church.

After the lesson, punch holes in the corners of the fabric pieces and tie them together with pieces of yarn to make a quilt. If you have someone handy with a sewing machine, you may wish to sew the pieces together. You may want to include a square listing the banner participants, the Bible memory verse, and the name of your church, or other significant details about the project.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

Adaptations - Younger Children

For #2 in the dig section, suggest other things that Jesus might have done at the temple (skip the readings). Have extra volunteers on hand to help the children with their drawings. You may need to label the drawings for clarification, but let the children draw! They love to see their artwork displayed.

Adaptations - Older Children

Have the children go deeper into the story by asking what Jesus might do in their church! What activities might Jesus participate in? Older children may be able to do simple sewing to piece the banner together.

CONTRIBUTOR: Stephanie Smith