JESUS' MIRACLES
Workshop Rotation Model Curriculum
Memorial Presbyterian Church
Xenia, OH
Dates: March 1 - March 29, 1998

TOPICS and SCRIPTURES : The Miracles of Jesus as experienced through The Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11); Feeding the 5000 (Matthew 14:13-21); the Healing of a Crippled Boy, Jairus' Daughter, the Woman with a Flow of Blood (Mt 9: 2-8, Mark 2:1-5, Mt 9:23-26, Mark 5:21-43, Luke 40-56); The Paralyzed Man and His Friends (Mark 2:1-12); The (Army Officer's) Centurion's Servant and The 10 Lepers (Luke 7:1-10, 17:11-19)


THEME: Jesus' healings and miracles provided people with an experience of Gospel and the opportunity to become new people; to glorify God-in-Jesus and to share Good News. Jesus' miracles were proof that he was the Messiah.

WORKSHOPS:
Art: Make fish prints
Movie: 'Miracles of Jesus ' video, from Nest Entertainment
Drama: act out the story of the paralyzed man, using their own words. Older students can also be given the opportunity to role play this same story as it might take place in today's world.
Games: several games suggested
Computer: Younger children will compose and illustrate a book or story of Jesus' miracles; using their own words. Older children will use the Bible Mapbook and computer atlas to map Jesus' movements through Galilee doing healing and teaching.
Music: Songs: Jesus Came; God Is With Us; Sing, We Sing of a Blessing; Kind Hands



GOALS:
·The children will be able to place some of Jesus' healing miracles both geographically and in respect to the time during Jesus' ministry that the miracles took place.
·The students will be able to tell the stories of some of Jesus' miracles.
·The students will be able to talk about some of the reasons for Jesus' working of miracles.
·The participants will experience what the Good News feels like.

DEFINITION: Miracle - a wonderful event which shows us the power of God; Older children - "an especially vivid moment when as a result of an unexpected and surprising event one becomes aware of the presence and power of God at work."

TEACHER RESOURCES:
·Jesus, the Man Who Changed History, by Meryl Doney; section "The Power to Make People Well", pages 9-10
·Creative Christian Education, Teaching the Bible Through the Church Year, by Howard Hanchley; section on "the Shape of the Good News", pages 133-35
·Jesus' Miracles and Ministry, LIFE (Living In Faith Everyday) Curriculum, Christian Reformed Church, winter, year 1
·Journey to Jerusalem, Celebrating and Teaching the Life of Jesus, by Boyd Lien, Griggs Educational Resource, Abingdon Press
·Faith for Life, LOGOS curriculum, course 2, Deanna Vincent, author

Author of lesson: Jacqueline Nowak, Christian Educator


ART WORKSHOP: The Feeding of the 5000

Scripture: Mt 14: 13-21

Objectives:
·The children will begin to understand that Jesus cared for people's physical, as well as spiritual, hunger.
·The children will see God's and Jesus' compassion for all people.

Life application (and conversation focus): The children will learn that Jesus taught us to care for others' physical needs, as well as their spiritual needs. They will discuss ways we can do this.

Key verse: "Jesus said..., 'They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat.'"(Mt 14: 16)

Story told through: Loaves & Fishes, by Helen Caswell, Abingdon
Caution: The author states that as Jesus handed out bread and fish, "they never got any smaller". This is the only reservation I have about this book with its beautiful illustrations. We must be sure not to instill the idea in children that Jesus was a slight of hand artist, a magician. Use this book carefully.

Activity: fish prints

LESSON PLAN:
Gather the children as they enter the room. Be sure you know names and call the children and other adults by name. You may use the following name game to get started:
Sit in a circle. Say, "My name is ____________ and my favorite color is___________." Go around the circle giving everyone a chance to do the same.
OLDER: Sit in a circle. Say, "Good morning, my name is _________ and a color I like is ________". The color must start with the same letter as the person's name. Go around the circle giving everyone a chance to do the same.
See if anyone can match the correct color with each name, at the end.

Give a short opening prayer.

Share the story. Be sure to define with the students, the word "miracle", using the definitions on the overview page and your resources.

Make fish prints.
(Instructions are included.)

Discuss
Talk about how individual children might have responded if they had been on the hill with Jesus. Remind them that there were many people there. Would they have even known that Jesus had fed all of them with just a few loaves and fishes? Talk about the significance of the story, including Jesus' compassion and his action taking (the people were hungry so he fed them). Take the next step and talk about what our is responsibility for feeding the hungry, if we take seriously our discipleship and the fact that we are Jesus' hands on earth today.

Clean up.

Close with prayer. A suggestion: Creator God, thank you for food, for our bodies and for our souls. Thank you for Jesus, who showed us how to live. Amen


A-V WORKSHOP: Healing a Crippled Boy, Jairus' Daughter, the Woman with a Flow of Blood

Scriptures: Mt 9: 2-8, Mark 2:1-5, Mt 9:23-26, Mark 5:21-43, Luke 40-56

Objectives: The children will understand God's and Jesus' compassion.
They will grow in understanding that Jesus did not his own work, but God's.

Life application (and conversation focus): The children will be encouraged to think about how and why they are followers of Jesus. The older ones will be encouraged to talk about ways in which people are healed ( for example, I wonder if you can be healed and still be physically ill…).

Stories told through: Contemporary English translation

Activity: a portion of the 'Miracles of Jesus ' video, from Nest Entertainment

LESSON PLAN
Welcome children. Open the time with prayer. Be sure to know each child's name and to use childrens' names when speaking with them.
Opening suggestion: Hi, my name is ___________ and my favorite TV character is ________ (YOUNGER) movie star is _________ (OLDER).

Introduce the Bible lesson: See above

Define "miracle", using your curriculum overview definition and resource material.

Activity: See above. If there is time after Journal writing, use one of the handouts included in your packets, checking for age appropriateness.

Discussion: See life application. Also discuss miracles. What is a miracle? Are there miracles today? OLDER: What about the prayers that don't get answered? the miracles that don't happen? Wrestle together with some of these questions.

Journals: Use journals to write or draw their reactions to the discussion which takes place after the video. Tell the children they can draw a picture, or write a poem or a sentence about the video. They can also write about the unit as a whole - What reactions are they having to this experience of miracles of Jesus?


Clean up.

Close with prayer. Such as: Loving God, we thank you for stories of Jesus, for his teaching and ministry. We especially thank you that Jesus is our savior. Help us to hold on to him, to learn more about You and your son and to practice being a follower of Jesus in our daily lives. Amen


DRAMA/PUPPETS: The Paralyzed Man and His Friends

Scripture: Mark 2: 1-12

Objectives:
·The children will begin to understand that in healing and forgiveness we glimpse God's promise of life for us all.
·The children will experience bad news (this is hell) - how the paralyzed man and his friends felt when they couldn't get near Jesus, even though they knew He could and would cure the man.
·The children will experience Good News - how the men felt when they discovered the staircase that would take them to the roof.
·The children will explore how the man then felt when he heard the words, "Rise...and walk."

Life application (and discussion topic): Wonder with the children what the Good News feels like. Have them close their eyes for an extended period of time and then feel the wonder of being able to see again. Discuss - feeling the Good News is being noticed and set free. It is the resulting satisfaction, peace, acceptance, and enthusiasm for sharing this Good News with others.

Define "miracle", using your curriculum overview definition and resource material.

Key verse: "I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home."

Story told through: 365 Stories, Bible Story Book

Drama Activity: Younger children will act out the story of the paralyzed man, using their own words.
Older students can first read the story taking parts of different characters. Older children can also be given the opportunity to role play this same story as it might take place in today's world.

LESSON PLAN:
Welcome children. Be sure to know each child's name and to use children's' names when speaking with them.
Opening suggestion. Let each child introduce himself/herself through a puppet. OLDER: These young people may prefer to just give their names. Ask them to say their full baptismal name. Let someone try to repeat all the names (including yours.)

Opening prayer


Introduce the Bible lesson: Read stories #266 and 267 from the 365 Bible Stories Book.
For OLDER ones: Read from the scripture, then from the storybook.
Read it again. Have the children listen for the particular characters and for what is happening, how people are responding.

Activity: Act out the story.

Clean up.

Close with prayer. Such as: Loving God, we are your people. Help us to look around us for all the miracles in our lives. Help us to feel your Good News and to tell the world about You. Amen

To drama leader: I would not suggest trying to lift the "ill" person, even though it might seem like a good idea. The students will probably have all sorts of ideas about acting out this story, without the need to lift and lower someone.

TEMPLE SCHOOL: Jesus Did Many Miracles
Focus on "He Heals the Army Officer's (Centurion's) Servant" and "The Story of the 10 Lepers"

Scripture: Luke 7: 1-10, 17: 11-19

Objectives:
·The children will begin to understand that the promise of new life is for all people.
·Jesus showed compassion to all people.
·God shows compassion for all.
·Sometimes the least 'religious' among us are the most faithful.

Discussion focus: Jesus had great power, which came from God. The disciples must have been amazed at Jesus' miracles. How do you think they felt?
God, through Jesus, showed love and compassion for people.

For OLDER kids: Why did Jesus perform miracles?
How would you have felt if you had been on the scene for one of Jesus' miracles?
Why?
Would you also have "put your faith in (Jesus)?"(John 2:11)

Life application (and conversation focus): How are you faithful? When have you seen God's compassion? How can we show compassion? How can we help others know God? Can we be "well" and still have physical infirmities (OLDER: mental, too)?

Define "miracle", using your curriculum overview definition and resource material.

Key verse:"...go on your way; your faith has made you well." (Mark 17: 16b)

Story told through: Contemporary English translation (or Good News)


LESSON PLAN
Welcome the youth/children. Be sure to call each one by name.
Name game suggestion: YOUNGER ones can draw something about themselves and then say, "I'm_________ and this is my____________. OLDER ones can be given a card on which to write one things about themselves. Have them turn the cards in to you. Read the clues on the cards, one by one, and guess whose it is. Say something like, "Who is it who likes cats?" Be sure that you, the adults, also participate.

Opening prayer

Talk about the definition of MIRACLE. If this is the group's first week with this curriculum, you will need to talk more about the definition, than if they have already been introduced tot he word.

Bible Story: Read the lesson from the Bible.

Activity
Play a game. Jeopardy/Wheel of Fortune - use categories like, Miracles by the Sea, Miracles on the Road, Quiet Miracles, Public Miracles
Bible Baseball - Choose miracle questions that are very simple for young ones and more difficult for older ones. Examples are: YOUNGER - What did a boy share with Jesus and 5000 people who were hungry? (food) OLDER - What did Jesus feed the hungry people on the hillside, when he was teaching? Where did this miracle take place?
Award one base for each correct answer. Winning team has the most runs. Give winners first choice of a simple snack (animal crackers are good). (Be sure everyone gets the snack.)
Hangman for OLDER children. Use easy words and phrases at first. Move to more difficult ones later.
Hand out activity sheets (included). Have each child choose one to do.

Clean up

Closing prayer, such as: Dear God, thank you for this day. Thank you for our church and our friends and teachers. Help us to look for your miracles in our lives. Help us to bring others to know You. Amen


Supplementary activities can be found in the Miami Presbytery Resource Center. For example: Step by Step Through the Bible (J220.o7Gus), Bible Crossword Puzzles (K220 Gr-2)


BASIC DIRECTIONS FOR GAMES:
Jeopardy - Write out answers to questions on 3x5 cards. Tape them to a board or the wall. Label the columns with category names and the rows with $ amounts. Players choose a category and a $ amount. The players have to ask a question which will be answered by the words on chosen card the wall.

Example: "For $200., category Healing Miracles" (the card says 'leprosy') and a correct question would be, "What disease did Jesus heal 10 men of at one time?" (Another correct question would be, "What is a disease Jesus healed?"

Wheel of Fortune - see the Educator

Hangman - choose a word or phrase and put lines on a chalkboard or easel paper which correspond to one line per one letter (for example: miracle __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ). The players compete in two teams to see who can guess the word/phrase first. Each team gets a hanging post (see below). The teams take turn guessing a letter at a time, changing turns after each letter guess*. If the letter is in the word/phrase, it gets entered. If it is not then a part of the 'hangman' gets drawn. The winner is the first team to guess the word/phrase or the team not to get 'hung'.
*If a team guesses a letter correctly, they may then guess the word/phrase, before the turn moves to the other team. An incorrect word/phrase guess also gets them a part of the 'hangman' drawn.

Categories and questions for Temple School games: Healing Miracles, Nature Miracles, Changed People, Places (use a map so students can see where Jesus performed his miracles), etc

Samples from which questions, clues can be drawn:
The woman with the flow of blood touched the hem of Jesus' robe.
The Pharisees were suspicious of Jesus.
Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding at Cana.
The miracle at the wedding at Cana was Jesus' first.
Jesus fed 5000 (4000) people with a few loaves and fishes.
After feeding the crowds, Jesus collected the leftovers into 12 baskets.
Jairus' daughter was dead when Jesus reached her.
The army officer's had a very ill servant.
The faith of the army officer amazed Jesus.
The army officer was not a Jew.
Bartimeaus was a blind man healed by Jesus.
Of the 10 lepers Jesus healed, only 1 returned to say 'thank you'.
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha.
Jesus taught by the Sea of Galilee and then when off by himself to pray.
The disciples saw Jesus walking across the water toward him.
Peter walked on the water to Jesus and when he got afraid, he started to sink.



COOKING WORKSHOP: The Wedding at Cana

Scripture: John 2: 1-11

Objectives: The children will understand that, in Jesus; first miracle
1) Jesus showed God's glory and his own
2) his followers saw Jesus' specialness and believed in him.

Story told through: Younger: Arch book, The Feast That Almost Flopped

Key verse: "Jesus did this...and his disciples believed in him." (John 2: 11)

Activity: The children will press "wine" from grapes.

Discussion focus: Jesus had great power, which came from God. The disciples must have been amazed at Jesus' miracles. How do you think they felt? God, through Jesus, showed love and compassion for people.
For OLDER kids: Why did Jesus perform miracles? How would you have felt if you had been on the scene for one of Jesus' miracles? Why? Would you also have "put your faith in (Jesus)?"(John 2:11)

LESSON PLAN:
Welcome children. Open the time with prayer. Be sure to know each child's name and to use childrens' names when speaking with them.
Opening suggestion - My name is____ and my favorite food is______. Be sure that you adults also participate in this activity.

Opening prayer

Activity: Making grape juice.
Assemble your ingredients: green grapes, at room temperature, for each person; clean pillowcases or pans (deep enough to hold in juice and big enough for at least one person to stand and move around in). Towels and water.
To make grape juice in bags: Have each child bring a clean pillowcase. Shake it and turn outside in. Have each child pull off the larger stems from about two handfuls green grapes, at room temperature. Put grapes in the pillowcase. Twist the top of the case down until the twist reaches the grapes. Place the grapes in the case on a large, shallow pan (like a lasagna pan). Have each child push and knead and squeeze the pillowcase and grapes until all the juice is out of the grapes. Strain into a glass.
To make juice in the pan, individually or communally: First - Put a clean plastic cloth under each container (for communal juice making, a clean baby pool is great). Have each child sit on a chair by the plastic and take off his/her shoes and socks. You, who are teachers, can go around and wash each child's feet. Discuss the significance of foot washing in Jesus time and now.
With clean feet, step into a pan where there have been put at least four handfuls of grapes, stripped of their larger stems. Trod on the grapes until all the juice has been forced out. Strain into cups.
After juice is made, serve it with crackers around a table. Say a blessing before "breaking bread" together. Talk about the experience of making juice.
Discuss the miracle story of the water into wine, using the discussion questions.

Clean up.

Close with prayer. Such as: Wonderful God, you have given us so much. Thank you for our blessings! May we share the joy of belonging to you with others. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen


ACTIVITY WORKSHOP: Jesus Did Many Miracles
(an early alternative to computer programs for new folks)
Scriptures:
*The Wedding at Cana, John 2: 1-11
*Jesus Heals the Centurion's Servant and The Story of the 10 Lepers,
Lk 7: 1-10, 17: 11-19
*The Blind Man of Bethsaida and Blind Bartimaeus, Mk 8: 22-26, 10: 46-52
*The Paralyzed Man and His Friends, Mk 2: 1-12
*The Feeding of the 5000, Mt 14: 13-21
*The Blind Man of Bethsaida and Blind Bartimaeus, Mk 8: 22-26, 10: 46-52
List all of above on a large sheet of easel paper

Objectives:
·The children will see where Jesus' miracles took place.
·The children will understand that Jesus moved through Galilee preaching and teaching.
·The children will learn about Bethsaida, Capernaum, Bethany.

Discussion focus: Jesus had great power, which came from God.
Jesus traveled the countryside preaching, teaching and performing miracles.
How would you have felt if you had been on the scene for one of Jesus' miracles?
Why?
Would you also have "put your faith in (Jesus)?"(John 2:11)

Welcome children. Be sure to know each child's name and to use children's names when speaking with them.

Open the time with prayer.

Opening suggestion - Go around a circle and ask each person to give his/her name and 'computer name' (the name they wish to use on any files you will keep of their work. Ask a volunteer to repeat back all the 'computer names'.

Introducing the Bible lesson: This workshop focuses upon the fact that Jesus did many miracles during his ministry, as he traveled throughout Galilee. Begin your session with Nazareth and the beginning of Jesus' ministry. Read Luke 4:16-19, from the Contemporary English version of the Bible.

Activity:
Use the historical notes from Lien's, Journey to Jerusalem (attached) to further acquaint the children with this event. Make a simple scroll and write on it, Isaiah 61:1-2, in Hebrew (see attached) with English 'subtitles'. Have someone (for older children) read the words. Discuss how these words, which Jesus read in the synagogue, are connected to Jesus' ministry which began at that time.
Help the children read the miracles listed on the chart. Find out if they know of any others; look them up in a Bible and discuss. Be prepared to give an overview of each of the listed miracles. Tell the group that they will learn about a different miracle each week during this rotation.
You might invite them back after the last rotation day to tell, in their own words, and illustrate their favorite miracle story.
(choose one):
Younger children will compose and illustrate a book or story of Jesus' miracles; using their own words.
Older: children will use the Bible Mapbook and computer atlas to map Jesus' movements through Galilee doing healing and teaching.
Older children's activity description:
Bring up a map of Palestine on the computer screen. Have the children (preferably 2-3 to a computer) identify the towns where miracles took place and have them trace a route Jesus might have taken through the area.
(The leader may use the attached sections of Boyd Lien's Journey to Jerusalem.)
The children who are not using the computer may make miracle modules. (The Big Book of Bible Crafts and Projects, page 67)

Clean up.

Close with prayer. Such as: Loving God, we thank you for stories of faith which you given us. We thank you also for our computers, our teachers and for our time together this morning. May we learn more and more about our faith and as we grow as Christians. Amen



MUSIC WORKSHOP: Experiencing Gospel through song

Scriptures: Hang a chart of listed miracles
*The Wedding at Cana, John 2: 1-11
*Jesus Heals the Centurion's Servant and The Story of the 10 Lepers,
Lk 7: 1-10, 17: 11-19
*The Blind Man of Bethsaida and Blind Bartimaeus, Mk 8: 22-26, 10: 46-52
*The Paralyzed Man and His Friends, Mk 2: 1-12
*The Feeding of the 5000, Mt 14: 13-21
*The Blind Man of Bethsaida and Blind Bartimaeus, Mk 8: 22-26, 10: 46-52

Objectives:
·The children will experience the feeling of the Good News through learning songs of God's love and compassion and Jesus' miracles.
·The children will share "God Is With Us" in worship.

Discussion focus: Jesus had great power, which came from God.
The disciples must have been amazed at Jesus' miracles.
How do you think they felt?
God, through Jesus, showed love and compassion for people.
For OLDER kids: Why did Jesus perform miracles?
How would you have felt if you had been on the scene for one of Jesus' miracles? Why? Would you also have "put your faith in (Jesus)?"(John 2:11)

Stories: Choose 1 - 3 from the the 365 Story Bible book

Songs: Jesus Came; God Is With Us; Sing, We Sing of a Blessing; Kind Hands

LESSON PLAN:
Gather the children as they enter the room. Be sure you know names and call the children and other adults by name. You may use the following name game to get started:
YOUNGER: Sit in a circle. Say, "My name is ____________." Clap you hands once for each syllable in the name the children will call you. (ie, Janet : clap, clap; Mr. Wellington: clap, clap, clap, clap) Have the children say, "Hi, ___________ and clap your name as they say it. Go around the circle giving everyone a chance to do the same and be responded to in a like manner.
OLDER: Sit in a circle. Say, "Good morning, my name is..." -then clap the syllables of your name. Ask if anyone can guess what name you clapped. Tell them by saying and clapping the name you used. Go around the circle giving everyone a chance to do the same.

Opening prayer

Teach one song at a time. Let the enthusiasm of the group guide you as you decide how much time to spend on any one song.
Use movement to get the group involved in the song.
Use simple instruments as you practice.
Take a break about halfway through for a simple snack.
Finish practicing. If any group enjoys a song and sings it well enough for others to enjoy it with them, get permission from your worship leader to sing it in worship (The next week, or you may have a scheduled time where a short 'extra' could be added on this morning; ie Children's Time.)

Finish by discussing what songs the group liked best and why. You might suggest using one or more during congregational worship sometime; with the children helping lead the adults.

Clean up.

Close with prayer. A suggestion: Dear God, we thank you for music, for song and for worship. We thank you also for this congregation and for our time together this morning. May our music glorify You and may we grow more and more in Your love. Amen



Author: Jacqueline Nowak, Memorial Presbyterian Church, Xenia, OH, 9/98
Volunteer poster for this lesson: Linda Tresner



Exchange Volunteer added a summary of the workshops.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Amy Crane,

For a lesson set that expands upon material from this post, by Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church see http://www.kirkofkildaire.org/quest/contents.html
(Scroll down to VBS: Miracles of Jesus).
--Carol

For instructions on how to make the fish prints, scroll down to the art lesson at this post:
http://rotation.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2316088121/m/8316088121

--Carol