Rotation.org Writing Team

NICODEMUS

BANNER/CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP

PASSAGE

Story: John 3:1-17
Key/memory verse: John 3:16-17

PURPOSE

To help children remember "the Gospel in miniature"

PREPARATION

See Bible Background.

Materials List

• Bibles
  
• Dowel Rods, 22" (One per child)
  
• Fabric, 12" x 18", such as muslin (One piece per child)
  
• Fabric crayons or paint pens
  
• Iron-on letters; alphabet or shape stencils (Optional)
  
• Pencils
  
• Ribbon or yarn

Advance Preparation

• Cut fabric to size, 12" x 18"; hem if desired.
  
• Cut dowel rods into 22" lengths.
  
• Cut yarn to desired length to attach to rod.

PRESENTATION

Open - Introduction

Some people are afraid of the dark -- are you? I'm not really. Some people use the darkness to do something in secret, so no one will know what they are doing. Today, we are going to learn about Nicodemus. He was a ruler of the Jews. He was interested in what Jesus had to say, but didn't want anyone to know that, so he met with Jesus in the dark, so that no one would see him talking to Jesus. Let's hear the story. Turn to John, Chapter 3. Read aloud, or let the students take turns.

We are going to learn a fun way to remember a very familiar verse of the Bible. Do you know what an "acrostic" is? An acrostic is an arrangement of words in which certain letters in each line, as the first or last, spell out a word or phrase. Yes, that sounds confusing, but it's not really.

We're going to create an "acrostic" as the design of a banner. On one side of your banner, you will lightly print the letters to the word "gospel" like this, using your pencils:

G
O
S
P
E
L.

Distribute the banner backgrounds and pencils and guide the children as they create the first part of the process.

Dig - Main Content

What does the word "gospel" mean? That's right! It's the Good News of Jesus Christ! When Jesus met with Nicodemus, he was telling him the Good News, but poor old Nic didn't seem to understand what Jesus was telling him. Jesus told Nicodemus that:

G od so loved the world, he gave his
O nly begotten
S on, that whoever believes in him should not
P erish, but have
E verlasting
L ife.

Invite the children to use their pencils to add these words and phrases to their acrostic poems. They may print the letters free-hand or use a stencil if they prefer. Then offer fabric crayons or paint pens and explain how to use them. Have the children complete their acrostic banners by tracing over the penciled-in letters. They may add shapes or Christian symbols to enhance the verse.

Reflect - Closure

Why do you think Nicodemus didn't understand what Jesus was telling him?

Have you ever done something in secret? (Be careful with this question - you could get some loaded answers!)

What are some ways you can share the Good News?

Jesus said we are the "Light of the world". (Matthew 5:14). How can we be a Light?

ADAPTATIONS

You may prefer to use iron-on letters. If so, do this ahead of time. Or, the verse could be printed out on paper and glued to the fabric.

Craft foam, or even paper, would work for the project if fabric is not an option. Felt is hard to write on with the fabric crayons.

Instead of a banner, this could be adapted to a bookmark, door hanger, or poster.

SOURCES

New Oxford Annotated Bible, RSV. Oxford University Press, Inc., 1973

The inspiration came from a rubber stamp with the verse in this form!

Webster's New World Dictionary, 1971.

CONTRIBUTOR: Julie Burton