Jesus’ coming to the Earth fulfilled the scriptures of the Old Testament. In Luke 4:14-21 He is just beginning to teach the good news. When teaching in Galilee and then Nazareth His message is that He is God’s son and has come to save God’s people. In Nazareth He will be rejected which will fulfill the scriptures. Jesus taught that He will make the imprisoned free and the blind see. For preschoolers, the lesson will be simple: Jesus came to help me.
Lesson Title: Jesus Teaches in the Synagogue
Bible Reference: Luke 4:14-21
Target Age Group: Preschool
Learning Context: Children’s Church
Target Time Frame: 1 ½ hour
Learning Aim: Jesus came to help me.
Materials Needed:
- White paper
- Popsicle sticks
- Glue
- Crayons
- Bandanas or other soft cloth
- 1 Brown paper bag
- Small toys and objects from around the classroom
- Construction paper
- Pompoms or Cotton balls
You say the Italicized words. Non-italicized words are directions.
Share Good News Scrolls
You will need a piece of white paper cut in half hotdog style, 2 Popsicle sticks, and glue for each child. Glue the Popsicle sticks to each end of the paper. Have each child draw a picture of Jesus teaching at the synagogue on their paper scroll. Show them how to roll it up like a scroll.
Say, Jesus’ came to earth to share good news will everyone. Today we are going to hear a story about when Jesus first started teaching in the synagogue. Let’s pretend to read this story from your scroll.
Bible Story: Jesus Teaches in the Synagogue (Luke 4:14-21)
Say, The Bible says that Jesus returned to Galilee and everyone in the countryside heard about Him and praised Him. Then Jesus went to Nazareth and stood up in the synagogue and opened his scroll to teach the people.
Let the kids stand up and pretend to read their scrolls while you read Luke 4:18-19.
Jesus said, “The spirit of the Lord is with me and He has given me the job to tell the good news to the poor. He sent me to tell the prisoners that they can be free, the blind that they can see again, and the oppressed that they can be free to tell everyone that it is the time when God is with us.
When Jesus was done talking he sat down and told the people that all the old testament scriptures would be complete because of Jesus.
Isn’t that wonderful? For many, many years everyone was waiting for God to send someone to save them and who was that person? That’s right, Jesus. Jesus has the power to do miracles and save lives. Let’s keep learning more about the things that He said He can do.
Jesus Sets Prisoners Free
Use a bandana or other soft cloth to tie the kids hands together like they are prisoners. While their hands are tied challenge them to build a tower, color a picture, clap hands, etc. These tasks will be challenging since their hands are tied up. As you remove their ‘chains’ say: When the Bible talks about Jesus setting prisoners free it doesn’t mean that He is freeing people from a jail. It means that when people are all tied up in sin He can take the sin away and set them free. Sin takes away our happiness and keeps us away from God. Jesus helps get rid of the sin so that we can be with God.
Jesus Makes the Blind See
Say, Being blind is when you cannot see. When people are blind they can sometimes wear glasses or have surgery to fix their eyes. But Jesus was able to do miracles and so He healed the eyes of people. Jesus also helps up see the truth. He helps us see God and helps us see what the right thing to do is.
Place several small everyday objects in a bag where the kids can’t see them. Describe the objects to the class and let them try to guess what it is. Play a few times and then let the kids have a turn hiding and describing something from the classroom.
It’s Time For Jesus to Proclaim the Lord’s Favor
Say, After so many years of waiting Jesus is finally here and it is time for him to tell the God news about Jesus. Let’s play a game that will help us learn Jesus’ name.
Write JESUS on a piece of paper. Provide pompoms or cotton balls and let the kids try to line them up so they perfectly cover Jesus’ name. While they work ask them to say things that they know about Jesus.
Closing and Review
This lesson is all about Jesus finally taking His place as teacher and Savior. Talk to the kids about Jesus roll as a teacher, and eventually our Savior.
Ask:
- Who sent Jesus? God.
- How did Jesus come to the world? As a baby in the Manger.
- Who sent Jesus? God.
- What did Jesus do at the Synagogue? Teach.
- What can Jesus set us free from? Sin.
- What can Jesus do for the blind? Give them sight.
- What else do you know about Jesus that you can share with the class?
Close in Prayer. If time allows let the class play teacher with their scrolls.