Lesson Title: Moses and Elijah Appear with Jesus
Bible Reference: Luke 9:28-36
Target Age Group: Preschool
Learning Context: Children’s Church
Target Time Frame: 1 ½ hour
Gospel Connection: The story told in Luke 9:28-36 is very important because it is when God himself affirmed that Jesus was His son. The clouds open up and Elijah and Moses talk to Jesus as if He is God’s son and then God affirms that He is. God speaks and says Jesus is the greater than Moses & Elijah. Preschoolers will learn this story as well as that Jesus is who He says He is.
Learning Aim: Jesus is God’s son.
Materials Needed:
- White paper
- White crayons
- Markers
- Candy
- Large white towel or sheet
- Cotton balls
- Cups
- Kitchen utensils, spoons, ladles, tongs
- A few empty toilet paper rolls
- Shaving Cream
You say the Italicized words. Non-italicized words are directions.
Lesson Opener
Have each child find something white in the classroom and bring it to the table. Talk about how each shade of white is a slightly different color. Work together to put the objects in order according to brightness.
Say, Today our lesson has something to do with the color white. Let’s find out what it is.
Bible Story: Moses & Elijah talk with Jesus (Luke 9:28-36)
Say, One day Jesus went up onto a mountain to pray. As He was praying His face changed and his clothes became as bright white as lightning. Have you ever seen lightning before? It’s almost too bright to look at! Jesus became very bright white. Then two men appeared with Jesus. They were dressed like Kings and everyone could tell that they were very special. Their names were Moses and Elijah. They both lived hundreds of years before Jesus and loved and followed God. Moses and Elijah came back from Heaven just to talk to Jesus and help others understand that Jesus IS God’s son.
Jesus friends, Peter, John, and James were very tired but they woke right up when they saw the bright light and Moses and Elijah. Can you imagine how surprised they were to see people from Heaven talking to Jesus? How would you feel if you were them? Peter said, ‘Let’s build 3 pillars here so we can remember how wonderful this was!’ But that wasn’t the right thing to do.
Next something even more amazing happened. A cloud appeared all around them. It was a little bit scary. Then a voice said, ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.’ Who do you think said this? Yes, it was the voice of God. Then it was over and they were alone again.
Peter, John, and James didn’t tell anyone what the saw but they did learn something that day: Jesus is God’s son! God said it Himself and so it is true!
Jesus is Always Here
Say: Jesus is God’s son and so He is always with us even though we can’t see Him. I want you to draw a picture of Jesus in the clouds with this white crayon this white paper.
Let each child draw with the white crayon on white paper. The picture won’t really show up but that’s the point. Once they are finished color over the page with a washable marker and the pictures should appear.
Even though we can’t see Him, Jesus is always with you. In today’s story He was on the Earth but now He lives in Heaven. Jesus is a man and God so He can be in many places at once. He is always with you.
Listen to God’s Voice
Before the class begins hide candy in the classroom, in one of the locations listed below. You will give the class three possible locations of the candy and they have to listen to the right voice. Say the four locations and they let them all go look for the candy at the same time.
- In the refrigerator.
- Under the book shelf.
- In the cubbies.
- (Or use other place of your choosing.)
Once they find the candy have them bring it back to the table and say: When Jesus turned bright white and appeared in the clouds a voice said, ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.’ That was God’s voice saying that. We need to always listen to God when He is trying to tell us something. He might not speak out loud but He can tell you things in the Bible. Today He told us that Jesus is God’s son and we know that it is true!
Transfiguration Cloud Games
Game 1: You will need a parachute (a large towel or twin sized sheet) and a bag or two of cotton balls. Play parachute games like shaking the sheet and watching the cotton balls (clouds) bounce up and down or seeing how high you can bounce them in the air.
Game 2: Fill a sensory bin with clouds (cotton balls), cups, empty toilet paper rolls, ladles, kitchen tongs, etc. Let the kids use their imagination and play in the clouds.
Pick one game to play or play both if you have time.
Say, For us playing in the clouds is fun, but how do you think Peter, John, and James felt when they saw Jesus in the clouds and heard God’s voice? They were probably scared but they were also amazed that they got to see and hear these things. What would you do if you were there?
Shaving Cream Pictures
Sit at the table and roll the kid’s sleeves up. Put shaving cream on the table in front of them. Say, Now you have a cloud sitting in front of you! It’s white just like Jesus’ robes became white. Use your fingers to draw a picture from our story in the cloud. While the kids play review the story with them and talk about the different parts of the story and remind them that Jesus is real and always with them.