LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Luke 2:40-52, we discover an important glimpse into Jesus’ childhood when He was twelve years old. Jesus traveled with His family to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover Feast, a special religious holiday that Jewish families attended each year. After the celebration ended, Mary and Joseph began their journey home, assuming Jesus was traveling with relatives or friends in their group. However, after a full day of travel, they realized Jesus was missing. Anxious and worried, they returned to Jerusalem and searched for three days before finding Him in the temple courts.
When Mary and Joseph finally located Jesus, they found Him sitting among the religious teachers, listening carefully to their instruction and asking thoughtful questions. The teachers were amazed at His understanding and wisdom. Though Mary expressed her worry, Jesus responded by saying He needed to be in His Father’s house. After this event, Jesus returned home to Nazareth with His parents and continued to grow in four important ways: He grew in wisdom (learning and understanding), in stature (physically getting bigger and stronger), in favor with God (His spiritual relationship), and in favor with people (His social relationships). This passage reminds us that even Jesus needed time to grow and develop, and it provides a model for how children today can also grow in these four essential areas of life.
OPENING ACTIVITY 8:45-9:00 | Scroll Craft & Growth Chart
Items Needed
- Scroll Craft Template (Print on Cardstock)
- Popsicle Sticks
- Hot Glue (or Tacky Glue)
- Yarn
- Growth Chart
- Markers
Have children find their “Scrolls” Hidden around the room (pre-make the scrolls and hide them). Have them open it and color it. Remind them that when Jesus was 12, there weren’t Bibles like we have today. Instead everything was written on a Scroll.
Children will decorate their growth chart and add stickers to it each week that they know their memory verse. Remind them that Jesus enjoyed learning and studying God’s Word.
BIBLE STORY 9:00-9:15
Question 1: Where is this story found in the Bible? (Luke)
Question 2: Is this in the Old Testament or New Testament? (New Testament)
We’re going to learn about when Jesus was growing up. Can you say “Jesus”? [Wait for response] Great!
Jesus wasn’t always a grown-up. Nope! He was a little boy once, just like you! When Jesus was a baby, He was this tiny [hold hands close together], but then He started to GROW! Can you show me how you grow? [Let kids stretch up tall] Yes! You get bigger and bigger!
[Have children sit down]
When Jesus was TWELVE years old, His family went on a very special trip. They were going to a city called Jerusalem to visit God’s special house called the temple. It took MANY days to walk there!
When they got to Jerusalem, it was SO exciting! There were lots of people everywhere.
After the special celebration was over, it was time to go home. Jesus’ mommy Mary and daddy Joseph started walking home. They thought Jesus was walking with His friends. But guess what? Jesus wasn’t there!
Mary and Joseph looked and looked and looked [put hand over eyes like searching]. Can you look around for Jesus? [Let kids look around the room] But they couldn’t find Him anywhere!
They had to walk ALL the way back to Jerusalem [march in place again]. It took them THREE whole days to find Jesus! Can you hold up three fingers? [Help kids hold up three fingers] One, two, three days!
Now, where do you think Jesus was? Let’s think… was He at the ice cream shop? [Kids respond no, shake heads] Was He at the playground? [Kids respond no]
No! He was at the TEMPLE – God’s special house!
When Mary and Joseph found Jesus, what do you think He was doing? Was He playing with toys? [Wait for response] Nope! Jesus was sitting with the teachers [sit down motion], and He was asking them questions about God! He was learning, learning, learning!
Can you point to your head? [Touch head] That’s where we learn and think! Jesus was using His brain to learn all about God!
Mary said, “Jesus! We were looking everywhere for you! We were so worried!”
And Jesus said something very special. He said, “Didn’t you know I needed to be in my Father’s house?” Jesus was talking about God’s house – the temple! Because God is Jesus’ Father in heaven.
Then Jesus went home with Mary and Joseph to the town of Nazareth. And do you know what Jesus did? He GREW! Not just a little bit, but in FOUR special ways!
Let’s count them! [Hold up fingers as you count]
ONE: Jesus grew in WISDOM! [Point to head] That means He learned lots and lots. He learned about God and about being kind. Can you point to your head? [Wait]
TWO: Jesus grew BIGGER and STRONGER! [Flex arms] That means He ate good food and His body got bigger! Can you show me your muscles? [Wait – let kids flex] So strong!
THREE: Jesus grew in knowing and loving GOD! [Put hands on heart] He prayed and talked to God every day. Can you put your hands on your heart? [Wait]
FOUR: Jesus grew in being a good FRIEND! [Put arm around person next to you or hug yourself] He learned to be kind and helpful to everyone. Can you hug yourself? [Wait – let kids hug themselves]
And guess what, friends? YOU can grow in these same four ways, just like Jesus did!
Theological Questions:
- Who is Jesus’ Father in heaven? (God)
- Where did Jesus go to learn about God? (The temple/God’s house)
Life Application Questions:
- What are some ways you can learn about God? (Going to church, hearing Bible stories, praying, singing songs about God)
- How can you be a good friend to others like Jesus was? (Being kind, sharing, helping, using gentle words)
Prayer:
“Dear God, thank You for showing us how Jesus grew when He was a little boy. Help us to grow big and strong in our bodies, learn more about You, love You with all our hearts, and be good friends to everyone. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
WORSHIP IN SONG 9:15-9:30
PRAYER 9:30-9:40 P.M.
Transition kids to the floor for prayer time. Pray for wisdom and understanding as we grow, just like Jesus did. Pray that God helps us learn more about Him every day. Pray for strong bodies and kind hearts.
BIBLE STORY GAME 9:40-9:55 | WHERE IS JESUS?
Items Needed:
- Tiny Jesus
- Styrofoam Cups for small buildings
Have a few “buildings” made out of Styrofoam Cups. Take turns hiding the tiny Jesus under the cups and letting kids find where he is at. Remind them that Jesus was at the temple when his parents couldn’t find him. He was there learning more about God’s Word from teachers.
BIBLE CRAFT 9:55-10:10 | Find Jesus Bottles
Items Needed:
- Small water bottles (clear)
- Rice
- Funnels
- Tiny Jesus
- Assortment of beads, pompoms, buttons, and other small items
Each child is given a bottle. The go to each station and add the following with adult help: Rice (using a funnel), 4 unique beads, 3 pompoms, 2 buttons, and 1 tiny Jesus. Kids can then look for Jesus (and other items) in their bottle. Remind them that in the story, Jesus’s mom and dad (Mary and Joseph) had to search for him. They found him in the Temple.
SNACK TIME & BIBLE STORY VIDEO 10:10-10:25
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat. While they eat their snack, play the Bible Story Video.
BONUS ACTIVITY | Growing Seeds Experiment
Items Needed:
- Clear plastic cups
- Cotton balls
- Bean seeds
- Water
- Markers
Description: Each child puts damp cotton balls in a clear cup, places a bean seed against the side of the cup (so they can watch it), and takes it home. Over the next week, they can watch the seed sprout and grow, just like Jesus grew! Each day, they water it a little and watch for changes. Talk about how plants need water, sun, and care to grow – we need food, love, and learning about God to grow too!
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE | Luke 2:40-52 ESV
“And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.’ And he said to them, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway: Growing Like Jesus
What I Learned Today:
- When Jesus was 12 years old, He went to the temple in Jerusalem to learn about God.
- Jesus’ parents looked for Him for three days and found Him talking with the teachers at the temple.
- Jesus grew in four important ways: He grew in wisdom (learning), in stature (getting bigger and stronger), in favor with God (loving God more), and in favor with people (being a good friend).
Questions to Ask Me:
Theological Questions:
- Who is Jesus’ Father in heaven? (God)
- Where is God’s special house that Jesus visited? (The temple in Jerusalem)
- What did Jesus do at the temple? (He listened to teachers and asked questions about God)
- How many ways did Jesus grow? (Four ways)
- Does God want us to learn about Him? (Yes)
Life Application Questions:
- What are some ways you can learn more about God? (Reading Bible stories, going to church, praying, singing songs)
- How can you grow stronger in your body? (Eating healthy food, exercising, playing outside)
- Who can you be a good friend to this week? (Friends at school, siblings, neighbors – answers will vary)
- What is something new you learned today? (Answers will vary)
- How can you show love to God every day? (Praying, being obedient, being kind to others, singing worship songs)