CHILDREN’S SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH NIGERIA LESSON 15  SUNDAY 9TH APRIL 2023

ALSO, READ

BIBLE TEXT:

Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-29; Matthew 27:32-66; 22:1-10

MEMORY VERSE:

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. John 20:29 (NIV).

TARGET:

To help the child believe, through the message of the Easter story that Jesus is alive even though he cannot see Him.

During and after the lesson, each child will show that he or she understands the lesson by:

1. Telling why he or she believes Jesus is alive even though he or she cannot see Him.

2. Acting out the appearance of Jesus to the disciples, including the disbelief of Thomas in the resurrection of Jesus.

3. Offering prayer of thanks to Jesus for dying for his sins and rising from the dead.

OUTLINE:

1. Jesus Is Crucified on the Cross – Matthew 27:32-66

2. Jesus Rises from the Dead – Matthew 28:1-10

3. The Risen Christ Appears to Mary – Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18

4. The Risen Christ Appears to the Disciples – John 20:19-29

INTRODUCTION:

Sing any song that reminds you of the greatest event of all times – the resurrection of our Lord Jesus from the grave. It is an event that we celebrate every year. We do this because our Lord is a living Lord. He died but death could not hold Him.

Jesus’ resurrection is real though we did not see it happen. There are certain things you believe in even though you cannot see them. Though we cannot see our Lord Jesus yet, we believe that He is alive and lives in our hearts.

1. JESUS IS CRUCIFIED ON THE CROSS – Matthew 27:32-66

Jesus had been sentenced to death. On the day He was crucified, He was given His cross to carry to Golgotha where He would be crucified. Jesus was too weak to carry it because of the beatings He had received. And as they came out, they saw a man from Cyrene called Simon. He looked strong enough, so the soldiers forced him to carry the cross.

At Golgotha or the Place of Skull, the soldiers gave Jesus sour wine to drink. Then they crucified Him, shared His clothes among them, and hung a sign above His head that He was “Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

Two robbers were crucified with Him, one on His right and the other on His left. Passersby mocked Jesus and said all sorts of things against Him. Later Jesus died and was buried. And soldiers were placed at the tomb to guard it so that the disciples would not take the body away.

2. JESUS RISES FROM THE DEAD – Matthew 28:1-10

But the grave could not hold Jesus. Very early on the first day of the week, two women, Mary Magdalene and another Mary, came to see the grave. Suddenly something great happened. The ground began to shake because an angel had come from heaven. The angel’s appearance was shining and his clothes were as white as snow. He removed the stone from the mouth of the tomb and sat on it. The guards that were watching the grave fainted as a result of fear. They became like dead men. Jesus had risen.

When the angel saw the women, He told them not to be afraid. He said, He knew they were looking for Jesus. He announced to them that Jesus was not there but had risen. They were to go and tell the disciples the news. He said Jesus would appear to the disciples in Galilee.

3. THE RISEN CHRIST APPEARS TO MARY – Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18

Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus. She was weeping outside the tomb. And as she wept, she stooped and looked into the empty tomb. Two angels asked her why she was weeping. She said it was because people had taken the body of Jesus away. As she turned around, she saw a man who asked her why she was crying. Thinking the man was the gardener, she asked him where they had taken Jesus’ body to. Rather than answer her, the man called her by name and she immediately recognised the voice as that of the Lord. She shouted in joy and wanted to touch Him but, He stopped her and told her to go and tell the disciples that He had risen. Mary hurried to the disciples and told them that she had seen the Lord.

CHILDREN’S SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL ASSEMBLIES OF GOD LESSON 15 SUNDAY 9TH APRIL 2023

4. THE RISEN CHRIST APPEARS TO THE DISCIPLES – John 20:19-29

In the evening of that same day, the disciples were gathered inside a room and the doors were shut. This was because they were afraid of the Jews. Suddenly, Jesus came into the room and stood before the disciples. He wished them peace. Then He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples were very happy when they saw the Lord.

But Thomas was absent when Jesus appeared to the disciples. And so he refused to believe that Jesus had risen when they told him later. He said he wouldn’t believe unless he puts his finger into His nail prints. After eight days Jesus appeared to them again and this time Thomas was present. He then rebuked him for not believing before seeing. Thomas was sorry. Jesus told him that those who have not seen but believe are blessed.

One of the ways we can prove to the world that Jesus is alive and powerful is to let our lives be testimonies that He is alive. Our words and actions can make some people to know about Jesus.

Even though we cannot see Jesus, He is always with us and hears us when we pray. Today, we cannot actually see Jesus but, we still believe He is alive. This is what it means to believe before seeing. Just as we cannot see air or wind but know it exists, we cannot see Jesus, yet, we know He is there watching over us. Faith means believing, even though we do not actually see what we believe in.

QUESTIONS

1. _______ does not include the things Jesus suffered?

(A) Carrying a heavy cross

(B) Being bruised

(C) Drinking sour wine

(D) Carrying children.

2. Mention two of the things that happened during Jesus’ resurrection.

(A) B and D

(B) Earthquake

(C)The soldiers were singing

(D) the Big stone that covered His grave was removed.

3. _______ was the first person the risen Christ appeared to.

(A) Mary His mother

(B) Mary, sister to Lazarus

(C) Joseph His father

(D) Mary Magdalene.

4 All the disciples were present when the risen Christ appeared to them except.

(A) Peter

(B) Paul

(C) Thomas

(D) John the Baptist

CHILDREN’S SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL ASSEMBLIES OF GOD LESSON 15 SUNDAY 9TH APRIL 2023

Monday: Dead Sin – Rom 6:11-14

Tuesday: Dominion Over Sin – Rom 6:15-18

Wednesday: Things that Must Die – Rom 8:12-13

Thursday: Avoid Evil Communication – 1Cor 15:33

Friday: Crucified with Christ – Gal 2:17-21

Saturday: Give No Place to the Flesh – Gal 5:19-21