Summary
Kids practice finding a Gospel resurrection story while seeing how it fits into the big picture of the Bible’s story—from Creation to Jesus. They also discover that the Old Testament has groups of books—Law and History—showing God’s plan leading to the coming of Christ. By the end, they’ll understand that the whole Bible tells one long rescue story pointing to Jesus.
Verse
Luke 24:6 — “He is not here; He has risen!”
Action idea:
Have kids echo the verse in two parts:
Action idea:
Have kids echo the verse in two parts:
- Leader: “He is not here!” (kids cross arms in an “X”)
- All: “He has risen!” (kids raise arms joyfully). Repeat several times, lowering volume like a whisper, then building to a joyful shout for celebration.
Movement: “Walk Through the Timeline”
Set-up:
Teaching tie-in:
- Set-up: Place large floor cards or signs in a line reading: Creation → Abraham → Moses → Kings → Exile → Jesus.
- Kids form a line and take a small “journey” through history as you narrate each step.
- As they step on Creation, they wave arms wide for “God made everything.”
- On Abraham, cup hands around mouth to “call,” because God called Abraham.
- On Moses, pretend to hold tablets for the Ten Commandments.
- On Kings, pretend to wear a crown.
- On Exile, fold arms sadly.
- On Jesus, hop for joy.
- Walk back through again, summarizing the whole story faster each round.
Teaching tie-in:
- Have students “collect” four stickers or mini cards (one for each Gospel) as they visit each corner.
Lesson: “The Law and the History Books”
Visual start:
Hold up a Bible and open to the table of contents. Point out:
Connect to the timeline:
Analogy:
Mini reading:
Hold up a Bible and open to the table of contents. Point out:
- The first five books are called the Law (Genesis to Deuteronomy).
- The next group is History (Joshua through Esther).
Connect to the timeline:
- Law books: Tell about how the world began, sin entered, and God began His plan through Abraham and Moses.
- History books: Tell how God’s people entered a land, had kings and prophets, and waited for the Savior.
Analogy:
- “The Law is like the foundation of a building, and the History books are the first floors. Later, Jesus completes the building.”
Mini reading:
- Show a page from Genesis 1:1 (“In the beginning…”) and a passage from Luke 24:6 (“He is risen”). Explain how the story starts with creation and completes with Christ’s resurrection.
Object lesson idea:
Hand a child a “Bible address card” (e.g., Psalm 23:1) and ask, “Can you find this address in your Bible home?”
Hand a child a “Bible address card” (e.g., Psalm 23:1) and ask, “Can you find this address in your Bible home?”
Small Groups: “Bible Book Shelves”
Supplies:
Activity:
Reinforcement idea:
- Printed bookshelf graphic divided into colored sections labeled “LAW” and “HISTORY.” Provide small cut-out book cards (Genesis–Deuteronomy for Law; Joshua–Esther for History).
Activity:
- Kids place each book card in the correct shelf section.
- As they go, say together what kind of stories each set contains. Example:
- Law = Beginnings and God’s rules.
- History = God’s people living those out.
Reinforcement idea:
- Once complete, display the “Bible bookshelf” on the wall to track progress through sections in future weeks.
Closer Game: “Quick Bible Drills—Ready, Set, Find!”
Goal:
How to play:
Challenge for older kids:
Encouragement idea:
- Teach kids to locate key Bible books by name and order.
How to play:
- Give each pair or group a Bible.
- Call out short challenges:
- “Find the first book of the Bible!” (Genesis)
- “Find Deuteronomy!”
- “Find where the Gospels begin!”
Challenge for older kids:
- Add a “Bonus Round”—ask them to name whether the book is Law, History, or Gospel.
Encouragement idea:
- After each find, have everyone cheer, “Found it in God’s Word!”
Closing thought and prayer idea:
Gather everyone at the “Jesus” marker on the timeline. Say:
“Everything in God’s story—creation, promises, kings, and laws—was leading up to this: Jesus is alive, and His story is the center of the Bible.”
Pray: “Thank You, God, for showing us Your plan from the very beginning. Help us remember that every part of the Bible points to Jesus and teaches us to follow You.”
Gather everyone at the “Jesus” marker on the timeline. Say:
“Everything in God’s story—creation, promises, kings, and laws—was leading up to this: Jesus is alive, and His story is the center of the Bible.”
Pray: “Thank You, God, for showing us Your plan from the very beginning. Help us remember that every part of the Bible points to Jesus and teaches us to follow You.”