Introductory Idea
Print and cut up activity A sheet below. Alternatively, you can just write and cut them up making sure the colours for each beatitude ‘blessed are_______’ and ‘for______’ match.
Hide/scatter these around the room and have a 30 second scavenger hunt for the kids to bring them to you.
When you have all the pieces, thank the kids and say that these will be important as you read the bible passage to them.
Tip: Open your Bible and show the children where you are reading from. Say ‘we will be reading from the book of Matthew in the New Testament. We can learn about Jesus from the Bible'. If you have older kids, you can tell them a bit more about the book of Matthew. E.g. Matthew was a disciple of Jesus and he wrote down what happened when he was with Jesus.
Hide/scatter these around the room and have a 30 second scavenger hunt for the kids to bring them to you.
When you have all the pieces, thank the kids and say that these will be important as you read the bible passage to them.
Tip: Open your Bible and show the children where you are reading from. Say ‘we will be reading from the book of Matthew in the New Testament. We can learn about Jesus from the Bible'. If you have older kids, you can tell them a bit more about the book of Matthew. E.g. Matthew was a disciple of Jesus and he wrote down what happened when he was with Jesus.
Reading the Bible passage, adapted for young ones
People and Jesus’ disciples wanted to hear what Jesus was teaching. So they sat on the mount and listened.
Jesus said:
(Put down headings: ‘blessed are’ and ‘for’ in two columns)
(Put scavenger hunt pieces down as you say them)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
(Matthew 5:1-12 ESV)
(CLOSE THE BIBLE)
Jesus said:
(Put down headings: ‘blessed are’ and ‘for’ in two columns)
(Put scavenger hunt pieces down as you say them)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
(Matthew 5:1-12 ESV)
(CLOSE THE BIBLE)
Isn’t that exciting! God blesses His people.
(point to start and end) His blessings are all about people who belong to the kingdom of heaven.
Let’s zoom in to just the first one today.
(Take down the other beatitudes except the first one)
(Point to puzzle piece and read)
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
To be poor in spirit means to depend on Jesus to rescue us from our sin.
We all need to be rescued from sin. We have nothing to give to Jesus to earn our rescue (use open hands gesture).
Christians are ‘poor in spirit’ because we know we cannot rescue ourselves. We know we need Jesus.
When we know that, we can depend (trust) Jesus to rescue us so we have the kingdom of heaven!
Response & Discussion
Do you think you are ‘poor in spirit’?
Do you believe that we need Jesus to save us from our sins?
Are you excited to be in heaven with Jesus?
Pray: Dear God, help me to be poor in spirit and understand that I need you to save me from my sins. In Jesus’ name Amen.
Do you believe that we need Jesus to save us from our sins?
Are you excited to be in heaven with Jesus?
Pray: Dear God, help me to be poor in spirit and understand that I need you to save me from my sins. In Jesus’ name Amen.
| sermon_on_the_mount_activity_for_kids.pdf |
| sermon_on_the_mount-sheet.pdf |
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