Outline

Lesson Overview
I. INTRODUCTION
Scripture Mark 10:13-16; 6:32-43; John 6:5-9 (Sing “Jesus Loves Me” with the children.)

Memory Mark 10:14 “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid II. PROGRESSION OF EVENTS
Verse them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.” A. People brought their children to Jesus, but the disciples
rebuked them. (Mark 10:13)
Teaching The unsaved child will come to Jesus for salvation, believing He is
Bible as a ready reference.

B. Jesus was greatly displeased and warned the disciples not

Objective the only one who can forgive his sin.
to keep the children from coming to Him, then He held and
This page has been designed for
you to photocopy and place in your

Main Jesus loves you and will meet your need for forgiveness of sin. blessed the children. (10:14-16)
Teaching C. Jesus and His disciples traveled by boat to a remote place,
but the crowds followed. (6:32-33)
Emphasis Jesus can use the little you have to meet the needs of others. D. When Jesus saw the people, He had compassion and began
for Saved teaching them. (6:34)
E. The disciples wanted to send the people away because there
Word Up! Help others.
was nothing for them to eat. (6:35-36)
Visual Aids Flashcards 1-1—6 or figures 3C-1—12 F. Jesus told the disciples to feed the people, but the disciples
said there wasn’t enough money to buy food for all of them.
(Mark 6:37; John 6:5-7)

Life of Christ 3 © 2000, 2010 Child Evangelism Fellowship Inc.

G. Jesus asked them to go and see what food was available, and
Andrew found a boy with a small lunch. (Mark 6:38; John
6:8-9)
H. Jesus had the disciples seat the people in groups, then He
Schedule 60- 75- blessed and broke the food into pieces. (Mark 6:39-41)
min min I. Jesus had the disciples distribute the food. (6:41)
Life of Christ 3

Before Club As children arrive, complete attendance record — —

III. CLIMAX
Welcome Only Jesus could meet the need of so many people! (6:42)
Opening “Good News to All the World” (visualized song) 7 7
Establish rules, “Fill the Tent” attendance incentive, prayer
Jesus Feeds 5,000

IV. CONCLUSION
Song “That’s the Gospel!” (visualized song) 3 3 The disciples gathered 12 basketfuls of leftover food. (6:43)
Mark 10:14
Invitation (unsaved child): Jesus loves you and will meet your need
Memory Verse 8 8 for forgiveness of sin. [John 3:16]
Repetition: Clap a Word

Song “I Want to Know Christ” (visualized song) 3 3 Scripture verses in parentheses are background text.
Bracketed verses should be quoted or read from God’s Word.
Bible Lesson/
Jesus Feeds 5,000 18 18
Invitation
Song: “If You Tell Two People” (visualized song)
Missions Story: Taming “The Creature,” part 1 10 10
“Circle of Prayer” missions chart, emphasis, prayer

“Pick Your Points” review game

Review 4 10
and/or “Fives and Twos” growth activity
Lesson

“God Wants to Spend Time with Just You” (visualized song), quiet
Wonder Time™ 6 15
time teaching and 60-Day Wonder Devotional Book review, awards

Lesson 1
1

Announcements, prayer, verse/teaching tokens, Wonderzone.com

Closing 1 1
bookmarks, CEF Mailbox Club starter lessons

1
Extended Class Time: Use additional sidebar activities.
This verse is taken from the
King James Version. If you
Teaching the Memory Verse
are using another version,
you may need to adapt the Memory Verse: Mark 10:14
explanation slightly. “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of
Preschool Memory Verse such is the kingdom of God.”
Teach Matthew 17:5 throughout
this series, omitting “hear ye Introduction: Have you ever wanted to talk to an adult about something, but he was too
him” from the end. See page
busy to listen to you? Sometimes adults think what they are doing is more
22 for teaching instructions.
important than paying attention to you, but listen to what Jesus said.

Help the children locate the Presentation: (Show your Bible, explaining that it is the Word of God. Read the verse
verse using its “address”
from your Bible and describe how you found it. Have the children read the
(reference). First they need to
find the town (Mark), then the verse with you from the verse visual.)
street (10), then the house on
that street (14). Explanation: Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not—The word

suffer in this verse means to let or allow. Jesus wanted the adults to let
the children come to Him, and not try to keep them away.
for of such is the kingdom of God—Children who believe in Jesus as their
Savior will be part of God’s kingdom in Heaven.

Application: Unsaved: If you have not yet believed in the Lord Jesus to forgive your
sin, He wants you to come to Him because He loves you. Then you will
be ready to live in Heaven with Him someday. Listen carefully during
the lesson to find out how to believe in Jesus.
Saved: If you have already believed in Jesus, He still wants you to come to
Him. He wants to show you how you can help meet the needs of others.
Preschool Repetition
Repetition: Clap a Word
“Clap Rhythm”
Say the verse to the beat of (Repeat the verse twice, then have a child stand behind the visualized verse
a clap rhythm: pat lap, clap with his back to the class. Choose another child to point to a word on the
hands together, pat, clap, pat, visual. Lead the children in reciting the verse, but when you get to the chosen
etc., one beat per word.
word, clap instead of saying it. The child behind the visual then tries to guess

the word. Choose two different children and repeat as time allows.)

Jesus Loves Me Lesson

Jesus loves me, this I know;
For the Bible tells me so.
INTRODUCTION
Little ones to Him belong; (Have the children sing one verse of “Jesus Loves Me.”) You may have learned that song
They are weak but He is strong. when you were very little. The words are a wonderful reminder of someone who loves you
Yes, Jesus loves me! (3x) more than anyone else ever could—God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ! In the next few weeks
The Bible tells me so.
we’re going to be learning about what Jesus did to prove how much He loves you. In today’s
The use of music is especially lesson we’re going to hear how Jesus wanted to show His love to children just like you.
helpful to your auditory learners.
PROGRESSION OF EVENTS
Slide 01
Jesus had been traveling around Israel, teaching people about God. He and His
disciples, the men who were His close followers, had crossed the Jordan River and arrived
Perea (peh-REE-ah) in the area of Perea. Wherever Jesus went, large crowds of people gathered around Him
Your visual learners will enjoy to ask questions and listen.
locating Perea on a map.
One day the adult discussion was interrupted by children’s voices as they skipped and
The disciples seemed to view ran to Jesus. Parents came, too, bringing their babies and young children with them.
children as unimportant and The disciples were alarmed when they saw what was happening. Jesus was a very
not worth Jesus’ time and important person! He had important things to teach the adults! Why are these parents
attention—a view still held
bothering Jesus with their noisy children? the disciples must have wondered.
by many today. But Jesus
was about to teach them how
greatly He values children!

2 Life of Christ 3
Slide 02
They spoke out. “Take these children away from here! The Master doesn’t have time Kinesthetic learners would
enjoy role-playing this scene.
for this!”
Print the words for them to say
The parents and children must have sadly moved away when they heard the on cards, or just have them
disciples’ words. silently act out the scene as
But the Lord Jesus was very displeased! He spoke sternly to His disciples, commanding you tell it.

them to let the children come to Him and stop turning them away. We have His words in
our memory verse today. (Quote Mark 10:14.)

Slide 03
The disciples quietly stepped back. Perhaps they felt ashamed as they watched Jesus The word translated “displeased”
lovingly stoop and pick up one of the children as the others pressed in close to Him. Mothers in this passage literally means
“became angry.” It is one of only
held their babies out for Jesus to touch. The disciples learned an important lesson that
four instances recorded in the
day—Jesus loves children as well as adults! Gospels where Jesus showed
Maybe this experience brought back memories of other times Jesus had shown His anger. Jesus was indignant at
love and care for children. Perhaps the disciples remembered when Jesus had healed a the disciples’ attitude toward the
children. (Alan D. George, Don’t
nobleman’s son or when He brought the little daughter of a man named Jairus back to
Forget the Children. Radio Bible
life. Maybe they also remembered one particular day when a little boy gave something Class, Grand Rapids, Michigan,
special to Jesus! 1984, p. 5.)

Slide 04
That day Jesus had been teaching the people and He and His disciples were tired. If you have previously taught
They crossed the Sea of Galilee, hoping to have a brief time for rest and quiet. But many CEF’s series, Life of Christ 2,
you may want to briefly review
people saw them leave and ran to the other side of the lake. When Jesus arrived, He found
the events of these two stories.
a huge crowd of people waiting for Him. The crowd had questions to be answered and
sick friends to be healed. They hoped Jesus would help them. Preschoolers would enjoy
Thousands of people pushed in to catch a glimpse of Him. How do you think Jesus pretending to row the boat.

felt when He saw all those people? (Allow children to respond.) Jesus had come there to
See Luke 9:11-17 for a
rest, but the people wouldn’t leave Him alone! Surely He had the right to say to the noisy comparative account.
crowd, “Please go home. I’m tired. I need rest.” But He didn’t say that. With great pity
and love He looked at the thousands of men, women and children. The Bible says Jesus
had compassion on them. How He loved them!

He loves you, too—each and every one of you. The Bible says, “For God so
loved the world” (John 3:16). He loves all the people in the world—adults and
Personalize this teaching about
children alike! God is the Creator of the world. He made the oceans, the sky,
God’s love by putting different
the trees and other beautiful things by His great power. He also made you! Isn’t children’s names in the verse
it wonderful to know that God the Father, who is holy and perfect in every way, when you quote it.
loves you? The Lord Jesus, God the Son, loves you too.
Preschool Song
Sing “1, 2, 3, Jesus Loves Me.”
And He loved the people. The Bible says He had compassion on them because He saw
them as sheep without a shepherd.
Jesus lovingly answered their questions and tenderly healed the sick. The hours passed
quickly and before long it was late in the day.

Slide 05
The disciples said, “This is a lonely place and it’s late. Send the people away that they
may go into the villages and buy food.”
The people had gone for hours without anything to eat. They were tired and hungry
and far from home. Perhaps children were beginning to whine and cry. Preschoolers can pretend to be
What a problem—thousands of hungry people with no food! But the people had a more very hungry.
serious need that day. They needed to know God and have their sins forgiven.

You need to know God and have your sins forgiven too. Do you know what sin
is? Sin is any action, thought or word that goes against what God has told us to do.
Use examples of sin that are
Can you think of some things children do that don’t please God? (Let children give
appropriate to your children.

Life of Christ 3 Lesson 1 3

Preschool Song examples—e.g., disobeying, lying, swearing, destroying other people’s property, being
Sing “J-E-S-U-S,” v. 1.
unkind.) Why do you do wrong things? (Allow response.) You were born with the

desire to have your own way instead of God’s way. God says in the Bible, “For all
have sinned” (Rom. 3:23). That means you have sinned too. And God must punish
you for your sin. That punishment is separation from Him forever in a terrible
place of suffering. You need to know God and have your sins forgiven.

The people in the crowd needed to know God and have their sins forgiven. But right
now they were hungry for food!
Turning to Philip, one of His disciples, Jesus asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed
all these people?” But even as He asked, Jesus knew very well what He was going to do.
Seeing the multitude of people, Philip must have thought, It’s hopeless! We can’t buy
Show the children a piece of enough bread for this group. He answered the Lord Jesus, “Eight months’ wages wouldn’t
pita bread to help them picture
buy enough bread even if everyone took just a little piece.”
the flat type of bread the boy
probably had. Andrew, another disciple, spoke up, “There is a boy here with five barley loaves of bread
and two small fish, but that would not feed this crowd.” Andrew knew that even five big
Have preschoolers hold up five loaves of bread wouldn’t have been enough! But (unlike our modern loaves of bread) these
fingers, then two.
barley loaves were small and flat and the fish were probably the size of sardines!

Slide 06
Perhaps in a quiet voice the Lord Jesus said, “Bring the boy to Me.” They must have
brought the boy over, and he offered his little lunch to Jesus. He gave what he had to
Preschoolers can pretend to Jesus, even though he had little to offer.
offer their lunch to Jesus.

Slide 07

Maybe you sometimes feel, even as God’s child, that you have little to offer.
Maybe you know just a little of the Bible that you could share with someone
Teaching Card else. Perhaps you have only a little time you could use to help someone in need.
Have children shout “Help others.” Maybe you have just a little talent God might use to encourage someone.
This Word Up! statement—a
If you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, Jesus can use the little you have
shortened version of the teaching
emphasis for the saved child—will to meet the needs of others. Jesus isn’t looking for people who have lots to offer.
be easy for kids to repeat. Tell He just wants people who are willing to let Him use what they have.
the kids that anytime you call out There are people all around you with many needs. You might have a neighbor
“Word Up!” they are to shout the
who needs help carrying her grocery bags or cutting her grass. You might know
phrase back. Call it out during
transition times, times when kids a child at school who needs someone to spend time with him. You might have a
are restless or anytime! friend who needs to know about Jesus. Maybe your church needs someone who
can draw or sing or play a musical instrument. There are lots of ways Jesus can
use you. The Bible says, “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when
it is in the power of thine [your] hand to do it” (Prov. 3:27). God says it’s wrong
to keep from doing the good things you are able to do. Instead, be willing to let
Him use you. You will be amazed at what Jesus can do with the little you have!

The little boy gave what he had to Jesus, even though he had little to offer. He must
have wondered what Jesus could do with it.
“Have the people sit down in groups,” Jesus told His disciples. Five thousand men were
there plus women and children. Soon the thousands of people were seated in groups of
50 and 100 on the grassy hillside.
The crowd became quiet as the Lord Jesus stood before them. Why does Jesus want
us seated? they must have wondered. What is He going to do?

Slide 08
Holding the five loaves and two fish in His hands, Jesus looked up to Heaven and
Preschoolers would enjoy thanked God for the food. After He had given thanks, He broke the five loaves of barley
saying a prayer of thanksgiving.
bread and two small fish into pieces.

4 Life of Christ 3
 Although the crowd and the disciples must have wondered what was going to happen,
Jesus had a plan to meet the need of this hungry crowd.

Jesus has a plan to meet your need for forgiveness of sin. Sometime after this
the Lord Jesus, God’s Son, took the punishment you deserve for your sin. How
did He do that? Jesus willingly allowed men to nail Him to a cross, causing His Emphasize to the children how
God proved His love for them
blood to flow from His hands and feet so your sin could be forgiven. The Lord by sending His Son to die and
Jesus didn’t deserve to die. The Bible says, “He knew no sin” (2 Cor. 5:21). He take their punishment.
never did even one wrong thing. But God punished His Son in your place. Jesus
proved how much He loves you by dying for your sin. Preschool Song
Sing “J-E-S-U-S,” vv. 2-3.
But I’m glad He didn’t stay dead! The Bible says, “Christ died for our
sins…and that he was buried, and he rose again the third day” (1 Cor. 15:3-4).
God raised Him up after three days, and He’s alive today in Heaven with God the
Father. Because of what Jesus did for you, you can be forgiven. You can believe
on (trust) Him as your Savior and have everlasting life with Him in Heaven. Aren’t
you glad that Jesus had a plan to meet your need for forgiveness of sin?

Jesus had a plan to meet the need of this hungry crowd.

He put the broken pieces of bread and fish in baskets and gave them to the 12
disciples. The disciples then gave the bread and fish to the people seated on the hillside.
The first man must have taken some bread and fish and passed the rest to the person You may want to provide
beside him. The second man then took some bread and fish and passed what was left to small goldfish crackers and
bits of pita bread in wicker
the one beside him. baskets and have some of the
But wait! What was happening? There was as much food as when the disciples first children distribute them to the
took it from Jesus’ hands! No matter how much food the people took, there was still more others. Learning is enhanced
food! This was a miracle—something only God could do! The huge crowd of people sitting for tactual learners through the
sense of taste. Make the point
on the ground had never seen anything like this. that, though these baskets
eventually run out of food,
CLIMAX the baskets the disciples held
Only Jesus could meet the need of so many people! did not.

CONCLUSION
The hungry people ate until they could not eat another mouthful. Everyone was filled!
“Gather up the broken pieces of food that are left over so that nothing will be wasted,”
Jesus said. The disciples gathered 12 basketfuls. Jesus had shown the crowd that day His Have preschoolers count to 12.

wonderful love for them.

INVITATION

Jesus has a wonderful love for you too. He has planned the only way to meet
your need for forgiveness of sin. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not Invite children to receive the
Lord Jesus using this method
perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). or one you have found effective.
You must believe (trust completely) in the Lord Jesus, who died on the cross Refer to “How to Lead a Child
for your sin, was buried and came alive again. When you trust Him alone and what to Christ” for further instruction.
He’s done on the cross for you, He will forgive your sin and change you on the
Preschool Invitation
inside. He will make you ready to have everlasting (never-ending) life in Heaven Sing “J-E-S-U-S,” v. 4 and
someday. Then He will be able to use the little you have to meet the needs of present the invitation using John
others. Are you willing to believe in the Lord Jesus for everlasting life? 5:24 and “believe on” terminology.
Please bow your heads and close your eyes. If you are ready to believe Ask those who would like to
believe on Jesus to stay with you
in the Lord Jesus as your Savior from sin, will you show me by looking up at the story rug.
at me? (Acknowledge responses.) You may all open your eyes. If you looked
up at me to show you are ready to believe in the Lord Jesus, please meet me
(designate time and location) so I can show you from the Bible how you can
have everlasting life.

Life of Christ 3 Lesson 1 5

 Review Questions
Review Game 1. Why didn’t the disciples want the children to come to Jesus? (They thought He
“Pick Your Points” was too busy to bother with children.)
Write points on the bottom
end of craft sticks or strips of
2. How did Jesus feel about the disciples trying to keep the children away? (Angry.)
card stock. (See GNC resource 3. How did Jesus answer the disciples in our memory verse, Mark 10:14? (“Suffer
pack.) Hold them in your hand the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom
so the points are concealed. of God.”)
Divide the class into two teams 4. Why do you think Jesus wanted the children to come to Him? (He loved them.)
and ask questions, alternating
between the teams. When
5. How do you know Jesus loves you? (The Bible says so.)
a child answers a question 6. What problem did the people have after they had listened to Jesus teach all day?
correctly, he may draw a stick (They were hungry but didn’t have any food; they were also sinful.)
or card out of your hand, 7. What are some things children do that are sin? (Lie, swear, disobey, be mean.)
scoring those points for his 8. What did the little boy have to eat? (Five barley loaves and two small fish.)
team. The team earning the
9. Name one way you might help meet the needs of someone else. (Help carry things;
most points wins.
do yard work; make a card to give; tell about Jesus; etc.)
Preschool Review Game 10. What did Jesus do with the bread and fish after the people were sitting in groups?
“Go Fishing” (He thanked God, then broke the bread and fish into pieces and had the disciples
Cut out several construction pass baskets of food to the people.)
paper fish and write an activity 11. What did Jesus do to meet your need for forgiveness of sin? (He took the punishment
on the back of each (e.g.,
touch your toes). Attach a
for you by giving His blood as He died on the cross.)
piece of yarn to each fish then 12. What happened after the people had eaten and were full? (The disciples gathered
drape the pieces of yarn over 12 basketfuls of leftover pieces.)
a flannelboard so the fish are
concealed behind it. When a
child answers a question, he Preschool Review Questions
may choose a piece of yarn
and have the teacher read 1. What was in the boy’s lunch? (Five loaves and two fish.)
the activity on the fish. The
2. What did he do with his lunch? (He brought it to Jesus.)
class then does the activity
as a group. Repeat, using 3. What did Jesus do with the lunch? (He gave thanks to our Heavenly Father, broke
these questions several times it and gave it to the disciples to give to the people.)
or additional questions of 4. What is the best thing Jesus can give you? (Eternal life. Briefly review Gospel.)
your own.

Growth Activity
Fives and Twos
If your class is too small to
Tell the children, “The boy in our lesson had only five loaves of bread and two fish,
divide, this activity may be
done together as one group. but he willingly gave them to Jesus. If you have believed on the Lord Jesus as your Savior,
you also have some fives and twos you could give to the Lord! You have two hands with
five fingers each, two eyes, two ears, two lips, two feet with five toes each. Let’s think
about what Jesus could do with these fives and twos if you let Him use them.” Divide the
children into small groups and assign each group one of the fives and twos mentioned.
Have the groups brainstorm ways they could use them to help meet the needs of others
(e.g., two lips could read to a younger child; two hands with five fingers could play a
piano solo in church). You may want to draw a simple outline of a person on a white
board or large sheet of paper and draw each body part as it’s discussed.

6 Life of Christ 3