Jesus is a Helper

Jesus is a Helper

by Kimber Bailey Scott

Luke 2:40, 52

SING:

You’re Happy and your know it clap your hands

Jesus loves me

A Helper I will Be

Tune: farmer in the dell

A helper I will be. A helper I will be

There’s work to do, there’s work to do

In my family

I love to help my mom; I love to help my dad.

I love to help; it makes God glad.

A helper I will be

RHYME:

Jesus Grew and Grew

by Barbara Ebert

Little baby Jesus (cradle a pretend baby)

Grew and grew and grew

(put your hand higher and higher)

He learned to walk and talk and pray

(put your hands together to pray)

Just like me and you

(point to yourself then to them)

Jesus helped His mother.

He helped her every day

He always helped her gladly

That’s the grown up way.

Jesus loved Joseph.

He wanted to obey.

He did what Joseph told Him.

That’s the grown up way.

LESSON:

Pull out a measuring tape from your magic bag and measure each child. Record each child’s height on a paper doll and let the child hold their paper doll as you tell the Bible story. Children come in many different sizes. Jesus was once a small baby. But did He stay a baby? No! Let’s see what the Bible tells us about Jesus growing up. Pull your Bible out of the magic bag and place it in your lap.

When we read the Bible, it does not tell us a lot about the time Jesus was your age. The Bible does tell us that Jesus grew from a baby to a man, so at one point He must have been just this size. Pat a child on his/her head. He may have been tall for His age. He may have been short for His age. Indicate size with your hands. The Bible just says that He grew.

He must have eaten the good food His mother cooked for Him. The Bible says that Jesus became strong. A child’s body does not become strong if that child doesn’t eat good food or just sits around. Jesus probably ran and climbed and played stickball with His friends.

Jesus also probably helped Mary around the house. And perhaps He helped Joseph in the carpentry shop as well. Jesus was filled with wisdom. He must have listened carefully when He was being taught God’s words. The Bible tells us that Jesus grew in favor with God and men. That means that God was pleased with Jesus, and people (even grown-ups) liked Him. I think He must have been a kind and polite little boy.

APPLY:

Let’s make your paper dolls become puppets. Let them answer my questions.

What are some ways Jesus might have helped Mary around the house?

What are some ways He might have helped Joseph?

You might need to give them time and clues.

Are you growing the way Jesus did? Yes! Are you getting big enough to help? Yes! What are some ways you can help at home? How can you help out in the yard? You make God happy when you help others. Talk about helping grandparents and teachers. Then repeat the rhyme:

Jesus Grew and Grew by Barbara Ebert

Little baby Jesus (cradle a pretend baby)

Grew and grew and grew

(put your hand higher and higher)

He learned to walk and talk and pray

(put your hands together to pray)

Just like me and you

(point to yourself then to them)

Jesus helped His mother.

He helped her every day

He always helped her gladly

That’s the grown up way.

Jesus loved Joseph.

He wanted to obey.

He did what Joseph told Him.

That’s the grown up way.

MEMORY VERSE:

The Bible tells us that “we are helpers”. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 1:24, “We…are helpers. “ Can you say those words with me? Say them louder. Say them softer. Give each one a Bible (or share) & ask each to say, We…are helpers.

SNACK:

Cut the vegetables and fruits into manageable sizes. Show the children how to use plastic knives to cut up the fruits and veges into bite size pieces. You may need to hold the hands of the younger children as they cut. Emphasize that they are using plastic knives and must always have an adult to help them and never use a sharp knife. It may be easier for them to use a brush to wash the fruits and veges. These frits and vegetables look good! They are good for you too! I’m glad God has given us good food to help us grow. Jesus probably ate some of these same fruits and vegetables when He was growing up. You are growing up just like Jesus did. Let’s thank God for the yummy food He gives us. Pray. Then eat.

ART/CRAFT:

Before class ask a mom of a small baby to provide you with a painted handprint of her baby. In class have fabric paint in a shallow pan with a sponge in it. The children will compare the size of their hands to the baby’s print. Then let each child press her hand on the sponge and make a handprint on her fabric square to make a dust cloth. When your hand was as little as the baby’s, you could not help. You couldn’t even feed yourself. But you are growing. You are big enough to help. You are big enough to do lots of things. Jesus grew the way you are growing. He grew from a baby to a little boy and then to a big boy then to a man. Show them with an unpainted cloth how they will use it to help mom dust around the house.

NEED:

Magic bag

Measuring tape

Paper doll for each child

Pen or marker

Bible

Handprint of baby

12” squares of soft cloth (baby fleece?) for each child

Fabric paint

Shallow pan

Large sponge

Wet wipes

Soft fruit and veges

Buckets

Vegetable brushes

Water

Paper towels

Plates

Plastic knives