1 Corinthians 12:12-20
Monthly Bible Verse: Colossians 1:18a And he [Jesus] is the head of the body, the
church.
Monthly Theme: The Church
Weekly Focus: Jesus is the head of the body, which is the church.
Weekly Story: 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 ƒOne body, many parts.
Learning objectives: The things we want the kids to understand when they go home
are:
1. Jesus is the head of the body, the church.
2. If we believe in Jesus we are part of the body.
Lesson warm up:
Select two of the kids making one represent the church and then next just a normal
person. Tell the kids that the church is a body of believers
and everyone makes up different part of the body (point to different parts of the body
and ask the kids what each part is for example, arm, leg, head, etc. As the kids look at
the two different outlines point at the head and ask:
Q: Does (the Child) really need a head? Why?
A: Yes, (the Child) needs a head because his head makes the rest of his body work.
Q: If the church is a body, who do you think is the head?
A: Jesus, is the head of the church.
Q: Does (The child) need arms? Why?
A: So he can pick things up, throw things, and work.
Q: Who would be the arm of a church?
A: Maybe a teacher, greeter, pastor, etc.
Just as a body needs each part to do things, the church is a body and we all make up
a part of the church body. What part of the church body would you like to be?
You can continue to go with this line of questioning, or you can talk to a few people like
the service lead, security guard, assistants, check-in person, greeter, etc. and have
them come in and tell the kids what they do and why they are a part of the church
body.
The Lesson:
For your research: copied with cross references and foot notes from http://www.biblegateway.com/ NASB version
1 Corinthians 12:12-20
12For even (A)as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, (B)so also is Christ.
13For (C)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether (D)Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to (E)drink of one Spirit.
14For (F)the body is not one member, but many.
15If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
16And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
18But now God has (G)placed the members, each one of them, in the body, (H)just as He desired.
19If they were all one member, where would the body be?
20But now (I)there are many members, but one body.
Cross references:
- 1 Corinthians 12:12 : Rom 12:4; 1 Cor 10:17
- 1 Corinthians 12:12 : 1 Cor 12:27
- 1 Corinthians 12:13 : Eph 2:18
- 1 Corinthians 12:13 : Rom 3:22; Gal 3:28; Eph 2:13-18; Col 3:11
- 1 Corinthians 12:13 : John 7:37-39
- 1 Corinthians 12:14 : 1 Cor 12:20
- 1 Corinthians 12:18 : 1 Cor 12:28
- 1 Corinthians 12:18 : Rom 12:6; 1 Cor 12:11
- 1 Corinthians 12:20 : 1 Cor 12:12, 14
There are many different jobs at our church. What are some of the different things people do? ... (Pastor, music, Sunday school teachers... feel free to tell the children about all the different jobs... make sure to include everything from set up, to making coffee, to sound, to budget) Do you think there are jobs more important than others? ... they may say pastor... Lets go back to to our volunteer ( bring up the child that represented the church) Would the child be able to hear if she had no ears? Can an eye walk? Can a foot play the guitar? There are many important things Pastor Chris does. He is very important to our church. But who controls his microphone? The sound people are important... but do they play the music? And Pat is important to the music, but does he teach Sunday school? And if I am up here teaching you about Jesus, who is down stairs greeting the new people. And when Mark is greeting the new people who come to our building who is paying for the building we are using. And when we all give our money to pay for our church, who is counting that money? There are lots of important jobs many people do at our church. Why do these people want to serve how they do? Who is the most important? JESUS. Jesus is the head of our church. Jesus is the reason we have church. So even though there are many jobs at the church all of these jobs are done in one church body. And just like (the child's name) has lot of different important parts of their body that do important things. The church is the same. One body for Jesus, with lots of different parts that have different jobs.
Craft: no craft really. I don't think you will have time. But if you do have the children draw a church.
