Jesus Knows Us Scripture: John 1:43-49 Lesson Focus: Jesus knows all about us. Memory Verse: The Lord is my helper. Hebrews 13:6

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1 LESSON 9 Jesus Knows Us Scripture: John 1:43-49 Lesson Focus: Jesus knows all about us. Memory Verse: The Lord is my helper. Hebrews 13:6 Teacher Devotional 1 Getting Ready for the Bible For children to relate their own experiences A young man struggled to with today s Bible story from John 1:43-49, they will talk about knowing someone. Opening Activity: No materials needed Sharing Time: No materials needed Bible Story Time: John 1:43-49 The children will find out that Jesus knows all about Nathanael. Bible Story: Teaching Aid 11 (from Preschool Creative Teaching Aids), Bible, flannel board Bible Story Review: Teaching Aid 11 (from Preschool Creative Teaching Aids), flannel board, ball Bible Memory Verse: No materials needed The Bible and Me To better understand that Jesus cares all about us, children will explore activity centers. Bible Story Card: Page for (from Preschool Make-It/Take-It), crayons Nathanael Game: No materials needed He Knows Me Plate: Paper plates, crayons, markers, (optional: unbreakable mirrors) Going Home with the Bible Thanking Jesus for knowing all about us helps children see how the Bible story works in their own lives. Bible, butcher paper, markers, beanbag, (optional: PraisePac CD [from Preschool Creative Teaching Aids], CD player), My Sunday Pictures, and Family Card C This symbol appears whenever preparation takes more than five minutes or supplies are needed that are not included on the list of standard supplies (on page 6). tell his friend the doubts and fears he felt in his heart. His words weren t eloquent but honest. With a sigh, he concluded his confession only to have his friend nod and say, I hear you, but I m starving. Let s go eat. Have you ever had an experience like this? What did you want to feel from your friend? What did you actually feel? Everyone wants to feel they are understood that someone in this world really knows them and can empathize with life s happenings. Read John 1: There is a loving and caring God who really understands you. Just like He knew all about Nathanael, God knows all about you. You can tell Him everything, or nothing. God knows what you are going through. He s already working things out to accomplish His best for your life. Understanding the Bible Jesus was in Judea where John had baptized Him in the Jordan River (Matt. 3:13; Mark 1:9). Before returning to Galilee, Jesus found a third disciple, Philip. Peter and Andrew were the other two. All three men were from Bethsaida, a town on the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee. Philip of Bethsaida was not the same Philip who baptized the eunuch of Ethiopia (Acts 8:26-40; 21:8-9). Philip told his friend Nathanael (or Bartholomew) that he had found the Messiah. His confession, based on the prophecies of the Law and the Prophets, indicates that Nathanael may have been a student of the Torah (John 1:45). The Torah is what we know as the Old Testament. Philip identified Jesus as the son of Joseph from the town of Nazareth. Nazareth was an almost despised town (John 1:46). Nathanael s confession that Jesus was the Son of God may stem from two ways Jesus demonstrated His personal knowledge of Nathanael. First, by calling Nathanael a genuine Israelite, Jesus showed He could look into Nathanael s heart. Jesus knew Nathanael truly feared God and tried to live according to the Word without deceit (Ps. 32:2; Isa. 53:9). Jesus also revealed He had known Nathanael s whereabouts without being present (John 1:48). Nathanael had been under a fig tree, a favorite shady place for study and prayer. Fig trees grow as tall as 30 feet. Their thick, large leaves provide cool shade in a hot climate. 64

2 Focus: Jesus knows all about us. When Teaching the Bible to Preschoolers... In today s Bible story, Nathanael had a difficult time understanding that Jesus really did know all about him. It s difficult for children to understand that Jesus is constantly present in their lives. Some may be scared by the idea that an unseen presence is watching them. They may not understand that God watches us because He wants to care for His children. Here are some tips to help the children in your classroom begin to understand the concept that Jesus is always there for them: Explain to the children that Jesus always knows where they are. Have them mention places where they have been. Then say, Jesus knew you were there. Compare Jesus presence to that of parents when children are asleep. Even though children can t see them, parents are watching over them all the time. Talk about why it is good that Jesus knows all about us. Worship Time Welcome Time Activities These activities are designed to engage your children in a fun and purposeful way while freeing you to interact with parents and children as they arrive. The centers require little or no supervision and can be set up before class. After greeting each child, direct him or her to a center and suggest a way to start or join an activity. Moving and Doing Projects Table Play Play the Unit 24 song from the PraisePac CD in your Creative Teaching Aids packet. Let the children move to the music. You may wish to set out brightly colored scarves for the children to use. Remove the tricycle patterns from the inside back cover of the Make-It/Take-It books. Let each child color a pattern. Display the tricycles on a bulletin board showing a driveway and a sidewalk. Add the title Jesus Always Cares for Us to help reinforce the lessons you will teach the next few weeks. Set out play dough, craft sticks, and dowels. Invite the children to try to make themselves or their faces out of play dough. Knowing about themselves will help them connect to the Bible story about Jesus and Nathanael. Before moving into the lesson or Worship Time, have the children stop what they are doing, clean up the centers, and gather in a big group. You may want to use the following rhyme to help attract the children s attention. Stomp your feet! (Stomp feet on each word.) Make it neat. You may want to have a short worship time before beginning today s lesson. Call the children to worship by singing a familiar song, such as Jesus Loves the Little Children. If your children have a favorite song they like to sing, you could use it here. Pass the offering basket to give children an opportunity to deposit their offering. Dear God, thank You for all that You give us. We give You our offerings to show that we love You. In Jesus name. Amen. Our song today teaches us that God is always with us. He knows everything that we need. Teach the words to the Unit 24 song Jesus Cares for Everyone. The words are on a downloadable PDF found on your PraisePac CD in your Creative Teaching Aids packet. Teach the words a line at a time. It will help the children if you do actions along with the music. After the children have learned the chorus, play the whole song on the PraisePac CD. Encourage the children to sing along with the chorus. Say a prayer. Have children repeat the words after you. Say only three to four words at a time. Dear Jesus, we re glad You know all about us. Thank You for Your loving care. In Your name. Amen. 65

3 Focus: Jesus knows all about us. STEP1 Getting Ready for the Bible For children to relate their own experiences with today s Bible story from John 1:43-49, they will talk about knowing someone. Materials: None needed Attention Grabber If you have not already gathered the children into a group or you need to focus their attention back to you, ask them to sit down and silently show each face as you name it. Let s have a race to change our face. Smile, frown, sleepy eyes. Act surprised. Sad tears, listening ears. Opening Activity When the children are seated in a circle and ready to listen, introduce the I Know... game. Playing a game about distinguishing characteristics and talking about ways to know someone helps the children understand today s Bible story where Jesus knew all about Nathanael. This morning we are going to play a game called I Know... I will say I know something about one of you. Maybe you are wearing a certain color. If what I say is true about you, stand up. More than one of you will probably stand up at a time. Use the following clues to begin the game. Be sure to add more that fit your class. I know someone who is wearing blue. I know someone who has black hair. I know someone who has a sister. I know someone who is wearing yellow. I know someone who likes to play ball. I know someone who has a dog. After giving each clue, give the children time to stand. Some children may be hesitant to stand up. You can affirm them by saying things like, Susy, you can stand up because you have a blue dress on. Have the children sit back down. I know you. Sit down so we can see who else we know. Use enough clues so that each child has an opportunity to stand and be known at least one time. After you are done playing the game, focus the children s attention back to you. We could play the game I Know... because we could look at each other and see colors of hair or what we are wearing. It is one way that we know each other. Let s talk a little about ways we can know others. Sharing Time As you and your class talk, be sure to allow time for each child to say something. This gives every child an opportunity to connect to the Bible story and the Lesson Focus, Jesus knows all about us, through his or her own experience. You may want to give your own examples of knowing someone to help the children begin sharing. How do you get to know someone? (The children will have a wide variety of answers because they have different definitions of what it means to know someone. Some children know a person by being introduced or knowing a name. Others know people by watching, talking, playing, spending time with the person, etc. Give each child time to answer.) How does someone know about you? (This may be a difficult question for children to answer. They may talk about people knowing their names, playing with them, or I don t know. Accept all their answers.) Some people, like our mommies and daddies, know a lot about us. Today we re going to learn that Jesus knows all about us. In today s Bible story a man finds out that Jesus knows all about him. As you hear today s story, listen for the man s name and some of the things Jesus knows about him. 66

4 Focus: Jesus knows all about us. STEP2 Bible Story Time John 1:43-49 The children will find out that Jesus knows all about Nathanael. Materials: Creative Teaching Aids Teaching Aid 11, Bible, flannel board, ball Bible Story Before telling the story, punch out the flannel figures from Teaching Aid 11. Place the figures in the order you will use them in the story. The children should still be seated in a circle, ready for the story. Open your Bible to John 1. Our Teaching Aid 11 story today comes from the Bible. It is found in the part, or book, of the Bible called John. (Show the children where John is in your Bible. Keep your Bible open to John 1 as you tell the story.) Jesus traveled to many places to help people and tell them about God. ( Walk Jesus, Figure 1, across the flannel board while children pat their knees.) But Jesus wanted some helpers as He traveled and talked about God. One day, before He was going to travel to a new part of the country, Jesus met a man named Philip. (Add Philip, Figure 2, to the right of Jesus.) Philip was the kind of helper Jesus wanted. So Jesus told Philip, Follow Me. (Take Figure 1 down.) Philip was excited about being Jesus helper. He went to find his friend Nathanael. (Add Nathanael and the tree, Figure 3, at the bottom right of the flannel board. Move Philip to Nathanael while children pat their knees.) Philip found his friend Nathanael sitting under a fig tree. It was a nice shady place where Nathanael could study. He liked to study the Scriptures, God s Word. Philip said, Nathanael! I just met the person Moses talked about long ago. He s the one all the Scriptures tell about God s Son! It is Jesus from Nazareth! Nathanael was not sure that what Philip said was true. Could he have really met such an important person? If he had, how could he be from the city of Nazareth? Nazareth was not an important place at all. But Philip was so excited that Nathanael agreed to go meet Jesus. (Replace Figure 3 with Figure 4. Place Jesus, Figure 1, on the left side of the board. Walk Philip and Nathanael to Jesus while children pat their knees.) Jesus saw the men coming. Even though Jesus had never met Nathanael, Jesus knew all about him. (Remove Philip, Figure 2. Move Jesus and Nathanael close together.) Jesus said, Nathanael, you are a man from Israel who always tells the truth. This surprised Nathanael. He had never met Jesus before. How do you know me? he asked. Jesus answered, I saw you under the fig tree before Philip talked to you. Now Nathanael knew what Philip said was true! Jesus was very special. You are the Son of God, said Nathanael. He became one of Jesus helpers too. Jesus knew all about Nathanael. Jesus knows all about us, too. 67

5 Focus: Jesus knows all about us. Bible Story Review To check for the children s understanding of today s Bible story, have them answer these questions or do the activity, or both. Questions Why was Philip excited? (He had met Jesus.) Who did Philip bring to Jesus? (Nathanael) How did Nathanael know that Jesus was the Son of God? (Jesus knew all about Nathanael. He even knew that Nathanael had been sitting under a fig tree.) Who knows all about us? (Jesus knows all about us.) Activity This activity uses the flannel figures from Teaching Aid 11 and a ball to review today s Bible story from John 1: Have the children sit in a circle to play a rolling ball game to review the story. Place Figure 1, from Teaching Aid 11, on the flannel board. Roll the ball to a child. Who is this? (Jesus) Encourage that child to begin retelling the story. The child then rolls the ball to another child who continues the story. What does He want? (Helpers) Have children continue rolling the ball, as shown, and telling part of the story. Add Philip, Figure 2, and Nathanael, Figure 3, as needed in the course of the story. Ask simple questions to help the children keep the sequence of the story. Repeat this activity until each child has had an opportunity to tell part of the story and roll the ball. Bible Memory Verse As children practice a Bible verse week after week, they will be able to understand and remember it. Have the children do either the practice or the rhyme, or both. The Lord is my helper. Hebrews 13:6 Practice Jesus knows all about us. Our new Bible words tell us that He is our helper. Say the verse with the children. This week use a song and actions to teach the verse to the children. Preschoolers remember words that have been set to music. This week sing the following words to the tune On Top of Old Smoky. The Lord is my helper. (Point up, then open arms wide.) The Bible tells us. (Make a book with your hands.) The Lord is my helper. (Point up, then open arms wide.) Hebrews thirteen verse six. (Make a book with your hands.) Bible Rhyme Time The Bible verse, Hebrews 13:6, can be found in the third line of the rhyme. Teach the words and actions a line at a time. Have the children repeat each line back to you. Our new Bible rhyme helps us remember that the Lord is our helper. Say our new rhyme after me. Jesus made sick people well. (Jump up as if made well.) And cares for His friends every day. (Point fingers up.) I know the Lord is my helper. (Point to self.) He listens whenever I pray. (Fold hands in prayer.) 68

6 Focus: Jesus knows all about us. 3 STEP The Bible and Me To better understand that Jesus cares all about us, children will explore activity centers. In today s Bible story, your class learned that Jesus knew all about Nathanael. To help children understand that Jesus knows all about us, choose one or more of the following activities. Before you let the children begin these activities, demonstrate each one you have chosen. This week the Nathanael Game needs the most supervision. Bible Story Card: Materials: Make-It/Take-It page for, crayons This week s project reviews the Bible story of Jesus and Nathanael. Remove the page for from the Make-It/Take-It books. If you have younger preschoolers, you may want to fold and then unfold the two panels on the paper to create folding guides. Show children how to fold their papers to make the Bible card. Have the children color all three parts of the card. If there is time, have the children divide into groups of two. Invite the children to take turns telling the story using their projects. Nathanael Game: Materials: None needed Play an active game to review today s Bible story from John 1: Have the children sit in a circle. Give each of them a name: Philip, Nathanael, Andrew, or Peter. Be sure to use each name at least twice. When I call out the Bible name from our story, switch places with the friend who has the same name. Call out one of the names. Jesus knows Nathanael who read under the tree. The children who have that name run to switch places. You may have to help the children remember their names. If you call out the Lesson Focus, Jesus knows all about us, all the children must switch places. Continue with another person calling the names. He Knows Me Plate: Materials: Paper plates, crayons, markers, (optional: unbreakable mirrors) Before class, use a marker to write Jesus knows all about us on the top of each plate. This simple self-portrait craft helps the children see the Lesson Focus, Jesus knows all about us, in a very personal way. Give each child a paper plate. Set the mirrors in the middle of the table for children to check color of eyes, hair, etc. Ask the children to draw and color a picture of themselves in the center of the plate. When the picture is complete, challenge each child to try to write his or her name at the bottom of the plate. When you are ready to move to the last step of your lesson, have the children clean up the centers, and gather into a group. You may want to say the following rhyme to attract their attention. Stomp your feet! (Stomp feet on each word.) Make it neat. 69

7 Focus: Jesus knows all about us. 4 Thanking STEP Going Home with the Bible Jesus for knowing all about us helps children see how the Bible story works in their own lives. Materials: Bible, butcher paper, markers, beanbag, (optional: Creative Teaching Aids PraisePac CD, CD player) After cleaning up, have the children sit in a circle on the floor or on a rug. Use this time to show the children different ways they can thank Jesus for knowing all about us. Show the children once again where John 1 is in the Bible. In our Bible story today we learned that Jesus knew all about Nathanael, even before He met Nathanael. Jesus knows all about us, too. Let s thank Jesus that He knows all about us. What are some ways we can thank Jesus? Some ideas are to sing a song, clap, cheer, pray, etc. Choose one way that you would like to thank Jesus this week. Give each child an opportunity to share how he or she is going to thank Jesus. In one or two words, write each child s idea on the butcher paper using different colored markers or crayons. You may wish to go first to model. I m going to to thank Jesus for knowing all about us. Don t be concerned with the children being able to read the words on their paper. The different colors will help them remember each idea. Let s take time now to thank Jesus using your ideas. Put the paper on the floor and toss the beanbag onto the list. Do the activity closest to the beanbag as a class. Do different activities as time allows. Remind the children to thank Jesus during the week because He knows all about us. Close with a short prayer: Dear Jesus, we are happy that You know all about us. Thank You. In Your name we pray. Amen. If you have extra time If you are celebrating birthdays each month, this is a good Sunday to have a celebration. Another activity is included if there are no August birthdays. Jesus knows all about us even our birthdays. Some of you were born in August. Have each birthday child stand next to you. has a birthday this month. He/She will be years old! As a class sing Happy Birthday to the children. Finish with a prayer. Dear God, thank You for (children s names). We are glad they re in our Sunday school class. In Jesus name. Amen. This activity, adapted from My Sunday Pictures, is another option. Give each child a piece of paper. Ask the children to draw things they like to do. Jesus knows all about us. He knows what you like to do. Time to Go Before children leave for the day, be sure to hand out the My Sunday Pictures cards for and Family Card C. Until parents come to pick up their children, let them move to the music while the PraisePac CD, from your Creative Teaching Aids packet, is playing. As you say good-bye to each child, remind him or her of the Lesson Focus: Jesus knows all about us. What to send home... My Sunday Pictures for Family Card C from My Sunday Pictures Make-It/Take-It for Projects made at centers 70