Ephphatha
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: Just as Jesus opened the ears of the deaf
man in our Gospel reading, so he continues to open the ears of
people today so that they can hear the truth and believe in him.
The wonderful news of salvation through faith in Jesus needs to
be shared with all humankind so that their ears and their hearts
can hear the truth and they can be saved.
*Prepare a box with a slip inside that says, "YOU ARE
SAVED." Lock the box with a padlock. Put a bunch of keys
including the right one in a container and let the children draw
one out. Explain that only one key will open the box and the one
who gets the right key will win a prize. After the box has been
opened and the slip removed, ask the children if they can tell
you what the key represents. What is the key that opens Heaven
for us so that we are saved? Lead the discussion to the point
where they see clearly that faith is the key to salvation.
*Ask the children if they know anybody who is deaf and
cannot hear. Tell them that you know for a fact that most of the
people who live in your community are deaf, and see how they
react. They will argue with you that it isn't true, so ask them a
different question. Ask how many people in your community do not
know Jesus Christ as their Savior. Show them that these people
are deaf to the saving words of the gospel, and we want to open
their ears to the truth just as Jesus opened the ears of the deaf
man by saying, "Ephphatha."
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Call one child forward and whisper the message to him/her,
"Jesus saves." Tell him/her that he/she can whisper the message
to one other person when he/she returns to his/her place, but
only one and he/she should be careful that nobody else overhears.
When this is done, ask the children how many people now know the
message that you gave. They will see that only three know it, you
and the two children. Now tell the two that they can tell another
person, and then that person can tell another. In very little
time, everyone will have the message. Talk with them about how
the gospel message needs to be spread in just this way.
man in our Gospel reading, so he continues to open the ears of
people today so that they can hear the truth and believe in him.
The wonderful news of salvation through faith in Jesus needs to
be shared with all humankind so that their ears and their hearts
can hear the truth and they can be saved.
*Prepare a box with a slip inside that says, "YOU ARE
SAVED." Lock the box with a padlock. Put a bunch of keys
including the right one in a container and let the children draw
one out. Explain that only one key will open the box and the one
who gets the right key will win a prize. After the box has been
opened and the slip removed, ask the children if they can tell
you what the key represents. What is the key that opens Heaven
for us so that we are saved? Lead the discussion to the point
where they see clearly that faith is the key to salvation.
*Ask the children if they know anybody who is deaf and
cannot hear. Tell them that you know for a fact that most of the
people who live in your community are deaf, and see how they
react. They will argue with you that it isn't true, so ask them a
different question. Ask how many people in your community do not
know Jesus Christ as their Savior. Show them that these people
are deaf to the saving words of the gospel, and we want to open
their ears to the truth just as Jesus opened the ears of the deaf
man by saying, "Ephphatha."
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Call one child forward and whisper the message to him/her,
"Jesus saves." Tell him/her that he/she can whisper the message
to one other person when he/she returns to his/her place, but
only one and he/she should be careful that nobody else overhears.
When this is done, ask the children how many people now know the
message that you gave. They will see that only three know it, you
and the two children. Now tell the two that they can tell another
person, and then that person can tell another. In very little
time, everyone will have the message. Talk with them about how
the gospel message needs to be spread in just this way.
