Taking up the cross
Children's Activity
Teachers or Parents: The idea of a person denying oneself and taking up one's cross to follow Jesus may be quite puzzling because we live in a time when self--satisfaction, pleasure, and grabbing all you can is the cultural idea! That is what makes this lesson a real opportunity as a teaching moment for your children. You can contrast our culture with Jesus' teaching and historic Lenten practice.
*If you have not started "self--denial" Lenten coin offerings yet, do so. This can be done quite simply by taking a can with a plastic lid and putting in a slot for the coins (or bills) that the children can collect at home (perhaps at mealtime) or in the Sunday school room. The emphasis is self--denial. The giving of the coins represents the lessening of purchasing power to the giver. Parents ought not give the children offering money and especially not self--denial money. This money should come from a child's allowance.
While the emphasis is on self--denial, it is well to have an Easter project that the money will go for. Find out as much about the project as possible. Helping satisfy world hunger and addressing poverty are especially appropriate special projects. It is well for children to see how God's blessings upon them can overflow and be blessings to those with so much less.
*Explore the benefits of self--denial. Why on earth would one want to deny self? Here we see that self--denial reminds us of 1) our richness in Christ; 2) Christ's cost for us; 3) putting first things first: namely God's kingdom.
Other benefits of self--denial might be health, self-- discipline, and love for others.
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Hymns that fit the theme: "Take My Life, That I May Be," "Take Up Your Cross And Follow Me."
*Point out the crosses in your church. Many churches have crosses that tell a story. Ask some of your church's "old--timers" about any stories any cross might have that can be passed on to the children.
*Perhaps one of the adults participating in the opening (yourself?) has a jewelry cross that has a story. Share it.
*If you have not started "self--denial" Lenten coin offerings yet, do so. This can be done quite simply by taking a can with a plastic lid and putting in a slot for the coins (or bills) that the children can collect at home (perhaps at mealtime) or in the Sunday school room. The emphasis is self--denial. The giving of the coins represents the lessening of purchasing power to the giver. Parents ought not give the children offering money and especially not self--denial money. This money should come from a child's allowance.
While the emphasis is on self--denial, it is well to have an Easter project that the money will go for. Find out as much about the project as possible. Helping satisfy world hunger and addressing poverty are especially appropriate special projects. It is well for children to see how God's blessings upon them can overflow and be blessings to those with so much less.
*Explore the benefits of self--denial. Why on earth would one want to deny self? Here we see that self--denial reminds us of 1) our richness in Christ; 2) Christ's cost for us; 3) putting first things first: namely God's kingdom.
Other benefits of self--denial might be health, self-- discipline, and love for others.
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Hymns that fit the theme: "Take My Life, That I May Be," "Take Up Your Cross And Follow Me."
*Point out the crosses in your church. Many churches have crosses that tell a story. Ask some of your church's "old--timers" about any stories any cross might have that can be passed on to the children.
*Perhaps one of the adults participating in the opening (yourself?) has a jewelry cross that has a story. Share it.
