Kids Yshua and Children

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Children will discover that they are very important to Y’shua, and special in His eyes because they are YHWH's children.

Activity
As kids arrive have crayons or colored markers and blank sheets of paper on the tables before the class begins. As the kids arrive, tell them to think of someone who is very special to them, and then draw a picture showing why they are so special. When finished, ask for volunteers to talk about their drawings with the rest of the class.

Teaching
One day, many people were gathered around Y’shua, asking him difficult questions. Questions like who will be the greatest in heaven, when is it okay to get a divorce, who can cast out demons? Y’shua was very busy giving YHWH's answers to these difficult questions, when suddenly, he stopped. Something was happening that Y’shua believed was more important than these questions. Let's find out what it was. Our story continues in the Book of Mark.

Read Mark 10: 13-16 (repeated below)

One day some parents brought their children to Y’shua so he could touch them and bless them, but the disciples told them not to bother him. But when Y’shua saw what was happening, he was very displeased with his disciples. He said to them, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of YHWH belongs to such as these. I assure you, anyone who doesn't have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of YHWH ." Then he took the children into his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them. (NLT)

Discussion Questions:
1. One of the verses we read said Y’shua was displeased. Why do you think He was displeased?
(He didn't want the disciples to stop the children from coming to him, because they were important)

2. Does the Kingdom of YHWH belong only to grown-ups? (no, to children also)

3. Do you think Y’shua felt that spending time with children was more important than answering difficult questions? (Y’shua stopped what he was doing to welcome the children)

4. How would you feel if you were one of those children that Y’shua took in his arms?

5. Do you know that Y’shua has his arms around you right now?

Memory Verse
"Let the children come to me, Don't stop them! For the kingdom of YHWH belongs to such as these." Mark 10:14 NLT

Snack
Start by praying to YHWH and thanking Him for His great love and for being such a wonderful Heavenly Father. Then serve the children cream filled cupcakes or sandwich cookies. Ask the children, "What makes these treats so special? It is the creamy filling inside, and we are special too, because we have Y’shua inside of us.

As the children wait to be picked up, mention the names of several Bible characters, or have the children choose their favorite Bible character, and have them tell what makes them special. For example: David was special because he was able to kill a big giant with YHWH's help.

Singing
Teach the kids this version of Y’shua loves me…

Y’shua loves me this I know, for the Torah tells me so.

Little ones to him belong, they are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Y’shua loves me. Yes, Y’shua loves me. Yes, Y’shua loves. For the Torah tells me so.

Y’shua loves me when I’m good, when I do the things I should. Y’shua loves me when I’m bad, even though it makes him sad.

Activity
This game is played similar to the popular "musical chair" game, but with a different spin. Here there are no winners or losers. Place the chairs in a circle, one less than the number of children. Have the kids march around the chairs as you play some music. Try singing “Y’shua loves Me.” When you suddenly stop the music, or shout out the phrase "sit down!" the children all grab a chair and sit down. Give the one who does not find a chair a crown to wear while taking a few moments to tell the other children why they believe Y’shua loves them. This is for building up their self-esteem, in that they are not "losers" because they did not get a chair, but are special because of Y’shua’s love.

When finished, take back the crown and give the child a sticker a smiley face sticker or a treat. They can then sit out and watch the others. Remove another chair and continue play until everyone has a chance to wear the crown.

"And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them." (Mark 10: 16)

Activity
Teach the bible lesson with these words and motions

Y’shua said "come to me"

beckon with both arms

The children would run to Y’shua

two fingers run across palm

The people around Y’shua said stop

hold hand palm out "stop"

But Y’shua said "come to me"

beckon with both arms

And the children would run to Y’shua

two fingers run across palm

And Y’shua would love them

arms crossed on chest

Activity
Instead of playing "Simon Says", play “Y’shua says.” Use the same rules as Simon Says, except nobody is ever "out" because Y’shua is forgiving! Give the children a smiley face sticker or a treat for following directions.

Activity
(For each child, fold one square piece of white paper in half from top to bottom, in half again from side to side, in half diagonally to form a triangle, and in half diagonally again. Each child will need a blunt-end scissors.)

Ask children to sit in a circle. Show them how to make snowflakes, by cutting small pieces away from the outside edges. You may need to help children make their cuts. Then open to reveal the snowflake.

Say:

Each of us is special. There's no one else like us anywhere in the world. Even people who look alike, such as identical twins, are different inside. We're like snowflakes. Did you know that no two snowflakes are alike? Let's make some snowflakes and check that out.

Give children folded paper and blunt-end scissors. Show them how to cut the snowflakes. Compare kids' snowflakes to see if any are alike. Put each child's name on his or her snowflake.

Activity

(You'll need a beach ball.)

Say:

Just like the snowflakes, we're all different. We all have things that make us special. What are some things that make us special?

Talk about things we can do such as singing, playing, smiling, laughing, praying or helping; things that we are such as children, daughters, sons, cheerful, smart or helpful; even physical characteristics such as eye color, hair color, freckles, strong or graceful.

Go around the circle and let each person say one thing that makes him or her special .

Say:

Let's play a game. I'll roll a ball to someone. The person who catches the ball must say one thing that makes him or her special. That person rolls the ball to someone else who does the same. We'll continue until everyone has a turn.

Be ready to help kids out if they can't think of anything.

Teaching

(You'll need a Bible.)

Say:

YHWH made us the way we are. He made everything on the earth. What are some of YHWH's creations?

Let kids respond with things such as heaven, earth, animals, sky, water, flowers, trees and fish.

Read or tell the story of Creation from Genesis 1.

Say:

YHWH made all of these things. After he made each one, he said it was good. And after YHWH made people, he looked at his creation and said it was very good. YHWH thinks we all are very special, because he made us to be like him.

Read Genesis 1:31 from a children's Bible, or read this version: "YHWH looked at everything he had made, and it was very good."

Ask kids to go around the room shaking each other's hands and say, "YHWH thinks you're very good."

Activity
(You'll need a happy-face sticker for each person.)

Say:

We need to remind each other that we're special. What are some ways we can do that?

Help kids think of ways such as hugging, kissing, saying thank you, giving a gift, doing something nice for a person.

Divide into pairs by saying: I'll count to three. In those three seconds you have to grab the hand of someone who's standing close by you. But you can only hold one other hand. Ready? One, two, three. Got a partner?

Give each child a happy-face sticker. Have each child put the sticker on his or her partner's hand and say, "Smile, you're special."

Activity
(You'll need a tape of lively music and a tape player.)

Ask children to stand in a circle, facing inward. Play the lively music. Have one child walk around the outside of the circle, gently patting each child on the back as he or she passes, until the music stops. When the music stops, have the child hug the person he or she is behind and say, "You're special." Then have those two children switch places and continue the game.
Let each person have a chance to walk around the circle.

Snack
(You'll need fruit Roll-Up snacks, sliced fruit such as apples and pears, and strips of cheese.)

As a snack serve "Hugs From Y’shua."

Have kids roll up fruit slices and cheese strips in a fruit Roll-Up snack. Tell kids to pretend that Y’shua is the fruit roll up and they are the fruit and cheese.

Say:

Y’shua wants to roll you up in his love and give you a great big hug.

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