Lesson: John 11:41 (Ages 3-5)

📖 John 11:41 – Ages 3-5

Explanation

In this Bible verse, Jesus is showing us how important it is to thank God for listening to our prayers. Just like when we talk to our parents or friends, it's nice to say thank you when they help us or listen to us, Jesus is thanking His Father in Heaven for hearing Him.

Imagine you have a special toy you really want to play with, but it's stuck under your bed. You ask your mom or dad for help, and they move the bed to get your toy. You would say, "Thank you for helping me find my toy!" That's like what Jesus did. He asked God for help, and when God helped Him, Jesus said, "Thank You."

When we pray to God and He helps us, it's good to remember to thank Him, just like Jesus did. It's a way to show God that we appreciate His love and care for us. So, let's always remember to thank God for hearing our prayers and helping us, just like Jesus did in this Bible story.

Kid's Story

Once upon a time, a little bunny named Benny was sad because his favorite carrot was stuck under a big rock. Benny tried and tried to move the rock, but it was too heavy for him.

Suddenly, along came a kind squirrel named Sarah. Sarah offered to help Benny move the rock. Together, they pushed and pushed until the rock was finally out of the way.

Just like in the Bible story, Benny looked up at the sky and said, "Thank you, God, for helping us move the rock!" And just then, a gust of wind blew, and Benny's carrot rolled out from under the rock, right into his paws.

Benny learned that when we ask God for help, He hears us and helps us, just like Jesus thanked God for hearing Him. And Benny was filled with joy and gratitude for God's help.

Prayer Prompt

Dear God, thank you for listening to me when I talk to you. Help me to remember that you are always there for me, just like you were there for Jesus. Amen.

Discussion Questions

What did Jesus do before He spoke to God?
Why do you think Jesus thanked God?
Who do you thank when something good happens?
How do you feel when you thank someone?

Life Application

In this Bible verse, we see Jesus giving thanks to God before performing a miracle. Children aged 3-5 can apply this message in their lives by remembering to always be thankful to God for everything. They can start and end their day by saying thank you to God for their family, friends, food, toys, and all the blessings in their lives.

When they face challenges at home, school, or with friends, they can remember to thank God for being with them and helping them through difficult times. Just like Jesus thanked God before performing a miracle, children can remember to thank God before asking for help or when they receive something they prayed for.

Encouraging children to have a heart of gratitude and thankfulness will help them develop a positive attitude and a closer relationship with God in their daily lives.

Craft or Activity

Let's create a simple craft to help children understand and remember the message of John 11:41. You can have the children make a "Thankful Rock" craft.

Materials needed:
- Smooth rocks
- Acrylic paint or paint markers
- Paintbrushes
- Permanent markers
- Stickers (optional)

Instructions:
1. Start by taking a smooth rock and washing it clean.
2. Allow the children to paint the rock with acrylic paint or paint markers. Encourage them to choose bright colors.
3. Once the paint is dry, ask the children to write "Thank You, God" or "Thankful" on the rock using permanent markers.
4. They can also decorate the rock with stickers or drawings to make it more colorful and fun.
5. After completing the craft, remind the children of the verse from John 11:41 and explain that just as Jesus thanked God for hearing Him, we can also thank God for listening to our prayers.

This hands-on activity will help reinforce the message of gratitude and thankfulness from the Bible verse while allowing the children to create a tangible reminder of God's faithfulness.

Memory Verse or Rhyme

When Jesus prayed with love so true,
God heard Him, and He'll hear you too!
With faith and thanks, we'll always see,
God's power working, just believe!

Songs or Videos

One great Christian song for kids that relates to the message of John 11:41 is "My Lighthouse" by Rend Collective. This song talks about God's faithfulness and how He guides us through every situation, just like how Jesus thanked the Father before raising Lazarus from the dead. Another song is "You Are My King (Amazing Love)" by Newsboys, which highlights Jesus as our Savior and how His love for us is truly amazing, just as we see His miraculous power in this Bible verse. Both songs can help kids understand and appreciate the power of God's love and thankfulness in our lives.

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