Leader Guide

Teaching

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Discipleship Challenge materials:

Copy the three Signpost Cards onto cardstock if possible, in color or black and white. Discipleship Challenge for children who missed the previous lessons.
Make copies of the Water Jar and Cup Craft, one per child who missed Lessons 1 and 2. See Lesson 1 for details.
Note: You may also wish to review the Bible Study: How Did Mary Know? in Additional Activities for Lesson 1.

Whatever We Need: Jesus’ miracles of provision connect Him to Moses.

Have a child select the first Signpost card and read it aloud. Tape the card to the wall or prop it up so children can see it. Lead a discussion with the information below. Repeat for the other two Signpost cards. Additional material is included for Grades 4–6 to look up and discuss.

Signpost 1  The Wedding Party

Jesus’ miracles of turning water into wine and feeding over 5,000 hungry people help us to better understand His life and ministry. His first public miracle was at a wedding party. In the Old Testament, which was written before Jesus’ birth, God’s relationship with His people was sometimes likened to a marriage. The prophet Isaiah said that God will be their husband. Many other Old Testament books speak of this relationship, also. (See Hosea, Song of Solomon, Ezekiel, and Psalm 45.)

In the New Testament, John the Baptist referred to Jesus as the Bridegroom. The Apostle Paul referred to Jesus as a groom and the church as His bride.

Jesus’ miracle of turning water into wine points us back to Moses in the Old Testament. God told Moses to set the Israelites free from slavery in Egypt. When Pharaoh would not let them go, God sent ten plagues upon Egypt. Does anyone know the first plague that God sent? The first plague was when Moses turned the water of Egypt into blood.

Exodus 7:19 says:

Then the LORD said to Moses: “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and raise your hand over the waters of Egypt—all its rivers, canals, ponds, and all the reservoirs. Turn all the water to blood. Everywhere in Egypt the water will turn to blood, even the water stored in wooden bowls and stone pots.’”

Mary told the servants at the wedding to do what Jesus said because she believed that He could provide wine. (For more on this subject, see Lesson 1 Additional Activity, Bible Study: How Did Mary Know?)

Turning water into wine, or turning water into blood, is impossible for humans to do, but it’s not hard for God—nothing is impossible for Him!

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

John 2:11:

This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed His glory. And His disciples believed in Him.

Isaiah 54:5:

For your Creator will be your husband; the LORD of Heaven’s Armies is His name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth.

John 3:28–29:

28“You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for Him.’ 29It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at His success.”

Ephesians 5:25–27:

25For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up His life for her 26to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. 27He did this to present her to Himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.

2 Corinthians 11:2:

For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God Himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ.

Signpost 2  The Miracle in the Desert

When Jesus fed over 5,000 men, women and children, it was a miracle something like Moses had done centuries earlier. After the Israelites left Egypt, they were out in the wilderness. There was no food to eat and no water to drink. Yet God took care of their needs! Does anyone know what food God provided that they could go out and gather? Manna.

God also sent a certain type of bird to provide meat. Does anyone know the kind of bird? Quail.

God also miraculously provided water to His people by having Moses strike a rock. Now if you went outside and struck a rock, would water come out? No, it was a miracle!

Later, Moses told the Israelites that God would raise up a prophet like him. He was prophesying about the Messiah—Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

In John 5:46, before He fed the crowd, Jesus said:

“If you really believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me.”

Jesus also called Himself a type of water. Does anyone know what it is? Living water.

When we believe in Jesus, He gives us living water that satisfies our spiritual needs. Through Jesus’ miracles, He showed that He can provide for our physical needs. Instead of worrying about what we need, we should concentrate on seeking the things of God. Jesus said that when we seek Him above all else, and live right according to God’s Word, He will give us everything we need! (See Matthew 6:33.)

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

Deuteronomy 18:15:

Moses continued, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to Him.”

John 6:35:

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.”

Signpost 3  The New Covenant

During the Last Supper with His disciples, Jesus called the bread His body and He called the wine His blood. Jesus was referring to His death on the cross to pay the punishment for our sins. The bread represents His broken body, and the wine represents His blood that was shed for us. Through His body and blood we are healed and forgiven and saved! Jesus provides for all of our physical and spiritual needs. All we need to do is trust in Him!

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

Matthew 26:26:

As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then He broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is My body.”

Matthew 26:28:

“For this is My blood, which confirms the covenant between God and His people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.”

Isaiah 53:5:

But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

It’s time for our Discipleship Challenge where you will be given a new challenge to give; possibly in a way you have never given before!

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Give any child who missed the previous lessons a Jesus Feeds the Hungry Water Jar and Cup Craft. Show children the sample craft made in Lesson 1 and have them complete the craft at home. Hold up the sample craft.

Our challenge for this course is to do what Jesus asks us to do. In the previous challenge, found on Cup #2, you were asked to read and try to memorize Mark 11:25.

Would anyone like to try and say the verse from memory?

 “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

How did you do with forgiving others? Were you able to forgive with God’s help? Children respond.

How did you feel after you forgave them? Children respond.

Our final challenge for this course is on Cup #3. Choose a volunteer to find the cup in the water jar and then read it aloud. Give in secret, Matthew 6:3–4.

Raise your hand if you have given something to someone who had a need. Children respond.

Great; it is wonderful to give to others. However, Jesus also looks at why we give. If it is for selfish reasons, such as to get attention for ourselves or to be praised, this isn’t pleasing to God. Jesus asks us to give even when no one sees or knows about it! And, when we do this, He will personally reward us!

In this final challenge, read the challenge Scripture and then look for opportunities to give to others in need—without calling attention to yourself or expecting to be praised. Some ideas might be to give your time, ability, or even to donate some money or a possession when appropriate. Just be sure to discuss this with your parents in advance!

Optional: Read and discuss the Scripture now: Matthew 6:3–4:

3“But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

Remember, give for the right reason and God will be the one who rewards you! As we have been learning, Jesus will take whatever we give, no matter how little, and He will multiply it!

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