Unfolding God’s Story for TeachersOur unit theme this month is “Jesus Healed.” Preschoolers will hear stories about Jesus’ encounters with individuals who had physical infirmities. Children will learn one way Jesus demonstrated His love and power was by healing people of their diseases or physical inabilities. The term miracle will be introduced. A miracle is an event which unmistakably involves an immediate and powerful action of God designed to reveal His character or purposes. We don’t want children to confuse a miracle with magic. Jesus healed to bring glory to God. In our passage, Jesus had returned to Cana of Galilee. In previous verses, He said not everyone received Him with favor. It was in Cana that Jesus had performed His first miracle of turning water into wine. The people of Cana welcomed Jesus possibly because they wanted to see more signs and wonders. While in Cana, He was approached by a royal official from Capernaum. The man probably worked for Herod. His son was seriously ill, and he had walked from his seaside town of Capernaum to the hillside town of Cana (about 20 miles) to find Jesus. The official had heard of these signs and wonders, and he hoped Jesus could heal his dying son. As soon as the man found Jesus, he begged for help. Jesus’ reply seemed somewhat harsh. He said, “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you never will believe.” Perhaps at this point, Jesus called for a test of faith. He simply responded to the man’s request by saying,”You may go; your son will live.” The official was presented with a crisis of faith. Did he continue to plead for Jesus to come and miraculously heal the child in front of everyone; or did he turn and walk home, trusting what the Master said? It must have been extremely difficult for the man to turn and walk away. Jesus was his only hope. Were the Teacher’s words enough?

We know the rest of the story, but when he turned to leave, the father did not yet know how the story would end. One has to wonder what was going on in his mind as he went home. The passage says, “The man believed what Jesus said to him and departed.” That is an amazing statement, but that is what faith does.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Heb. 11:1). How often do we want a sign or wonder to prove God’s truths? The royal official was met by his servants who announced the son’s fever had left and he was alive. He realized his son’s health returned at the same time Jesus spoke the words. Perhaps the miracle was also in turning and walking home.

New Testament Unit 2: Jesus Healed Lesson 1: Jesus Healed a Royal Official’s Son

1. God created everything

2. People disobeyed God.

3. God chose a special people.

4. God sent Jesus to help us.

5. Jesus began the Church.

6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us.

God’s Unfolding StoryBible Story:

Jesus Healed a Royal Official’s Son

(John 4:46-53)Bible Phrase: “Jesus made

sick people well” (Luke 7:21).Bible Truth: Jesus has the power to heal sick

people.

Arrival•Greet children at eye level and express how happy

you are to see them.•Be sure each child has a name tag and the security

measures of your church are followed.•Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly

encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session.

•Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time.

Hour A

Lesson Plan

Suggested Schedule:

ArrivalCenters – 25 minutes

Clean-up Time – 5 minutesBible Story Time – 15 minutes

Craft Time – 10 minutes Snack Time – 10 minutes

Game Time/Dismissal

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2012 - SundaySchoolZone.com NT02 Lesson 1 Hour A Page 1

Center Time

Art CenterDesign a First-Aid CollageSupplies:•Whitepaper•Cottonballs,cottonswabs,gauze tape, adhesive bandages, craft sticks•Glue,tapeWhat to Do: Print today’s Bible Phrase at the bottom of each sheet of paper. Invite children to make a collage with the first-aid items. Help children decide if glue or tape will hold the item best.Link to the Bible Story: Read the Bible Phrase at the bottom of the sheet. Comment that our story today is about Jesus healing a young boy who was sick.

Block CenterBuild with BlocksSupplies:•WoodenblocksWhat to Do: Provide a small carpet if possible. Blocks are best located in a corner of the room away from the traffic flow. Encourage preschoolers to work together to build and construct.Link to the Bible Story: As children work, look for opportunities in conversation to say the Bible Phrase or interject parts of the Bible story.

Home Living CenterRole Play Doctor and Nurse

Supplies:•Smallrockingchair,sinkandstoveunit,and

small table and chairs. Plastic dishes, child pots and pans; and doll items such as doll bed, doll, doll

bag, blanket, clothes, bottles and diapers. •Addatoydoctorornursekittothearea.Labcoats

or scrub tops would be a fun addition. Provide adhesive bandages, cotton balls, craft sticks and gauze tape for play.What to Do: Encourage children to role play doctor and nurse.

Children can place bandages or gauze on the baby doll.Link to the Bible Story: Tell children in today’s Bible

story Jesus healed a young boy who had a fever. Jesus traveled from town to town healing people

who were sick. When Jesus healed, it was called a miracle. Miracles helped people

know Jesus was God’s Son.

Bible Learning CenterFind the Hidden Pictures

Supplies:•CopiesofActivityPage,“Findthe

Hidden Pictures” (Reproducible)•Crayonsandwashablemarkers

What to Do: Ask children to find the hidden medical items in the picture.

Link to the Bible Story: Express to children that in today’s story, Jesus healed a young

boy. Explain to children that Jesus did not need medicine or bandages to heal

the boy; Jesus simply said, “‘The boy is healed.’ The father believed what

Jesus said and went home. The boy was well.”

Puzzle Center Work Puzzles

Supplies:• Offer a variety of non-fantasy wooden or cardboard puzzles for

children to work.What to Do: Invite preschoolers to

work puzzles. Encourage children to finish a puzzle before leaving the center.

Give guidance rather than doing the puzzle for the child.

Link to Bible Story: As children work, look for opportunities in conversation to

say the Bible Phrase or briefly tell the Bible story.

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Clean-up TimeEncourage

preschoolers to help at clean-up time.

Assign specific tasks for preschoolers to do such as

placing all the crayons in the basket, throwing away the trash,

gathering all the glue sticks, etc. Guide children to the

Bible Story Time area.

Introduction•ShowtheGod’sUnfoldingStoryCube.Pointto each symbol and tell God’s Unfolding Story. (Refer to page 1.) Encourage children to say the story with you. •Commenttoboysandgirlstoday’ssegmentof God’s Unfolding Story is from God sent Jesus to help us. (Point to that symbol on the cube.)•Reviewlastweek’sBiblestory.“Inourstorylast week, Jesus asked Peter to put into the

water and let down his fishing nets. Even though Peter had fished all night and had not caught one fish, he did what Jesus asked. Then an amazing thing called a miracle happened: His nets filled with fish! This miracle helped Peter believe Jesus was God’s Son.”•Comment,“Amiracleissomethingamazingthat happens which brings glory to God. A miracle helps us know God’s power. Our

stories this month are about some of Jesus’ healing miracles. Listen to hear about a young boy who was very sick and how Jesus healed him.”

Bible StoryJesus Healed a Royal Official’s Son (John 4:46-53)

Jesus had been traveling from town to town telling people about God’s love. One

day, He traveled to a town called Cana. A young boy lived near Cana who had become very sick with a fever. His father was a wealthy man. He was a royal official who worked for the king. The young boy’s father was very concerned about his son. He knew he needed to get help in order for his son to live. News reached the father that Jesus was in Cana, not far away. He had heard Jesus had healed other people. Maybe Jesus could heal his son. The man decided to find Jesus. So the father walked to the town of Cana. Finally, he saw Jesus. He hurried to Him and asked, “Jesus, will You come and heal my son before he dies?”

Jesus told the man, “Go, your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said, and he began walking home. While he was still walking, some of the man’s helpers met him. They said, “Sir, your son is well. He no longer has a fever!” The man asked, “When did this happen?” His helper said, “Yesterday morning.” The man realized it was the same time Jesus said, “Your son will live!” Because Jesus had healed the man’s son, he and his family believed in God.

Talk Time1. Show the teaching picture for today’s Bible

story. Ask the following: “Why did the man want to find Jesus? What did Jesus do? When did Jesus heal the young boy? What did this healing cause the man and his family to do?”

2. Read the Bible Phrase on the teaching picture. Say the phrase together. Comment that Jesus healed people to show God’s power. Explain to children God often uses doctors and nurses to help people get well; God also chooses sometimes to heal someone through a miracle.

3. Close the Bible Story Time by inviting children to join you in prayer. Perhaps someone has a friend or family member who is ill. Allow any interested preschooler to pray. Conclude prayer time by thanking Jesus for the miracle of healing.

4. Direct children to Craft Time.

Bible Story Time

Supplies:•Bible

•TeachingPicture,“JesusHealed a Royal Official’s Son”

(Reproducible)•God’sUnfoldingStoryCube

(Reproducible)

Snack TimeBe sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up.

Game Time/DismissalFind a FriendSupplies:•Nosuppliesnecessary.What to Do:Ask children to sit in a circle. Play a version of “Hide and Seek.” Choose a child to be the first to hide. Ask all the children to close their eyes while the child hides somewhere in the room. After the child has hidden, say something such as, “Cooper, Cooper where are you?” Have the children open their eyes. Choose one child to go and find the friend. After the child is found, that child gets to hide. Remind children in today’s Bible story the royal official had to go and find Jesus in another town. Dismiss children as parents arrive. Be sure to follow the security procedures of your church.

Craft TimeLace around a Bible Story PictureSupplies:•Copiesof“BibleStoryPicture/LacingActivity”(Reproducible)•8”paperplates•Holepunch,yarn•GluesticksWhat to Do: Prior to the lesson, cut out the Bible Story Pictures. Punch eight to ten holes around each paper plate tobeusedforlacing.Cutyarninto18”lengths.Itwillbehelpful to preschoolers if their length of yarn is already tied and knotted through one hole of their plate. Give each child a paper plate and Bible Story Picture and invite them to glue the picture to the plate. Demonstrate to preschoolers how to loop the yarn through the holes around their plates. Assist in knotting off the ends of each child’s lacing.Link to Bible Story: As children work talk about the picture. Ask children what is happening in the picture. Express that just as Jesus healed the Royal Official’s son long ago; Jesus still heals today.

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New Testament Unit 2: Jesus Healed Lesson 1: Jesus Healed a Royal Official’s Son

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2012 - SundaySchoolZone.com NT02 Lesson 1 Hour A

Resources and SuppliesStandard Art Supplies(Supplies that are generally in the room)

Washable markersCrayons

Child scissorsPlaydough and accessories

Drawing paperEasel (optional)Glue/glue sticks

Tempera paint, 4 colorsTape/masking tape

Pencils/colored pencilsHole punch

Teacher scissorsStapler/staples

Permanent markersWatercolorsPaintbrushes

Yarn

Standard Equipment(Equipment that is generally in the room)

Small beanbag for Bible Story TimeAssorted wooden/cardboard puzzles

Set of wooden blocksSmall cars and trucks

Doll bedBaby doll (soft plastic)

Stove/sink unitPlay dishes/pots and pans

Small table and chairsSmall carpet for block area

Play food itemsStorage shelf for blocks

Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, and Bible Learning Center

CD player/Children’s Worship CDs

Reproducibles(Included with the lesson plan downloads)

Activity Page, “Find the Hidden Pictures,” 1 copy per child“Bible Story Picture/Lacing Activity,” 1 copy per child

Teaching Picture, “Jesus Healed a Royal Official’s Son,” 1 copy per classGod’s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock), 1 copy per class

Parent Page, 1 copy per child

Additional Art MaterialsWhite construction paper, 1 sheet per childCotton balls, cotton swabs, gauze tape,

adhesive bandages, craft sticksPaper plates, 1 per child

Additional Home Living Materials

Toy doctor or nurse kitAdhesive bandages, cotton balls,

craft sticks, gauze

Hour A