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Something to think about before teaching:In John 1:46, Nathaniel asks, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Such was the town’s reputation where Jesus grew to be a man. In this small town He experienced the needs of the common people. Even thought the town was small it was on the caravan route from Damascus to Egypt so it would have received a fair amount of travel. It was also known for housing rebels so the reputation of the town was not pristine.

Kids will learn that Jesus grew up in a town that was often rejected. He would be linked to this town through the name Jesus of Nazareth or Nazarene. He understood the average person’s needs and the common eve-ryday life that a member of a “forgotten” place might live.

The Work: Learning what God says about the nameBible Story Famous Artist Extreme Art

Display: Imagining ways to apply what God says. Art Studio GameBible MemoryExpress Yourself SnackThe Gallery Cards Family Guide

Each Lesson contains:

Preparation: Gathering the tools to learn about the nameArt Gone Wild TriviaFrancois and Frank Draw ItPainting the Verse

SPLATTER STUDIO lesson OneMain Point: Jesus, the Nazarene, grew up in a common, ordinary place living the life of an average person.

Bible Verse: And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. Matthew 2:23

Bible Story: Return to Nazareth Matthew 2:13-23

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Preparationguess the art gone wild PP

PP I am going to show you three pictures. See if you can figure out what was used to paint these pictures. A hint is that what was used is a common, ordinary thing. (Show kids the three power point pictures.)

The answer is dirt. Some dirt and water were mixed together and then used as paint. Would you have guessed that dirt made this picture?

Francois and Frank PP

Supplies: Paint brush, palette, canvas board, easel, brown paint, small package

Francois is painting the canvas brown. He takes time with each brush stroke, overdramatizing each movement.

Frank: (Enters holding a package.) Delivery. Delivery for Francois.

Francois: (Looks up surprised to see Frank.) Why Frank! My Christmas assistant. It is so marvelous to see you once again. However, I am quite sorry to have to inform you but I will not be in need of Christmas trees until December. So, you will need to take the delivery back to Frank’s Christmas Tree Farm.

Frank: I’m not delivering trees.

Francois: You aren’t? Oh, my. So sorry for my mistake. What brings you to Splatter Studios on such a gloriously beautiful day?

Frank: A delivery. Here are your paintbrushes. They should all be in good shape and we want you to know at Frank’s Paintbrush Emporium that we only settle for the best in the paintbrush line.

Francois: Paintbrushes? I did order them but had no idea they came from you.

Frank: Yes, they did. Frank’s Paintbrush Emporium is my non-seasonal business. Christmas tree farming will not support me year round. So we also grow trees to make the handles of the paintbrushes.

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We have a factory that outputs the finest paintbrushes in these parts. Thank you for your business. (Turns to go.)

Francois: Wait, Frank! Don’t leave just yet. I want to show you my painting. Now I understand you aren’t an art critic, but a common man’s view of my work would be much appreciated.

Frank: Ok. If you say so.

Francois: (Dramatically turns the painting so Frank can see.) Ta-da! My work of art is complete. What do you think?

Frank: It’s brown.

Francois: YES!

Frank: That’s it? I don’t see a picture or anything. Just brown. Everywhere.

Francois: The beauty of a one color painting. The beauty of the common, everyday color.

Frank: I don’t get it.

Francois: Get what?

Frank: (Points to the painting.) That.

Francois: What’s there to get?

Frank: (Scratches his head.) What is it a painting of?

Francois: Dirt.

Frank: Well, as a farmer I know a lot about dirt. I’m not sure that looks exactly like dirt.

Francois: Frank (draws his name out), this is an artistic interpretation of dirt. You have to feel the painting. Can you feel it, Frank?

Frank: Dirt is dirt. Dirt has no feeling. It is just dirt. Francois: Ah, but you are mistaken my friend.

Frank: I’ll bill you for those paintbrushes. Right now I have more deliveries. Enjoy your day and your... your... dirt, I guess. (Frank leaves.)

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Francois: He just does not understand an artistic eye. (Sighs.) Must be sad to not be able to see the beauty coming from this dirt. (Shakes head and does some finishing touches to the painting.) Something beautiful will come from this dirt. For God is in the business of bringing beauty from just ordinary things.

Draw it! PP

Supplies: Two easels, paper, large black markers, baggie of dirt (for optional display), Nazarene sign

Divide the kids into two teams. Choose one kid from each team to draw, telling each one the sym-bol to draw. Have them draw the symbol in front of the their team at the same time. The first team to guess what is drawn wins.

PP Symbol to draw: a dirt road leading to a biblical town

Our name of Jesus today is Nazarene. What do you think this picture has to do with the name? (Give kids an opportunity to guess.)

Jesus was called a Nazarene because He grew up in a town called Nazareth. People who lived in Nazareth were called Nazarenes. Just like people who live in New York are called New York-ers and people who live in Paris are called Parisians. (Name the town you live in and what people are called from that town.)

The dirt road symbolizes that the town was just an average town. There was not anything spe-cial about it. Probably 500 people lived in that town. Jesus grew up in just an ordinary, com-mon place, living the life of an average person.

Options: Display: Place a pile of dirt and the Nazarene sign in the display.

No Power Point: If you do not have access to power point, put the dirt in a box and have the kids guess what might be in the box giving clues.

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Painting the verse PP

PP Read Matthew 2:23 together:

And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Let’s say the verse again with some motions to help us remember it.

And he went (Make fingers of one hand walk on the palm of the other hand.)And lived in a city called Nazareth, (Make a house using the two hands coming together in a point at the top.)So that what was spoken (Put hands to mouth as if shouting.)By the prophets might be fulfilled, (Nod yes.)That he (Point to the sky.)Would be called (Hands to mouth again as if shouting.)A Nazarene (Trace a “N” with pointer finger.)

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the workbible story PP

Return to NazarethMatthew 2:13-23

Supplies: Print outs of “Bethlehem” ,“Egypt”, “Nazareth”, a star, a pyramid and dirt road

I am going to name a place and you tell me what that place is known for.(Pick some of the places that the kids will know from the list below. Add some places around your area.)

Paris- Eiffel tower, artLondon- Big Ben, London Bridge, queen and kingSwitzerland- Alps, chocolate, cheese, clocksLos Angeles, California- movies, movie starsOrlando, Florida- Disney WorldNew York, New York- skyscrapers, Statue of Liberty, BroadwayNashville, Tennessee- country musicCanada- Maple, hockey, cold China- Great Wall of China, rice fields, crowded citiesEgypt- pyramids, Nile RiverKenya- safari, lionsBrazil- coffee, Rain Forest

What is your town known for? Is it known for good things or bad things? Or maybe it is not known for anything in particular?

Do you think that people assume things about people depending on the place they come from? Sometimes people have stereotypes about places like farm communities or big cities or small towns. They think that people are a certain way because of the place they come from.

Someone thought that of Jesus. They judged Him by the town he grew up in. Let’s learn a little about that town and how Jesus ended up liv-ing in the town and then we will see what was said about it.

Does anyone remember the town Jesus was born in? Bethlehem. (Take sign and put it on the wall. Place the star above the sign.) We will put a star over the Bethlehem sign to remember that this is where the star appeared

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when Jesus was born. The star was what the wise men followed to get to Jesus. Bethlehem was also a special place, sometimes called the City of David, after David the King.

Some time after Jesus was born, after the wise men visited, Joseph was warned in a dream to leave Bethlehem. So he took Mary and Jesus and traveled to Egypt. Scholars think that the family was able to afford this trip using the gifts that the wise men had given.

(Place a sign on the wall for Egypt. Place picture of a pyramid over it.) Egypt is known for pyramids so we will put the picture of a pyramid to remember.

In Matthew 2: 19-23, the Bible tells us what happened while the family was in Egypt. An angel appeared in a dream to Joseph. King Herod had died; he was the king who had sought to kill Jesus. The angel told Joseph, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”

That is exactly what Joseph did. He got up and packed the family. He took Jesus and Mary and went back to the land of Israel. However, when he heard who the ruler was (Herod’s son Ar-chelaus), he was afraid to go back to the area.

Being warned in a dream, he went to Galilee where there was a city called Nazareth. There the family lived. (Put the sign Nazareth on the wall to the upper right of Bethlehem. Place the dirt road above the sign.)

The Bible tells us that the prophets had long ago said, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” They were talking about the Messiah, about Jesus.

What do we know about Nazareth? I am going to make a statement and you guess whether it is true or false.

PP 1. Nazareth was a big town. False. It was a small town.

PP 2. About 500 people lived in the town. True.

PP 3. Nazareth was on a steep hill with a spring at the bottom of the hill. True.

PP 4. Nazareth residents could get water from five different places. False. The only water source was the spring at the bottom of the hill.

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PP 5. Nazareth did not get many people traveling through it. False. It was on a caravan route so a fair amount of camel traffic came through.

PP 6. Nazareth was thought to be a nice town that people enjoyed. False. People despised Nazareth.

PP 7. Nazareth was made up of only Jews. False. Jews and Gentiles lived in the town.

PP 8. Rebels lived in Nazareth- those who would make trouble for the government. True. That is one reason people did not like Nazareth.

PP 9. Nazarenes spoke a language that was a bit different than others. True. Other Jewish people knew Nazarenes by the way they talked (anyone from Galilee spoke this way.)

When Jesus started his ministry, He told men to “Follow me.” Many did. One day he came up to Philip and said “Follow me.” Philipp went to Nathanael and told him about Jesus and that he thought Jesus was the one they had been waiting for. Nathanael said, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

He was judging Jesus by the place He came from.

Nathanael, after meeting Jesus, realized that something very good had come out of Nazareth and became Jesus’ disciple.

Jesus came from a common, ordinary place that had nothing special about it, instead people did not think highly of anyone who came from there. He lived the life of an average person while growing up. He understands how ordinary people live and the things that make them mad, sad and happy.

Through His life, Jesus would show that something good can come out of a place that people think “nothing good can come out of.” No matter where we come from, Jesus can do the same thing with our lives.

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Prayer PP

Thank God for sending Jesus to earth to experience life with us. Thank Him for sending Jesus to change ordinary lives into extraordinary ones.

Famous Artist: Michelangelo PP

Supplies: plaster of Paris, water, container

Preparation: Mix the plaster of Paris with water according to the instructions on the package.

Michelangelo was a great artist who lived a long time ago. He was from Italy and was known for being a painter and a sculptor. One of the most famous works of art was painting a ceiling.

Look up at the ceiling in this room. Do you think it would be hard to paint a picture on it? The ceiling that Michelangelo painted was different than this ceiling. It was located in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. The pope, Julius II, asked him to paint it.

The ceiling was high. It was also rounded at the top like the top part of a tunnel. In order to paint it, Michelangelo had to paint lying on his back. He built a tall wooden structure with wooden planks. It was like a ladder except that it had a floor to stand on. Each day Michel-angelo would climb this structure (called a scaffold). He would assemble his brushes and his paint. Then, he would lay down on his back, raise his arm with the paintbrush in hand and paint. It look him four years to complete his project!

To paint, Michelangelo had to first plaster the walls. Plaster was a substance that was similar to mixing flour and water except thicker. Perhaps you have made something out of plaster of paris, for instance, a handprint impressions or a Christmas ornament. (Show the plaster of Paris to the kids.) He would put the plaster on the wall and while still wet, he would paint it. If he did not like what he painted, he would have to scrape it off and start again. This kind of painting is called fresco painting.

Who would think that something beautiful could be made by sticking this gunk on a ceiling and then painting it? But he did. In fact, his painting on the ceiling is well known and loved today- over 500 years after he painted it.

When we think about Michelangelo painting on his back, we realize he was painting upside down. His view of the world was upside down. It reminds us of the way Jesus lived. Upside down. Many would think that Jesus, the promised Messi-

ah, would not grow up in a dirty, dusty small town. They would expect Him to grow up in a palace somewhere. Or at least a large home in an impor-tant city. Also, one might expect Him to have had

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friends that were famous, powerful or rich people. But He did not. The people He grew up with were hard working people, who did not have a lot. They were not famous. They were not powerful and they were not rich.

Jesus came from an ordinary place. He lived an ordinary life. He was not about making a big deal about who He was or hanging with the “right” people. He never tried to be popular.

Let’s make the choice to be like Jesus. To not seek out popularity but to seek out those who need us. Jesus never tried to “climb” a ladder to be liked. Rather, He “climbed” down a ladder to help those who were hurting. He lived an upside down life.

And just as Michelangelo brought beauty from some plain powder and water that looked like gunk, Jesus brings beauty from lives that seem plain and ordinary.

extreme art: Lie-down painting PP

Supplies: large sheets of butcher paper or poster paper, masking tape, large table (low enough to the ground that a child can lay down and reach the underneath side), tempera paints, paintbrushes, covering for floor, paint shirts

Preparation: Tape the paper to the underside of the tables. Place floor coverings for protection.

LESS MESSY SOLUTION: If paint is too messy for your situation, use markers or colored pencils.

Divide the kids into groups. Each group should have a table to paint under. If there are not enough tables available, consider using this as a rotation with some other activities. As one group is finished with their painting, it can be untapped and placed to dry. Then another group can paint under the table.

We are going to paint like Michelangelo today. The Sistine chapel has pictures of history from creation to when Jesus was born. You will work with your group to make a painting with scenes from creation to Jesus’ birth.

First, decide with your group what each person will paint. Then take turns laying on the floor under the table and painting the paper.

After everyone is finished, have them display their painting and de-scribe what they painted.

Was it hard to paint on your back? How did it feel upside down to you? What are some ways that you live your life that would seem upside down? Are there ways you should be living more upside down?

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the displayart studio: fresco paintingSupplies: material for a mold (cardboard box, pie tin, paper plate), plaster of Paris, paint-brush, watercolor paints or tempera paints, container of water, paint stirrer

Preparation: (Do this the morning of the class.) Mix the plaster of Paris according to the directions on the package. Pour the plaster into the mold. Smooth the plaster with the paint stirrer. Let the plaster set up enough that it can be painted on. It needs to be damp but not too wet.

Turn the plaster out of the mold and turn it upside down. Have the kids paint on the plaster. Encourage them to paint a symbol to show that Jesus was from Nazareth. (A dirt road lead-ing to the town, their interpretation of what the town looked like, etc.) Keep the plaster wet by running a wet paintbrush over it if it starts to dry out before painted.

Allow the plaster to dry overnight.

Simpler option: Paint using watercolors on watercolor paper.

Game: Bethlehem, Egypt or NazarethHave each child pick one of the names: Bethlehem, Egypt or Nazareth. Line up the kids on one end of the room. One person is it and stands in the middle of the room. Call out a statement about one of the places. Everyone who is that place must run across the room without being tagged by “it.” If tagged, they join “it” in the middle of the room. Play contin-ues until everyone is tagged.

Possible statements to use:

Bethlehem1. Place where Jesus was born.2. Called the City of David.3. The star shone above this place. 4. Shepherds visited Jesus here. 5. Mary and Joseph escaped from this place and went to Egypt.

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Egypt1. Place that is known for pyramids. 2. Mary and Joseph escaped here.3. This was where Jesus’ family hid from King Herod. 4. The gifts of the wise men probably paid for the trip to this place. 5. Joseph had a dream where an angel told him it was safe to leave this place since King Herod was dead.

Nazareth1. Place where Jesus grew up.2. Ordinary town on a camel caravan route. 3. Had only one source of water at the bottom of a hill. 4. This town had about 500 people living in it.5. Nathaniel said, “What good has ever come from that place?”

bible memory activity: stick figure verseAnd he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be ful-filled, that he would be called a Nazarene. Matthew 2:23

Supplies: Large paper, markers

Divide the kids into teams. Give each team a large piece of paper and markers. Have them work to-gether to draw the Bible verse using stick people or simple lines. Use words when necessary. When finished, trade with other groups and practice saying the verse using the drawings for prompts.

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Express YourselfSupplies: Copy of questions for each small group

1. How would you describe the town Jesus grew up in?2. Do you think this town fits Jesus? Why or why not?3. Why did Jesus and his family end up living in Nazareth? What prophecy did Him living there fulfill?4. What does it mean to climb up the ladder versus climbing down the ladder? (How we live our life?) 5. Name some ways in which Jesus climbed down the ladder. 6. What are some ways that kids try to climb up the ladder? 7. What are some ways that kids can climb down the ladder?

Snack: Dirt Road Pudding and CrackersSupplies: prepared chocolate pudding, Oreos™, graham crackers, paper plates, Ziploc baggie™, spoon

Preparation: Crush the cookies in a Ziploc baggie.

Spread the pudding on the plate to make a road. Sprinkle crushed up cookies on top of the pudding. At the end of the road use the graham crackers to construct a building to symbolize Nazareth.

Gallery CardsSupplies: printed card for each child, markers or crayons (optional)

Name: NazareneSymbol: Dirt road leading to an ancient town Verse: And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. Matthew 2:23

Give each child the card. If using the coloring cards, use markers or crayons to decorate them. Go over the verse together and review the symbol.

Supply List

Francois and Frank: ☐Paint brush ☐Palette ☐Canvas board ☐Easel ☐Brown paint ☐Small package

Draw it!: ☐Two easels ☐Paper ☐Large black markers ☐Baggie of dirt (for optional display) ☐Nazarene sign

Bible Story: ☐Print outs of “Bethlehem”, “Egypt”, “Nazareth” ☐Print outs of a star, a pyramid and dirt road

famous artist: ☐Plaster of Paris ☐Water ☐Container

extreme Art: ☐Large sheets of butcher paper or poster paper ☐Masking tape ☐Large table ☐Tempera paints ☐Paintbrushes ☐Covering for floor ☐Paint shirts

art studio: ☐Material for a mold (cardboard box, pie tin, paper plate) ☐Plaster of Paris ☐Paint-brush ☐Watercolor paints or tempera paints ☐Container of water ☐Paint stirrer

game: ☐None

bible memory activity: ☐Large paper ☐Markers

express yourself: ☐Copy of questions

snack: ☐Prepared chocolate pudding ☐Oreos™ ☐Graham crackers ☐Paper plates ☐Ziploc bag-gie™ ☐Spoon

gallery cards: ☐Printed card for each child ☐Markers or crayons

Main Point: Jesus, the Nazarene, grew up in a common, ordinary place living the life of an average person.

Bible Verse: And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. Matthew 2:23

Bible Story: Return to Nazareth Matthew 2:13-23

Family Discussion:

Have your child tell you what the town of Nazareth was like.

1. How is the town you live in differ-ent than Nazareth? How is it alike?

2. Why does the town that Jesus grew up in fit the work that He came to do on earth?

3. How can your family “climb down the ladder” to help those who are hurting and in need?

Family Imaginative Thinking:

Use blocks, Legos, or other building materials to create the commu-nity where you live. Would anyone say “Nothing good ever comes out of (your town)? What good things have come from your community? Now build the town of Nazareth with the building supplies. Compare the two communities.

Family Art Project

Draw a picture together of what Jesus’ life might have looked like. Draw another picture of what a king’s life might look like. What differ-ence do you think it makes that Jesus grew up in an ordinary place instead of palace or rich home?

SPLATTER STUDIO lesson One

Express Yourself

1. How would you describe the town Jesus grew up in?

2. Do you think this town fits Jesus? Why or why not?

3. Why did Jesus and his family end up living in Nazareth? What prophecy did Him living there fulfill?

4. What does it mean to climb up the ladder versus climbing down the ladder? (How we live our life?)

5. Name some ways in which Jesus climbed down the ladder.

6. What are some ways that kids try to climb up the ladder?

7. What are some ways that kids can climb down the ladder?