unit 21 • session 2 jesus taught in nazareth · 2020-05-15 · jesus taught in nazareth. luke 4....

Additional resources are available at gospelproject.com.For free training and session-by-session help, visit MinistryGrid.com/gospelproject.

Use Week of:

BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 4

STORY POINT: Jesus taught that He is the Messiah.

KEY PASSAGE: John 3:16

BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes people special? People are special because God made us in

His own image.

TEACH THE STORY(15–20 MINUTES)

PAGE 120

EXPERIENCE THE STORY(25–30 MINUTES)

PAGE 122

REVIEW THE STORY(10+ MINUTES)

PAGE 124

Unit 21 • Session 2Jesus Taught

in Nazareth

Unit 21 • Session 2

116 Preschool Worship GuideUnit 21 • Session 2

3's-Pre-K

May 17, 2020

2

LEADER Bible StudyJesus was about 30 years old when He began His earthly ministry. After John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, Jesus was tempted in the desert. Jesus traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover. Then He headed north to Galilee. He went through the region of Samaria, stopping at Jacob’s well to talk to a Samaritan woman.

After, Jesus went to the town of Nazareth, where He had grown up. Nazareth was a small village in the hills between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean Sea. On the Sabbath day, Jesus went into the synagogue to teach. He read aloud the words of the prophet Isaiah. (See Isa. 61:1-2.) Jesus sat down. Everyone’s eyes were on Him as He explained, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.” Jesus was saying, It’s Me. The words Jesus read were coming true. Some people remembered Jesus from His youth. They asked, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

Jesus knew their thoughts; Jesus had performed miracles in Capernaum, and the people wanted Jesus to do miracles in His hometown too. Jesus reminded them of two Old Testament accounts. Many widows lived in Israel when the prophet Elijah was there, but God sent Elijah to help a widow in another country. And Elisha likely encountered Israelites who had leprosy, but he healed Naaman the Syrian.

Jesus wanted the people to understand that His miracles were an act of grace—a gift. No one deserves God’s grace, so God may show grace to whomever He pleases—even Gentiles. The people were angry about that last part. They drove Jesus away, intending to kill Him, but Jesus escaped through the crowd.

As you teach, explain that Jesus came to give sight to the blind and to set the captives free. He came preaching good news to all the people groups. Finally, the Messiah had come! Jesus was God’s plan to save sinners.

117Among the People

Jesus Taught in NazarethLuke 4

Jesus went to the town of Nazareth where He lived when He was a young boy. Now Jesus was grown up. He traveled all around and taught people about God.

On the Sabbath day, Jesus went to the synagogue. The synagogue was a building where Jews met

together to pray, worship God, and learn about the Scriptures. One of

the ways people worshiped God was by listening to God’s Word.

Jesus stood up to read God’s Word. He opened a scroll. The scroll had words on it from the prophet Isaiah long ago. Jesus read: “God’s Spirit is on Me. He has chosen Me to tell good news to the poor. He has sent Me to tell the captives that they are free,

to help the blind people see, to free people who have been

treated badly, and to announce that God’s favor is on us.”Then Jesus rolled up the scroll.

He gave it to a man who worked in the synagogue, and then He sat down. The people

in the synagogue stared at Jesus, waiting for Him to say something. Jesus said, “These words came true today.”

Yes, Isaiah’s words came true because Isaiah’s words were about Jesus! God was with Jesus, and God had chosen Jesus to tell people good

Bible Storytelling Tips

• Sign Jesus: Showpreschoolers how tosign Jesus by tappingthe middle fingerof one hand to thecenter palm of theother hand, and viceversa. Encouragechildren to listen forthe name Jesus in theBible story and signit every time theyhear it.

• Read from ascroll: Print theBible story on a longpiece of paper beforethe session. Open andunroll the scroll andread the story.

The BIBLE Story


Jesus Taught in NazarethLuke 4

Jesus went to the town of Nazareth where He lived when He was a young boy. Now Jesus was grown up. He traveled all around and taught people about God.

On the Sabbath day, Jesus went to the synagogue. The synagogue was a building where Jews met

together to pray, worship God, and learn about the Scriptures. One of

the ways people worshiped God was by listening to God’s Word.

Jesus stood up to read God’s Word. He opened a scroll. The scroll had words on it from the prophet Isaiah long ago. Jesus read: “God’s Spirit is on Me. He has chosen Me to tell good news to the poor. He has sent Me to tell the captives that they are free,

to help the blind people see, to free people who have been

treated badly, and to announce that God’s favor is on us.”Then Jesus rolled up the scroll.

He gave it to a man who worked in the synagogue, and then He sat down. The people

in the synagogue stared at Jesus, waiting for Him to say something. Jesus said, “These words came true today.”

Yes, Isaiah’s words came true because Isaiah’s words were about Jesus! God was with Jesus, and God had chosen Jesus to tell people good

Bible Storytelling Tips

• Sign Jesus: Show preschoolers how to sign Jesus by tapping the middle finger of one hand to the center palm of the other hand, and vice versa. Encourage children to listen for the name Jesus in the Bible story and sign it every time they hear it.

• Read from a scroll: Print theBible story on a long piece of paper before the session. Open and unroll the scroll and read the story.

news. Many of the people in the synagogue were happy. Jesus was saying wonderful things!

Jesus knew the people in Nazareth would not accept Him. “No prophet is accepted in his hometown,” He said. Jesus told the people about times when God used prophets to help people who were not Jews. When Jesus was done talking, the people were angry. They made Jesus leave Nazareth. They wanted to hurt Jesus, but Jesus walked away.

Christ Connection: Long before Jesus was born, Isaiah the prophet talked about God’s plan to send a Messiah to earth. Jesus is the One God promised to send. Jesus would bring good news and help people who were hurting.

119Among the People

TEACH the Story

SESSION TITLE: Jesus Taught in NazarethBIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 4STORY POINT: Jesus taught that He is the Messiah.KEY PASSAGE: John 3:16BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What makes people special? People are special

because God made us in His own image.

Welcome and worship with songGreet preschoolers with a smile. As preschoolers arrive, sing an action song such as “John 14:6” to engage and welcome them. Begin worship by leading preschoolers in the theme song “Take It to the Lord.”

Watch or tell the Bible storyBefore the session, write the uppercase and lowercase versions of different letters on individual pieces of paper. Use the same color marker for the same letter. Roll up the papers like scrolls. Invite preschoolers to take turns unrolling the scrolls. Then work together to match the uppercase letter with the lowercase letter. Match colors with younger preschoolers. SAY • Great job matching the letters on the scrolls! In Bible

times, people read the Scriptures from scrolls in the synagogue, which was a building where the Jews met to pray, worship God, and learn about the Scriptures.

Open your Bible to Luke 4. Show the video or tell the Bible story using the provided storytelling tips. Use the bolded version of the Bible story for young preschoolers.

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillPlace the key passage marker at John 3:16. Invite a child to

• “John 14:6” song• “Take It to the Lord”

song

• Bible• paper• markers• yarn or tape• “Jesus Taught in

Nazareth” video (optional)

• Bible Story Picture Poster

• Story Point Poster• Giant Timeline

• Bible• Key Passage Marker• Key Passage Poster• “For God Loved the

World (John 3:16)” song


open your Bible to the key passage. Review the key passage motions from last week. Invite a few children to help as you lead the class to say the verse while doing the motions. SAY • Jesus taught that He is the Messiah. Jesus is God’s

one and only Son who came into the world to bring good news, help those who are hurting, and give eternal life to all who believe.

Sing the key passage song “For God Loved the World.”

Learn the big picture question and answerSAY • Our big picture question is, What makes people

special? People are special because God made us in His own image. God loved people so much that He sent Jesus to be our Messiah, or Savior. Jesus explained that Isaiah’s words from the Scriptures were about Him. He was the Messiah God’s people had been waiting for.

Respond through song and prayerSAY • Long before Jesus was born, Isaiah the prophet talked

about God’s plan to send a Messiah to earth. Jesus is the One God promised to send. Jesus would bring good news and help people who were hurting. Jesus taught that He is the Messiah.

Sing “Take It to the Lord” and “The Spirit of the Lord” as preschoolers move with the music. Prepare for prayer by singing “Jesus, Thank You.” Collect an offering. SAY • God, thank You for sending Jesus to set us free from

our sin and give us eternal life. We praise You for Your plan to save us through Jesus! Amen.

Transition to experience the story

• Big Picture Question Poster

• Story Point Poster • “Take It to the Lord”

song• “The Spirit of the

Lord” song• “Jesus, Thank You”

song• offering basket

• countdown video (optional)

121Among the People

EXPERIENCE the Story



Find pairsDraw on separate sheets of paper pairs of simple images, such as two hearts, two suns, or two crosses. Draw only one pair of each image. Make enough for each preschooler to have one. Roll up the papers like scrolls and secure loosely with tape. Form a circle. Give a scroll to each child. When you say “go,” preschoolers will open their scrolls, search the room for the child with the matching scroll, and sit down side by side. Play several rounds.SAY • In Bible times, the Scriptures were written on scrolls.

In the synagogue, Jesus read the scroll with words on it from the prophet Isaiah long ago. The words were about the Messiah, the chosen one who would save God’s people. Jesus taught that He is the Messiah.

Line up blocksLine up colored blocks on a table. Then ask preschoolers one by one to take a block using the word before, such as “Priya, take the block before the blue one.” Continue until all the blocks are taken. Line up the blocks and play again.SAY • Hundreds of years before Jesus lived on earth, God

told Isaiah about His plan to send a Messiah. The Messiah would bring good news and help hurting people. Jesus taught that He is the Messiah.

• • paper • markers• tape

• colored blocks


Do actions blindfoldedEncourage children to try these activities blindfolded:

• Draw on paper with a crayon.• Toss a ball in a bucket.• Play a musical instrument, such as a xylophone,drums, bells, or a triangle.

SAY • Doing these activities without being able to see was hard, wasn’t it? Jesus said He was the One Isaiah was talking about, the One who came to help blind people see. Jesus came to heal us, help us, and give us eternal life. Jesus taught that He is the Messiah.

Write on play dough scrollsGive a preschooler a ball of play dough. Encourage her to flatten the dough to create a “scroll.” Offer toothpicks for preschoolers to scribble, draw, or write on their scrolls. SAY • Isaiah’s words about the Messiah were written

hundreds of years before Jesus came to earth. God’s people had waited a long time for the Messiah to come. Then one Sabbath day in the synagogue, Jesus taught that He is the Messiah.

Read a favorite bookRead a favorite Bible storybook to children. SAY • The Jewish people gathered in the synagogue to

pray, worship God, and listen to the Scriptures. In the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus read one of the Scriptures Isaiah had written. This was an important Scripture because it told about the Messiah. Jesus taught that He is the Messiah.

Transition to review the story

• blindfolds• paper• crayons• foam balls• buckets• musical instruments

• play dough• toothpicks• rolling pins (optional)

• Bible storybooks

• countdown video (optional)

123Among the People

REVIEW the Story



ReviewPoint to the giant timeline as you review today’s Bible story. Ask the following review questions:

1. What town did Jesus travel to? (Nazareth)2. Where did the Jews meet together to pray, worship

God, and learn about the Scriptures? (the synagogue)3. Who wrote the words on the scroll Jesus read? (the

prophet Isaiah)4. Whom did Isaiah write about? (the Messiah)5. What did Jesus say about Isaiah’s words? (“These

words came true today.”)6. What makes people special? People are special

because God made us in His own image.SAY • Jesus was the Messiah God sent to the world, but

the people in Nazareth thought Jesus was just a boy from their town. They did not understand that Jesus was God’s Son, the Savior of the world. Long before Jesus was born, Isaiah the prophet talked about God’s plan to send a Messiah to earth. Jesus is the One God promised to send. Jesus would bring good news and help people who were hurting. In the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus taught that He is the Messiah.

Sing the theme song “Take It to the Lord” or key passage song “For God Loved the World.”

• Bible• Bible Story Picture

Poster• Giant Timeline• Story Point Poster• Big Picture Question

Poster• Key Passage Poster• “Take It to the Lord”

song (optional)• “For God Loved the

World (John 3:16)” song (optional)


PrayInvite preschoolers to tell you any prayer requests they have.SAY • God, thank You for Your great plan. You told the

prophet Isaiah to write about Your plan long before You sent Jesus to earth. Thank You for keeping Your promise and sending Jesus to help people who are hurting and give eternal life to all who believe in Him. We love You and thank You for Jesus. Amen.

Missions momentDisplay the “Las Vegas” pictures. Invite children to

pretend to take a trip to see the city of Las Vegas, Nevada.SAY • Many people in Las Vegas do not choose to follow

Jesus. They do not understand that He is the Messiah who came to forgive sin. Missionaries live in cities like Las Vegas so they can tell the people who live there about Jesus. Let’s pray for believers in the city.

Play an action gameRead Luke 4:18-19. As you read, hold up a finger for each of the five actions Isaiah prophesied the Messiah would do. Ask a child to say a number between one and five. Lead the group to play out the action below listed by that number. Allow children to take turns saying numbers.

1. Good news to the poor [two thumbs-up]2. Freedom to the captives [Pretend to break chains.]3. Sight to the blind [Cover and uncover eyes.]4. Free people who have been treated badly [Run in

place.]5. Announce God’s favor [Cup hands over mouth.]

SAY • Jesus is the one who made Isaiah’s words come true. Jesus taught that He is the Messiah.

• “Las Vegas” printable• tape

• Bible

125Among the People

unit 21 • session 2 jesus taught in nazareth · 2020-05-15 · jesus taught in nazareth. luke 4....

Documents