Advent Software Lesson Ideas from Sunday School Software

Teaching “the Boyhood” of Jesus

(Luke 2:40f)

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Jesus learning in the Temple is a popular January lesson. There is no specific software program that covers it in depth, and that’s one of the reasons we created LET’S TALK. Let’s Talk gives you the teacher, or your students, a tool to create your OWN lesson on the story, your own retelling. You can create a talking lesson that retells Luke 2:40f, with follow up quiz questions and discussion questions they can respond to. It allows your students to “become Jesus” by making their Let’s Talk computer character speak aloud their “Jesus answers” to your questions. The story of Jesus in the Temple is one of those stories in which you can imagine LOTS of extra dialog. Imagine for example, Mary & Joseph’s fright at discovering that Jesus wasn’t with them. Or imagine their undocumented response to Jesus’ chiding “didn’t you know that I MUST be in my Father’s house?” How did that really sound to them? With Let’s Talk software, your kids will be EAGER to answer that question. And Let’s Talk can be used for a multitude of other lesson subjects. www.sundaysoftware.com/lets-talk

Here are some interesting questions and comments you can use in a Let’s Talk lesson about the Boyhood of Jesus:

· What do the words mean in Luke 2:40 that Jesus was “strong in spirit, …filled with wisdom, ..and grace was upon him.”

· What kind of changes are taking place when a person is 12 years old? What kind of responsibilities are they given?

· Why didn’t Joseph and Mary notice Jesus was not with them as they left Jerusalem?

· What does that say about the belief in the character of Jesus, that they were not worried about him?

· What would your parents have done? Would they have trusted you to be coming along with others?

· What questions do you think Jesus was asking the elders in the Temple? What would you like to know?

· How did Mary and Joseph feel when Jesus chided them saying, “Why are you looking for me, didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

· How would you say that in today’s language?

· What do you suppose the elders thought of Jesus’ response?

· The Bible says Mary pondered these sayings in her heart, but what do you suppose Joseph thought about Jesus’ actions and response?

· What Jesus traits and actions does this story tell you to imitate?

After we worked in the software, I would do some “re-enactments” of the story, with various students trying their hand at being Jesus, and being his parents. How would Jesus explain himself to his parents? I’d also have them create a skit about THEM hanging back in Sunday School, and trying to explain to a parent or brother/sister why they wanted to stay and talk a little bit more in Sunday School, rather than rushing out. Great Stuff!