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Lesson 6:  The True Vine Introduction : Get connected activity Have a student attempt to turn on an electrical device that is not plugged in.  Try plugging it into something besides an electrical outlet (have another student hold the plug, put it under a pillow, attach it to a chair...).  Ask the students why the device won't turn on. (It's not connected to the power source - not plugged in to the right thing) Have several branches from a plant in some vases.  Some can be freshly cut.  Some a little older.  Others should be wilting.  If possible, also have a potted plant.  Ask the students why the branches are dying. (They aren't connected to the plant) Discussion :  Read John 15:1-11.  Ask the following questions. Who is the vine? (Jesus) Who is the vinedresser (the caretaker)? (God the Father) Who are the branches? (Jesus' followers) What is the fruit? (the good things that they do) Why do some branches bear more fruit tha...

Lesson 5: The Way, the Truth, and the Life Introduction: Name all the things we have learned that Jesus is (the bread of life, the light of the world, the door, the good shepherd, the resurrection and the life) Read John 14:1-6.  Ask the following questions: What was Jesus describing? (heaven) What was Thomas worried about?  (not knowing the way) How did Jesus say they would find their way? (through Him) Is there any other way? (no) Activity:  Treasure Map Create a treasure map for the students to find a hidden snack in your classroom.  Have them follow the map to the treasure (the snack).  In our Bible verse, what is the treasure? (heaven)  What is the map? (Jesus) Worksheet:   "I am the Way" Maze from sermons4kids.com Discussion: The Truth Who is the truth? (Jesus) Is there more than one truth? (no) Does Jesus ever lie? (no) Is Jesus ever not true to who He is? (no) Our world likes to say that everyone's experience is thei...

Lesson: I am the Resurrection and the Life Introduction : Use the flannelgraph pieces from My Wonder Studio to tell the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. In John 14:19, Jesus said "Because I live, you will also live." Watch a video about the resurrection of Jesus. Craft :  Resurrection garden      Materials: Pot or tray for planting sticks to make crosses string to tie crosses together potting soil small pot rock about the size of the top of the small pot mini garden plants: palm-type plant, plant with red leaves or flowers, plant that has thorns (some succulents would work as well) optional pebbles for a pathway optional boy/girl figurine and bench optional grass seed or moss Have the kids put the soil in their pot and put the small pot sideways and cover the sides so it looks like a tomb in a hillside.  Set the rock near the opening of the tomb.  Make three crosses from sticks and twine and stand them up in ...

Lesson 3: The Door and the Good Shepherd Introduction :   "Find the lost sheep" Game from sermons4kids.com Print out the pictures of the sheep from the link above.  Cut them apart and hide them around the room before the class.  Then, have the students find the lost sheep. Play a video that introduces John 10:1-21, like the following one from The Global Gospel. Discussion :  Have the students name the four characters of the parable (the shepherd, the sheep, the thieves, and the hireling) and write them on four sections of a chalk or white board.  Help them figure out what each character represents.  Read the passage of John 10:1-21 and have the students name the characteristics of each character from the passage.  Mention how the characteristics fit with the person each character represents. Snack and Craft :  Talk about how Jesus is both the Good Shepherd and the Door.  The shepherd would sleep at the doorway and be the door tha...

Lesson 2: The Light of the World Introduction :  Set up an obstacle course and have the students go through it.  Then, turn out the lights and have the students try the obstacle course in the dark (Remember safety, having them take turns and tell them a word to say to turn on the light if they have a problem).  Ask them if the obstacle course was more difficult without light and why. Have students read the following passages: John 1:1-9 John 3:19-21 John 8:12 John 12:35-36 John 12:46 List what it means that Jesus is the light of the world: Shows the way Shows bad things and keeps people from doing bad things (like security lights) Overcomes evil (sin) Craft :  Lighthouse from pbs.org      Materials:  red plastic cup smaller clear plastic cup battery operated tea light white tape black tape for windows and door, optional plastic plate glue paint brush sand sea shells       Directions: ...

If you have followed my themed Children's Bible lessons , then you will enjoy the next theme.  There are seven passages in the Bible where Jesus said "I am the..." John 6: 35, 48   I am the bread of life  John 8: 12; 9:5   I am the light of the world  John 10:9   I am the door/gate  John 10:11   I am the good shepherd  John 11:25   I am the resurrection and the life  John 14:6   I am the way, the truth, and the life  John 15:1   I am the true vine I thought they would make a great themed unit for the kids, so I broke it into six lessons (combining the door/gate and good shepherd from John 10 into one lesson) and started having fun finding ideas on Pinterest.  Don't you just love Pinterest?  Of course, things needed to be altered and tweaked, but I love all the fun activities and crafts that we did. Lesson 1: The Bread of Life Introduction:   I used the following video from ...