YOUTH-CAN-TEACH Post-and-Present Activity
Great For Sunday School, Lesson Activities, Family Fun, Daily Devotionals
Life is a cinch when we grow like Jesus inch-by-inch.
How are you helping your MIND, BODY, SPIRIT, and PERSONALITY grow?
Luke 2:52
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
POST-AND-PRESENT Activity
I Can Grow to Be like Jesus: Inch-by-Inch growth chart and a measure-up bookmark
OBJECTIVE:
Help the youth grow to become like Jesus: grow in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52; Proverb 18:24). With this activity, youth can reflect words in a mirror that show how Jesus lived and reflect upon their own countenance to remind themselves to be like Jesus.
TO MAKE VISUALS:
Print, color, and cut out the Jesus growth chart pieces and ruler wordstrip (with words spelled BACKWARDS). Laminate. Then, create bookmarks for each youth. Don’t laminate bookmarks (see instructions to MAKE BOOKMARKS below*).
A MIRROR IS NEEDED (a hand-held mirror or a table mirror). Youth will need to look into the mirror to see the words (that are written backward).
*MAKE BOOKMARKS by folding them in half and gluing them back to back. Do not laminate so the youth can write on the back. Then laminate with clear Contact paper (optional).
ACTIVITY:
INTRODUCE ACTIVITY. Talk about how we can follow Jesus by asking What Would Jesus Do (WWJD)? When He was a small boy He learned from His parents and church leaders. Then He learned directly from His FATHER (who is our Heavenly Father) through prayer what to do. Let’s follow Him step-by-step so we can grow inch-by-inch as He did.
ACTIVITY.
Step 1. Have the youth take turns drawing a ruler word strip. Then use a mirror and look into it to see their reflection as they say, “I can grow to be like Jesus as I . . ..” Then read the words by reflecting them in the mirror to read them forward.
Step 2. Have the youth place the ruler puzzle pieces where they go on the chart to match the Luke 2:52 “And Jesus increased in wisdom . . . and stature . . . and in favor with God . . . and man” puzzle pieces (as shown).
*BOOKMARK. Give youth the bookmark (shown) to write ways they can measure up and grow to be like Jesus.
CLUES TO THE BACKWARD MESSAGES. To make it easy for the leader, he/she can look at the code W (wisdom) S (stature), G (God), or M (man) to know if this is correct. For example, the “I obey my parents” letter M word strip will be placed next to the . . . and man puzzle piece.
THOUGHT TREAT Inch-by-Inch Wafer Cookies. With this treat, youth can be reminded they can “measure up” to be like Jesus one step / one inch at a time. Cookies look like rulers with inch marks cut into the wafer (cut them ahead of time with a knife). If you give them two or more they can see their ruler grow.
TO MAKE RULER-SHAPED COOKIES you can frost 5-inch x 2-inch sugar cookies after baking with the inch marks. Or, break graham crackers into ruler shapes and frost-inch marks on the sides.
DISCUSSION POINTS (Scriptures, Jesus Christ)
• Jesus once was a tiny baby. He was a little child like you.
• Jesus lived and grew up in a town called Nazareth. (Matthew 2:23) He lived in a house that had a flat roof. He slept on a mat. There was no running water in the home. They had no electricity.
• While Jesus grew he learned how to work from Joseph. (Mark 6:3)
• Mary and Joseph taught Jesus about the prophets and other stories we read in the Bible. He was taught to pray and to choose to do the right. Mary and Joseph taught Jesus about God.
• Jesus ate bread, fish, lamb, honey, grapes, figs, dates, and milk.
• When old enough Jesus went to school in a synagogue (church). His teacher was called a rabbi. In Jesus’ time little girls did not go to school. They were taught at home by their mothers.
• At age 12 Jesus was talking with learned men in the temple. These men were surprised that Jesus knew so much. (Luke 2:46-47)
• Jesus grew up and was wise and filled with goodness. (Luke 2:52)
• God is pleased when we become more like Jesus.
CHARACTER OF JESUS & OTHERS (scriptures to underline):
• Stature, “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature,” Luke 2:52.
• Honest, “they that deal truly are his delight,” Prov. 12:22.
• Compassionate, “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord,” Prov. 19:17.
• Wisdom, “Joshua … was full of the spirit of wisdom,” Deut. 34:9.
See more scriptures on “WISDOM” HERE
MORE ACTIVITIES ON Luke 2:52 Jesus Grew (we can too)
