Bible Study – Fifth Sunday in Lent – Bearing Much Fruit
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
As in Advent, when we went inward to prepare to go outward with Christmas and Epiphany, in Lent we again go inward – in preparation. In the first two Sundays of Lent, Mark, brilliantly succinct, reveals the preparation Jesus experienced. During the next three Sundays John adds shimmering lights on Jesus’ ministry before we plunge into the Crucifixion, where we watch, from wherever we are, what Jesus must go through in order to give us Easter. These six vignettes invite us to take a closer look at the choices we are making in our lives and what we might choose to jettison, correct, or add.
Jesus is, again, trying to help his disciples understand what Jesus now knows is going to happen. Jesus has just a little time left to finish training them.
Opening Prayer: Thank you, God, for being with us while we are learning about Jesus and the disciples. Also thank you for Jesus and help us to follow him. Amen.
Please open your Bibles to John 12:20-33 and read or read the scriptures below.
John 12:20-33
Jesus Predicts His Death
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[a] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
Questions:
Verse 12: 23 - What does Jesus mean: "glorified." (None of these people were sure what that might mean. They will after Easter.)
Verse 24 - We know what happens when you plant a seed in the ground. (Think about experiences you have had when planting a garden or with planting seeds.)
Verse 25 - Do we really have to "hate" our life, or could it mean that we choose to follow Jesus and not spend all our time thinking about ourselves?
Verse 26 - What kinds of things are you doing as "servants" of Jesus? How are you following where Jesus wants you to go?
Verse 27 - Is Jesus really okay with what God is asking him to do?
Verses 28 and 29 - Are you pretty sure it was NOT just thunder? (Help us remember other times we have heard that sound such as at Jesus' baptism and at the top of the mountain.)
Verse 32 - How is Jesus going to be "lifted up?" (None of the disciples really understands - yet. That will happen on Easter. And, Jesus said he will draw "all people" to himself - what do we think that means?
Click here for the young learner’s lesson.
Videos (Click on url)
John 12:20-33 Sunday School Lesson for Children: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCSv91v1snc
Children’s Sermon 5th Sunday in Lent, John 12:20-33, March 17, 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6jTXEchAqs
Gospel of John Summary – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-2e9mMf7E8
Song: My God Is So Great – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SHhpBVuxl0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnJP26wqbIM
Activities:
Planting Seeds: Before planting seeds, determine how large the plant is going to be and if you will need to replant it outside. Follow the steps for planting seeds in a container in your home:
- Fill a large container with seed-starting mix and mix in a little water to evenly moisten the soil.
- Place your seeds in the soil about a ½ inch deep.
- Cover the seeds with some soil
- Place the container in a sunny location.
All seeds need water, oxygen, and proper temperature in order to grow.
Cross Rope: You need a piece of heavy card stock paper and 2 sections of heavy rope to glue or tape on to the card stock paper in the shape of a CROSS. Write, NO POWER GREATER THAN GOD’S LOVE and then write a Bible verse from today’s story around the edge of your paper.
Intercessory Prayer: Today you can write an "intercessory prayer," which means praying for others. When we pray for others we are not doing something magic. We are doing something obedient. God uses our prayers in ways we cannot possibly understand. There is power in our choosing to pray for people. You can consider people you know who are sick, in need, alone -- or in other kinds of need. You may also choose to pray for those who lead us in our country and in our church.
Power of His Love - Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/power-of-his-love
Power of His Love - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/power-of-his-love-3
Power of His Love – Multiple Choice: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/power-of-his-love-1
My Soul Is Troubled – Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/my-soul-is-troubled-3
40 Day Lenten Calendars: We are now in the fifth week in Lent, so you still have time to work on some of the Lenten activities in the calendar below.
- 40 Day 2024 Lenten Calendar for Children
- 40 Day 2024 Lenten Calendar for Adults
Prayer: Say together the prayer the children have composed. Or pray: “Thank you, Jesus, for saying yes to God. Help us to say yes when God shows us work we can do. Amen.
