Bible Exploration - Workshop: Video Center

 

Month: April        Bible Story:   Promise of Eternal Life

 

Year (B):      1      Scripture:  John   -- Chapter 18, 19, 20

 

Bible Memory Verse:  "I am the Resurrection and the life, he who believes in me will live even though he dies." John 11:25

 

Workshop

Concept

Teacher

 

1.  Temple/Art Center

 

Symbols of Easter

 

 

2. Video Center

Holy Week events - Resurrection

 

 

3. Computer Center

The last days in Jerusalem

 

 

4. Cooking Center

Experiencing the Empty Tomb

 

 

5. Stations of the Cross

Remembering the Events of Easter

 

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES: 

•         Children will learn the memory verse.

•         Children will understand the symbol of the butterfly (younger)

•         Children will be able to tell the Easter events.

 

•         MATERIALS:

•         Video Projector

•         Videos "The Easter Caterpillar (13 minutes for younger children)

•         "Light in the Darkness" (15 minutes) for older children

•         Popcorn and drinks (optional)

 

PLAN:

¨        Welcome children / introduce teachers

¨        Give mentors time to take roll and take up offering

¨        Review memory verse (several times) John 11:25

¨        Tell Easter story (Background in John 18, 19, 20 and also could include John 12 & 13

¨        John 12 & 13 for younger children (see attachments)

¨        Show video applicable to age group (children  or youth)

¨        Discussion as time permits (see attachments)

¨        Close with prayer (sample on attachments)

 

ADAPTATIONS:

                        Children:                                                          Older children:

Video - The Easter Caterpillar                        Video - Light in the Darkness

 

 

 

BIBLE EXPLORATION

VIDEO CENTER

LESSON PLANS

 

1.      OPENING -

•         Welcome children -- introduce yourself and have the children introduce themselves.  (Always include adults -- mentors)

•         Allow mentors time to take up roll and offering.

•         Open with prayer.

 

2.      Younger children:

  

Review and discuss Easter story as found in John 18, 19, 20.  Also, include John 12 and 13, which lead up to the resurrection on Easter morning.  Younger children may have a more difficult time dealing with Jesus' death so emphasis might be placed on other areas. 

 

For example: Triumphant entry - John 12

                        Last Supper - John 13

                        Events leading to the cross -            Arrest

                                                                              Betrayal of Judas

                                                                              Denial of Peter

                                                                              Death of Jesus

                                                                              Burial

Empty Tomb (compare to the butterfly leaving cocoon)

 

      After showing video and if time permits, use questions from "The Easter Caterpillar, Discussion Guide #1-6.

 

THE EASTER CATERPILLAR

Purpose:

To provide a metaphor for understanding the death and resurrection of Jesus. 

 

Preparation:

Preview the video and practice operating the equipment.

 

If you decide to have participants discuss the video in small groups, make one copy of the discussion guide (2-B) for each group.

 

Process:

Introduce the video as an imaginary story about a Jewish boy who lived during the time of Jesus.  (Make sure the children don't get the impression that this is a Bible story.)

 

Show video:

 

Discussion Guide:

1.      What did you like best about the video?

2.      What do you think the video is trying to tell us?

3.      David thought Jesus didn't look like the messiah.  What kind of person do you think David was looking for?

4.      If you had been in the crowd when the soldiers made Jesus carry the cross through the city, how would you have felt?  What would you have done?

5.      How do you think David felt when his caterpillar went into the cocoon?  How do you think he felt when it came out as a butterfly?

6.      If you had been in the garden with David on Easter morning and saw Jesus alive again, what would you have done?  How would you have felt?

 

Closing prayer:  Thank you God for Jesus and for raising him from death.  Thank you God that Jesus is with us as our Lord and Savior.

 

 

3.      Older Youth:

Tell the Easter story as found in John 18, 19 & 20.  Go over events that lead up to Easter morning.  This should be done before the video is shown to avoid confusion when seeing the video.  Most Bibles are divided into topics of what happened leading to Easter and should make telling the story easier for the leader.

 

A study guide is attached which will be helpful in understanding the video, Light In the Darkness, since flashbacks are used in this presentation.  I suggest reading the Scriptures from John before reviewing the video to refresh your memory of events that lead to Easter morning.

LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

The Easter story

A study guide:

 

This beautiful and powerful retelling of the passion story can be used as a devotion or as s centerpiece for worship.  It can also be used to stimulate study and discussion of the passion stories in the Bible.

 

Whatever the purpose, you may wish to share with the group the basic structure of the video: Scenes of various stages of the crucifixion are interspersed with flashback scenes from the last week of Jesus' life.  After the final crucifixion scene, the story moves forward, with no more flashbacks, to the entombment and the resurrection and Jesus' first appearance to the disciples.

 

 

If you are using the video for worship or as a devotion, begin by reading aloud John 1:9-12.  Then show the video.  After the showing, you may want to allow a few moments of silence.  Group members might want to share, in turn, their first thoughts, not for discussion but for mutual sharing and support.  Then close by reading aloud John 1:12-18.

 

The following outline of the scenes and scripture references is provided to assist study and discussion:

 

Prologue:          John 1:1-15 is read over shot of flame.

Scene 1:           Jesus is thrown onto the cross.

Scene 2:           Flashback:  Jesus enter Jerusalem

                                                      Matthew 21:1-11

                                                      Mark 11:1-10

                                                      Luke 19:28-40

Scene 3:           Jesus is nailed to the cross

Scene 4:           Flashback:  Jesus drives moneychangers from the temple

                                                      Matthew 21:12-13

                                                      Mark 11:15-19

                                                      Luke 19:45-46

Scene 5:           Angry crowd watches crucifixion.

Scene 6:           Flashback:  Woman anoints Jesus at Bethany.

                                                      Matthew 26:6-13

                                                      Mark 14:3-9

Scene 7:           Jesus' feet are nailed to the cross.

Scene 8:           Flashback:  Chief priests conspire and Judas betrays Jesus.

                                                      Matthew 26:14-16

                                                      Mark 14:12-13

                                                      Luke 22:1-6

Scene 9:           Nailing to cross continues.

Scene 10:         Flashback:  Last supper/foot washing.

                                                      Matthew 26:17-29

                                                      Mark 14:12-25

                                                      Luke 22:7-23

                                                      John 13:1-30

Scene 11:         Cross is raised and put in place.

Scene 12:         Flashback:  Gethsemane ,

                                                      Matthew 26:36-46

                                                      Mark 14:32-42

                                                      Luke 22:39-46

Scene 13:         Jesus dies and is taken from the cross.

                                                      Matthew 27:27-50

                                                      Mark 15:16-41

                                                      Luke 23:26-49

                                                      John 19:17-30

 

Scene 14:         Jesus' body is laid in tomb.

                                                      Matthew 27:57-61

                                                      Mark 15:42-47

                                                      Luke 23:50-56

Scene 15:         Mary Magdalene at tomb.

                                                      John 20:1-18

Scene 16:         Mary tells disciples; Jesus appears to them.

                                                      John 20:19-23

 

 

Questions for study and discussion:

1.      What are your first thoughts about this account of the passion story?

2.      In what ways does the video shed new light on this event for you?

3.      What new feelings and emotions does the video prompt in you?

4.      With whom did you identify?

5.      What, for you is the most depressing part of the passion narrative?

6.      What is the most positive element?

7.      How has your understanding of the Biblical accounts of the events changed or evolved?

 

 

Questions are also provided with this study guide.  Additional questions could include:

1.      How do you feel about Jesus being betrayed?

2.      About his death?

3.      About his resurrection?

4.      Why did all this have to happen?  (answer - Bible verse)

 

Before asking any questions, you might ask the children to have a moment of silence to reflect or to think about what Christ has done for all of us and the realization that He gave his life so that we might have eternal life.