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This web-site is for everyone interested in learning more about the Bible.
This section helps Sunday school teachers find new ways of teaching familiar materials. Our goal is to augment lessons you may already have in your Sunday school curriculum.
Due to the importance of the days leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, we will cover this time period here on Biblewise.com over two months. In March, we will start with Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and move him to Bethany the Friday before the triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We will include information for each day leading up to the crucifixion (April 5) as well as information that takes us to Easter morning (April 8). During the rest of April, we will discuss the different appearances of Jesus with his disciples before his ascension. We are also studying the book, Philemon, this month.
The onslaught of Easter eggs and the Easter bunny will get more publicity than Jesus’ resurrection, but BW is interested in helping children and adults realize the significance of our Master’s actions. Jesus was in complete control of that week. Recognizing his dominion, patience, forgiveness, and love in those days leading up to the crucifixion gives us a heads-up on how to follow in Jesus footsteps. Jesus was teaching specific lessons not only to the twelve disciples, but for all of us for all time. Even though we are spreading this information over nine Sundays, we cannot begin to give it the detail it deserves. Nonetheless, this is a beginning and an essential one for Sunday school pupils to understand. Jesus was NOT a lamb led to the slaughter. He approached every aspect of this week with dominion. He prepared the hearts and minds of his disciples in the days that followed his resurrection. The greatest proof we have of Jesus’ victory over death is the changed lives of the disciples. Before the resurrection, they mentally limped along. Jesus was giving them special instructions for his church in the 40 days before his ascension. By the 50th day after Jesus’ resurrection, while celebrating Pentecost, they caught the spirit that altered the course of history. Please help your students embrace this story, so they may understand their part in discipleship.
Teachers, The Passion Week - Chronology of Events (2007) had additional materials added to it. Print this out for a quick reference. The questions and answers highlighted in blue (links) take you to some of the most frequently asked questions about these events.
The entire Activities section is divided into Memory Work, Activities, and Discussion Questions. You can go to any of these sections and select what best works for your pupils.
You can now download all three sections for ease in using these materials for teaching. |
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MEMORY WORK |
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Teachers and Parents
It is so important to encourage our little ones as well as ourselves to memorize Bible verses and stories – to become so familiar with the passage or story that its timeless relevance appears to us more and more clearly with every retelling. A major difference was evident between Sunday school pupils required to tell the story versus those who gave nodding recognition to the same story. Three years ago, our pupils were asked to tell Bible stories to the pre-school children. Now they ask all the time when it’s their turn to tell a story. The children in the pre-school class can’t wait for a story and are quite vocal in asking the older children to come and tell them a story. There are some preschoolers who are anxious to try their hand at telling the stories as well. On a recent class visit of 4th graders with 3 and 4 year olds, the preschoolers didn’t hesitate to add details to the story of the three Hebrew boys.
We cannot overlook the significance of memorizing a verse or story.
Consider sharing with your Sunday school pupils and parents ways to help little ones learn the verse and understand the impact of the message on their lives.
- Write out or type this week’s Bible verse on a card and place it on a mirror the child uses each day.
- Place the verse for the week in his/her lunch box.
- Ask the child to recite the verse before or after grace at the dinner meal.
- Practice as a family at dinner, going around the table with each one saying a word until the verse is complete.
- Put the verse to music. Create your own tune for each Bible verse. Create pictures to help remember the verse.
- Write it in a Bible verse notebook as many times as you can.
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Bible Verses
Work with your child and your students to learn each verse. Then, discuss the meaning of the verse and how it can be applied to everyday lives. On Sundays during class, riding in the car, or at dinner, it's fun to share stories of how the children have used the verse in their lives that week.
We provide memorization verses for each week. You can add your own.
Sunday February 26
Philemon 1:25
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with our spirit.
- What is grace?
- How do you know that Jesus Christ is with your spirit?
Sunday March 11
John 18:37 To
To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
- Who is speaking?
- What is “truth?”
- How do we “bear witness” to the truth?
Sunday March 18
Matt 20:28 the
the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
- Who is the Son of man?
- What is the difference between Son of man and Son of God?
- Who gave his life as a ransom for many?
Sunday March 25
John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
- Who was willing to lay down his life for his friends?
- What kind of love is required to lay down your life for a friend?
Sunday April 1
Heb 10:35
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
- What is meant by “confidence” in this verse?
- What does “recompence” mean?
- How does our confidence have recompence of reward?
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Bible Stories
This month we look at Bible characters who were friends.
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ACTIVITIES |
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Bible Overview covers the letter to Philemon.
Hot Topic deals with God’s Will.
IT'S BASEBALL SEASON! on Parenting with the Bible.
This month we are reviewing Bible stories related to Jesus’ Passion Week. There is so much more that could be included. Check the Chronology of Events for additional information that you might want to teach. |
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Exercise:
After reading the account of what the Scribes and Pharisees wanted to do to Jesus and Lazarus, you might want to create the kind of wanted poster the High Priest ordered in catching Jesus.
 Print/Download Jesus Debates the Pharisees
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Exercise: Who Am I?
Use index cards to list the statement about the individual. On the reverse side of the card, give the person’s name. This group of statements is about individuals during the time leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion.
| Statement about the Individual |
Answer |
| You may have heard I was dead four days before Jesus told me to “come forth.” My sisters are Mary and Martha. (John 11:43) |
Lazarus |
| I anointed Jesus’ feet in Bethany. I used very expensive oils because I knew Jesus was going to die. (John 12:3) |
Mary |
| I ran the money changers out of the temple because they made it impossible for people to pray. (Matthew 21:12-17) |
Jesus |
| I cut off the ear of one of the soldiers when the Roman soldiers came to arrest Jesus. (Matthew 18:10) |
Peter |
| We asked Jesus if it was lawful to pay tribute money to Rome (Mark 12:13-14) |
Pharisees and Herodians |
| I gave two mites, all my money, to the Temple treasury.
(Luke 21:1-3) |
Widow |
| We were asked to pray with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, but we fell asleep. (Mark 14:32-38) |
Peter, James, and John |
| I didn’t want Jesus to wash my feet. (John 13:8) |
Peter |
| I sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. (Matt 26:17-19) |
Judas |
| We told Jesus that some of the Gentiles wanted to see him and offer him a way to escape the cross. (John 12:20-22) |
Philip and Andrew |
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Exercise:
Take eight sheets of paper and label Sunday through Sunday. Now list all the events that the students know happened each day. Put them on the wall in your class. If they aren’t sure what happened, look at the Chronology of Events or read directly from one or all of the Gospels.
On the first Sunday, write: the 10th of Nisan, this is the day the lamb was set aside for sacrifice on the Passover. Discuss the symbolism of Jesus being called the Lamb of God in relation to this day. What else happened on this day? What is this day called in other Christian religions? [Palm Sunday]
Wherever possible have children draw pictures of some of the events and include under each day. For example, on Sunday – you could have Jesus riding the colt into Jerusalem or complete the Can You Find? exercise, color it, and include the picture with the Sunday information.
- Discuss the activities of the week. As you discuss each day, ask the children to write the important events on the correct day of the week. Have the students color pictures or create pictures for the events and include them on the list for the day.
- Which day did Jesus remove the money changers? (color Jesus Whipping the Money Changers Out of the Temple)
- Why did Jesus remove them?
- What were the money changers doing that was so bad?
- Which day did Jesus observe the widow putting all her money in the collection?
- Which day did the fig tree shrivel up?
- Which day did Jesus wash his disciples’ feet?
- Which day did Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a colt?
- Which day did Jesus pray in the Garden of Gethsemane?
- Which day did Peter deny him?
- Which day were the trials held?
- Which day was Jesus crucified?
- Which day was the tomb empty?
- Read the parable of the ten virgins (Matt 25:1-13)
- Why did Jesus share this parable?
- What are we to do?
- Why didn’t the wise give the foolish some oil?
- What lesson do you learn from the foolish virgins?
- Read the Parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30)
- What talents, skills, abilities do you have?
- Are you using what God has given you or are you hiding it?
Continue this with each day until you reach resurrection Sunday. Don’t forget to use the coloring page of Jesus Washing His Disciples’ Feet for Thursday. |
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Exercise:
Write down all the spiritual qualities they saw Jesus demonstrate on Tuesday when he visited the Temple.
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Exercise:
So often the significance of word meanings is overlooked. For a solution-oriented perspective, see the Parenting with the Bible article, entitled Words of Wisdom. Help the pupils understand the important words and their significance concerning Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.
- Ask the students to define:
- Palm Sunday
- Garden of Gethsemane
- Passover
- Crucifixion
- Resurrection
- Ascension
- Scourge
- Money changers
- Pharisees
- Scribes
- Sanhedrin
- Last supper
- Betray
- Passion
- Add your own
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Exercise:
Analyze the Lord’s Prayer in John 17. Which verses are about Jesus? Which verses are about the disciples? Which verses are about us?
- Describe the relationship Jesus has with God.
- Describe the relationship Jesus wants his disciples to have with God.
- Describe the relationship Jesus wants us to have with God.
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Exercise:
Ask a member of the class to act as a news reporter. He/she has the beat to get the scoop on Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Have students play the role of Jesus, Peter, John, and folks on the road way. Some possible questions to ask:
- Jesus, where did you get your donkey? [Peter and John got the colt in Bethphage]
- Jesus, why aren’t you riding a horse? [check out prophecy – Zech 9:9]
- Individual waving the Palm branch: Why are you here today?
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Exercise:
You be the photographer at Jesus Debates the Pharisees. Draw a picture to fit the description of the debate taking place in the Temple. |
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Exercise:
You might want to actually wash your pupils' feet. Bring a basin, towels, water, and lotion. While washing their feet, ask students to read John 13:1-17. Let them wash your feet, if they offer. The most important part of this activity is discussing how they felt.
- What did you think when I asked if I could wash your feet?
- What was it like to have your SS teacher wash your feet?
- How do you think the disciples felt when Jesus washed their feet?
- Could you understand why Peter was reluctant to let Jesus wash his feet?
- What does this activity symbolize?
- Why did Jesus wash their feet?
- Why don't we wash each other's feet today?
I did this activity a few years ago with my Sunday School class. It received mixed reviews, initially. When the SS secretary came around for the collection, she was curious about the activity and asked if we'd wash her feet. The pupils jumped at the opportunity and shared the story of Jesus washing his disciples' feet. They, in turn, asked her how she felt. She loved it and it was difficult to get her to leave. She thought the lotion on the feet was quite nice. After washing my feet, we all sat on the floor and talked about what it would have been like at that Passover meal. We discussed how we could symbolically take "foot washing" to a modern day level of caring for each other regardless of age or position in the church, school, or community. |
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Exercise:
Study the parable of the talents (Matt 25:14-30).
Ask the students to write (individually or in groups) a modern version of this parable and cast it for an HBO special.
| Describe the Character and his action |
Actor to fill the role and why |
| The traveling man |
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| The servant with 5 talents |
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| The servant with 2 talents |
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| The servant with 1 talent |
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After you’ve written and cast the script – act it out in class or for other classes. |
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS |
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Raising of Lazarus
Read John 11; Jesus Raises Lazarus; Lazarus the Dead Man Whom Jesus Called out of the Grave
- Ask the students to tell the story of Lazarus.
- Who is Lazarus?
- Who are his sisters?
- How do we know Mary and Martha?
- Why do you think Jesus waited so long to see Lazarus?
- Do you think he knew Lazarus was going to die? Why?
- What does Mary say about resurrection?
- What is the shortest verse in the Bible? (Jesus wept)
- Why do you think Jesus cried?
- Why didn’t Martha want Jesus to remove the stone from the cave?
- Who believed Jesus could bring back someone who had been dead 4 days already?
- What is important about this healing?
- What happened to Lazarus and Jesus after Lazarus came back to life? (The Chief Priest and Pharisees wanted to kill both of them)
- Why would the Jews want to kill Lazarus and Jesus?
- Where did Jesus go after he raised Lazarus?
- Why did Jesus hide from his enemies?
- Why didn't Jesus let them kill him then?
- Why did he wait for the Passover?
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Mary Anointed Jesus
Read John 12: 1-8; Mary Pours Perfume; Mary and Judas
- Tell the story of Jesus’ visit to Bethany.
- Why was Jesus in town?
- Who served dinner?
- Who anointed Jesus’ feet at the supper in Bethany?
- What kind of ointment did Mary put on Jesus’ feet? (spikenard)
- What was the cost of this ointment? (300 dinars, equal to a full salary for a common laborer. Philip told Jesus it would take 200 dinars to buy enough bread to feed the 5,000)
- Who objected to this extravagant use of the perfumed ointment?
- What did Judas say should be done with the ointment?
- What did Jesus say to Judas?
- How would you have felt if you were Judas being told you were wrong in front of so many people?
- What do you think Judas did after this event?
- Why was it important for Mary to anoint Jesus’ feet?
- Why did Jesus appreciate her kind gesture?
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Jesus Triumphal Entry
Read Matt 21: 1-11; Mark 11: 1-11; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19; Jesus enters Jerusalem
- Discuss the story of Jesus’ ride from Bethany to Jerusalem.
- Why did Jesus do this? (fulfillment of prophecy)
- Who prophesied he’d arrive on a colt? (Zech 9:9)
- What did the people do when they saw Jesus coming down the road?
- Why are the people rejoicing?
- What are they singing?
- How does it compare with what the angels sang at Jesus’ birth?
- What did the people do as Jesus passed by?
- Why is this day called “Palm Sunday?”
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Parables of Warning - Two sons
Read Matt 21:28-32
- What is this parable about?
- Why is this an important message?
- Who was Jesus’ audience?
- Who was Jesus referring to as the sons who agreed to work but did nothing?
- Who were those who wouldn’t work but later repented?
- Have you ever promised to do something and didn’t?
- For example, has a parent asked you to take out the garbage or clean up your room and you said you would, but didn’t do the work?
- Have you ever said you wouldn’t do something, but then changed your mind?
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The Great Commandment
Read Matt 22: 35-40
- Who asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment?
- Why did he ask Jesus that question?
- How did Jesus’ respond?
- Where can you find Jesus’ responses in the Old Testament? (Deut 6:5 and Lev 19:18)
- Do you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind?
- How do you do that?
- Why is it important to love God?
- How should we love our neighbor?
- Do you love yourself more than your neighbor?
- What did Jesus teach us about loving?
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Ten Virgins
Read Matt 25:1-13; The Parables on the Mount of Olives
- Tell the parable of the ten virgins.
- Why did Jesus tell his disciples this parable? (Maybe because you needed 10 to start a tabernacle or because he was talking about church members)
- What kind of church members would the virgins have been?
- How many were wise?
- What made them wise?
- How many were foolish?
- What made them foolish?
- Who is the Bridegroom?
- Are we willing to be prepared and watch?
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The Talents
Read Matt 25:14-30
- Retell the story of the talents.
- What is the kingdom of heaven likened to?
- How does this parable represent the kingdom of heaven?
- What do talents represent?
- Why did the master leave the talents with his servants?
- Who did the master represent? (Jesus)
- Who did the servants represent? (disciples, us)
- What kind of talents did the disciples possess?
- What kind of talents do you have?
- What have you learned from this parable about using your talents?
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Last Supper
Read Matt 26:17-36; Mark 14:12-31; Luke 22:7-38; John 13-17; The Last Supper
- Read the story of the last supper from each of the Gospels.
- Compare how each story is similar and different in each Gospel.
- Who was sent to inquire about an upper room?
- What was eaten at the Passover?
- What unusual things happened at the meal?
- How many people were there?
- What was different about this Passover from Moses’ day to Jesus’ day? (At Moses’ Passover, they stood to eat and by Jesus’ time they reclined)
- Why didn’t the disciples know who was going to betray Jesus?
- What did Jesus tell them about the betrayer?
- Why did Jesus give them bread after the meal? (that bread is known as the afterdish broken from the bread at the beginning of the meal and set aside)
- What lessons did the disciples learn at the last supper?
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Washing of Disciples’ Feet
Read John 13:1-20; Washing Feet
- Why did Jesus wash their feet?
- How did the disciples feel about that?
- Which one objected?
- What did Jesus tell him?
- Would you let Jesus wash your feet?
- Why is it important to serve?
- What does serving mean to you?
- How would you serve at home? Church? School?
- What does it mean to have our feet washed?
- What does it mean to be willing to wash someone’s feet?
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