|
|
JESUS
GIVES HIS LIFE FOR US
15 min. As members come in, direct them to
the refreshment table that has hot cross buns and grape drink on it. Explain that these buns are often served
during Lent to remind Christians of Christ's death on the cross.
05 min. When the members are seated and
quiet, ask one of them to bring an open Bible to the worship center table and
to light a candle. Begin with a
prayer. For example, " Our Heavenly
Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our
sins. We thank You for showing us the
way to eternal life."
05 min. Read Matthew 26: 26-32. Follow the reading by singing, "Let Us
Break Bread Together On Our Knees." Direct the members' attention to a table at
the front of the room. Tell them they
will be pretending they are at the Passover Feast with Jesus and the
disciples. Ask one of the leaders to
portray the part of Jesus, as the material is lengthy. Several of the members will be the disciples
and one will be the narrator. Ask the
disciples to go to the table and start eating.
Make sure there are places set at the table and chairs around it. Each plate will have some fruit pieces on
it.
15 min. Narrator: While
the disciples were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, blessed it and broke it.
He gave it to the disciples.
Jesus: Take, eat.
This is my body.
Narrator: Then
he took a cup. After giving thanks, He
gave it to them.
Jesus: All
of you, drink from it. This is my blood
of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I will never again drink of this fruit of
the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
Disciples:
(All will sing.) Let Us
Break Bread Together On our Knees.
Narrator: When
they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
(Disciples walk
with Jesus across the room toward the door.)
Jesus: You
will all become deserters because of me this night. It is written, `I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the
flock will be scattered.' But after I
am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.
15 min. Ask members to think about the
supper in the drama. Tell them that
Jesus wanted the disciples to remember his death. By celebrating Holy Communion or the Eucharist in Christian
Churches we remember that Jesus died for our sins.
Ask the members if
they know how Jesus died. Some will say
that he died on the cross. Pass around an assortment of crosses including ones
made of silver and gold as
well as some crudely made. Explain that death on the cross was extremely
painful and cruel, but Jesus was willing to die that way. He never sinned and did not deserve to die,
but he took on the sins of the world so that you and I could come to God, the
Father because of Christ's sacrifice.
Tell the class that
the disciples did desert Jesus as he said they would. Jesus also rose from the grave as He said He would. That is Christ's Resurrection. Christians will celebrate Jesus'
Resurrection on Easter Sunday, two weeks from today.
05 min. Ask the members how many of them
remembered to pray for five minutes every day in the past week. Give those members a praying hands
sticker. Encourage them to pray
silently for the needs on their card.
Close by thanking God for sending Jesus to be the Savior of the world. Extinguish the candle.