APRIL 03, 2022 (5th Sunday of lent)

Memory Verse:Matthew 16:21-23

Key Concept:Jesus, as a savior, is willing to experience difficulties.
Objectives
At the end of the session the listener will be able to:
1. enumerate the different things that Isaiah foretells the Messiah will suffer; 2.
describe how Jesus foretells his suffering; 3. realize that suffering is part of our
desire to follow Christ; and 4. resolve that in suffering with Christ, life becomes
victorious.
Getting Ready: Tell the class to make a big circle. Hold up a wooden cross or any
cross. Ask: "Do any of you know what this is?" Pass the cross around and
encourage them to feel it. Share: "During the time of Jesus, criminals were killed
on crosses. The crucifixion is a very horrible way to be punished. Criminals would
be forced to carry their cross to the place where they would be hung. Everyone
who saw them knew they had done something wrong. This would be very
shameful for the criminals."

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to
Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests
and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. Jesus tells his disciples
that he will go to Jerusalem to do his mission. He will suffer from the hands of the
elders and chief priests and scribes. They will kill him by hanging on the cross. But
on the third day, he will be raised from the dead. 22And Peter took him aside and
began to rebuke him, saying, 'God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.'
Peter tells him not to go. He does not want him to suffer and die. 23But he turned
and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for
you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.' Jesus gets
angry with Peter. He said that Peter prevents him in fulfilling his mission of God's
plan of salvation. Peter thinks only of the things of men and not of the things of
God. Jesus knew that the only way to fulfill his mission is by the way of the cross.
Deepening Activity/Sharing Time
1. What did Jesus tell his disciples? (He tells them that he will suffer, die, and
rise from the dead.)
2. Where is Jesus going? (He is going to Jerusalem.)
3. What does Jesus need to undergo? (He must undergo great suffering.)
4. Why do you think Jesus did it? (Jesus did it to save us.)
5. Why is it important for Jesus to tell his disciples? (He wanted them to know
ahead what will happen and to know God's plan of Salvation.)
6. What is a suffering Messiah as defined by Isaiah? Read Isaiah 53:3-7. 3 He
was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted
with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was
despised, and we held him of no account. 4 Surely he has borne our
infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck
down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us
whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have all turned to our own way, and the LORD has laid on him the
iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not
open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep
that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Ask: "What can we do to show our gratitude to Christ for his sufferings to save us?

APRIL 10, 2022 (PALM SUNDAY)

Memory Verse (Based on Mark 11:1-10)
Key Concepts :Jesus enters Jerusalem to fulfil his destiny and calling as the
suffering Messiah
Objectives
At the end of the session the listener willbe able to:
1. define the meaning of a suffering servant in the context of Jesus’ entry to
Jerusalem;
2. debate on the issue of whether Jesus entered Jerusalem victoriously or not;
3. express the entry to Jerusalem as the defining moment for Jesus as the
Messiah; and
4. recall occasions when people obey God by putting their complete trust in Him.
Getting Ready : Tell the listener to recall some of their experiences when their
families expect the coming visit of their relatives from the province or from the
city. Ask them what they and their parents prepare. Let them describe their
feelings on such happy occasions. Ask the class if God will be pleased when we
welcome others to our homes.
Learning Time : Explain to the class the meaning of the Passover. Tell them it is a
Jewish celebration to remember how God saved the Israelites in Egypt. The angel
of death did not enter their houses but passed over their houses that had the
lamb's blood painted on their doors. This saved them from death.
a. Passover. It is an important annual Jewish festival celebrating the night that
God freed his people from Egypt. (You can talk about the blood of the lamb
posted on each door of the homes of the Israelites in order that the angel of
death will pass them over and save them from death.)
b. Hosanna. It means “Save us!”
c. Palm Sunday. It is the Sunday before Resurrection Sunday.
d. Holy Week. Starting with Monday after Palm Sunday up to Saturday, it is the
week by when Jesus spent his last days on earth before he rose from the dead on
Resurrection Sunday.
Jesus Enters Jerusalem (Based on Mark 11:1-10)
It is almost Passover. Jesus wants to celebrate it. He tells his disciples that they
will go to the temple in Jerusalem. He asks two disciples to get a donkey. “Go into
the village. You will find a tied donkey. Untie it and bring it to me.” The disciples
obey Jesus. In the village, they find a tied donkey just as Jesus said. As they are
untying the donkey, some people ask them, “Why do you untie the donkey?” 68
Season of Lent (Crucifixion) United Church of Christ in the Philippines Spirituality
for These Critical Times “The Lord needs it,” They answer. “We will return it
later.” So the disciples bring the donkey to Jesus. Jesus rides on the donkey. He
starts to go to the Temple. Some people see Jesus coming. They tell others about
it, “Jesus is coming. Jesus is coming.” Many people hear about it. They run to
greet Jesus. As they see Jesus coming, they remove their cloaks and put them on
the road. Some hold palm branches and wave them at Jesus. They shout joyfully,
“Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna! Save us!” It is
indeed a joyous occasion!

Deepening Activity/Sharing Time Discuss the lesson.

1. What are the two reasons why Jesus decided to go to Jerusalem? (To celebrate
the Passover. and to obey God.)
2. What do you think God wanted Jesus to do? (To establish God's reign here on
earth and to save people from sinful systems.)
3. Why do you think being obedience and humility were shown by Jesus when he
entered Jerusalem?
4. Why do you think Jesus told his disciples to tell the village men that he needed
the donkey? (They have to get the donkey because it symbolized humility as
foretold by the prophets. The people knew he was the king. However, they also
knew that kings usually ride on horses to show greatness.)
5. Why is the triumphal entry of Jesus significant? (Jesus showed that he was a
different kind of Messiah and not like a powerful king (humility), and it
symbolized his obedience (servanthood) to God's will by establishing God's reign.)

Share an experience when you struggle to obey God because of the sacrifice that
result from your decisions. Tell how you managed to persevere and eventually
succeeded in obeying God. Ask: “Have you had any second thoughts of quitting
and leave everything behind?”
APRIL 17,2022 (EASTER SUNDAY)
MEMORY VERSE :Luke 24:1-12
Key Concepts: Jesus IS ALIVE
Objectives
At the end of the session the listener will be able to:
1. tell that Jesus lives after being dead for three days;
2. accept the fact that the resurrection of Jesus gives hope and joy to all people
who believe in Him; and 3. express one's joy for Jesus' resurrection.

Jesus Is Alive (Based on Luke 24:1-12)

On Sunday morning, three days after Jesus died, some women visit the tomb of
Jesus. They have some spices to use on Jesus' body. The women find the tomb of
Jesus open. He is not there. Two men suddenly appear and say, "Why do you look
for the living among the dead? He is alive. He is risen." The women run to the
disciples and tell them that Jesus is alive. The disciples did not believe them. Peter
runs to the tomb. He does not find Jesus there because he is risen. So he goes
home sad because he did not believe.

Deepening Activity/Sharing Time

1. Who came to visit Jesus’ tomb? (Some women came to visit Jesus’ tomb.
Expect some girls to walk to the direction of a designated place in the room that
signifies the tomb.)
2. Why did the women visit the tomb? (They brought some spices to put on Jesus’
body. Expect the girls to bring some herbs with them. One may say, “We will use
this on Jesus’ body.”)
3. What did they see? (The tomb is open and Jesus is no longer in the tomb.
Expect the girls to look around and show worry on their faces. One may say,
“Where is Jesus?”)
4. Who appeared before them? (Two men appeared before them. Expect two
boys to stand before the women.)
 5. What did the women do? (They ran and told the disciples about what
happened. Expect the girls to run and tell the disciples, “Jesus is alive. He is risen.”
6. How did the disciples react? (They did not believe what the women said. Expect
a pantomime where the girls (women) animatedly talk to the boys (disciples) and
the boys did not believe them.)
7. What did Peter do? (Peter went to the tomb and he did not find Jesus. Expect a
boy looking inside the tomb for Jesus because he is no longer there. Instead, he
finds Jesus’ clothes lying there.)
8. Why is Jesus no longer in the tomb? (Expect the class to say, “Jesus rose from
the dead after three days. He is alive. Hallelujah!”)

“If Jesus had victory over death, is there anything that He cannot have victory
over?” Tell the students to prayerfully offer to Jesus the "battles" that they need
to have victory over such as having difficulty in passing a certain subject/class,
difficulty in their relationships, or difficulty letting go off vices

APRIL 24, 2022 (2ND SUNDAY OF EASTER)

Key Concepts: Jesus appears before his disciples.
Memory Verse: Mark 16:4-8

Objectives
At the end of the session the congregation will be able to:
1. continue to describe that Jesus is alive by appearing to his doubting and fearful
disciples;
2. realize that when we are afraid, we can trust Jesus because he is alive, and
3. express one's thanks to God for making Jesus live
Peace Be With You! (Based on Mark 16:4-8 and John 20:24-29) The women see
the tomb open. They become afraid. One asks, "Who rolled the stone?" As they
enter the tomb, they see a young man dressed in a white robe. Still afraid, they
hear him say, “Do not be afraid. Jesus has been raised. He is alive. Go, tell the
disciples of Jesus that he will go there before you.” They hurriedly leave the tomb
to tell Peter and the other disciples. When Jesus visits the disciples, Thomas is not
there. The other disciples tell him about Jesus who is alive. Thomas says, "I won't
believe easily! I need proof. I want to see the mark of the nails on Jesus' hands
first before I believe. O wait, of course the wound on his side, I A week later, Jesus
visits again and this time Thomas is with the other disciples. Jesus greets them
joyfully, “Peace be with you.” Looking at Thomas, Jesus continues, "Please put
your finger here on the nail marks of my hand and your hand in my side also. Do
you believe now?" Thomas nervously exclaims, "My Lord and my God!" Tapping
Thomas’ shoulder, Jesus declares, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet
have come to believe. Peace with you my dear Thomas!" want to put my hand on
it."
Deepening Activity/Sharing Time
1. Discuss the lesson. Allow a free-willing sharing of answers to the following
questions:
a. How did the women and Thomas react after hearing the news of Jesus'
resurrection?
b. How did Jesus react to the doubt of Thomas?
c. Have you ever been afraid? What was it that made you afraid?
d. Have you ever been doubtful to somebody? What was it that made you
doubtful?

Ask: “How does the experience of the risen Lord remove our doubts and fears?”
Ask: How can we, as followers of Jesus, overcome our fears and doubts?