Halloween Tract

Sunday School Lesson

Jesus is Crucified

Matthew 26-28; Mark 14-16; Luke 21-24; John 18-20; John 3:16; 1 John 1:9
Through a paper airplane that transforms into a cross, kids learn that heaven is a special place. Heaven is God’s home, and God wants all of us to be with him there. An object lesson using a hard-boiled egg teaches that because of our sins, our hearts are not clean. Our sins separate us from God. Kids also make a Salvation Bracelet and learn that if we believe in Jesus and confess our sins, God will forgive our sins. We can become children of God and will one day be with Him in heaven.

Lesson Overview

1

Get Them Curious

Prepare kids for an exciting
learning journey.

Airplane to Cross

Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified1

You can’t get to heaven in an airplane!

2

Screen Time

Show kids a video on the
Bible story.

Jesus is Crucified

Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified2

The Story of Easter (Jesus’ Sacrifice), by Saddleback Kids

3

Make it Stick

Help kids remember the
Bible story.

Jesus is Crucified Emoji Story

Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified3

Arrange Emoji story cards to retell the story.

4

Dig Deeper

Help kids grasp
the big idea.

Gospel Egg

Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified4

An egg illustrates why Jesus had to die on the cross.

5

Walk the Talk

Help kids live out
the
big idea.

Salvation Bracelet

Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified5

Kids make their own craft salvation bracelets and learn more about the Gospel.

6

Take it Home

Send kids home with a concrete action plan and fun midweek activities.

Do you believe?

Jesus is Crucified Take it Home-01

Help kids reflect on the Gospel of Salvation.

Big Idea

Jesus died on the cross so that our sins can be forgiven.

Key Verse

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Live it Out

We can confess our sins and ask God for forgiveness.

This Sunday School Lesson requires some advance preparation. For a consolidated summary of preparation, supplies and free printables required, please scroll to the bottom of this lesson.

1. Get Them Curious – Airplane to Cross

This free Child Evangelism Resource is taken from www.LetTheLittleChildrenCome.com.
Check out their website for other resources on sharing the Gospel with children and unique evangelism tools.

 

Remember to practice folding and cutting this airplane-to-cross in advance.

Then fold another airplane as a sample, but do not cut it yet.

Show kids your sample airplane:

Airplane to Cross Gospel Presentation Sample

Tell kids they will be folding their own special airplane.

You will need for each child:

  • Letter-size paper
  • Scissors

To fold the airplane:

Airplane to Cross Gospel Presentation a
Airplane to Cross Gospel Presentation b
Airplane to Cross Gospel Presentation c
Airplane to Cross Gospel Presentation d
Airplane to Cross Gospel Presentation e
Airplane to Cross Gospel Presentation f

After everyone has finished folding their airplanes…

Discuss:

  • Have you been on an airplane?
  • Where did you fly to?
  • If you could fly to anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?
  • Where are some places that you can’t get to in an airplane?

Say:

  • I know of a very special place.
  • It is better than any holiday destination.
  • This place is perfect.
  • There is no sickness, no pain and no hunger.
  • No one ever dies.
  • Everyone is perfectly happy.

Discuss: Do you know where this place is?

 

Say:

  • This special place is called heaven.
  • Heaven is a special place that you can’t get to in an airplane.
  • Heaven is God’s home.
  • God wants all of us to go to heaven to be with him.

Discuss: Do you know how to get to heaven?

 

Transform your airplane into a cross:

  • Cut your airplane as shown below
  • Unfold the paper to reveal a cross
Airplane to Cross Gospel Presentation g
Airplane to Cross Gospel Presentation h

Have kids transform their airplanes into crosses.

 

Discuss: What does the cross represent? Why?

Say:

  • This cross represents Jesus.
  • Jesus is the only way to get to heaven to be with God.
  • Let’s watch a video to learn more about this.

Pray: Dear God, thank you for this fun origami airplane that transforms into a cross. Please help us learn more heaven and how we can get there by way of the cross. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

2. Screen Time – Jesus is Crucified

This is our favorite YouTube video on Jesus is Crucified: https://youtu.be/HL8R158Ujp4

Note: This same video is also used in the lesson, “Jesus is Alive”.

Before you begin, tell the children to pay attention to the various events in the story.

3. Make it Stick – Jesus is Crucified Emoji Story 

Remember to download Jesus is Crucified Emoji Story Cards and Slide 2 (Jesus is Crucified Emoji Story Sequence).

Jesus is Crucified Emoji Story Cards        Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified Slide2

You will need to print 1 copy of Jesus is Crucified Emoji Story Cards for each group of kids.
(We suggest a group size of 3-5 kids. Groups can be larger, but smaller groups allow everyone to be involved.)

 

Discuss: What Bible story did we just watch?

Show Slide 1 (Sunday School Lesson Title & Bible Reference):
Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified Slide1

 

Divide into small groups.
Give each group:

  • Jesus is Crucified Emoji Story Cards
  • Scissors

Tell kids that the Jesus is Crucified Emoji Story Cards are in the wrong order.

Within their groups, they must cut up the cards and arrange them in the correct order.

Give the groups enough time to talk through the story.

 

When all the groups are done, have groups take turns to show 1 Emoji Story Card at a time and re-tell that part of the story.

You may show show Slide 2 (Jesus is Crucified Emoji Story Sequence) to guide the children:
Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified Slide2

Halloween Tract

4. Dig Deeper – Gospel Egg

This free Child Evangelism Resource is taken from www.LetTheLittleChildrenCome.com.
Check out their website for other resources on sharing the Gospel with children and unique evangelism tools.

 

Remember to prepare a hard-boiled egg in advance. (Do not remove its shell yet.)

 

Say:

  • Is this the first time you heard the story about Jesus’ dying on the cross?
  • Do you know why Jesus had to die on the cross?

Show everyone a hard-boiled egg.

 

Say:

  • This egg represents us.
  • I am not perfect. I don’t think anyone here is perfect either.

Ask the children to suggest some things they have done that are wrong.
Write these on the egg using a black permanent marker.

Depending on the ages of the kids, you may like to pass the egg and permanent marker around for the children to write on the egg.
Caution: Be careful not to drop the egg. (The inside of the egg may become stained if its shell is cracked.)

 

Say:

  • We have all done things that are wrong. These are called sins.
  • Sins are the things we do that make God unhappy.
  • Doing, saying or thinking bad things are sins.
  • Telling lies, disobeying your parents, hurting others and being selfish are examples of sins.
  • All of us have sinned.

Pass the egg around and ask the children to describe the egg. (e.g. hard, dirty, messy…)

 

Say:

  • This dirty egg is like a heart that is not clean.
  • Because of sin, our hearts are not clean.
  • But God is perfect. He is perfectly good, and perfectly clean.
  • And because God is perfectly clean, he can only allow those with clean hearts to be with Him.

Read John 3:16

 

Discuss:

  • Who is the Son of God?
  • What does it mean to have eternal life?

Say:

  • Jesus is the Son of God.
  • To have eternal life means to be with God.
  • God sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins so that all the wrong things that we have done can be forgiven and we can be with God.
  • On the third day, Jesus became alive again!
  • Jesus is the perfect sacrifice that died on the cross so that our sins can be forgiven.

Carefully peel off the egg shell.
(Wetting the egg will make it easier to peel.)

Pass the egg around again and ask the children to describe the egg now. (e.g. soft, clean, smooth…)

Say:

  • Because Jesus took the punishment for our sins, our hearts can be made clean again! Just like this nice, clean egg.
  • When our hearts are made clean, we can be with God.
  • If we believe in Jesus, our hearts can be made clean and we can be with God forever!

Show Slide 3 (Big Idea): 
Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified Slide3

Have everyone read the slide.

5. Walk the Talk – Salvation Bracelet

This free Child Evangelism Resource is taken from www.LetTheLittleChildrenCome.com.
Check out their website for other resources on sharing the Gospel with children and unique evangelism tools.

 

Remember to download and print the Beads Template in advance.
For your convenience, we have provided 2 different printable Beads Templates. 

To print using a color printer on white paper, use this Beads Template for Printing on White Paper

Salvation Bracelet Printable

 

To print on colored papers, use this Beads Template for Printing on Colored Papers:
(Print on yellow, red, black, white, and green colored paper.)

Salvation Bracelet Printable for Coloring

 

Show kids a sample of the Salvation Bracelet that you have made.

Make Salvation Bracelet f

Tell kids they will be making their own Salvation Bracelets.

 

You will need for each child:

  • Beads Template
  • Toothpick (or something thicker, e.g. lollipop sticks, if you are using a thicker cord)
  • Cord (must be thinner than the toothpick): about 15 inches per bracelet
  • Scissors
  • Glue

For younger kids, instead of making paper beads, you may want to consider purchasing individually packaged, ready-to-assemble Wordless Bracelet Kits at https://www.letthelittlechildrencome.com/child-evangelism-tools/wordless-bracelet-kit/

 

Here’s how to make the Salvation Bracelet:

Make the Beads

  1. After printing the Beads Template, cut out the triangles.
    You will need one long triangle (10 inches by ½ inch) to make each bead.

  2. You will need to make 5 colored beads for each bracelet: gold or yellow, red, black, white and green.

  3. Roll the beads. Starting with the base of the triangle, roll it around a toothpick. The toothpick must be thicker than your cord.
    If you are using a thicker cord, look for something thicker (e.g. a lollipop stick) to roll the beads.
    Try to roll as tightly as possible, so that the bead will not unravel by itself later on.
    Roll evenly to make the finished bead symmetrical.
    Make Salvation Bracelet b       

 

  1. Glue the beads. When you have almost reached the end of the triangle (about 2 inches from the tip), apply glue to the tip of the triangle. Then finish rolling.
    Make Salvation Bracelet c

 

  1. Once the glue is set, gently remove the bead from the toothpick.
    Make Salvation Bracelet d

 

  1. If you want to make your beads last longer, you can paint a thin layer of varnish or transparent nail polish over them. (Young children may not be able to manage this step, and the varnish/nail polish will take some time to dry.)

Assemble the Bracelet

  1. To make adjustable bracelets, cut 15 inches of cord for each bracelet.

  2. Thread the beads onto the cord in this order: yellow, black, red, white and green.

  3. Move the beads to the middle of the cord and tie a knot on each side of the beads.

    Make Salvation Bracelet e


  4. With the two ends of the cord, tie two sliding adjustable knots:
    Take the first end and knot it around the second end.
    wordless bracelet 9110htub

    Take the second end and knot it around the first end.
    wordless bracelet 9110htuc

  5. The finished bracelet looks like this:
    Make Salvation Bracelet f

 

You can either have the following discussion as you make the salvation bracelet or after you have finished.

 

Say: We can use the colors of the Salvation Bracelet to tell a story.

Discuss: Let’s begin with the first bead. What does the yellow bead remind you of?

Say: Yellow reminds us of heaven.

Discuss: Do you remember what we said about heaven?

Say:

  • Heaven is a special place that is not on this earth, so you can’t go to heaven in an airplane.
  • It is better than any holiday destination.
  • This place is perfect.
  • There is no sickness, no pain and no hunger.
  • No one ever dies.
  • Everyone is perfectly happy.
  • The best thing about heaven is that it is God’s home.
  • God loves us and wants us all to be with him in heaven.
  • But there is something that prevents us from being with God.

Discuss: What prevents us from being with God?

 

Say:

  • Sin prevents us from being with God.
  • The dark bead (just like the dirty egg) reminds us of sin.
  • Because of sin, our hearts are no longer clean, and we cannot be with God.
  • But God loves us and made a way for us to be with Him.

Discuss: What does the red bead remind you of?

 

Say:

  • The red bead reminds us of the blood of Jesus.
  • God loves us and wants us to be with Him. So He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins so that all the wrong things that we have done can be forgiven and we can be with God.
  • On the third day, Jesus became alive again!

Discuss: What does the clean bead remind you of?

 

Say:

  • The clean bead (just like the clean egg) reminds us of a clean heart.
  • Because Jesus took the punishment for our sins, our hearts can be made clean.

Show Slide 4 (Key Verse): 
Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified Slide4

Have everyone read the slide.

 

Discuss: According to this verse, what will God do if we confess our sins?

 

Say:

  • If we confess our sins, God will forgive us. He will cleanse us and purify us. He will make our hearts clean.
  • With a clean heart, we can have a relationship with God.
  • We can become children of God. We can call God our Father.
  • We can one day be with God in heaven.

Show Slide 5 (Live it Out): 
Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified Slide5

Have everyone read the slide.

 

Discuss:

  • Do you believe that you have sinned?
  • Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross so that your sins can be forgiven.
  • Have you ever confessed your sins to God?
  • Do you want to ask God to forgive your sins right now, so that you can become His child?
  • Would you like to one day be with God in heaven?

Say:

  • If you want to have your sins forgiven, you need to:
      • Admit that we have sinned and ask God to forgive us
      • Believe that Jesus died on the cross to be punished instead of us, and
      • Invite Jesus into our lives to help us turn away from sin

Invite those who want to sincerely pray for forgiveness and for Jesus to come into their life to say this prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me. I know that I have sinned. I have done things that are wrong. I believe that you died on the cross to take the punishment for my sins. Please forgive all of my sins and make my heart clean. Please come into my life and help me turn away from doing wrong. Thank you that with a clean heart, I can have a relationship with you now and will one day be with you in heaven. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

 

Say:

  • For those of us who have said this prayer sincerely, we are God’s children.
  • We will one day be with God in heaven.
  • But our relationship with God begins the moment we believe in Jesus.
  • There is one more bead in our bracelet.

Say:

  • The green bead reminds us of things that grow, like grass, leaves and trees.
  • It is important that you grow in your relationship with Jesus. You can do this by:
      • Talking to God
      • Reading God’s word, the Bible, and
      • Obeying him

6. Take it Home – Do you believe?

Say: Let’s recall all that we have learned today. Can you remember the title of today’s Bible Story?

Show Slide 1 again (Sunday School Lesson Title & Bible Reference):
Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified Slide1

Have everyone read the slide.

 

Say: Can you remember today’s big idea?

Show Slide 3 again (Big Idea):
Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified Slide3

Have everyone read the slide.

 

Say: Can you remember today’s key verse?

Show Slide 4 again (Key Verse): 
Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified Slide4

Have everyone read the slide.

 

Say: How can we live out today’s lesson?

Show Slide 5 again (Live it Out): 
Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified Slide5

Have everyone read the slide.

 

Give each child a copy of Jesus is Crucified Take it Home Handout and Jesus Dies on the Cross Word Search

Jesus is Crucified Take it Home-01  Jesus is Crucified Take it Home-02

 

Easter Word Search Jesus Dies on the Cross

 

Say:

  • Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross so that your sins can be forgiven?
  • Let’s write down your personal response to God in the Live it Out section on the first page. Then spend some time on your own talking to God about these things.
  • The other pages are for you to do at home. Tell me next week about what you did at home!

Here are some responses that kids can write:

  • For believers: I will give thanks to Jesus. I will pray, read the Bible and obey Jesus daily.
  • For those who have not yet decided to put their trust in Jesus: I will think about today’s lesson.

Give everyone some time to write down their Live it Out action plan before ending the lesson with this closing prayer:

Pray: Dear Jesus, thank you for today’s Bible lesson on Jesus is Crucified. Thank you that you love us so much that you died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Thank you that when we believe in you, our hearts can be made clean, and we can become God’s children. Please help us to believe, trust and obey you more and more each day. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Halloween Tract

Lesson Preparation and Supplies

Here’s a summary of all the preparation, supplies and free printables required for this lesson.

1

Get Them Curious

Prepare kids for an exciting
learning journey.

Airplane to Cross

Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified1

You can’t get to heaven in an airplane!

Practice folding and cutting an airplane-to-cross in advance.
(Follow the instructions in “Get Them Curious” section above.)

Fold another airplane but do not cut it yet. You will need to show kids your sample airplane and how to cut it.

For this activity, you will need for each child:

  • Letter-size paper
  • Scissors

2

Screen Time

Show kids a video on the
Bible story.

Jesus is Crucified

Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified2

The Story of Easter (Jesus’ Sacrifice), by Saddleback Kids

Ensure that you can play this YouTube video:
The Story of Easter (Jesus’ Sacrifice), by Saddleback Kids (Video URL: https://youtu.be/HL8R158Ujp4)

3

Make it Stick

Help kids remember the
Bible story.

Jesus is Crucified Emoji Story

Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified3

Arrange Emoji story cards to retell the story.

Download Slide 1 (Sunday School Lesson Title & Bible Reference):
Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified Slide1

 

Download Jesus is Crucified Emoji Story Cards

Jesus is Crucified Emoji Story Cards       

 

You will need for each group:

  • 1 copy of Jesus is Crucified Emoji Story Cards
  • Scissors

(We suggest a group size of 3-5 kids. Groups can be larger, but smaller groups allow everyone to be involved.)

 

Download Slide 2 (Jesus is Crucified Emoji Story Sequence):
Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified Slide2

4

Dig Deeper

Help kids grasp
the big idea.

Gospel Egg

Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified4

An egg illustrates why Jesus had to die on the cross.

For this activity, you will need:

  • Hard-boiled egg
  • Permanent marker
  • A bowl of room-temperature water

(Adding a pinch of salt while boiling the egg will make it easier to peel later. Another trick is to cool the egg in an ice bath once the eggs are cooked.)

 

Download Slide 3 (Big Idea):
Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified Slide3

5

Walk the Talk

Help kids live out
the big idea
.

Salvation Bracelet

Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified5

Kids make their own craft salvation bracelets and learn more about the Gospel.

For your convenience, we have provided 2 different printable Beads Templates. 

To print using a color printer on white paper, use this Beads Template for Printing on White Paper

Salvation Bracelet Printable

 

To print on colored papers, use this Beads Template for Printing on Colored Papers:
(Print on yellow, red, black, white, and green colored paper.)

Salvation Bracelet Printable for Coloring

 

For each child, you will need:

  • Beads Template
  • Toothpick (or something thicker, e.g. lollipop sticks, if you are using a thicker cord)
  • Cord (must be thinner than the toothpick): about 15 inches per bracelet
  • Scissors
  • Glue

For younger kids, instead of making paper beads, you may want to consider purchasing individually packaged, ready-to-assemble Wordless Bracelet Kits at https://www.letthelittlechildrencome.com/child-evangelism-tools/wordless-bracelet-kit/

 

Make 1 Salvation Bracelet in advance.
(Follow the instructions in “Walk the Talk” section above.)
You will need to show kids your sample Salvation Bracelet.

 

Download Slide 4 (Key Verse):
Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified Slide4

 

Download Slide 5 (Live It Out):
Sunday School Lesson - Jesus is Crucified Slide5

6

Take it Home

Send kids home with a concrete action plan and fun midweek activities.

Do you believe?

Jesus is Crucified Take it Home-01

Help kids reflect on the Gospel of Salvation.

Download Jesus is Crucified Take it Home Handout. You will need to print 1 copy for each child.

Jesus is Crucified Take it Home-01  

 

Download Jesus Dies on the Cross Word Search. You will need to print 1 copy for each child.

Easter Word Search Jesus Dies on the Cross

 

It would be good to tell parents about the Take it Home Handout. Encourage them to do the suggested family activity with their child.

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