Lesson 3

What It Means to be Born Again

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

John 3:3

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

Goal:

To help children understand how to become a Christian.

Objects Needed:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Flashlight, rolls of toilet tissue, paper, tempera, and black markers

Opening:

  • Read the Very Hungry Caterpillar.
  • The story of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” reminds me of the story of a man in our Bible lesson for today. It is the story of a man by the name of Nicodemus.

Lesson:

John 3:1-21

  • Today’s lesson is at nighttime. When you think of nighttime, what kinds of sounds or noises do you hear? You may hear crickets chirping or hear other animals making sounds. You can usually see the moon and the twinkling stars. Let’s turn out the lights and I will tell you the story by using my flashlight.
  • Nicodemus was a very religious man and was a leader of the Pharisees. He spent a lot of time studying the Scriptures, but there was still much that he didn’t understand. He wanted to talk to Jesus about how to get to Heaven, so he went to see Jesus one night. He was being secretive because he did not want his friends to see him with Jesus.
  • Nicodemus asked Jesus his question, but Jesus answered Nicodemus in a strange way. Jesus told him the only way to Heaven was to be born twice.
  • This confused Nicodemus. He asked Jesus how a person could be born two times. Jesus told him that the first time a person is born as a baby (for us--in a hospital).
  • The second time is when a person believes and trusts Jesus. Think about the story of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”. When the caterpillar came out of his cocoon, he wasn’t a ugly old caterpillar that crawled around anymore, was he? No he was a totally new creation. A butterfly! He could do so many more wonderful things. He could fly! That’s the way it is when we let Jesus come into our heart. He makes us a new creation! He gives us the ability to do many wonderful things. For example we can feel God speak to us and He can hear our prayers. We will be able to live with God forever.
  • Read John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
  • Jesus continued to tell him about God's love. He explained to Nicodemus that God loved him so much that He had a plan so he could be in Heaven with God. Jesus explained that He was God's Son and that God gave Him so that whoever believes in Jesus will spend forever with God.
  • Nicodemus trusted Jesus. He knew that the ONLY way to get into Heaven was by trusting Jesus and asking Him to come into his life. Nicodemus did this. He was a different after that. He was a new creation. He started loving people and doing what Jesus would do.

Pray:

Heavenly Father, we praise you that in Christ Jesus we are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Activity:

Thumbprint Caterpillar and Butterfly

Materials

• paper

• 2 colors of tempera or finger paint

• black marker

Procedure

  • Thumbprint caterpillars with alternating colors
  • Make a thumbprint butterflies (4 prints of the same color)
  • Finish details with markers (antennas, legs, scenery)

Gym Time: Kid Chrysalis

Children can wrap each other in toilet paper (excluding their head) so they can feel what it would be like to be a caterpillar in a chrysalis (similar to a cocoon). Have them close their eyes and imagine that they are about to become butterflies. Have them stretch their "wings" and tear through the toilet paper chrysalis.