The Last Supper

Video Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Children will view “The Easter Story” from the Greatest Adventures Stories from the Bible series, 1989, Turner Home Entertainment (aka the Hanna Barbera series).

Preview it on YouTube.com

Scripture References, Memory Verse, Theme and Objectives:
Refer to first post in this lesson set.

Important Note for Video Workshop Leaders:

Children love this workshop! Often the video is a direct correlation with the Bible story and creates a concrete, visual image in the children’s minds. They refer to this image over and over throughout the Rotation as they visit other workshops.

Some videos may take some liberties with the story-you may need to point out these discrepancies. As much as possible sit down with the children and watch the video together. Feel free to pause the video to discuss something that you especially want them to note.

Preparation and Room Set Up

• Read the Background information, Teaching Tips and Lesson.
• Preview the video prior to class time.
• Download the YouTube video of "Remembrance (Communion Song)" by Matt Redman,and burn to a DVD.
• Review the Story Cards (pictures of the different scenes in the story) – will be used to review story after Week #1.
• Prepare the popcorn before the children arrive.

Time Guidelines:

LESSON

Early Arrival Activity – Review the Memory Verse:
Write the memory verse on index cards, one word per card. As children arrive, have them put the cards in order and recite the verse.

Opening

Welcome the children as they arrive. Please wear a nametag and help the shepherds distribute nametags to the children. Begin each class with introductions.

Opening Prayer:
Please open each session with prayer. Loving God, Thank you for this day and for everyone who is here today. Give us open minds and hearts this morning as we learn more about you. Thank you for sending your son Jesus to be our Savior.  Amen.

Dig - Main Content and Reflection:

Introduce the DVD: The Easter Story:
The Greatest Adventure Stories from the Bible, Turner Home Entertainment, running time ~ 30 mins.

In today’s movie there are three young people who have gone back in time. They meet a young man named Mark who is writing the story of Jesus. Mark was the writer of the gospel of Mark. What we call “the last supper” takes place during Jesus’ last week before he was crucified. Jesus had come to Jerusalem for the special festival held each year. But this year would be different. As you watch the movie here are some questions to think about…. (for older group, you may wish to write these questions on the flip chart before class)

• What was the name of the special festival Jesus and his disciples celebrating?
• What did the religious leaders (the Pharisees) think about Jesus?
• What clues in the movie help you see how Jesus was feeling?
• What happened at the meal Jesus had with his friends?
• What do we do “in the remembrance of Jesus”  in the church today?

Start the video and watch together with the children.

To save time, you can fast forward through some of the scenes of the modern day kids (especially for the older children).

Pause the video during the Last Supper. The movie does not have Jesus saying, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Ask the children if they know what Jesus said. If they don’t, be sure to mention it, then resume the video.

The movie tells the entire Easter story (briefly). If time does not allow watching the entire movie, stop it and be sure to review with the children the “rest of the story.” Please be sure to leave adequate time for Bible study and discussion after the movie.

Once the movie is over, have the children gather at the tables with their Bibles.

Important Teacher Notes:

Each workshop includes the Bible story.One of our primary goals is to improve the children’s Bible literacy! If children did not bring their Bibles from home, use the classroom Bibles. Shepherds should help the children locate the stories. Use the handout “Helping Children Learn to Use their Bibles” and the Background Information to help you introduce the story.

Remember that as the Rotation progresses; the children will become more familiar with the story  When this happens, allow the children to tell you what they know. The children should still locate the story in their Bibles every week. Use the bold headings in their Bibles to guide your discussion. You may want to review some of the Bible notes as well. Be sure to fill in any missing information and add additional details using the Background Information. One of the greatest advantages of the Rotation Model is that children who come regularly learn the story in great depth.

Each lesson contains more Background Information and discussion questions than can be used in one session. Remember, children are studying this story for four weeks!  Be sure to follow the time guidelines and leave ample time for the activity.

Bible Study – Grades K-2:
The Picture Bible

Where would we find a story about Jesus and his disciples in the Bible?  (New Testament)

Help the children locate the story “Secretly in an Upper Room” and “The Lord’s Supper” page 641-645.

First Week - Read/review the story with the children as they follow along in their Bibles.

Subsequent Weeks – Have children locate the story in the Bible. Then pass out the story cards to each child or pair of children. Have them work together to sequence the story, using their Bibles for accuracy.

Bible Study - Grades 3-5:
NIV Adventure Bible

Where would we find stories about Jesus in the Bible?  (New Testament, Gospels) The first four books of the New Testament are called the gospels. What does “gospel” mean?  (good news – these books tell us the good news about Jesus).

The story of the Lord’s Supper is found in three of the gospels: Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-25 and Luke 22:7-20. Choose one of the gospel passages and help the children locate it. Review/paraphrase the verses. (our memory verse is found in the Luke version).

Review the following Bible note:

Did You Know?  What was the Last Supper?  (page 1157)

Discussion:
Have children answer the questions posed before the video.

• What was the name of the special festival Jesus and his disciples celebrating?
• What did the religious leaders (the Pharisees) think about Jesus?
• What clues in the movie help you see how Jesus was feeling?
• What happened at the meal Jesus had with his friends?
• What do we do “in the remembrance of Jesus”  in the church today?

Think back to our study of the plagues on Egypt. How was the blood of a lamb important?  (Painted across the doorways so the angel of death would pass over that house and not bring death to the oldest son. The blood of the lamb was used to save the children of Israel.)

When Jesus took the cup of wine and said, “This is my blood, shed for you”, he was telling us that his blood from his death would save us, just like the Passover lamb’s blood saved the Hebrew people long ago.  John the Baptist called Jesus the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”  Jesus was the ultimate Passover Lamb!

We call Communion a sacrament. What is a sacrament?  (a sacred act that shows loyalty to Jesus, and something Jesus told us to repeat. An ordinary act that has deeper meanings).

How do the elements of bread and wine that we use in Communion relate to what Jesus did?  (Jesus gave his life for each of us. The bread is a symbol of Jesus’ body. The juice is a symbol of Jesus’ blood. Blood is an important symbol for life in the Bible.

In Old Testament times, the priests sacrificed animals and sprinkled the blood on the altar as they prayed to God for forgiveness. When Jesus died he was the perfect sacrifice – no other animals need to be killed to ask for forgiveness.  Jesus took care of that once and for all!  When we accept Jesus as our Savior and ask for forgiveness, God forgives our sins.)

What is the rest of the story? (Jesus was arrested, tried, convicted, crucified, buried in a tomb and then rose again on Easter morning! Jesus is alive today!)

Memory Verse:
Each Rotation we encourage the children to memorize the Rotation Memory Verse. Review it with the children at this time.

Help the children locate the memory verse in their Bibles.

“This is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  Luke 22:19

Jesus told his disciples to remember him whenever they eat bread and drink the wine (juice). Each time we take Communion in church we can feel especially close to Jesus. We remember Jesus and how he lived and how he willingly died so our sins could be forgiven and we could be friends with God forever.

Journal Reflection (Optional):
The last ten minutes should be reserved for journal time. This is an opportunity for processing and reflection about what the children have learned.

Journal Questions:

Grades K-2:  Draw a picture of the bread and cup for communion.

Grades 3-5:  Show the music video instead of journals.

Give children a few moments to work in their journals. Then ask them to turn to their neighbor and share their work, explaining what they drew or wrote.

Remembrance Music Video for Grades 3-5:
"Remembrance (Communion Song)"by Matt Redman, on YouTube.

Before showing the DVD, tell children to think about the following:

• Who can “come to the table” and “receive communion?” (the lyrics say for any to receive, United Methodists practice “open communion” because we believe that Communion is a way God can touch our hearts and spirits… it’s called a means of grace.)
• How does “remembrance lead us to worship?”
• What does the word communion mean?

Show the DVD – music video of Matt Redmon’s song “Remembrance (Communion Song).”

Discuss the above questions with the children.

Closing:

Gather the children together. Encourage the children to attend again next Sunday for another workshop and to invite their friends. Review with them one word or concept from this session: love, faith, cup, bread, Communion, sacrament are just a few examples.

A lesson written by Jaymie Derden from: State Street UMC – G.R.E.A.T. Adventure
Bristol, VA