The New Creation

Computer Workshop

Grades K-3
(Lesson by Alison)

Memory Verse:
“The One who is seated on the throne said “ See, I am making all thing new.”” Revelation 21:5A

Objectives:

Through the use of the computers and the CD-ROM- BibleLand.com, the students will:

• Learn about what Jesus promised to do when he comes back to earth some day.
• Learn that no one, not even the angels in heaven know when Jesus will return. We must always be ready!
• Learn about the Disciple John’s vision that God gave him about what was to happen when Jesus returns.

Materials:

• Bible, Personal Computer for each student,
• Software- BIBLELAND.COM – Baker Book House Co. ISBN 0-8010-0276-1 (Out of print - left here for those Rotation churches who have it.)

Lesson Plan

Opening:

Welcome each of the students to the Computer Theme Room. Say: I am looking for you to tell me about the best or worst dream you have ever had. Please raise your hand and then you can tell me your story. (Listen to every dream, good or bad that the students would like to talk about.)

Say:

Well, one of Jesus friends and Disciples had a dream one day. I say “One Day” because he had this dream while he was awake. When a person is awake and has a dream we call it a vision. This vision wasn’t your average dream. When a person dreams at night sometimes their dreams are silly and seem to make no sense. This dream, however, was extremely important! This was a vision sent by God telling about what would happen when Jesus finally returns to earth. Then God told John to write down everything he saw and send it to all the Christian Churches.

Dig:

Read The Story: Revelation 21: 1-7 from the Beginners Bible and the story “The Door into Heaven.”

Say:

Let’s learn more about the Apostle John and his vision.

Assign each student a computer and a CD-ROM. Then instruct them as follows:

• Insert the “BIBLELAND.COM CD-ROM
• Click on Run
• Click on Search
• Click on People of the Bible
• Click on The Disciples
• Click on John
• You will see the heading, “Memoirs of the Apostle John.”
• Read aloud, or, if possible, have students read all ten points about the Apostle John.
• At the bottom of the page, click on “Weird Visions of the Future.”
• Read about John’s Vision
• Ask the students: What’s the difference between a dream and a vision? (Visions happen while you are awake and dreams happen while you are sleeping. This was a vision sent by God.)
• At the bottom of the page, click on Revelation 1:1-19
• Paraphrase the text as students heard the story in the beginning.
• Click on the back arrow
• Click on Patmos (The island John was in exile on.)
• Have one student read about Patmos.
• Say: When John had this vision he was living on that Island, Patmos that you just read about. He was ordered by the rulers of the land to go to this island so he could not tell any else about Jesus. Let’s find out what happened in John’s life before Jesus died on the Cross and while Jesus was still alive. After all, he was one of Jesus’ best friends.
• Click on the Home Icon
• Click on BIBLELAND VIDEO
• Click on the First of the Apostle John’s Home Page
• You should see title “The Worst Night of My Life,” appear on the page.
• Scroll down to the film Icon and click on it to see a video clip of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
• Click on the Back arrow
• Select the Second of The Apostle John’s Home Page
• Click on the Icon for the Garden of Gethsemane to view a video clip of the night that John was with Jesus and he Jesus was arrested.

Closing Questions:

1. Who was John? (One of Jesus’ disciples and friends)
2. What is a vision? (A dream while someone is awake, in this case given to John by God.)
3. Is Jesus really coming back to earth and making “a new heaven and a new earth”? (Yes, Jesus said he would so we believe that he will in his own time.)
4. Does anyone know the date or time that Jesus will return to earth? (No. The Bibles says not even the angels in heaven know that.)
5. If no one knows when Jesus is coming back to reign on the earth, what should I do now? (We need to always be prepared for that day. We need to live our lives as if Jesus is coming tomorrow. We need to live in Jesus’ example by being kind, honest, humble, etc. We need to ask forgiveness for the sins we have committed and try to make it right with anyone we may have hurt.)

Reflection:

Journal Time:
Read aloud Revelation 1, verses 12-17. Instruct the children to use pencils and crayons to draw and color a simple picture of what John saw that day. If this seems difficult, tell the students to pick out one phrase or part and draw it, such as “His hair was white as wool or snow.” Or “His feet shone like brass that has been refined and polished.” Etc.

Closing Prayer:
Dear Jesus, Thank you for the hope of your return to earth and the joy that day will bring. Although we will never know when that day will be, help us to always live our lives following you and your example; like each day may be our last. AMEN!

A lesson from Augustana Lutheran Church
Saint James, Minnesota

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