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Matthew 5:3–11, Luke 6:20–22.
In addition to these public Beatitude lessons and ideas below, be sure to visit our 
Writing Team's Beatitudes lesson set whose lesson summaries and Bible background are open to all. Our extra creative and detailed Writing Team lesson sets are written by and for supporting members. 

Video, A-V Lessons, Ideas, Activities, and Resources for the Beatitudes

Post your Sunday School video, A-V lessons, ideas, activities, and resources for the Beatitudes.

Beatitudes - Matthew 5:3–11, Luke 6:20–22. Blessed are the... Happy are the...





Be sure to visit our Writing Team's Beatitudes Lesson Set!

It has a great Video Workshop and Video recommendation in it.


View the full Writing Team Lesson Menu




Several of the 'Jesus' movies have a portrayal of Jesus delivering the Sermon on the Mount, including the Beatitudes. These include:

Matthew ... from The Visual Bible (smiling Jesus). Preview on YouTube shows Matthew 5-7.

King of Kings 1961 by Warner Brothers (spectacular setting) Preview on YouTube includes preview of the Sermon on the Mount setting (2:29 - 2:52).

Jesus of Nazareth has Jesus delivering a dramatic Beatitudes   (Youtube preview)


Suggestion:

After viewing these short clips, why not videotape your kids each trying their hand at "being Jesus" and being in the crowd.

  • When portraying Jesus and speaking his words, consider what made him such a great teacher.
  • Why would the people come hear him?
  • What was different about him?
  • Where do you go to hear Jesus today?
  • How does a person become a good listener?
Last edited by Neil MacQueen
Original Post

Beatitudes

Video Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:

This lesson references a "Sermon on the Mount" video from the Kingdom Without Frontiers series. A full preview copy can be viewed on YouTube**,  Jesus starts speaking the sermon at about minute 19. The rest of the 24 minute video covers a number of miracle stories and teachings.

**The Kingdom Without Frontier series has been renamed "Bible Stories for Children New Testament" or "Bible Stories for Children Old Testament" and as of 2016 was being distributed through CBD by "Under God's Rainbow". Others have suggested that the "Compassion" video from the Book of Virtue series is a worthy replacement.

Scripture Reference:

Matthew 5:1-12.

Memory Verse: 
"Pay attention, my children! Follow my advice, and you will be happy." Proverbs 8:32 (CEV)

Concepts:

  • God blesses those who follow Jesus.
  • Jesus' followers are gentle, kind and peaceful.
  • We are disciples devoted to God, when we do God's will. 

Lesson Objectives:

  1. Children will view the video “The Sermon on the Mount”.
  2. Children will learn that Jesus talked about a different kind of kingdom.
  3. The children will identify people who are blessed as in the Beatitudes.

Teacher preparation in advance:

  • Read the scripture passages and attend the Faith Quest Leaders Bible Study.
  • Prepare the flip charts with the headings and have them taped to the wall. You can take the bottom of the flip chart paper and fold it up with a piece of tape to cover the heading until you are ready to discuss each one. If space is a problem, write 2 headings on one page. Leave space for writing 3 or 4 names under each heading.
  • Prepare your royal costume.
  • Preview the video and have it cued to the correct starting.
  •  Practice operating the popcorn machine. If this is your first time in Holywood, visit the current workshop leader for instructions before your rotation begins. Be sure you have plenty of popcorn popped before the children arrive. You will need to have your attention on the children at that point. Ask the shepherds or child volunteers to help distribute it to the children who are sitting quietly.

Supply List:

  • Journal sheets
  • Video
  • Flip chart paper with headings and markers
  • Royal costume – crown, purple robe, etc..


Lesson

Opening

Greet the children and introduce yourself. You should be dressed in costume to look like a royal king or queen. (Crown, purple robe, scepter). Ask the children who you look like (a king/queen). How do you know? What told you that? (clothes, you are wearing a crown and a robe) 

You are right! Tell me what you know about kings and queens (rich, powerful, important) If I was the king/queen of a country and another country invaded us, what would you expect me to do? (Stop them, lead the army, kick out the invaders) 

You are exactly right. And that is what many Jewish people in Jesus’ time thought the Messiah would do. The Messiah would be a powerful king. He would kick out the Romans who were taxing the Jewish people. Some people didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah. Remember Jesus’ crucifixion? The crowds mocked him, made him wear a crown of thorns and called him King of the Jews.

Jesus was a different kind of King. Jesus didn’t look like a king with fancy clothes and a golden crown. Jesus was poor and came from a simple everyday family. Jesus didn’t talk about power and armies and money. Jesus talked about a different kind of kingdom – the kingdom of God. He talked about blessings for the poor and the powerless. 

Today we are going to learn about a sermon that Jesus gave to many people. It is called the Sermon on the Mount. It begins with Jesus describing who receives God’s blessing – today and on earth. These are called the Beatitudes or blessings. Do you want God’s blessings? 

The purpose of this workshop is to learn about the Beatitudes. 

Scripture/Bible Story:
Read Matthew 5:1-12. (CEV) 

Dig-Main Content and Reflection:

1. Show the movie. In the movie, you will see a man who has leprosy – a contagious disease that made everyone afraid they might get it. The Jewish law required someone with leprosy to carry a bell to warn people. Watch to see what he does with the bell when he is healed by Jesus.

Jesus had been healing the sick everywhere he went. Many people heard about Jesus and gathered from miles around to hear him teach and bring their sick friends and relatives to be healed.

2. This video is approximately 25 minutes long. Have it cued to just after the credits. Stop it at the end of the Sermon on the Mount and before it goes into discussion. 

3. Distribute popcorn with help from Shepherds or volunteer children. 

Discussion:
Why did the rich family walk away? What did the man with leprosy do with the bell stick?

You should have prepared 8 sheets of flip chart paper with the following as headings:

  • 3. Someone who has a true love for God
  • 4. Someone who is sad
  • 5. Someone who is quiet and thoughtful
  • 6. Someone who wants to do the right thing
  • 7. Someone who helps others
  • 8. Someone who is really good
  • 9. Someone who helps solve problems between people or countries.
  • 10. &11. Someone who is treated badly for what they believe.

The numbers represent the verse of Matthew 5

Ask the children for the names of people who fit these categories. They can be people from school, teachers, Kirk members, world figures, leaders or friends. Don’t let them say their own name although they can say another child’s name. Write down 3 or 4 suggestions for each flip chart heading. 

Read Matthew 5:1-11 substituting the names on the flip chart for each blessing. For Example:
v. 3 “God blesses Reverend Spence, Reverend Sarah and Mrs. Wiley who depend only on him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven!” (CEV)

When you get to verse 12, substitute each child’s name for the word “You”. OR say the name of the class if the class is large and time is running out. 

All of the people you have named, and you too, are disciples of God when you are devoted to God and do God’s will.

What does our memory verse tell us will happen if we follow God’s will for us? Repeat the memory verse: “Pay attention, my children! Follow my advice, and you will be happy.”
Proverbs 8:32

Reflection Time:
Ask the shepherds to pass out the journal sheets. God sees the suffering of people. God wants us to help those who suffer. What can you do to help others? 

Older Children: Print the word Beatitude down the page. Create an acrostic of ways you help or be kind to others. Each letter identifies something you can do or say to help others and follow the Beatitudes. 

Younger children: draw a picture of yourself helping or being kind to someone. 

Ask the students to close their journals and sit quietly for prayer.

Closing:
Prayer: Jesus, you have shown us what we need to do. We need to comfort others, be humble, make peace, help the poor and be kind to those who are sad. We need to follow the ways that you taught in the Sermon on the Mount. God, bless the Faith Quest children in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord! Amen.


References:

  • Jesus A Kingdom without Frontiers – Sermon in the Mount, Mondo TV, Distributed by CCC of America, 1997. Preview on YouTube. Also repackaged under  the title "Bible Stories for Children New Testament" or "Bible Stories for Children Old Testament" by "Under God's Rainbow."
  • A Preteen Worker’s Encyclopedia of Bible Teaching Ideas – New Testament (Loveland CO: Group Publishing, Inc. 2002), 12.

 

A lesson written by Catherine from: Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

Last edited by Luanne Payne

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