What Was Life Like? - Ages 5-7
By Rev. Alison Hyland
Sunday School Opening Prayer
Dear Father, please wrap your arms around us, your beloved children,
and protect us from harm. We ask your son, Jesus Christ, to join us here
today to oversee our studies so that we learn from his teachings. Jesus
Christ loves children so much so, that he has a special place in his heart
for us. Dear Father, help us learn from right and wrong so that we can walk
in Jesus Christ's footsteps. Amen.
and protect us from harm. We ask your son, Jesus Christ, to join us here
today to oversee our studies so that we learn from his teachings. Jesus
Christ loves children so much so, that he has a special place in his heart
for us. Dear Father, help us learn from right and wrong so that we can walk
in Jesus Christ's footsteps. Amen.
Bible Study: Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and
forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Discussion: Jesus Christ loved little children. During his travels,
Jesus would welcome children to come to him. He would place his hands on
their heads in blessing. He believed that children would carry on his
teachings of the love of God and mankind. Wherever Jesus Christ traveled
and preached, there would always be a group of children sitting at his
feet, listening to his stories. Jesus Christ was also a child and was
brought up by loving caring parents.
Jesus would welcome children to come to him. He would place his hands on
their heads in blessing. He believed that children would carry on his
teachings of the love of God and mankind. Wherever Jesus Christ traveled
and preached, there would always be a group of children sitting at his
feet, listening to his stories. Jesus Christ was also a child and was
brought up by loving caring parents.
Sunday School Lesson:
If you were born at the time of Jesus Christ, what was life like then?
What did your father do? What did your mother do? Where did you live and go
to school? What was your life like in 26 A.D. Jerusalem? That was nearly
2000 years ago!
What did your father do? What did your mother do? Where did you live and go
to school? What was your life like in 26 A.D. Jerusalem? That was nearly
2000 years ago!
Jerusalem was a bustling city. Thousands of people lived there. It was
a major center for religion, government, trade, and education. In 26 A.D.,
Jerusalem was governed by Romans. But there were many people in Jerusalem
at that time, with differing religious beliefs. There were Romans and Jews
and many others who lived and worked in the city. Were there Christians at
this time? No, not really. Christianity came about later.
a major center for religion, government, trade, and education. In 26 A.D.,
Jerusalem was governed by Romans. But there were many people in Jerusalem
at that time, with differing religious beliefs. There were Romans and Jews
and many others who lived and worked in the city. Were there Christians at
this time? No, not really. Christianity came about later.
Travel was easy in 26 A.D. The Romans built roads and opened seaways.
Did your father help build the roads or was he a fisherman? It was because
of these excellent Roman built roads that Jesus' teachings spread
throughout the east. Donkeys were used to carry travelers and carry goods
to and from the city of Jerusalem. Did you own a donkey? Did you ride one
when you lived in Jerusalem?
Did your father help build the roads or was he a fisherman? It was because
of these excellent Roman built roads that Jesus' teachings spread
throughout the east. Donkeys were used to carry travelers and carry goods
to and from the city of Jerusalem. Did you own a donkey? Did you ride one
when you lived in Jerusalem?
Discuss how you would travel in Jerusalem.
Crafts were an important way of making a living in 26 A.D. Jerusalem.
Maybe your father was a craftsman. Did he make glass, or make gold jewelry?
Perhaps your father was a blacksmith and made tools, such as iron tongs or
pots for cooking or hauling water. Pottery was used far and wide. In fact
huge urns were made to carry spices, oil, and dried fish on ships to be
taken to foreign lands for sale. Jesus' father, Joseph, was a carpenter,
and his family had a successful furniture business. Jesus was apprenticed
to his father. If your father was a craftsman, then it is possible that you
too were trained in his craft and expected to takeover the family business
one day.
Maybe your father was a craftsman. Did he make glass, or make gold jewelry?
Perhaps your father was a blacksmith and made tools, such as iron tongs or
pots for cooking or hauling water. Pottery was used far and wide. In fact
huge urns were made to carry spices, oil, and dried fish on ships to be
taken to foreign lands for sale. Jesus' father, Joseph, was a carpenter,
and his family had a successful furniture business. Jesus was apprenticed
to his father. If your father was a craftsman, then it is possible that you
too were trained in his craft and expected to takeover the family business
one day.
Discuss what your life might have been like as an apprentice to your father.
The Romans governed Jerusalem in 26 A.D. Maybe your father and mother
were Romans. Consider that. If you were a Roman, then you went to school
from dawn to noon. You might prepare for a career in law or government.
What did you write with? There many writing instruments that you might have
used. Perhaps you wrote with a reed pen, or maybe a pen that was made of
bronze. You would have used ink back in 26 A.D. At that time, ink was made
of fine soot; scraped off the walls of your fireplace in your family
kitchen. This was mixed with water and you would have dipped your pen into
a pot containing sooty ink. You may have written on papyrus. Papyrus was
inexpensive because it was a paper made from reed fibers beaten into
sheets. Reeds were plentiful around waterways.
were Romans. Consider that. If you were a Roman, then you went to school
from dawn to noon. You might prepare for a career in law or government.
What did you write with? There many writing instruments that you might have
used. Perhaps you wrote with a reed pen, or maybe a pen that was made of
bronze. You would have used ink back in 26 A.D. At that time, ink was made
of fine soot; scraped off the walls of your fireplace in your family
kitchen. This was mixed with water and you would have dipped your pen into
a pot containing sooty ink. You may have written on papyrus. Papyrus was
inexpensive because it was a paper made from reed fibers beaten into
sheets. Reeds were plentiful around waterways.
Review the pictures of writing instruments and discuss your life as a
Roman student.
Roman student.
Your mother very likely stayed at home and took care of the meals,
clothing, as well as you and your brothers and sisters. Girls would stay at
home and learn how to keep house from their mothers. Since Jerusalem was a
city where traders to sell spices, fish, and wares, your meals were
probably prepared with the aromatic spices from as far away as Greece. Your
mother would have done her shopping in the streets where merchants set up
their tables in market sections of the city. Fresh fruits and vegetables
came from neighboring farms. Your mother might have surprised you and the
other members of your family by bringing home pomegranates, peaches,
almonds, apples, olives or grapes. But your diet would have mainly
consisted of beans: broad beans, sweet peas, and lentils. Jerusalem's water
supply was based on collecting rainwater. Your mother might have asked you
to bring home water from a nearby well. Your mother would have made bread
daily and cooked over an open fire in your home. If you came from a Roman
family, perhaps you had servants who cooked and cleaned for you.
clothing, as well as you and your brothers and sisters. Girls would stay at
home and learn how to keep house from their mothers. Since Jerusalem was a
city where traders to sell spices, fish, and wares, your meals were
probably prepared with the aromatic spices from as far away as Greece. Your
mother would have done her shopping in the streets where merchants set up
their tables in market sections of the city. Fresh fruits and vegetables
came from neighboring farms. Your mother might have surprised you and the
other members of your family by bringing home pomegranates, peaches,
almonds, apples, olives or grapes. But your diet would have mainly
consisted of beans: broad beans, sweet peas, and lentils. Jerusalem's water
supply was based on collecting rainwater. Your mother might have asked you
to bring home water from a nearby well. Your mother would have made bread
daily and cooked over an open fire in your home. If you came from a Roman
family, perhaps you had servants who cooked and cleaned for you.
Jesus was a Jew and his family followed the customs and religious faith
of the Jewish people. His Sabbath meal, a special meal, was usually a small
fish and a few vegetables. Jesus learned a trade from his father as well as
learned how to read and write. Discuss what your family life would have
been like and that of Jesus and his family.
of the Jewish people. His Sabbath meal, a special meal, was usually a small
fish and a few vegetables. Jesus learned a trade from his father as well as
learned how to read and write. Discuss what your family life would have
been like and that of Jesus and his family.
Activity time:
Teacher: For the younger children, have them count the pottery urns in
the attached picture.
the attached picture.
The older students can do the attached word search game.
If time permits, students can color the attached pictures. Pictures can
also be taken home to be colored later.
also be taken home to be colored later.
Closing prayer:
Dear Father, we have learned about life in Jesus Christ's time. When
we go home, we will help our parents by doing something for them everyday.
We will take care of our brothers and sisters as well care for our beloved
pets. We ask that you wrap your arms around us and protect us during the
week ahead. We ask that our guardian angels stay with us always. We ask
that we are able to hear the voice of Jesus Christ in our hearts. Amen.
we go home, we will help our parents by doing something for them everyday.
We will take care of our brothers and sisters as well care for our beloved
pets. We ask that you wrap your arms around us and protect us during the
week ahead. We ask that our guardian angels stay with us always. We ask
that we are able to hear the voice of Jesus Christ in our hearts. Amen.
Search A Word:
F R U I T Q G R F X
P I H S D A O R A E
J E S U S M L Y T R
T T X H A Z D S H U
E F R N E S U L E T
K A S B P R I G R I
R R P I Y O M R U N
A C C P I N K A R R
M E A L L E W P N U
S P E N Z E X E S F
MEAL
OIL
PAPYRUS
PEAS
PEN
ROAD
ROMANS
SHIP
SPICES
URNS
WELL
APPLE
CRAFT
FATHER
FISHERMAN
FRUIT
FURNITURE
GOLD
GRAPE
INK
JESUS
MARKET
How many pottery jugs can you find?
Pot for ink
Reed pen and bronze pen
Metal tongs
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