The Gospel Project at Home: Jesus at the Temple
- Mar 25
- 3 min read
Read Scripture
Read all or parts of Luke 2:40-52 from your Bible or watch the Bible story video.
Preschool Bible Story Video
Elementary Bible Story Video
Talk About Scripture
Antonio Stradivari was one of the most famous violin makers in history, and his violins are priceless treasures today. During World War II, one of these priceless violins was lost in all the chaos. For more than 30 years, this violin was missing until it was found hidden away in a trunk in a European attic! The violin was restored and played again, bringing music and joy after being silent for decades.
In this week's Bible story, Joseph and Mary also temporarily lost a precious treasure. Only they didn't misplace a violin; they lost sight of Jesus! When Jesus was 12 years old, His family traveled to Jerusalem for a big celebration called Passover. When it was time to return home, Mary and Joseph did not realize that Jesus had stayed behind in the temple. When they returned to Jerusalem to find Him, they found Jesus sitting with the teachers, listening and asking questions. Everyone was amazed by how much Jesus understood and how wise His answers were! Jesus told His earthly parents, “Didn’t you know I had to be in My Father’s house?”
The story of Jesus at the temple shows us that from a young age, Jesus knew He was sent to bring people hope and new life. Jesus’ death and resurrection make it possible for Christians to be close to God forever—like Jesus is close to His Father.
Jesus obeyed God, His heavenly Father, His entire life and followed His plan. It was God the Father’s plan that Jesus would die on a cross for our sins and rise again so that those who believe in Him could have eternal life.
Pray: Dear Jesus, help us follow Your example of obeying God. Teach us to listen, learn, and follow God’s ways every day. Amen.
Learn Scripture
Preschool Scripture Music Video
Elementary Scripture Music Video
Family Prayer
Mornings: Ask God to help you obey Him today, even when it feels hard. Pray for a heart that listens and wants to follow God’s ways.
Evenings: Thank God for helping you obey Him today. Ask Him to forgive you for the ways you sinned today and to help you keep growing closer to Him each day.
Family Activities
For Fun: Encourage family members to ask and answer thoughtful questions about God, like Jesus did at the temple. Have each family member write down 2–3 questions about God, faith, or the Bible on slips of paper and put them in a box. These can be questions they’ve wondered about or want to learn more about. Take turns drawing a question from the box. Give time for each person to try and answer the question or share what they think. If no one knows the answer, commit to looking it up together later. Remind kids that it’s good to ask questions and to seek to know more about God so that we can obey and honor Him.
To Serve: Collect gently used children’s Bibles, Bible storybooks, or Christian books from your church, family, or friends. If possible, buy a few new ones. Find a local community center, children’s hospital, or shelter that might need these resources. Remind kids that sharing God’s Word helps others learn and grow, like Jesus did in the temple.
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