Jesus Without Language

Kid's Ministry & Sunday School Resources

Little James (Luke 6) | Games

 

The lesson on Little James is all about being selected. Rather than give you a lot of ideas there is only one provided here. This game is one that is worth revisiting as you work your way through the apostles series, plus the more you play the more tactical the game gets.

Alternatively, play a game that requires ‘selecting teams’ or link back to the Apostle crowd by using a game such as the Memory match cards.
 

Little James (Luke 6) | GamesLittle James (Luke 6) | GamesLittle James (Luke 6) | GamesLittle James (Luke 6) | Games or Little James (Luke 6) | GamesLittle James (Luke 6) | Games

Included – The aim of the game is to get through as many cards as possible while getting to know the group you are playing with. Shuffle the cards and then choose a player. Have the player turn over the top card and choose a person that the card applies to, that person is now in their group and can stand behind the player and assist them. Turn the next card and choose another child. You must to choose a child that fills a given description to move onto the next card. If you reach a card that does not apply to anyone not already in the group your turn has ended. Remove the final unfulfilled card, shuffle and chose another player.
 

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Little James (Luke 6) | Worksheet

 
Little James
This Little James worksheet looks at the 2 James’ and discusses the different things people have to offer as companions – we see the importance of everybody’s contribution while challenging ourselves to be the worthy disciples. The worksheet is best completed in small groups so the questions can be discussed. This worksheet is designed for independent readers, though it would be suitable for younger children with teacher support.

To complete the worksheet you will need something to write and draw with.

The PDF can be downloaded by clicking on the image.

 

Little James (Luke 6) | Craft .2

 

These 12 sides balls are a great way of looking at the whole crowd of Apostles, they are also beautiful hanging from the ceiling!

Little James’ lesson is primarily about being selected, chosen, separated by Christ himself. If you need a ‘key’ to which picture belongs to which character then use this image.
Little James (Luke 6) | Craft .2

 
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Little James (Luke 6) | Character Images

 

Here are the images you need for the hero’s attributes linked to Little James (Luke 6).
Each hero set contains a high quality graphic of the character, a take home bible card and a colouring page.

The images are displayed small here, click on the image you wish to have, then save the image that loads.
(Please note : these images have no watermark but are not copyright free, they are only intended for classroom use.)

 

English

 

54-Card54-Card
54-Little-James54-Little-James
54-Colouring-page54-Colouring-page

 

German

 

54-Card-G54-Card-G
54-Little-James54-Little-James
54-Colouring-page-G54-Colouring-page-G

 

Little James (Luke 6) | Craft 1

 

This is one of those simple ideas that can be such a good tool for discussion, play, and learning. These little body flip books are easy to make and can be used again and again for reminding yourself of the disciples. Each character is split into 3 parts (head, upper body, lower body) and they are jumbled on the pages you print them so you need to complete the craft to make the images. Split it into 2 books of 6 apostles or one big one. there is even a guide to match name to image on the back cover!

Use this as a game (find your apostle) or cut up the template to make micro jigsaws that can be used as a basic puzzle activity or combined with a sort of treasure hunt.
Little James (Luke 6) | Craft 1

 
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Little James (Luke 6) | Story

Little James 
If you want the teachers page then please click on the image for the pdf.

Today’s hero is Little James because he show us the gift of selection

Essential Teachers notes:
Being included, chosen, selected is a huge part of childhood and often a key fear. Children learn in some ways through imitation and therefore comparison, we all crave acceptance. This is great story to launch the Apostles from, it’s a story about ordinary men with familiar stories, but also the idea that some stories are untold. Little James, perhaps younger, perhaps shorter, was by no means truly ‘lesser’, it may actually be the case that his contribution was greater, we will never know. Let the children use their imagination to fill in the blank spaces as you read.

Main Passage : Luke 6
Additional passages : Matthew 10, Mark 3, + others

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Little James

 
James-less-blogThere is a beautiful disconnect between our aspirations and our reality. We aspire to greatness, to leave a legacy, to make a name for ourselves, and yet humility and service don’t come with glowing awards. Indeed the greatest of saints will probably be people we have never heard the slightest utterance of their deeds, nor whispers of their names.

The lesson of James “the minor”, “the little”, “the lesser”, or “the younger” is probably the most vivid example of this. There must have been a great reason for Jesus to chose this man over the others who accompanied their party, but the reason remains obscured. Little James, perhaps younger, perhaps shorter, was by no means truly ‘lesser’ because his story is untold, it may actually be the case that his contribution was greater, we will never know.

We know so little. There was a James, that was not John’s brother, amongst the 12, all Gospel accounts clearly agree on this. Plus, there were others Jesus could have chosen, for Jesus chose, inferring a larger party. This is confirmed when Judas has exited himself from the picture and the disciples chose a replacement for him. We know that James “the great”, brother to John, was a more compelling figure in the group, indeed that James is part of Jesus’ inner circle… but this James, apart from his name and possibly his fathers, we hear no word.

So why should we take a session of our precious time to study a man who is rather unknown?
Firstly there are 12 disciples, they all deserve our attention. Secondly, if you examine the people you have met in your journeys who have shown Christ to you, will probably find more obscure than famous characters. Thirdly, blank spaces fascinate people, especially children, it lets their imagine come to the foreground.

Do join me in the coming weeks building a session to look at the possibilities, examine the reasons for Jesus choosing 12, imagine the purpose of choosing this James – what did he bring to the table, you never know, perhaps that was his speciality and he was the groups chef?
 

Preparing to Teach : The Apostles

 
Preparing to Teach : The Apostles
 

Quick notes:

The 12 were ordinary men, all would have learnt scripture in school but none had been selected by a rabbi as an exceptional student to carry on their studies.

There were no volunteers, Jesus chose these 12, which suggests there was more.
The number 12 is so key in Jewish symbolism that after Judas died the apostles felt compelled to replace him.

While most would have been seen as poor in their Jewish devotions, others were noticeably devote.

Many had strong social, political, and religious views and expectations when they came to Jesus.

It’s believed many were teenagers, young and impulsive, malleable to new ideas but headstrong and stubborn in accepting them.

Names you need to know

 
Peter (Simon) – Probably the most vocal, impulsive, emotional and well known disciples, Simon is renamed Peter (the rock) by Jesus and goes onto be the sort of leader of the pack.

James & John – These brothers are called the sons of thunder by Jesus, over excitable and fiery they form the inner circle with Peter and seem glued to Jesus’s side.

Andrew – Leaving John the Baptist, Andrew seeks greater truth in Jesus, while brother to Simon-Peter, Andrew is much less impulsive and outspoken than his fellow Galilean fishermen.

Philip – Is clearly a seeker and will pull people into the discussion, inviting Nathaniel into the crowd. Not to be confused with Philip the deacon who met the eunuch.

Thomas – Is a man of declarations, be they boldly supportive, deeply theological, or famously doubtful, he’s the first to grasp that Jesus is fully God.

Nathaniel – Is a devout Israelite, a true Jew whose faith is very much alive and makes him able to see Jesus for who is really is, the messiah, right from the beginning.

Matthew – Longs to be accepted and loved, something he would never get being a tax collector, he sees an opportunity in Jesus’ invitation and doesn’t hesitate to leave it all behind.

Little James – James the less or the little is probably the most obscure of all the disciples, but Jesus did not always choose the dramatic and some stories are untold.

Simon – Another man of strong convictions, a Zealot defending tradition and Jewishness, to be in a crowd with the tax collector Matthew shows how Jesus would include all in his kingdom.

Jude – Sometimes called Judas or Thaddeus, he wasn’t very outspoken but may have shared some of Simons strong beliefs. Some people believe he wrote the epistle Jude.

Judas – The money keeper and betrayer, it’s the 30 pieces of silver and kiss Judas will always be remembered for, the only disciple not to see Jesus resurrected.
 

Historical significance

 
These 12 brash, uncouth, foolish, brave, but importantly ordinary men were chosen by Jesus himself as his top team. The number 12 was hugely significant, signalling completeness in scriptures. The 12 tribes of Israel represented the whole of God’s chosen people, and so for Jesus to chose only 12 of his crowd was to symbolically show he was there for the whole of the Jewish nation. In acts Judas is replaced with Matthias to continue this idea.

ApostlesUnlike some other biblical heroes, the Apostles stories are usually a bi-product, a means to illustrating a greater lesson, and for some their presence in the list is the greatest fact we can verify about them. For evangelicals the titbits of information can’t be bumped out with church tradition, though whatever your perspective on the validity of the non-biblical accounts it’s usually worth taking a look at.

These 12 men were chosen, there were no volunteers and their status as chosen lead to persecution for many. They accepted a role with no security, no pay, and often involving abandoning family. While the risks were great, and the sacrifice total, in return these 12 had an intensive discipleship course, at times having hidden meaning revealed to them while the rest of the crowd were left to ponder. As well as being sent out as part of the 70, and commissioned by the resurrected Christ, they were witness to countless miracles and the arrival of Pentecost. Many were martyred and some went on to write scripture.

Taking a closer look at the list reveals that they were neither all Galilean, nor all fishermen as they are often portrayed. Rather than gormless teens looking for something to do, most had careers they abandoned and were actively searching for a deeper truth. Many came to Jesus with a strong faith and firm opinions. The world they lived in was in turmoil, the religious groups torn between appeasing the empire that detested their religion, and fighting against it. Some were part of these groups, some on opposite sides. While elements of the Roman world shaped the early church, they met Jesus as an oppressed people dreaming of a ‘Messiah’, a great warrior who would rescue his people from it’s clutches. Jesus turned their dreams on their heads and seemed to spend significant time confusing their preconceived ideas.
 

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