Contents:
[Click or tap on your choice from the list below. To come back here, click or tap on Back to Contents.]
Contact Form.
Send a message to me (Jonathan Hill).
[Note that for some of the activities you will need pencil and paper and for others you will need to right-click (if you are viewing on a laptop or other PC) and then choose Save As or Copy and then paste into another app, like MSWord or similar, then Print. If you are using Microsoft Edge as your internet browser, you can click or tap on the Add Notes button (near the top right of your screen) or use Ctrl+Shift+M and then you can put your answers straight on to the page on your screen.]
Wordsearch – Joseph and his brothers.
Try to find the names of Joseph’s eleven brothers in the wordsearch below. Remember that words can go up, down, left, right or even diagonally. I have already found Joseph. To check the full list of names, see Genesis 35 v23-26.
Anagrams – Joseph and his brothers.
The letters in the names of Joseph and his eleven brothers have been jumbled up. Can you put them back in the correct order? I have done the first one for you. If you can’t remember all the names of Joseph’s brothers, check Genesis 35 v23-26.
S J HOPE becomes JOSEPH.
U HAD J is . . .
NU BEER is . . .
JIM BE ANN is . . .
NOSI ME is . . .
LIVE is . . .
AND is . . .
AS CHAIRS is . . .
BEN ZULU is . . .
HEARS is . . .
PAINT HAL is . . .
DAG is . . .
Keep the focus on Jesus.
The friends of Jesus went out in their boat, but Jesus stayed behind.
They were afraid when a storm began, but Jesus came walking towards them on the water.
Peter jumped out of the boat and started walking on the water towards Jesus.
Peter started sinking when he looked at the storm instead of looking at Jesus, but Jesus took Peter’s hand and helped him back into the boat.
Song: Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Oh soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Saviour
And life more abundant and free
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
His word shall not fail you, He promised
Believe Him and all will be well
Then go to a world that is dying
His perfect salvation to tell
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace, grace, grace,
His grace, grace, grace,
His grace, grace, grace.
Song: My God is so big.
My God is so big, so strong and so mighty,
there’s nothing my God cannot do.
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty,
there’s nothing my God cannot do.
The mountains are His; the rivers are His;
the stars are His handiwork too.
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty,
there’s nothing my God cannot do… for you!
My God is so big, so strong and so mighty,
there’s nothing my God cannot do.
My God is so big, so strong and so mighty,
there’s nothing my God cannot do.
The mountains are His; the rivers are His;
the stars are His handiwork too.
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty,
there’s nothing my God cannot do… for you!
Jesus fed the hungry people.
1. Jesus spent all day talking to the people:
2. A young boy gave 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed the hungry people:
3. Jesus blessed the bread and asked his disciples to give it to the people:
4. There was more than enough food for everyone:
God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others. 2 Corinthians 9 v8
Rebecca’s Story: Puzzles
To find out more, read Genesis chapter 24.
Quiz: God tests Abraham’s faith.
First, read Genesis 22 v1-19 and then try to answer the following questions. Each question has four answers, but only one is correct. Choose (A), (B), (C) or (D), whichever one you think is correct.
How did people worship God in those days?
(A) They roasted some meat on a fire on top of a pile of big stones.
(B) They sang hymns and psalms.
(C) They tried to kill their enemies.
(D) They went to church and listened to a preacher.
What was the name of Abraham’s son?
(A) Isaac. (B) Isaiah. (C) Eye sack. (D) Zack.
What did Abraham and Isaac carry?
(A) Fire and wood and a knife.
(B) Knife and fork and spoon.
(C) Lamb and wood and fire.
(D) Lamb and knife and wood.
What did Abraham use for a sacrifice to God?
(A) Isaac, his son. (B) A lamb. (C) A ram. (D) A donkey.
Did God really want Abraham to kill Isaac?
(A) Yes at first, but He changed His mind later.
(B) No. He never wants people to kill other people.
(C) Yes, but He knew Abraham wouldn’t agree to do it.
(D) Not at that time, but maybe later when Isaac got a bit older.
The angel said that Abraham feared God. What does that mean?
(A) Abraham always ran away when he heard a message from God.
(B) Abraham thought that God was going to do something bad to him.
(C) Abraham had a great respect for God and obeyed Him.
(D) Abraham didn’t know what God might do next.
What did Abraham call that place?
(A) The Lord will provide.
(B) The Lord will bless.
(C) The Lord will punish.
(D) The Lord will promise.
How many descendants did God promise that Abraham would have?
(A) As many as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore.
(B) About fifty or twenty or even only ten.
(C) As many as the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea.
(D) More than the people in the cities of his enemies.
How would future people of all nations be blessed?
(A) Through the offspring of Abraham.
(B) By taking the cities of their enemies.
(C) By being many like the stars and the sand.
(D) Through the offering of burnt sacrifices.
His Son, His Only Son, the Son He Loved: Sacrificed on the Mountain
(taken from “Every Story Whispers His Name”)
GOD KNEW that his Secret Rescue Plan could only work if Abraham trusted him completely, God had to make sure Abraham would do whatever he asked. So, God asked Abraham to give him a present. Abraham liked giving presents to God. He gave God his animals. They were called “sacrifices” and they were a way to say “I love you” to God. But this time God didn’t want a lamb or a goat, God wanted Abraham to give him something more – much more. He wanted Abraham to give him his son, his only son, the son he loved – Isaac.
Put his boy on the altar and kill him as the sacrifice? How could God want him to do such a terrible thing? Abraham didn’t understand. But he knew that God was his father who loved him. And so Abraham trusted him.
Early the next morning, Abraham and Isaac set off. They climbed the steep, stony trail up the mountain. Isaac carried the wood on his back. His father carried the knife and the coals.
“Papa,” Isaac said, “we have everything except we forgot the lamb for the sacrifice.”
“God will give us the lamb, son,” Abraham said.
They built an altar and laid the wood on top. Abraham asked his son to climb on top of the wood. Isaac didn’t understand but he knew his father loved him. And so he trusted him. He climbed up onto the altar and Abraham tied his boy to the wood. Isaac didn’t struggle or try to run away, he just lay there quietly and didn’t make a sound. Everything was ready. Abraham took the knife. Tears were filling up his eyes. Pain was filling up his heart. His hand was shaking. He lifted the knife high into the air – “STOP!” God said. “Don’t hurt the boy. I want him to live and not die. I know now that you love me because you would have given me your only son.”
Abraham felt his heart leap with joy. He unbound Isaac and folded him in his arms. Great sobs shook the old man’s whole body. Scalding tears filled his eyes. And for a long time, they stayed there like that, in each other’s arms, the boy and his dad. Suddenly, Abraham saw a ram caught in some brambles – the sacrifice. God had given them what they needed just in time. The ram would die so Isaac didn’t have to. And so Abraham sacrificed the ram, instead of his son. And as they sat there on the mountaintop, watching the embers of the fire die in the cool night air, the stars above them sparkling in the velvet sky, God helped Abraham and Isaac understand something. God wanted his people to live, not die. God wanted to rescue his people, not punish them. But they must trust him.
“One day Someone will be born into your family,” God promised them. “And he will bring happiness to the whole world.”
God was getting ready to give the whole world a wonderful present. It would be God’s way to tell his people, “I love you.”
Many years later, another Son would climb another hill, carrying wood on his back. Like Isaac, he would trust his Father and do what his Father asked. He wouldn’t struggle or run away. Who was he? God’s Son, his only Son – the Son he loved. The Lamb of God.
Jesus is calling us to work for him
Abram and Sarai were called by God for a purpose. Genesis 12 v1-9.
In the Beginning . . .
God created everything in six days and then He rested.
Look at the paintings in the gallery below and for each one, say on which day it was created.
If you are not sure then read Genesis chapter 1 to check your answers.
Question: One very important picture is missing.
Which part of God’s creation is not shown in the picture gallery?
If you know, get a sheet of paper and paints or crayons and then paint or draw your answer.
Quiz for Day of Pentecost:
1. When Jesus was still with the disciples before he ascended to heaven, where did he say they should wait?
2. Jesus said to the disciples: “John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the …. .”
3. And Jesus said: “But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you …. .”
4. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all ….. ,5. in ….. ,6. and everywhere in the ….. .”
7. The disciples were all together on the day of …. .
8. There was a noise which sounded like ….. .
9. After the sound, what did they see?
10. What did the disciples start to do?
11. When the crowd of people heard the disciples speaking, they were surprised and excited and ….. .
12. What did some other people think had happened to the disciples?
13. Which one of the disciples spoke to the crowd?
14. What time was it when all this happened?
15. Peter told the crowd what was written in the book of which prophet?
16. Who did the prophet say would be given the Holy Spirit?
17. Who would prophesy?
18. Who would see visions?
19. Who would dream dreams?
20. The prophet wrote: “Then the Lord will save everyone who …. .”
21. Peter said: “All of us can tell you that God has raised Jesus to ….. .”
22. Peter told the crowd that: “God has made Jesus ….. ,23. even though you ….. .”
24. “When the people heard this, they were very ….. .”
25. What did the people ask Peter?
26. Peter answered: “Turn back to ….. !27. Be baptized in the name of ….. ,28. so that your sins will be ….. .29. Then you will be given the ….. .30. This promise is for you and ….. .
31. On that day about how many believed his message and were baptized?
32. What did they spend their time doing? …..33. and …..34. and ….. .
35. Who wrote The Acts of the Apostles, the book of the Bible that tells us about all this?
Check your answers by looking in the Bible readings given below:
Bible reading: Acts 1 v4-5, 8. Acts 2 v1-17; 21, 36-39, 41-42; from the Contemporary English Version (CEV).
Acts 1: 4While he [Jesus] was still with them, he said:
Don’t leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do. 5John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1: 8But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.”
Acts 2: 1On the day of Pentecost all the LORD’S followers were together in one place. 2Suddenly there was a noise from heaven like the sound of a mighty wind! It filled the house where they were meeting. 3Then they saw what looked like fiery tongues moving in all directions, and a tongue came and settled on each person there. 4The Holy Spirit took control of everyone, and they began speaking whatever languages the Spirit let them speak.
5Many religious Jews from every country in the world were living in Jerusalem. 6And when they heard this noise, a crowd gathered. But they were surprised, because they were hearing everything in their own languages. 7They were excited and amazed, and said:
Don’t all these who are speaking come from Galilee? 8Then why do we hear them speaking our very own languages? 9Some of us are from Parthia, Media, and Elam. Others are from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, parts of Libya near Cyrene, Rome, 11Crete, and Arabia. Some of us were born Jews, and others of us have chosen to be Jews. Yet we all hear them using our own languages to tell the wonderful things God has done.
12Everyone was excited and confused. Some of them even kept asking each other, “What does all this mean?” 13Others made fun of the LORD’S followers and said, “They are drunk.”
14Peter stood with the eleven apostles and spoke in a loud and clear voice to the crowd: Friends and everyone else living in Jerusalem, listen carefully to what I have to say! 15You are wrong to think that these people are drunk. After all, it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16But this is what God had the prophet Joel say,
17″When the last days come, I will give my Spirit to everyone. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will have dreams.
Acts 2: 21Then the Lord will save everyone who asks for his help.”
Acts 2: 36Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross.37When the people heard this, they were very upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, “Friends, what shall we do?”
38Peter said, “Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit. 39This promise is for you and your children. It is for everyone our Lord God will choose, no matter where they live.”
Acts 2: 41On that day about three thousand believed his message and were baptized. 42They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together.
Puzzle: Risen and Ascended
Ascension Day 2020: Read Luke 24 v36-53 and Acts 1 v1-11 in the New Testament of the Bible. [It is best if you can use the New International Version (NIV) or the Contemporary English Version (CEV).
Time to Dance!
Time to dance!
Jesus said: I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
John 14 v6.
Fun Quiz: What do you know about sheep?
1. At night, sheep rest in a . . .
(a) tent; (b) house; (c) pen.
2. When sheep are eating grass, they are . . .
(a) grazing; (b) shearing; (c) mowing.
3. The coat of a sheep is used to make . . .
(a) cotton; (b) linen; (c) wool.
4. A baby sheep is called a . . .
(a) lamb; (b) calf; (c) foal.
5. A female sheep is called a . . .
(a) doe; (b) mare; (c) ewe.
6. A male sheep is called a . . .
(a) ram; (b) stallion; (c) bull.
7. A person who looks after sheep is called a .. .
(a) sheepster; (b) shepherd; (c) sheepish.
8. Sheep are put in a bath of disinfectant to remove any insects or germs on their skin. This is called a . .
(a) sheep dip; (b) sheep run; (c) sheep skin.
9. A person who tries to steal sheep that do not belong to him is called a . . .
(a) gangster; (b) fraudster; (c) rustler.
10. The coat of a sheep is called a . . .
(a) blanket; (b) mane; (c) fleece.
11. Animals which try to attack and kill sheep are called . . .
(a) predators; (b) prefaces; (c) predicates.
12. Besides giving wool and meat, sheep are also sometimes kept because they produce . . .
(a) honey; (b) milk; (c) nectar.
Colouring picture: The Good Shepherd.
Open my eyes . . .
Illustrations for Luke 24 v13-35:
Can you explain why . . ?
Read the Bible passage and then answer the questions:
Luke 24
13That same day two of Jesus’ disciples were going to the village of Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14As they were talking and thinking about what had happened, 15Jesus came near and started walking along beside them. 16But they did not know who he was.
17Jesus asked them, “What were you talking about as you walked along?”
The two of them stood there looking sad and gloomy. 18Then the one named Cleopas asked Jesus, “Are you the only person from Jerusalem who didn’t know what was happening there these last few days?”
19″What do you mean?” Jesus asked.
They answered:
Those things that happened to Jesus from Nazareth. By what he did and said he showed that he was a powerful prophet, who pleased God and all the people. 20Then the chief priests and our leaders had him arrested and sentenced to die on a cross. 21We had hoped that he would be the one to set Israel free! But it has already been three days since all this happened.
22Some women in our group surprised us. They had gone to the tomb early in the morning, 23but did not find the body of Jesus. They came back, saying that they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he is alive. 24Some men from our group went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said. But they didn’t see Jesus either.
25Then Jesus asked the two disciples, “Why can’t you understand? How can you be so slow to believe all that the prophets said? 26Didn’t you know that the Messiah would have to suffer before he was given his glory?” 27Jesus then explained everything written about himself in the Scriptures, beginning with the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets.
28When the two of them came near the village where they were going, Jesus seemed to be going farther. 29They begged him, “Stay with us! It’s already late, and the sun is going down.” So Jesus went into the house to stay with them.
30After Jesus sat down to eat, he took some bread. He blessed it and broke it. Then he gave it to them. 31At once they knew who he was, but he disappeared. 32They said to each other, “When he talked with us along the road and explained the Scriptures to us, didn’t it warm our hearts?” 33So they got right up and returned to Jerusalem.
The two disciples found the eleven apostles and the others gathered together. 34And they learned from the group that the Lord was really alive and had appeared to Peter. 35Then the disciples from Emmaus told what happened on the road and how they knew he was the Lord when he broke the bread.
Can you explain . . .
. . . why Cleopas and his friend didn’t want to be in Jerusalem after what had happened (when Jesus was nailed to a cross)?
. . . why they were sad and gloomy?
. . . why they didn’t recognise Jesus straight away on the road?
. . . why they didn’t believe the women who saw the empty tomb?
. . . why they didn’t understand that Jesus died and would rise to life again?
. . . why they wanted the stranger (Jesus) to stay with them?
. . . why they suddenly recognised Jesus when he broke the bread and blessed it?
Wordsearch – Emmaus Road.
First read Luke 24 v13-35 (see above) then try to find words from the Bible passage in the wordsearch below. Score 1 point for every word that you find, but there are no points if you find words that are not on the list below. Remember that words can go left, right, up, down or diagonally. When you find a word, draw a ‘sausage’ around it and cancel it from the list below. I have done one to start you off.
Around the circle puzzle (Easter).
Pen and paper puzzle:
Bible Anagrams.
See how many you can do out of twenty!
Jumbled-up letters can make another word when you put them in the right order:
I’ll do the first one for you:
TOGA (an animal in the Bible)
Answer: GOAT
Now you try these (use pencil and paper):
Books of the Bible:
CATS
NEVER A TOIL
S LAMPS
Names of people in the Bible which are also books of the Bible:
HURT
SO AM
RAZE
LEAD IN
LEMON HIP
People in the New Testament of the Bible:
EZEE BED
HOT SAM
SUE SIMON
NESH PET
RAW NED
People in the Old Testament of the Bible:
SHEILA
HILLADE
SHAM SEAN
Some other words in the Bible:
BONY LAB (a place)
CLOUTS (an insect)
LINE (a river)
NEED (a place)
Why not try making your own anagrams from words in the Bible? Find the name of a person or a book or a place or something else in the Bible, then mix up the letters and see if another member of your family can unjumble the letters. You can even play this game with friends if you can send your anagram by WhatsApp or SMS and they can reply with the answer.
Make your own Easter Garden.
An Easter Garden is usually a miniature garden, which can be made inside an old tray or shallow box. It shows a hill with three crosses on top and it has a cave tomb with a flat roundish stone covering the entrance. On Easter Day the stone will be moved aside to show an empty tomb. You can put sand in the tray and small plants (ask for permission first before digging up plants that are not yours!) You can also use tiny stones to make a pathway through the garden. You can make the cave tomb by using an old broken cup or something like that, covered with sand except for the open end. The crosses can be made with sticks. Use your own imagination and scavenge around to find suitable items to use. Here is a picture of an Easter Garden that was displayed at Hillside Methodist Church a few years ago. Perhaps it will give you some ideas.
Easter colouring pictures.
Contact Form:
Use the Contact Form below to send me your answers to the puzzles and quizzes, or if you want to ask me for help if you can’t find some of the answers, or for any other message that you want to send to me (Jonathan Hill):
Methodist Church: Hillside Circuit 
You must be logged in to post a comment.