What's a martyr?
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: Some call John the Baptist the first
Christian martyr because he died as a result of his ministry for
Jesus, the Messiah. We need to be sure that our children
understand that millions of men and women have died for their
faith over the last 2,000 years. They must realize that
Christians have always been persecuted and will continue to be
persecuted until Jesus returns. They must be prepared to confess
their faith even when it means they are in danger for doing so.
*Spread out a deck of cards face down and ask each child to
pick one. Explain that the one who picks the king of hearts will
lose the game and have to drop out. Discard the cards as they are
picked so that each time there is a higher probability of getting
the king. When someone picks the king, have him/her drop out, put
the king back in, and continue until there are only two left.
When one of these two picks the king, stop the game. Then ask all
the children to think about being given the chance to put the
king back and having another chance to win, if, as the holder of
the king, they will make a statement that they do not believe in
Jesus as their Savior. Would they be willing to deny Jesus to win
the game? Winning the game will not be that important to them,
but you can discuss how much harder it would be if the stakes
were higher. For instance, if one's life was at stake instead of
a game.
*Ask the children to guess which of the last twenty
centuries had the most Christian martyrs, that is in which
century did the most people die for being Christians. You could
award a prize to the one who guesses correctly. The answer is the
twentieth century. In fact more Christians died for their faith
in the twentieth century than in all the other nineteen centuries
combined! This will give you an opportunity to discuss the kinds
of persecution we face in the world today.
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Read or tell a story about a Christian martyr and discuss
why Christians are willing to die for their faith.
Christian martyr because he died as a result of his ministry for
Jesus, the Messiah. We need to be sure that our children
understand that millions of men and women have died for their
faith over the last 2,000 years. They must realize that
Christians have always been persecuted and will continue to be
persecuted until Jesus returns. They must be prepared to confess
their faith even when it means they are in danger for doing so.
*Spread out a deck of cards face down and ask each child to
pick one. Explain that the one who picks the king of hearts will
lose the game and have to drop out. Discard the cards as they are
picked so that each time there is a higher probability of getting
the king. When someone picks the king, have him/her drop out, put
the king back in, and continue until there are only two left.
When one of these two picks the king, stop the game. Then ask all
the children to think about being given the chance to put the
king back and having another chance to win, if, as the holder of
the king, they will make a statement that they do not believe in
Jesus as their Savior. Would they be willing to deny Jesus to win
the game? Winning the game will not be that important to them,
but you can discuss how much harder it would be if the stakes
were higher. For instance, if one's life was at stake instead of
a game.
*Ask the children to guess which of the last twenty
centuries had the most Christian martyrs, that is in which
century did the most people die for being Christians. You could
award a prize to the one who guesses correctly. The answer is the
twentieth century. In fact more Christians died for their faith
in the twentieth century than in all the other nineteen centuries
combined! This will give you an opportunity to discuss the kinds
of persecution we face in the world today.
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Read or tell a story about a Christian martyr and discuss
why Christians are willing to die for their faith.
