Big Question
Who is Jesus, and what does it mean to follow Him?
Big Truth
Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior.
He came to show us what God is like, to rescue us from sin through His death and resurrection, and to call us into a life of trusting and following Him.
Open Your Bible
Read and notice.
- Mark 1:14–20 — Notice what Jesus says and what He asks the first disciples to do.
- Mark 10:13–16 — Pay attention to the way Jesus treats children.
- John 3:16–17 and 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 — Notice why Jesus came and what He accomplished.
1
Jesus is more than a good teacher.
Many people in the Bible called Jesus “Teacher,” and He taught with wisdom and authority. But Christians believe Jesus is much more than a wise person. Scripture identifies Him as the Son of God.
Jesus showed God’s character through the way He lived. He told the truth, welcomed people others overlooked, cared for the sick, confronted hypocrisy, forgave sins, showed compassion, and obeyed His Father.
When we want to know what God is like, we look at Jesus.
2
Jesus welcomes children.
In Mark 10, adults bring children to Jesus. The disciples try to stop them, but Jesus does not treat the children as a distraction. He welcomes them.
You do not have to wait until you are an adult before your faith matters. Children can learn Scripture, pray, worship, ask honest questions, trust Jesus, serve others, and grow in wisdom now.
At the same time, children are still children. Following Jesus does not mean you should carry adult responsibilities, solve adult problems, or keep unsafe secrets for adults. Trusted adults are supposed to protect and guide children.
3
Jesus came to save.
The Bible teaches that sin separates people from God. Sin is more than making a small mistake. It is our rebellion against God—choosing our own way instead of trusting and obeying Him.
Jesus lived without sin. He died on the cross and rose again. Christians do not follow Jesus because He merely gives good advice. We trust Him because He is Savior and Lord.
We cannot earn God’s rescue by being the best-behaved child, memorizing the most verses, attending church every week, or never having questions.
4
Following Jesus is a real-life choice.
When Jesus told people, “Follow me,” He invited them into a new direction for their lives.
Following Jesus means we learn from Him, trust Him, obey His teaching, turn away from sin, love God, and love other people. It does not mean we never fail. Disciples are learners.
Peter sometimes spoke too quickly, became afraid, misunderstood Jesus, and even denied knowing Him. Yet Jesus restored Peter and continued shaping him.
When we fail, we do not need to hide from Jesus. We can confess, receive grace, make things right where possible, and keep following.
Let’s Think About It
Admiring Jesus is not the same as following Him.
Imagine someone says, “I like Jesus because He said kind things, but I do not think He has any right to tell me how to live.” Is that the same as following Jesus?
Not really. A disciple does more than admire Jesus. A disciple trusts who Jesus is and learns to obey Him.
Following Jesus is also not the same as copying every Christian you meet. Christians can make mistakes. Jesus is the One we follow.
Talk About It
Questions for a child and trusted adult.
- What did Jesus ask the first disciples to do in Mark 1?
- What do you notice about the way Jesus treats children in Mark 10?
- Why is Jesus more than just a teacher?
- What does the cross tell us about God’s love and the seriousness of sin?
- Why is the resurrection important to Christian faith?
- What is one way a child can follow Jesus at home or school?
- What should you do when you realize you have disobeyed God?
Try It This Week
Read one Gospel story slowly.
Choose one Gospel story about Jesus and read it with a trusted adult or on your own if you are ready. Ask:
- What does this story show me about Jesus?
- What does Jesus care about here?
- What is one way I can respond?
Then choose one small act of obedience: tell the truth, apologize, include someone, pray for a person, help without being asked, or choose kindness when it would be easier to be mean.
Memory Verse
John 14:6
Learn the verse from the Bible translation your family, church, or class uses. Talk about why Christians believe Jesus is the way to the Father.
Prayer
Talk to Jesus.
Jesus, thank You for welcoming people and showing us what God is like. Thank You for loving us enough to come, die for our sins, and rise again. Help me trust You, learn from You, and follow You. When I do wrong, help me tell the truth and turn back to You. Teach me to love people the way You do. Amen.
Parent / Teacher Note
Keep the gospel central without manufacturing a response.
Main objective: Introduce children to the identity and saving work of Jesus without reducing Christianity to “be nice” or “try harder.” Jesus is the Son of God, sin is real, grace is a gift, the cross and resurrection matter, and discipleship follows rescue rather than earning it.
Invite questions without embarrassment
A child may ask difficult questions about Jesus, miracles, the cross, resurrection, other religions, or whether they truly believe. Do not punish honest curiosity. Return to Scripture, answer what you can, and say “I do not know” when appropriate.
Do not pressure a profession
Do not pressure a child into making a public profession, repeating words they do not understand, or sharing private spiritual experiences. Faith should be taught clearly and invited honestly, not manufactured through pressure.
Safeguarding
If a child discloses something suggesting danger or abuse, respond according to safeguarding procedures and applicable reporting requirements. Do not promise secrecy you cannot keep.
This study does not request or collect a child’s personal information.
Suggested closing question: What is one thing you learned about Jesus that makes you want to know Him better?