Jesus Grew Up in Nazareth

Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Matthew 13:55-56a; Luke 2:40, 52

Our story comes from the Bible. It is found in the book, or part, of the Bible called Matthew. Matthew was one of the special helpers of Jesus. Parts of our story also comes from another book of the Bible, called Luke. Luke loved Jesus and wrote about Him so that others could know Jesus and love Jesus, too. Parts of our story also comes from a book in the Bible called Deuteronomy (due-ter-ON-oh-me).

The Bible tells us that God sent His Son. God became a man to save us. God's Son was Jesus. Jesus was born as a baby to Mary and Joseph.

But Jesus had to grow up to save us. Jesus grew to be a little boy. Jesus lived in the little town of Nazareth. Mary took care of the house. She cooked food, like this bread. Mary took care of Jesus by loving Him, feeding Him, and teaching Him about God.

Joseph taught his family to love and honor God. He taught his family God's Word. Jesus' family taught Him many things He needed to know as He grew up—how to take care of Himself, about God's love, and how to obey. That is part of becoming strong.

Jesus grew up from a little boy to a bigger boy. Jesus probably went to school. He would have learned Bible verses, how to write, and how to read. Jesus knew many things. That is called being wise.

Joseph worked as a carpenter. He made things out of wood. The men in Bible times taught their sons how to make things to sell. Joseph taught Jesus how to build and work with tools.

The Bible tells us that Jesus also had brothers and sisters. Jesus probably played with them. He showed that He was wise and strong by getting along with them when they played together.

Jesus grew and grew. Jesus became wise and strong. He had to grow up so that He could save us when He was a grown-up.

Bible Paraphrase: [Jesus] grew and became strong. (And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. Luke 2:40 NIV)

Text Truth: Jesus grew and became strong.

Family Devotional

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
— Ephesians 4:14-16

Spiritual infants are bombarded with many different thoughts and teachings. What teachings were confusing to you during your spiritual infancy? This is the time when a mentor is needed to help with understanding. 

Christ is the head. We grow up into Him. We become mature. 

Mature Christians work together as the Body of Christ, growing and building up in love. 

Your part is helping your family know the truth of God's Word, to hide it in their hearts, and to live out the truth.

You help your family grow when you recall and live out Bible truths. You are their mentor.

Activities You Can Do at Home

Bible Phrase Song

Sing the Bible phrase to the tune “10 Little Indians.” To help your child learn the words, teach the 

 actions at the same time.

Jesus grew and became strong.

(Crouch down, stand up, then make muscle arms.)

Jesus grew and became strong.

(Crouch down, stand up, then make muscle arms.)

Jesus grew and became strong.

(Crouch down, stand up, then make muscle arms.)

From Luke 2 verse 40.

(Hold hands open like a book.)

Bible Rhyme

This Bible rhyme is another way to practice the Bible phrase. The Bible phrase is the last line of the rhyme. Teach the words and actions a line at a time. Have your child repeat each line back to you.

Jesus was born a baby,

(Rock arms back and forth.)

The angels said loud and long.

(Cup hands around mouth.)

Then as He got older,

(Raise up on tiptoes.)

Jesus grew and became strong.

(Flex arm muscles.)

Foods You Remember 

Make a family meal or snack that you enjoyed as you grew up but you don't often have now. Your family will enjoy this special treat. Talk about how you were once a baby, preschooler, young child. 

Build and Talk 

Help your child build things this week with a play construction set. Talk about how Joseph helped Jesus, when He was a young boy, learn to use similar tools to make tables, chairs, and stools. 

I Am Growing Up!

Sing these words to the tune "Mulberry Bush." Touch each body part as you sing the word. 

Head and shoulders and knees and toes,

Head and shoulders and knees and toes,

Head and shoulders and knees and toes,

I am growing up!

Other verses: 

Arms and legs and feet and hands ...

Ears and eyes and mouth and tongue …

Stories of Jesus Growing 

Review stories from previous weeks about Jesus as a baby. Just like your preschooler is growing, Jesus grew and became strong. Talk about things Jesus might have done as a child. 

A Prayer Tower 

Cut strips of construction paper and color them as wood. Each time you pray together this week, add a strip to build a tower. Your family is becoming strong in God through prayer.

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Some images are made possible by a joint venture of Good News Productions, International and College Press Publishing Co. Artist: Paula Nash Giltner, www.theglobalgospel.org. FreeBibleimages (http://freebibleimages.org) have been granted permission to make these images freely available for personal, teaching and ministry use under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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