Welly Church Kids Lessons

Youths · 9-12 · Lesson 20

Jesus Announces God's Kingdom

Mark 1:14-20

Jesus entered Israel's story announcing God's reign and calling people to follow.

Teach the lesson

Goal: Explain from Mark 1:14-20 that jesus entered Israel's story announcing God's reign and calling people to follow.

Pick how long you want to teach. The plan updates to fit.

Short · 25 minutes
  1. 3 min
    Connect

    Connect the lesson to the biblical storyline.

  2. 8 min
    Read

    Read and observe the principal passage.

    Ask: What does the passage directly say or narrate?

  3. 5 min
    Understand

    Work from the text and keep observation distinct from interpretation.

    Ask: How does the big idea arise from the passage? · What should we avoid claiming from this passage?

  4. 6 min
    Do

    Complete Kingdom and Following Observation Map.

    Activity: Kingdom and Following Observation Map

    Printable: Y1-L20-P01-kingdom-following-map

  5. 3 min
    Respond

    Name one faithful response and pray.

    Ask: What is one faithful response that follows from this lesson?

Standard · 35 minutes

  1. 4 min
    Connect

    Connect the lesson to the biblical storyline.

  2. 4 min
    Context

    Connect the lesson to the biblical storyline.

  3. 9 min
    Read and observe

    Read and observe the principal passage.

    Ask: What does the passage directly say or narrate?

  4. 7 min
    Discuss

    Work from the text and keep observation distinct from interpretation.

    Ask: How does the big idea arise from the passage? · What should we avoid claiming from this passage?

  5. 7 min
    Activity

    Complete Kingdom and Following Observation Map.

    Activity: Kingdom and Following Observation Map

    Printable: Y1-L20-P01-kingdom-following-map

  6. 4 min
    Respond

    Name one faithful response and pray.

    Ask: What is one faithful response that follows from this lesson?

Extended · 45 minutes
  1. 4 min
    Connect

    Connect the lesson to the biblical storyline.

  2. 6 min
    Context

    Connect the lesson to the biblical storyline.

  3. 10 min
    Read closely

    Read and observe the principal passage.

    Ask: What does the passage directly say or narrate?

  4. 8 min
    Interpret

    Work from the text and keep observation distinct from interpretation.

    Ask: How does the big idea arise from the passage? · What should we avoid claiming from this passage?

  5. 8 min
    Activity

    Complete Kingdom and Following Observation Map.

    Activity: Kingdom and Following Observation Map

    Printable: Y1-L20-P01-kingdom-following-map

  6. 5 min
    Extension

    Work from the text and keep observation distinct from interpretation.

    Ask: How does the big idea arise from the passage? · What should we avoid claiming from this passage?

  7. 4 min
    Respond

    Name one faithful response and pray.

    Ask: What is one faithful response that follows from this lesson?

Close the class

Memory verse: Mark 1:14-20

Prayer: Thank God for the truth in this passage and ask for wisdom to respond faithfully.

Take-home line: Jesus entered Israel's story announcing God's reign and calling people to follow.

More help: full script, questions, and printables

A word-for-word way to run the lesson, plus every question, activity, and printable.

Teach now

Explain from Mark 1:14-20 that jesus entered Israel's story announcing God's reign and calling people to follow.

Read
Mark 1:14-20
Opening
Ask: What do you notice first in this passage before we explain what it means?
Say
  • Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God.
  • Jesus announced that the time was fulfilled and the kingdom of God had drawn near.
  • Jesus called hearers to repent and believe the gospel.
  • Jesus entered Israel's story announcing God's reign and calling people to follow.
Ask
  • What happens or is said in the passage?
  • What does this show about Jesus, God, people, or the biblical story?
  • Which statement is directly in the text?
  • What is one careful response for us?
Do
Complete the Kingdom and Following Observation Map activity.
Close
Pray using one truth from the passage and one faithful response.
Materials
  • Bible
  • Kingdom and Following Observation Map

Discussion questions

  • What does the passage directly say or narrate?
    Simple answer: Name one thing you can point to in the passage.
    Going deeper: Which details are most important to the author’s argument or narrative?
  • How does the big idea arise from the passage?
    Simple answer: Which verse best supports the big idea?
    Going deeper: What interpretive steps connect the text to the conclusion?
  • What should we avoid claiming from this passage?
    Simple answer: Name one detail the passage does not say.
    Going deeper: Where would broader canonical or historical evidence be required?
  • What is one faithful response that follows from this lesson?
    Simple answer: Choose one concrete response.
    Going deeper: Explain why the response fits the passage rather than merely sounding religious.

Activities

Kingdom and Following Observation Map · 8 min

Materials: Kingdom and Following Observation Map; Pens or pencils

  1. Work through the resource using the passage.
  2. Mark observations separately from conclusions.
  3. Discuss one careful application.

Low-resource option: Use blank paper and create the same categories by hand.

Observation or Conclusion? · 8 min

Materials: Bible

  1. Read five statements aloud.
  2. Students identify whether each is directly in the passage or a conclusion.
  3. Ask what evidence would be needed for each conclusion.

Low-resource option: Use verbal thumbs-up/down responses instead of cards.

Printables

Prepare before class (optional, about 25 minutes)

Passage context

Jesus' ministry: Jesus entered Israel's story announcing God's reign and calling people to follow.

  • Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God.
  • Jesus announced that the time was fulfilled and the kingdom of God had drawn near.
  • Jesus called hearers to repent and believe the gospel.
  • Jesus called Simon and Andrew to follow Him, and they responded.
  • Start with the principal passage before moving to broader synthesis.
  • Keep genre, original audience, and immediate context visible.
  • Label synthesis, inference, historical context, and application rather than presenting them as quotations.

Keep it faithful

  • Do not reduce the kingdom of God to a modern nation, party, or political program.
  • Do not turn the disciples’ immediate vocational response into a universal command that every student abandon ordinary responsibilities.
  • Teach repentance as turning toward God, not as public humiliation.

Questions children may ask

What is the kingdom of God?
Do I have to leave my family or school to follow Jesus?

Every child can join in

  • Offer verbal or written response options.
  • Preview the activity sequence.
  • Allow students to pass on personal-sharing questions.
  • No sensory simulation is required.
  • Read the passage aloud and use icons, sequence cards, or oral choices.
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