Bible Passage
For All the Saints (John 11:32-44)
Today is a special day in the church. It is “All Saints Sunday.” Today we remember all those people who love God and who live as God’s people. That includes you and me. It also includes those people who love God, but no longer live on earth because they now live in heaven with God. Everyone who is baptized becomes part of God’s family forever. That means they are saints. Martin Luther said we are all both saints and sinners at the very same time. The communion of saints includes those people who still live on earth as well as those who have died in the faith and are now living in heaven. Today we remember all God’s saints!
Watch this video together:
Read:
In the gospel for All Saints Sunday, we hear about Jesus and his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus are sisters and brother. Mary sends word to Jesus that Lazarus is sick. In Jesus’ day, there weren’t airplanes or buses or cars. It took a while for Jesus to get to there. By the time Jesus got to where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were, Lazarus had died. In fact, he had been dead for three days. Everyone was very sad.
Jesus asked them to take him to the place where Lazarus’ body was. Jesus told Lazarus to come to him and Lazarus did! Even though Lazarus had died, Jesus brought him back to life again!
On All Saints Sunday, we remember that even when we die, we will live again with Jesus in heaven forever together with all God’s saints. All of God’s saints are those people who still live on earth as well as those who have died in the faith and are now living in heaven.
Discuss
- Who is someone who has helped you know about Jesus?
- How can you help others know about Jesus?
- Name one of God’s saints you give thanks for on this All Saints Sunday.
Song
I’ll Fly Away. Go Fish Guys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gURt5G0t06c
Activity
Use the “people” pattern to cut out people shapes. Glue them onto a piece of paper. Label it “For All the Saints” and label each person cut out with the name of someone, either living on earth or living in heaven with God, who has made a difference in your life.
Activity
Research on the internet the life stories of some of these famous Christians from times past. Discuss them as a family. Tell their stories to someone else.
Albert Schweitzer • Ambrose of Milan • Anthanasius of Alexandria • Augstine of Hippo • Boniface • Brother Andrew • Charles Wesley • David Livingstone • Dietrich Bonhoeffer • Francis of Assisi • Hudson Taylor • Ireneaus of Lyons • Johannes Flierl • John Calvin • John Newton • John Wesley • John Wycliffe • Jonathan Edwards • Martin Luther • Mother Theresa • Patrick of Ireland • William Tyndale
Say prayers of thanks for their faith and service for the sake of the gospel.
(Adapted from Taking Faith Home. Go to www.milestonesministry.org)
Prayer
God, we thank you for all those people who make a difference in our lives. We thank you that we are your people, whether we live here on earth or whether we are with you in heaven. May our whole lives bring praise to you. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Dan Fugate, Assistant to the Bishop for Discipleship in the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ELCA, put this lesson together for Sunday School @ Home. There will be a new one for each Sunday while we are unable to gather together physically in our congregational buildings. Contact him at [email protected].
