The Gospel for the fourth Sunday of Lent contains some of the best-known words of the Bible: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16). This passage is so well-known for good reason – it summarizes the entirety of the Gospel message, or, the Kerygma. In this lesson, students will analyze the basic proclamation of the Gospel and consider how they can share the Good New with others.
Nicodemus – Fourth Sunday of Lent | Year B
Lesson Overview
Upper Elementary Lesson Materials
Download all PDFsGospel Reflection
- Have students read the Gospel passage, or read it aloud to your students, and then answer the focus questions. You may have students answer them on their own or you may discuss them together as a class.
- Review and discuss the correct answers when finished.
Activity
- Have your students respond to the questions on Handout B: The Kerygma Pre-Reading Questionnaire. When finished, call on students to share and discuss their answers.
- Introduce and define the word Kerygma to your students. (The Kerygma is a Greek word for “preaching” from the New Testament. We use it today to refer to the basic proclamation of the Gospel message.) Then, have your students read Handout C: The Kerygma and answer the questions. Discuss the answers when finished.
Answer Key
Handout A: Gospel Reading
- The Son of Man must be lifted up. He is referring to His own Crucifixion and Death.
- He gave His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him would not perish (die) but have eternal life.
- God did not send His Son to condemn the world. Instead, God sent His Son to save the world.
- Because their works are evil and the light will expose their evil works.
- So that their works may be clearly seen as done in God.
Handout B: The Kerygma Pre-Reading Questionnaire
Accept reasoned answers for all questions. The goal of this activity is to get students thinking about what they already know and think about Jesus and the basic Gospel message.
Handout C: The Kerygma
1. See Answer Key: Fourth Sunday of Lent resource for answers
2. Accept reasoned answers.
Lower Elementary Lesson Materials
Download all PDFsGospel Reflection
Read the Gospel passage aloud to your students as they follow along. Then, discuss the focus questions with them as a class.
Activity
- Use Handout B: The Kerygma Discussion Guide to conduct a class discussion about your students’ knowledge and thoughts about the Gospel message and to teach them about the Kerygma.
- Have your students create an acrostic poem about the Gospel message using Handout C: Kerygma Acrostic Poem. Each line of the poem should begin with a different letter from the word Kerygma. Alternately, you could write the word Kerygma on the board or on a piece of poster board or butcher paper and write an acrostic poem together as a class using suggestions from your students.
Answer Key
Handout A: Gospel Reading
- Jesus was referring to His Crucifixion.
- He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.
- Save the world.
- Jesus, the Light of the World, shines in the darkness and makes our good works known as works of God. He guides our path in the darkness. Accept other reasoned answers.
