Vocabulary:

Who is lost?

Circle the correct answer. The first one is done for you.

1. Who is traveling in the story today?

a. John the Baptist and his mother Elizabeth
b. Jesus and his mother, Mary
c. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus

a. To Bethlehem
b. To Jerusalem
c. To Nazareth

a. They are going to celebrate Passover.
b. They are going to see cousin Elizabeth.
c. They like to travel.

a. He is going to a birthday party.
b. He is playing with his cousin John (the son of Elizabeth).
c. He is talking with the teachers and religious leaders.

a. At lunch time
b. At bed time
c. At roll call

a. For 40 days and 40 nights
b. For 30 minutes
c. For three days

a. Playing with cousin John
b. At the birthday party
c. In the temple

a. Worried
b. Excited
c. Happy

a. They are surprised at how much he knows.
b. They are surprised at the answers he gives to their questions.
c. They are happy to meet Jesus.

a. He is happy to be with the teachers and religious leaders.
b. He is homesick for his parents.
c. He is surprised to hear that his parents are worried.

a. To Bethlehem
b. To Nazareth
c. To Capernaum

a. He grows in ways that please God.
b. He rides his bicycle everyday.
c. He obeys his parents.

1. Every year Mary and Joseph travel to Jerusalem for Passover.
2. They travel with their family group.
3. Twelve-year-old Jesus goes with his family this year.
4. After the Passover celebration, everyone begins the trip back home to Nazareth.
5. At bedtime they cannot find Jesus!
6. Mary and Joseph hurry back to Jerusalem.
7. They look everywhere for three days.
8. Finally, they find Jesus in the temple.
9. He is talking with the teachers and asking them questions.
10. Mary says: "Jesus, your father and I were very worried. Why are you here?"
11. Jesus replies, "I must be in my Father's house."
12. Jesus goes back home to Nazareth with his parents.
13. He obeys them everyday.
14. Jesus grows wise and strong.
15. Jesus pleases God and all the people around him.

Choose one of these words to fill in the blanks below:

Every year Mary and Joseph travel to Jerusalem for 1 _______. They travel with their family group. Twelve-year-old Jesus goes 2__________ his family this year. After the Passover celebration, everyone begins 3__________ trip back home to Nazareth. At bedtime they cannot 4__________ Jesus!

Mary and Joseph hurry back to Jerusalem. They 5__________ everywhere for three days. Finally, they find Jesus 6__________ the temple. He is talking with the teachers 7__________ asking them questions. Mary says: "Jesus, your father and I 8__________ very worried. Why are you here?" Jesus replies, "I 9__________ be in my father's house." Jesus goes back home10__________ Nazareth with his parents. He obeys them everyday. Jesus 11__________ wise and strong. Jesus pleases God and 12__________ the people around him.

1. Jesus was excited about the trip to Jerusalem with his parents. Do you and your family travel together? Where do you go? How do you travel? When do you travel? Do you visit family? In small groups, tell about your travel.

2. When you were a child, were you ever lost from your parents? Tell your group about this time. How did you feel? How did your parents feel?

3. The boy Jesus was an example for everyone in living a 'balanced' life (Luke 2:52).

• He was a learner! ("grew in wisdom")
• He lived in a healthy way, taking good care of his body. (grew "stature")
• He grew also "in favor with God and man," i.e., he pleased God and had the approval and respect of everyone around him.

Do you want these goals for your life? Would you like to live like Jesus? Talk about these questions in your small group.

1. In many ways the family of Jesus saw that Jesus was very special:

• The visit of the angel Gabriel with Mary, telling her about the Baby Jesus
• The singing angels in the sky, telling the shepherds about Baby Jesus
• The visit of the shepherds to worship the Baby Jesus
• The visit of Jesus with the teachers in the temple

2. Not only was Jesus an example in growing mentally, physically, socially, and spiritually, He provided an example for us in every way. Once Jesus told his followers,

"I have set the example, and you should do for each other exactly what I have done for you." (John 13:15, CEV)

"God will bless you, if you have to suffer for doing something good. After all, God chose you to suffer as you follow in the footsteps of Christ, who set an example by suffering for you. Christ did not sin or ever tell a lie. Although he was abused, he never tried to get even. And when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he had faith in God, who judges fairly. Christ carried the burden of our sins. He was nailed to the cross, so that we would stop sinning and start living right. By his cuts and bruises you are healed." (I Pet. 2:20b-24, CEV)