Rotation.org Writing Team
Jesus and Nicodemus: How to See the Kingdom
A Stomp Rocket Workshop
so our kids can "see it from above" 
Summary of Activities
Students will take part in a "stomp rocket" launching game which illustrates the power and excitement of air (wind/spirit) when it suddenly lifts your rocket "above." They will consider how they prepare themselves to be launched above by God, and where the Spirit might carry them to land and serve in God's Kingdom.
The stomp rocket is a toy you can purchase or make. See the purchase or DIY video links below. Students stomp on the air bladder to launch the rocket (their faith, their ability to see and be part of God's Kingdom). Extra rockets are inexpensive, can be decorated by individual students, and go home with them.
Tip: If you have older students and plenty of time, consider making your own stomp rockets. See the video "how to" link below.
The rockets do go pretty high! ...so you will want to launch outside.
Scripture
John 3:1-10 The story of Nicodemus and Jesus.
Key Verse: Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being GENNATHA ANOTHEN (born from above).” (John 3:4 NRSV)
Key Verse: ‘You must be born from above.’The wind (spirit) blows where it chooses,..." (John 3:7-8 NRSV)
Scripture Notes:
Twice, Nicodemus asks Jesus saying, "How can...?" "How can a man be born a second time." "How can this be?" Twice Jesus answers him, (you must be) "born of the Spirit." The Hebrew word for "Spirit" is "ruach." It means breath, or air, or wind. Wind can be powerful, sudden, unexpected, and exhilarating. As the experiments demonstrate, however, there is a lot we can do to PREPARE TO BE LAUNCHED BY GOD'S SPIRIT
Jesus told Nicodemus he must be "born from above" to see the Kingdom. In this lesson, we're going to demonstrate how God's Spirit LAUNCHES us into the ABOVE, and consider where the wind might carry us to land and serve in God's Kingdom. i.e. the "what now?"
Lesson Objectives
See the Bible Background at rotation.org for this set's complete list of objectives and discussion of the scripture.
Preparation and Materials
- Read the Bible Background and scripture.
- View the Stomp Rocket toy in action at https://youtu.be/CAS2UaBuwy4
- See how to make your own stomp rocket: see https://youtu.be/za_2uj1mbyw and https://youtu.be/qiFqI_HbAZ8
- Paper and markers to make "landing zones" for the rockets.
- Crepe paper to make streamers and labels.
- A roll of duct tape for quick repairs and etc.
There are several brands of stomp rockets out there. Watch for those with extra rockets and sturdy "air bladders" to jump on. The one pictured above comes from Ebay and was being offered with extra rockets (7 in all) for under $20.
Lesson Plan
Open
Welcome students and explain that they are going to be doing a very special "launching" activity after the Bible study.
Read an illustrated version of the story of Nicodemus.
Then bring out the "stomp rocket" kit and place it on the table. Put the rocket on the launch pad and label it "Nicodemus." Then label the air bladder "God's Spirit."
Then re-read the story of Nicodemus using the "rocket version" seen at the end of this lesson. Modify as you wish.
Follow up the story by asking questions about the various parts of the stomp rocket. See below for the notes about the possible meaning of each part of the system.
*Note: One of the jobs of a Bible teacher is to help younger students understand what a "metaphor" is --because Jesus and the Bible use them a lot! Metaphor simply means "one thing is like another." In other words, "Here's how you are like a rocket," or "Nicodemus was blind." John 3 makes use of several metaphors (wind = spirit, for example). John 3 also makes use of "deeper" meanings, such as, "enter" can mean "know" and "born from above" means "from God's point of view." These are developmental hurdles for young children. To help them, you have to slow down, repeat, and reinforce. This lesson is designed to do that, but don't forget to circle back around to reinforce the metaphorical and deeper meanings as often as you can.
The Stomp Rocket
You have four metaphors to discuss and teach: Rocket, Launchpad, Air, and Landing.
We are the rocket. Whether you're making them or buying a stomp rocket, students should help write on the rockets before they are launched. Is our rocket perfect? Can it launch all by itself? How might we fizzle?
The launch pad is what we do to prepare ourselves for the promise of God's Spirit. What are the things that get us ready to fly high "above" and see the world from God's perspective? Humility helps, so does not being selfish. How do worship and prayer prepare us? Why wasn't Nicodemus fully prepared? What was he missing?
The air bladder we stomp on represents God's Spirit. It's what God does. Jesus reminds us that for Nicodemus to be launched, er... born from above, that God's wind has to blow. Becoming part of God's Kingdom is a gift from God.
Where does our rocket land? Are there targets we can hope to hit? Or does the Spirit take us where IT wants us to go? Let's label some likely KINGDOM PLACES God's Spirit wants us to "see" ("land on") and serve in?? Is it predictable or unpredictable to be led by the Spirit?
Some possible "Kingdom Landing Places" we can see when God launches us above!
Friends in need. Leadership in Church. Teaching. Being a Great Student of Scripture, Showing compassing to hurting people. Giving our resources, money. Being a peacemaker. What else? Write them on pieces of paper or paper plates and see where your rocket and God's Spirit might take you. When your rocket lands there, let's come up with examples of what God might want us to do there.
Some Playful Options:
- What would you write on a crepe-paper streamer to send "above" for others to see?
- If you wanted to send a message to God, what would you write on the streamer?
- What things can happen to a rocket that make "not ready"?
Reflect
If giving each student a rocket, or if they made their own rocket and launch system, have them write part of the memory verse on their rocket to take home. Instead of writing the verse verbatim, have them REPHRASE the verse using rocket imagery.
A Rocket Version of John 3:1-10
Now there was a Rocket named Nicodemus, a leader of the people who thought they had already launched up high and knew all there was to see from up there about God.
2 But wondering if Jesus was a rocket from up there himself, Nicodemus came to Jesus at night so the other rockets wouldn't notice.
“Rocket Man," we know that you are a great rocket who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.”
3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God from down here. You must be LAUNCHED TO ABOVE.
4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be LAUNCHED AGAIN if they think they have already launched enough? 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, to see, know, and be part of God's kingdom above, you need to be launched by his water and Spirit.
7 Do not be astonished that I said that to you, 8 You need launched by the Spirit, and the Spirit determines the launch time, how high you will go, what you will see, and how far you will travel.
9 Nicodemus said to him, “What are you talking about? You mean I can't launch myself?” I've been going to Launch Church for years! Been reading the Launch Bible too!
10 Jesus answered him, “You are a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand that getting launched, seeing the Kingdom from above, is something that GOD gives you, you can't earn that kind of eyesight. It is God who does the launching. Your job is to get ready for it, and going to Launch Church and reading the Launch Bible are great. But you could first stop being ashamed of me by coming in the dark. When I see that you're ready to see and believe, believe me, I will launch you! I guarantee it will be a blast. And I guarantee it will carry you to new ways of seeing and serving God.
Are you ready, Nicodemus?
Written by Neil MacQueen for the Rotation.org Writing Team
Copyright 2017, Rotation.org Inc.
