The Weirdest Bible Story That Points to Jesus
Recently, we had the opportunity to teach another lesson from a brand-new curriculum Proclaim Ministries is currently developing called, Five Promises of God You Can Hold On To.
This 25-week series is designed to help kids not only learn Bible truths, but connect those truths to everyday life in a clear, memorable, and Gospel-centered way. Throughout the series, we are teaching five foundational promises:
• God saves me
• God stays with me
• God loves me
• God forgives me
• God welcomes me
This 25-week series is designed to help kids not only learn Bible truths, but connect those truths to everyday life in a clear, memorable, and Gospel-centered way. Throughout the series, we are teaching five foundational promises:
• God saves me
• God stays with me
• God loves me
• God forgives me
• God welcomes me
The lesson we recently taught was Promise 1, Lesson 4: God Saves Me and Makes Me His Child.
Using the story of the bronze serpent in Numbers 21 and Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus in John 3, we helped students understand one of the most important truths in the Bible: everyone needs Jesus.
At first glance, the story sounds unusual. The Israelites complained against God, poisonous snakes entered the camp, and God instructed Moses to lift up a bronze serpent on a pole. Anyone who looked at it in faith would live.
It’s the kind of story that makes kids stop and say, “Wait… what?”
But that’s exactly why it becomes such a powerful teaching moment.
As we walked through the lesson, we helped students see that this wasn’t simply an Old Testament story about snakes — it was a picture pointing directly to Jesus Christ. In John 3, Jesus Himself referenced this story while explaining salvation to Nicodemus. Just as the Israelites had to look to God’s provision to be saved from physical death, we must look to Jesus to be saved from our sin.
One of the key truths we emphasized was this:
Everyone needs Jesus.
Not just adults. Not just “bad” people. Every person has a sin problem we cannot fix ourselves. We can try harder, behave better, or clean ourselves up externally, but only Jesus can save us and make us children of God.
We also spent time helping kids understand faith. Looking at the bronze serpent probably didn’t make sense to many of the Israelites, but God had provided the way. In the same way, salvation comes through trusting what Christ has done for us on the cross.
Through storytelling, humor, interaction, Scripture memory, and Gospel teaching, we were able to help students understand deep biblical truth in ways they could remember and apply.
And we want you to know: your support helps make this possible.
Because of faithful Proclaim Partners, we are able to build Bible-centered curriculum and resources that help kids and teens connect faith and life. Whether through churches, videos, curriculum, podcasts, devotionals, or training resources, your generosity is helping us point the next generation to Jesus with clarity and confidence.
Using the story of the bronze serpent in Numbers 21 and Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus in John 3, we helped students understand one of the most important truths in the Bible: everyone needs Jesus.
At first glance, the story sounds unusual. The Israelites complained against God, poisonous snakes entered the camp, and God instructed Moses to lift up a bronze serpent on a pole. Anyone who looked at it in faith would live.
It’s the kind of story that makes kids stop and say, “Wait… what?”
But that’s exactly why it becomes such a powerful teaching moment.
As we walked through the lesson, we helped students see that this wasn’t simply an Old Testament story about snakes — it was a picture pointing directly to Jesus Christ. In John 3, Jesus Himself referenced this story while explaining salvation to Nicodemus. Just as the Israelites had to look to God’s provision to be saved from physical death, we must look to Jesus to be saved from our sin.
One of the key truths we emphasized was this:
Everyone needs Jesus.
Not just adults. Not just “bad” people. Every person has a sin problem we cannot fix ourselves. We can try harder, behave better, or clean ourselves up externally, but only Jesus can save us and make us children of God.
We also spent time helping kids understand faith. Looking at the bronze serpent probably didn’t make sense to many of the Israelites, but God had provided the way. In the same way, salvation comes through trusting what Christ has done for us on the cross.
Through storytelling, humor, interaction, Scripture memory, and Gospel teaching, we were able to help students understand deep biblical truth in ways they could remember and apply.
And we want you to know: your support helps make this possible.
Because of faithful Proclaim Partners, we are able to build Bible-centered curriculum and resources that help kids and teens connect faith and life. Whether through churches, videos, curriculum, podcasts, devotionals, or training resources, your generosity is helping us point the next generation to Jesus with clarity and confidence.
We would also love for you to help us share this curriculum and lesson with others.
You can:
• Share the video or lesson with parents and grandparents
• Pass it along to children’s ministry leaders
• Use it with your own kids or grandkids
• Recommend the curriculum to churches or ministry leaders looking for Bible-centered teaching resources
Sometimes one simple lesson becomes the starting point for a life-changing conversation about faith.
Thank you for praying for us, encouraging us, and partnering with us in this mission.
You can:
• Share the video or lesson with parents and grandparents
• Pass it along to children’s ministry leaders
• Use it with your own kids or grandkids
• Recommend the curriculum to churches or ministry leaders looking for Bible-centered teaching resources
Sometimes one simple lesson becomes the starting point for a life-changing conversation about faith.
Thank you for praying for us, encouraging us, and partnering with us in this mission.
No Comments