Simon of Cyrene was a man from the city of Cyrene in North Africa who was forced by the Roman soldiers to carry the cross of Jesus to the place of His crucifixion. The Bible tells us that Simon was a passerby, likely in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. The Roman soldiers selected him to carry the cross when Jesus was unable to do so due to His physical exhaustion and the weight of the cross. Although we do not know much about Simon beyond his brief appearance in the Bible, his act of carrying Jesus' cross has made him a significant figure in Christian tradition and devotion. He is the father of Alexander and Rufus, probably well-known Christians in the early church.
We have compiled a range of creative ideas and activities below that relate to this Biblical person. These resources are designed to help you teach important life lessons in an engaging and interactive way, whether you are a children's ministry leader, a Sunday school teacher, or a religious educator in a Christian primary school.
Our activities below are suitable for use in various settings such as church children's programs, children's ministry, catechism classes, children's services, Bible clubs, vacation Bible school, and Sunday school, and will help students understand the relevance of the Bible to their lives, and the importance of applying its teachings in practical ways.
