Sidebar:
The Church of England's newsletter Going for Growth (children's ministry/youth) cites a recent survey
Children & the Lord's Prayer (survey) . They also offer a resource page to help kids explore and use the Lord's prayer.
I find myself using it more. When we were kids we prayed before bed with one of my parents or grandmothers: "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, keep me safe all through the night and wake me with the morning light. God bless..." And you go through the list of every living creature you know. The longer the list, the longer you have before you have to go to sleep. There were probably times when I prayed "If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take." There may be other verses. With our (now young adult) kids, we prayed Thank You prayers and we prayed for people. They learned the Lord's prayer but didn't use it in our evangelical/charismatic church every Sunday. They don't know it well.
Sometimes I prayed the Lord's prayer at night near the end of elementary school. I knew it because we prayed it in church every Sunday. And we went to church every Sunday. A traditional Presbyterian church, soon to celebrate 225 years. When we actually started to look for a church when I was in my late
40's, early 50's I realized it was something I had never done. The Lord's Prayer (with a few differences) was one of those things that remained the same from church to church, denomination to denomination. A common denominator, if you will.
I've been praying the Lords' prayer more out of church in the last five years than ever before. Less "name-it-claim-it". More "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Did you ever wonder what that must look like from where God sits?
Showing posts with label liturgy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label liturgy. Show all posts
Friday, July 06, 2012
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Saturday, January 01, 2011
New Year's
Ecclesiastes 3 is one of my favorites. Do we teach this to kids? How do we do it? Probably mostly by example. There are parts of this passage that it's easy to have issues with ... even parts that break the commandments but we don't think of it that way. Take the 10 commandments and go through the stories of scripture and see how often the rules were broken and ponder. Who decides whether it's time for this or time for that? How do you decide?
Psalm 8
Revelation 21:1-6a So much of Revelation is worship!! That was once a revelation to me! This is a neat picture of Immanuel "God with us." Every time you wipe away tears remember His promise.
Matthew 25:31-46 Another powerful picture. Perhaps a picture of the kingdom of God coming to earth...perhaps a picture of the Holy City descending, the Bride, the New Heaven, the New Earth . . .God with us. . . My husband is very very good at this kind of giving so the kids grew up seeing this modeled often. Challenging to our faith and risky when kids want to do it, too...
Ecclesiastes 3 is one of my favorites. Do we teach this to kids? How do we do it? Probably mostly by example. There are parts of this passage that it's easy to have issues with ... even parts that break the commandments but we don't think of it that way. Take the 10 commandments and go through the stories of scripture and see how often the rules were broken and ponder. Who decides whether it's time for this or time for that? How do you decide?
Psalm 8
Revelation 21:1-6a So much of Revelation is worship!! That was once a revelation to me! This is a neat picture of Immanuel "God with us." Every time you wipe away tears remember His promise.
Matthew 25:31-46 Another powerful picture. Perhaps a picture of the kingdom of God coming to earth...perhaps a picture of the Holy City descending, the Bride, the New Heaven, the New Earth . . .God with us. . . My husband is very very good at this kind of giving so the kids grew up seeing this modeled often. Challenging to our faith and risky when kids want to do it, too...
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
from the lectionery:
Numbers 6:22-27: Not sure how old I was when I learned this benediction. There's God's shining face again...When did God bless them? Before He was totally annoyed with them or after?
Psalm 8: Verse 2 mentions infants & babies. The contrast between "what is man...?" and the fact that He's given man "dominion" is seems mind-boggling to me ...
Galatians 4:6
(still looking for kids) "And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God." I think one of the books I reviewed explored this in depth. Not sure which one.
Philippians 2:5-11
Someone made the comment that "every" would include children. When you visualize what vs 10-11 might look like, include children of all ages.
Luke 2:15-21 I've been pondering this passage a lot this season. The shepherds looked after animals all day. They were outside all day most days? everyday? And the angels came and sang to them. They were the first to hear this amazing life shattering announcement. They left their sheep to go and check it out. You don't just leave a field full of sheep untended. Maybe they left someone behind. Maybe they took the sheep. We don't really know...Apparently they verbal, they were credible. They exclaimed to people and people listened. More importantly, they exclaimed to God! You think God has a special place in his heart for sheep & shepherds? :-)
Numbers 6:22-27: Not sure how old I was when I learned this benediction. There's God's shining face again...When did God bless them? Before He was totally annoyed with them or after?
Psalm 8: Verse 2 mentions infants & babies. The contrast between "what is man...?" and the fact that He's given man "dominion" is seems mind-boggling to me ...
Galatians 4:6
(still looking for kids) "And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God." I think one of the books I reviewed explored this in depth. Not sure which one.
Philippians 2:5-11
Someone made the comment that "every" would include children. When you visualize what vs 10-11 might look like, include children of all ages.
Luke 2:15-21 I've been pondering this passage a lot this season. The shepherds looked after animals all day. They were outside all day most days? everyday? And the angels came and sang to them. They were the first to hear this amazing life shattering announcement. They left their sheep to go and check it out. You don't just leave a field full of sheep untended. Maybe they left someone behind. Maybe they took the sheep. We don't really know...Apparently they verbal, they were credible. They exclaimed to people and people listened. More importantly, they exclaimed to God! You think God has a special place in his heart for sheep & shepherds? :-)
Friday, December 17, 2010
Here's the readings from this week's lectionery
...Looking for kids...
Isaiah 7:10-16 We think about the miracle of the virgin birth, the promise of God fullfilled. I think about an unwed teen mother and the range of emotion she must have experienced. Mary called her son Immanuel "God with us."
At what age are kids old enough to refuse evil and choose good?An interesting point of reference... Is it cultural?
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
How long will you be angry O Lord? Let your face shine. I don't really think about God that way, the God with the shining face. What does that look like to kids? People with shining faces? What makes somebody's face shine? Do you have kids who know about eating the bread and drinking the drink of tears? How about laughing enemies? Here is a picture of God: the Good Shepherd enthroned on cherubim shining forth. People calling to their shepherd, "Stir up your might! Come and save us! Make your face shine on us." A call to the Shepherd, not the soldier...never noticed that before.
Romans 1:1-7 The season of advent is full of Old Testament prophecy. The Christmas story, the Easter Story- full of Old Testament prophecy. What is prophecy? Have you or your kids ever watched God bring His Word to pass? What was that like? What was it like for people around Jesus? The passage starts about Paul & prophecy. It ends up being about Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-25 Here is more of Mary's story and that of a very gracious man, apparently sensitive to the spirit of God as Mary was. It seems God sovereignly chose them. Imagine. Mary & Joseph believed God. How did they know it was Him? I don't know. We all assume they just knew. If I remember right the scriptures say that every word of the Lord - if it is the Word of the Lord -comes to pass...a season of odd happenings, prophecy fullfilled, answered prayer & God's face shining.
...Looking for kids...
Isaiah 7:10-16 We think about the miracle of the virgin birth, the promise of God fullfilled. I think about an unwed teen mother and the range of emotion she must have experienced. Mary called her son Immanuel "God with us."
At what age are kids old enough to refuse evil and choose good?An interesting point of reference... Is it cultural?
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
How long will you be angry O Lord? Let your face shine. I don't really think about God that way, the God with the shining face. What does that look like to kids? People with shining faces? What makes somebody's face shine? Do you have kids who know about eating the bread and drinking the drink of tears? How about laughing enemies? Here is a picture of God: the Good Shepherd enthroned on cherubim shining forth. People calling to their shepherd, "Stir up your might! Come and save us! Make your face shine on us." A call to the Shepherd, not the soldier...never noticed that before.
Romans 1:1-7 The season of advent is full of Old Testament prophecy. The Christmas story, the Easter Story- full of Old Testament prophecy. What is prophecy? Have you or your kids ever watched God bring His Word to pass? What was that like? What was it like for people around Jesus? The passage starts about Paul & prophecy. It ends up being about Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-25 Here is more of Mary's story and that of a very gracious man, apparently sensitive to the spirit of God as Mary was. It seems God sovereignly chose them. Imagine. Mary & Joseph believed God. How did they know it was Him? I don't know. We all assume they just knew. If I remember right the scriptures say that every word of the Lord - if it is the Word of the Lord -comes to pass...a season of odd happenings, prophecy fullfilled, answered prayer & God's face shining.
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Pondering lectionary passages
So I pulled some scriptures out of the lectionary and posted them below only because those particular verses jumped out at me for whatever reason or I saw something I hadn't noticed before...
If you use the lectionary in your church or want the fun of using it for devotions. . . This is The Revised Common Lectionary at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library. You'll see the year and the link on the left when you click.
Go looking for kids. You can use Bible stories that tie to the season. You can look for children in the text (reading it in context) or ask where were they? How did these words affect their parents, them, their community? Look for promises to multi-generations. Look for imagery that is particularly appealing to kids or imagery that children can relate to. If children can't relate to the imagery and the ideas are age appropriate, (branches growing from a stump for instance) what can you do to add that experience to your kids so they have a point of reference? Do you see the passages about peace and being teachable? Don't you love the imagery of beating swords into plows and farm tools? Do you know a soldier turned farmer? A tree specialist? Do you know a metal worker?
I'm not talking long and complicated. Think snapshots in a big album, depending on the ages of your kids. Sure it's good to know the family and the stories and back stories that go with the snap shots but as kids grow you share a little more and a little more. And some day the whole picture of their Loved One makes sense.
Enjoy the season!
If you use the lectionary in your church or want the fun of using it for devotions. . . This is The Revised Common Lectionary at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library. You'll see the year and the link on the left when you click.
Go looking for kids. You can use Bible stories that tie to the season. You can look for children in the text (reading it in context) or ask where were they? How did these words affect their parents, them, their community? Look for promises to multi-generations. Look for imagery that is particularly appealing to kids or imagery that children can relate to. If children can't relate to the imagery and the ideas are age appropriate, (branches growing from a stump for instance) what can you do to add that experience to your kids so they have a point of reference? Do you see the passages about peace and being teachable? Don't you love the imagery of beating swords into plows and farm tools? Do you know a soldier turned farmer? A tree specialist? Do you know a metal worker?
I'm not talking long and complicated. Think snapshots in a big album, depending on the ages of your kids. Sure it's good to know the family and the stories and back stories that go with the snap shots but as kids grow you share a little more and a little more. And some day the whole picture of their Loved One makes sense.
Enjoy the season!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
communion crafts revisted
Ok...communion crafts. . .
Make bread, break bread, eat it, share it...
Find out all you can about bread. Once, it was a staple.
Age appropriately, talk about the role bread played in the culture of the people in the scriptures from gathering the seed to planting to harvesting to storing to grinding to baking and eating ...talking about the market would be another topic for another story.
Visit a vineyard. Learn about grapes & find out how wine is made. Again, age appropriately explore the process that the people of the scriptures were familiar with from planting to tending to harvesting to making and drinking the wine. Invite a vinedresser or take a field trip. Where did they get the plants to start with? Wine represents the blood of Christ...
We live in a culture vastly separated from the process and hands-on interaction with the foods that nourish our bodies. People in ancient cultures (even my culture 50 years ago) were on more intimate terms, if you will, with the life of the things they ate and drank. Why did Jesus choose bread and wine? Why not fish and water? Herbs, salt? Or lamb? I don't know...
Learn about blood...
Learn about blood in the scriptures or as part of Jewish tradition...Learn about the role of wine & bread in the scriptures.
Make a clay challis and a clay plate.
Act out the story... talk about how all the characters are related - the experiences they shared over the three years they spent together. . .How much did they see each other? What did they do together? How long is three years to your audience? Is there someone you've known for 3 years? Is there someone you've known for 3 years who has had as dramatic an affect on your life as Jesus did?
The men with Jesus celebrated Passover every year of their lives. What was that like? How was this time different? What did Jesus say to them?
If a friend asks to use a room in your house what do you do to get ready?
Any of these possibilities with give you more material than you were looking for. You can either explore it on your own first and think about what you might want to focus on with the particular group you have. Or go in cold with your kids and offer open-ended questions for your kids so they can ponder and share their experience with one another and see what God shows you that you didn't see before.
In it's simplest form? God is Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Jesus is God. God the Father made man and grain and grapes. He gives us food to eat. He gave Jesus, His own Son to us. Jesus said, This is my body, this is my blood. Eat it and remember me. He said Unless you eat my body and drink my blood you have no part in me...wait...that wasn't the communion story. I'm paraphrasing. Go back to the text...
...but you get the idea...if you want to catch a grain harvest or grain planting or grape pruning or grape harvest you have to plan ahead and time your field trips or speakers to catch the process in season...like now...
Make bread, break bread, eat it, share it...
Find out all you can about bread. Once, it was a staple.
Age appropriately, talk about the role bread played in the culture of the people in the scriptures from gathering the seed to planting to harvesting to storing to grinding to baking and eating ...talking about the market would be another topic for another story.
Visit a vineyard. Learn about grapes & find out how wine is made. Again, age appropriately explore the process that the people of the scriptures were familiar with from planting to tending to harvesting to making and drinking the wine. Invite a vinedresser or take a field trip. Where did they get the plants to start with? Wine represents the blood of Christ...
We live in a culture vastly separated from the process and hands-on interaction with the foods that nourish our bodies. People in ancient cultures (even my culture 50 years ago) were on more intimate terms, if you will, with the life of the things they ate and drank. Why did Jesus choose bread and wine? Why not fish and water? Herbs, salt? Or lamb? I don't know...
Learn about blood...
Learn about blood in the scriptures or as part of Jewish tradition...Learn about the role of wine & bread in the scriptures.
Make a clay challis and a clay plate.
Act out the story... talk about how all the characters are related - the experiences they shared over the three years they spent together. . .How much did they see each other? What did they do together? How long is three years to your audience? Is there someone you've known for 3 years? Is there someone you've known for 3 years who has had as dramatic an affect on your life as Jesus did?
The men with Jesus celebrated Passover every year of their lives. What was that like? How was this time different? What did Jesus say to them?
If a friend asks to use a room in your house what do you do to get ready?
Any of these possibilities with give you more material than you were looking for. You can either explore it on your own first and think about what you might want to focus on with the particular group you have. Or go in cold with your kids and offer open-ended questions for your kids so they can ponder and share their experience with one another and see what God shows you that you didn't see before.
In it's simplest form? God is Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Jesus is God. God the Father made man and grain and grapes. He gives us food to eat. He gave Jesus, His own Son to us. Jesus said, This is my body, this is my blood. Eat it and remember me. He said Unless you eat my body and drink my blood you have no part in me...wait...that wasn't the communion story. I'm paraphrasing. Go back to the text...
...but you get the idea...if you want to catch a grain harvest or grain planting or grape pruning or grape harvest you have to plan ahead and time your field trips or speakers to catch the process in season...like now...
Saturday, July 10, 2010
If you've been praying for this to end, thank you for that. I've tried & kept finding more to say but I'm slowing way down. Haven't had any comments or feedback for a very very very long time. Intentionally didn't start any new books this year because I'd be tied to this for another year (or more). Over the Easter season, I tried looking at and listening for kids in the lectionary but that's something you can do yourself if you're interested. Five years ago, I think this blog helped some people connect. Now there are lots of bloggers networking about "postmodern" ministry to children.
Although there are some inexpensive activity ideas woven in here and there but it's more pondering than activity ideas. I hope you'll find some new thinking tools here. If you're reading a book, if you're looking at the scriptures, consider doing it with a couple of coworkers or parents or both.
What do we want to do? We want our kids to love Jesus, to love God - Father, Son, Holy Spirit. We want them to learn to love people. We want to give kids life long faith tools and teach them how to use them. We want to teach them how to learn from God's words & actions & stories. We want to teach them how to see God working in their day to day lives and how to interact with Him and stay faithful (because God is faithful) through the good, the bad, and the ugly. We want to kindle and feed the desire to press on to know God for who He is. We want to constantly affirm to them that no matter how old they are they play an integral part in their faith community and the greater world - in God's world. We want them to do what God says and we want to be examples to them - God's representatives, God's ambassadors, the way Jesus was to His world.
There's no end to books & blogs & thoughts & opinions. If you have Father/Son/Holy Spirit, His Word, a faith community and you're able to use/give all that God's given you as an individual you've got it all. If I find something interesting I'll post it but otherwise, I have nothing more to say.
Although there are some inexpensive activity ideas woven in here and there but it's more pondering than activity ideas. I hope you'll find some new thinking tools here. If you're reading a book, if you're looking at the scriptures, consider doing it with a couple of coworkers or parents or both.
What do we want to do? We want our kids to love Jesus, to love God - Father, Son, Holy Spirit. We want them to learn to love people. We want to give kids life long faith tools and teach them how to use them. We want to teach them how to learn from God's words & actions & stories. We want to teach them how to see God working in their day to day lives and how to interact with Him and stay faithful (because God is faithful) through the good, the bad, and the ugly. We want to kindle and feed the desire to press on to know God for who He is. We want to constantly affirm to them that no matter how old they are they play an integral part in their faith community and the greater world - in God's world. We want them to do what God says and we want to be examples to them - God's representatives, God's ambassadors, the way Jesus was to His world.
There's no end to books & blogs & thoughts & opinions. If you have Father/Son/Holy Spirit, His Word, a faith community and you're able to use/give all that God's given you as an individual you've got it all. If I find something interesting I'll post it but otherwise, I have nothing more to say.
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday starts another liturgical season.
You could go through all of scripture. You could use the lectionary. Keep looking for children. Where were they? How would this event affect them? Were they there to hear the words? What would they hear? What would make sense to them? How did what their parents see or hear affect them?
What are the concrete nouns and actions in the passage that we can share with children to better know God? If I bring objects or pictures or speakers or talk about the science, the life cycle, the environment, the history, the culture . . . will it give a child more experiential understanding to bring to their hearing of God's word? Will they be more apt to remember it? Will they be better able to process it? Not from an adult's perspective - not from your perspective but from theirs.
With the Holy Spirit's help, of course. Think small, simple & short. How can you explore God's Word, God's stories, with children in ways that will help them to better know God ?
You could go through all of scripture. You could use the lectionary. Keep looking for children. Where were they? How would this event affect them? Were they there to hear the words? What would they hear? What would make sense to them? How did what their parents see or hear affect them?
What are the concrete nouns and actions in the passage that we can share with children to better know God? If I bring objects or pictures or speakers or talk about the science, the life cycle, the environment, the history, the culture . . . will it give a child more experiential understanding to bring to their hearing of God's word? Will they be more apt to remember it? Will they be better able to process it? Not from an adult's perspective - not from your perspective but from theirs.
With the Holy Spirit's help, of course. Think small, simple & short. How can you explore God's Word, God's stories, with children in ways that will help them to better know God ?
Friday, April 02, 2010
Lent 8f Saturday
Job 14:1-14 Job. Not only the image of the young plant growing up in a dry place again but human mortality - Life & death. Babies living only a short time. The imagery of the tree. When I was a child we had a huge tree in my yard that went down in a thunderstorm and filled up the yard. 25 years later when I went back to visit, there it was again. Does it help the scriptures to make more sense to children if we talk about the plants, animals, customs God uses to teach us?
or Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24 • We may forget how incredibly down writers in the scriptures would get (often for good reason with things they couldn't control - war, famine, etc etc). They continued to put their faith in God and have a place in that cloud of witnesses.
Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16 • "My times are in your hand; deliver me . . ." Grown-up or child, our times are in His hands.
31:16 "Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love." From Psalmist's perspective God's deliverance would reflect well on God. Save me, Lord, so people will praise You!
1 Peter 4:1-8 • We all will have to give account to the God of the living & the dead. 4:7-8 "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins." A disciplined prayer life or a disciplined life so God will answer our prayers? Keep loving... love covers a multitude of sins. We can share this with children.
Matthew 27:57-66
Here's the story of Joseph & Nicodemus again and the story of securing the tomb. They were afraid that someone would steal the body and trick them into believing that Jesus had risen. How young can you share this story?
or John 19:38-42
Preparing the body for burial. How much is 100 pounds? What spices did they use? What did it smell like? What is linen? How big a piece of linen? What is "The Day of Preparation"? They found an empty tomb that was close by. This is sort of funny, ". . . a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid . . ." Was it common or uncommon to have a new tomb? Of course a new tomb was a tomb in which no one had ever been laid. If it had been a used tomb it would be occupied unless someone stole the body... This new tomb was about to become a used tomb. It would soon be empty & unused again because the occupant wasn't going to stay dead...but nobody knew that.
or Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24 • We may forget how incredibly down writers in the scriptures would get (often for good reason with things they couldn't control - war, famine, etc etc). They continued to put their faith in God and have a place in that cloud of witnesses.
Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16 • "My times are in your hand; deliver me . . ." Grown-up or child, our times are in His hands.
31:16 "Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love." From Psalmist's perspective God's deliverance would reflect well on God. Save me, Lord, so people will praise You!
1 Peter 4:1-8 • We all will have to give account to the God of the living & the dead. 4:7-8 "The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins." A disciplined prayer life or a disciplined life so God will answer our prayers? Keep loving... love covers a multitude of sins. We can share this with children.
Matthew 27:57-66
Here's the story of Joseph & Nicodemus again and the story of securing the tomb. They were afraid that someone would steal the body and trick them into believing that Jesus had risen. How young can you share this story?
or John 19:38-42
Preparing the body for burial. How much is 100 pounds? What spices did they use? What did it smell like? What is linen? How big a piece of linen? What is "The Day of Preparation"? They found an empty tomb that was close by. This is sort of funny, ". . . a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid . . ." Was it common or uncommon to have a new tomb? Of course a new tomb was a tomb in which no one had ever been laid. If it had been a used tomb it would be occupied unless someone stole the body... This new tomb was about to become a used tomb. It would soon be empty & unused again because the occupant wasn't going to stay dead...but nobody knew that.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Lent & Easter: Concrete
What symbols that go with this season can you introduce to your youngest kids? Palm. Dove. Garden. Jail. Dinner. Cross. Lily. Bread. Wine. Sheep. Cooked lamb. Blood when you hurt yourself. Praise. Thanksgiving. Being nice. Being mean. Hurts. Bruises. Healing. Friends. Tomb. Death. Life.
Are there other concretes that you can use to explore the season with your youngest kids? What can you see, hear, touch, smell, taste to associate with these Lenten & Easter stories about Jesus?
Are there other concretes that you can use to explore the season with your youngest kids? What can you see, hear, touch, smell, taste to associate with these Lenten & Easter stories about Jesus?
Lent 8e Friday
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 • So ... Jesus grew like a young plant - like a root out of dry land. Plants need water. Most plants do.
He wasn't handsome or cute. People despised him. People rejected Him. He was familiar with suffering & infirmity. Do you know people like that? Do you know children like that? People hid their faces from Him. do you know any children like that?
Just like Job, people thought bad things happened to him because he sinned. But he wasn't carrying his own sin & suffering. He was carrying ours. We're the ones who rebelled against God -"upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed." It sounds like He took on Himself the punishment/correction that we needed to help us learn and change. It sounds like He was battered, bruised, and sick so God could/would heal us. Did He do all this for children, too or just for adults?
Can I look at someone who is chronically sick or debilitated and think, "Jesus endured that, too"?
Israelite children were familiar with sheep. Like sheep, we went our own way but Jesus, without turning His own way, accepted the consequences so we could follow where God was walking.
"By a perversion of justice he was taken away." Looking back we know God had a plan for all that happened to Jesus but at the time it was still a perversion of justice extended towards a most innocent, undeserving person.
His grave with the wicked. His tomb with the rich...We don't think of Him as wicked or rich. But here was another way He can identify with His people.
Do you think someday when we meet Him and tell him all our excuses and all our woes He will say to us, "Been there. Done that. You have no excuse"? Will He sympathize? Will He empathize?
(53:11-12)"Out of his anguish he shall see light; he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities . . . he poured out himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." I don't want to even pretend to understand this and all of it's far-reaching implications. And I don't know that our recognition of the depth of Jesus suffering is so much to share with people as to incorporate into our prayers for people struggling in these places.
How can we bring this understanding of Christ Jesus to children...
Psalm 22 • This is the Psalm for us (whatever our age) to help us remember that even when we don't believe God is listening that he still hears & answers prayers. Jesus on the cross. The exact opposite of what His followers expected.
"Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel."
There's that crowd of witnesses again.
What's it like when you feel like a worm?
What does this tell us about childhood faith? "Yet it was you who took me from the womb; you kept me safe on my mother's breast. On you I was cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me you have been my God. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help."
(22:22-24) Children can share this: "I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him;
stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him."
(22:30-31) "Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord, and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it."
Hebrews 10:16-25 (10:23-25)"Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful." Kids can do that. "...let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds. . ." Kids can do that. ". . . not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. . ." Kids can do this too.
or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 • Jesus our high priest. Someone who sympathizes with our weakness. What would be the opposite of that? He is someone who has faced all the same tests we do, without messing up opening the door so we can come to him with confidence when we need Him and we can find mercy and grace.
This talks about Jesus praying. It talks about Jesus the son learning to obey His Father through the things He suffered...then the Son, in turn, became a source of eternal salvation to those who obey Him...
John 18:1-19:42
Here is the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. A place where Jesus often met with His disciples. Somehow I forget that line when I think of the garden. A story to act out.
Then you have the story of Jesus before the religious leaders. Another story to act out. What do we know about Annas and Caiaphas? What background stories can kids be familiar with to better understand the characters before they act out a story from scripture?
You have the story of Peter's betrayal. Judas betrayed Jesus. Peter betrayed Jesus, too. What was different?
You have the story of Jesus before Pilate.
You have the story of Jesus on the cross.
You have the story of Jesus & the soldiers.
You have the story of Jesus, Joseph, & Nicodemas.
What parts of the Lenten & Easter stories will mean something to the youngest child? Preschool? Early Elementary. Late Elementary? Pre-teen? Teen? To what degree will it depend on the demographics of your kids and what they've been exposed to?
He wasn't handsome or cute. People despised him. People rejected Him. He was familiar with suffering & infirmity. Do you know people like that? Do you know children like that? People hid their faces from Him. do you know any children like that?
Just like Job, people thought bad things happened to him because he sinned. But he wasn't carrying his own sin & suffering. He was carrying ours. We're the ones who rebelled against God -"upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed." It sounds like He took on Himself the punishment/correction that we needed to help us learn and change. It sounds like He was battered, bruised, and sick so God could/would heal us. Did He do all this for children, too or just for adults?
Can I look at someone who is chronically sick or debilitated and think, "Jesus endured that, too"?
Israelite children were familiar with sheep. Like sheep, we went our own way but Jesus, without turning His own way, accepted the consequences so we could follow where God was walking.
"By a perversion of justice he was taken away." Looking back we know God had a plan for all that happened to Jesus but at the time it was still a perversion of justice extended towards a most innocent, undeserving person.
His grave with the wicked. His tomb with the rich...We don't think of Him as wicked or rich. But here was another way He can identify with His people.
Do you think someday when we meet Him and tell him all our excuses and all our woes He will say to us, "Been there. Done that. You have no excuse"? Will He sympathize? Will He empathize?
(53:11-12)"Out of his anguish he shall see light; he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities . . . he poured out himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." I don't want to even pretend to understand this and all of it's far-reaching implications. And I don't know that our recognition of the depth of Jesus suffering is so much to share with people as to incorporate into our prayers for people struggling in these places.
How can we bring this understanding of Christ Jesus to children...
Psalm 22 • This is the Psalm for us (whatever our age) to help us remember that even when we don't believe God is listening that he still hears & answers prayers. Jesus on the cross. The exact opposite of what His followers expected.
"Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel."
There's that crowd of witnesses again.
What's it like when you feel like a worm?
What does this tell us about childhood faith? "Yet it was you who took me from the womb; you kept me safe on my mother's breast. On you I was cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me you have been my God. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help."
(22:22-24) Children can share this: "I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him;
stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him."
(22:30-31) "Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord, and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it."
Hebrews 10:16-25 (10:23-25)"Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful." Kids can do that. "...let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds. . ." Kids can do that. ". . . not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. . ." Kids can do this too.
or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 • Jesus our high priest. Someone who sympathizes with our weakness. What would be the opposite of that? He is someone who has faced all the same tests we do, without messing up opening the door so we can come to him with confidence when we need Him and we can find mercy and grace.
This talks about Jesus praying. It talks about Jesus the son learning to obey His Father through the things He suffered...then the Son, in turn, became a source of eternal salvation to those who obey Him...
John 18:1-19:42
Here is the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. A place where Jesus often met with His disciples. Somehow I forget that line when I think of the garden. A story to act out.
Then you have the story of Jesus before the religious leaders. Another story to act out. What do we know about Annas and Caiaphas? What background stories can kids be familiar with to better understand the characters before they act out a story from scripture?
You have the story of Peter's betrayal. Judas betrayed Jesus. Peter betrayed Jesus, too. What was different?
You have the story of Jesus before Pilate.
You have the story of Jesus on the cross.
You have the story of Jesus & the soldiers.
You have the story of Jesus, Joseph, & Nicodemas.
What parts of the Lenten & Easter stories will mean something to the youngest child? Preschool? Early Elementary. Late Elementary? Pre-teen? Teen? To what degree will it depend on the demographics of your kids and what they've been exposed to?
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Lent 8d Thurs
Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14 • As far as a family's relationship to an animal goes, this is probably somewhere between keeping a companion animal and raising farm animals for food. Farmers see their animals differently than people who pamper their companion animals. I don't think it's unusual for someone who raises livestock to bring a sick or injured baby into the house for care. But, did you ever do this for Passover? There are sights, sounds, smells, tactile experiences associated with raising an animal in your home, slaughtering, sacrificing, cooking, eating...as a family...with children... Did you ever visit a sheep farm with the kids? Have you ever seen an animal slaughtered for meat? Did you ever raise an animal on your farm that you kept specifically for food? Did you ever act out the Passover scenario (without real animals and blood?) Just talking about slaughter and blood is a bit of a culture shock today. You probably wouldn't do that with children, but Israel did. God asked them to do it. He had His reasons.
Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 • "I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice . . . Because he inclined his ear to me, [He leaned down to listen to me] therefore I will call on him as long as I live."
Ideas you can ponder with kids: "...as long as I live..." You have to start somewhere.
Calling on the name of the Lord.
Keeping our promises to God.
I am a child of His serving girl. He has loosened my bonds.
Praise, thanksgiving...
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 • There's that story with the bread & the cup again.
John 13:1-17, 31b-35 "Before the feast of the Passover. . . " Passover - a holiday the people of Israel had celebrated every year from the time of Moses...
What did Jesus know going into that last supper with His disciples?
How did Jesus love?
Did you ever act out this story with your kids? It probably helps if everyone walks around wearing sandles in a dry dusty place first. Who usually had the job that Jesus took on? How did the job/role of teacher usually differ from the job/role of the person who washed everyone's feet?
Watch & listen to Jesus as teacher, here. What does He teach us? What does He show us?
Follow the story of Peter after this...
"Little children..." At the very end of the story Jesus gave them a "new" commandment. This was a command - not an option. "You WILL do this! You will!" What did Jesus command them to do?
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another . . ." As we teach, as we learn, is that a driving force? For all the time we spend outside of church and our children spend away from us is this what the world sees? The way we love one another isn't just about us. It's not just for us. It's intended to affect every human being we come in contact with. Children can learn this. Children can do this.
Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 • "I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice . . . Because he inclined his ear to me, [He leaned down to listen to me] therefore I will call on him as long as I live."
Ideas you can ponder with kids: "...as long as I live..." You have to start somewhere.
Calling on the name of the Lord.
Keeping our promises to God.
I am a child of His serving girl. He has loosened my bonds.
Praise, thanksgiving...
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 • There's that story with the bread & the cup again.
John 13:1-17, 31b-35 "Before the feast of the Passover. . . " Passover - a holiday the people of Israel had celebrated every year from the time of Moses...
What did Jesus know going into that last supper with His disciples?
How did Jesus love?
Did you ever act out this story with your kids? It probably helps if everyone walks around wearing sandles in a dry dusty place first. Who usually had the job that Jesus took on? How did the job/role of teacher usually differ from the job/role of the person who washed everyone's feet?
Watch & listen to Jesus as teacher, here. What does He teach us? What does He show us?
Follow the story of Peter after this...
"Little children..." At the very end of the story Jesus gave them a "new" commandment. This was a command - not an option. "You WILL do this! You will!" What did Jesus command them to do?
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another . . ." As we teach, as we learn, is that a driving force? For all the time we spend outside of church and our children spend away from us is this what the world sees? The way we love one another isn't just about us. It's not just for us. It's intended to affect every human being we come in contact with. Children can learn this. Children can do this.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Lent 8c Wednesday
Isaiah 50:4-9a •
The "tongue of a teacher that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. . . " a single word... Can you think of single words to help someone when they're weary or tired? Is that something children can do?
Children wake up every morning just like grown-ups "Morning by morning he wakens-- wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught." I love the imagery here. Do we wake up every morning with our ears open eager to learn something from God? Children can do that.
What does it mean to be rebellious or to turn back when someone is trying to teach you something? For a child? Do you see it more easily through the eyes of the teacher or through the eyes of the learner?
After talking about teaching and learning we have verses about abuse. Does it jar you? Why is it here? We think of Jesus but is His crucifixion the only context for this?
Verses 7-9 are full of hope. I've always loved the imagery of setting "my face like flint." A good friend of my mother in-law's gave us this gift when we were married. She made it.
Psalm 70 • A prayer for help. You can take the NIRV and pull out verses for prayers. Is the Psalmist being mean to his enemies to pray like this?
Hebrews 12:1-3 • I love the imagery here, too, especially for children. You have the cloud of witnesses. Who are they? You have something you want to get rid of that clings to you. Can you and your kids think of things? (Lint. Stepping in dog poop. Cigarette smoke. Cooking smells. . . ) You have running a race and running it to win. Is it a short race or a long race? What is perserverance? What's a pioneer? What's a perfecter? For the joy that was set before Him he endured something hard, painful, shameful...for joy! Does it make you happy if you win? If you win something that was easy? If you win something that was hard? "Consider him..." Jesus is an example to us young and old so we don't grow weary and lose heart.
John 13:21-32
We have a story. Jesus was troubled. One of His friends was going to turn on him. He knew that. The rest of his friends didn't. Reenact the story. Think about all the times Jesus & his disciples shared. We read the story knowing how it will end. Remember the characters in the story (except Jesus) only know what had happened so far, not what was going to happen.
What happens next is a sad sad story but Jesus said, ". . . the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him . . ." We read this story knowing the ending but perhaps not fully understanding the depth of betrayal and broken trust that happened along the way. . . for pre-teens & teens or any child who ever felt betrayed...Jesus has experienced that, too.
Lent 8b Tuesday
Isaiah 49:1-7 •
More listening and paying attention...
Are there elements here about God's call and naming us even before we are born that is appropriate for children?
"He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away." Is this Isaiah? Was his mouth like a sharp sword when he was a child? An arrow being sharpened to be hid away until God was ready?
vs 5 formed from the womb to be His servant...formed from the womb with a purpose . . . Is that true of everyone or just special people?
You have a prophet (and perhaps a people) looking to God when he is discouraged and a promise of God in the midst of discouragement.
Psalm 71:1-14 •
Take the time to look at this person who wrote this Psalm and his relationship to God. The part that caught my attention is this (vs 6-7) "Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you. I have been like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. . . " How many observations can you make about the child? The man? God, as he knew Him? Ponder childhood faith and adult faith adult faith in this Psalm. Notice that it doesn't get easier. What skills did he learn as a child that continued to serve him even through hard times as an adult?
1 Corinthians 1:18-31 •
Here we have foolishness & power, foolishness and wisdom... Proverbs talks about fools and children. I guess it isn't about the foolishness, wisdom or power. It's about what God did to draw us near to Him. Is it too far off-center to say that through the stories of Jesus, the reality of what He did, and interacting with Him we come to see and know Him as the power & wisdom of God? I think verses 25-29 are especially appropriate for children and for those of us who love them.
John 12:20-36
Some Greeks came to see Jesus. You can act out the telephone game-likeness of one telling another who tells another who tells...
You have the story (the science & the agriculture) of grain & wheat. Have you ever taken a stalk of grain and rubbed it in your hands or ground the groats to make flour?
vs 25 - words to remember but for how young a listener? vs 26 - something to act out if you talk about serving. There is a story in verses 27-36. You can play with light & dark.
More listening and paying attention...
Are there elements here about God's call and naming us even before we are born that is appropriate for children?
"He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away." Is this Isaiah? Was his mouth like a sharp sword when he was a child? An arrow being sharpened to be hid away until God was ready?
vs 5 formed from the womb to be His servant...formed from the womb with a purpose . . . Is that true of everyone or just special people?
You have a prophet (and perhaps a people) looking to God when he is discouraged and a promise of God in the midst of discouragement.
Psalm 71:1-14 •
Take the time to look at this person who wrote this Psalm and his relationship to God. The part that caught my attention is this (vs 6-7) "Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you. I have been like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. . . " How many observations can you make about the child? The man? God, as he knew Him? Ponder childhood faith and adult faith adult faith in this Psalm. Notice that it doesn't get easier. What skills did he learn as a child that continued to serve him even through hard times as an adult?
1 Corinthians 1:18-31 •
Here we have foolishness & power, foolishness and wisdom... Proverbs talks about fools and children. I guess it isn't about the foolishness, wisdom or power. It's about what God did to draw us near to Him. Is it too far off-center to say that through the stories of Jesus, the reality of what He did, and interacting with Him we come to see and know Him as the power & wisdom of God? I think verses 25-29 are especially appropriate for children and for those of us who love them.
John 12:20-36
Some Greeks came to see Jesus. You can act out the telephone game-likeness of one telling another who tells another who tells...
You have the story (the science & the agriculture) of grain & wheat. Have you ever taken a stalk of grain and rubbed it in your hands or ground the groats to make flour?
vs 25 - words to remember but for how young a listener? vs 26 - something to act out if you talk about serving. There is a story in verses 27-36. You can play with light & dark.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Lent 8a - Monday
Isaiah 42:1-9 •
Here is another story about the Holy Spirit. We also hear about justice.
Someone is special. Someone is "chosen." Children know about that. Here is someone who "will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street. . ." What does that look like? sound like? He won't break "a bruised reed". He won't quench "a dimly burning wick. . ." What does that look like? For your older kids, your teens, do these qualities have something to do with justice?
Something more about justice and a promise, "He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. "
In verse 5 we have visual imagery perhaps reminding us of the creation story. Children know what it means for someone to take them by the hand. "I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness."
vs 9 "See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them." When God does what He says He will do, share it with your children.
Psalm 36:5-11 • Look up at the heavens. God's love extends to the heavens. Look up at the clouds. God's faithfulness extends to the clouds. Look at mighty mountains. God's righteousness is like that. Look at the ocean depths. God's judgments are like that.
And the Psalmist says, "you save humans and animals alike, O LORD." I can never find that verse when I'm looking for it but there it is.
Hiding in the shadow of His wings - a fun fort to create for little ones. Special food, special drink & lots of it.
"...you give them drink from the river of your delights..." what does that look like? Taste like? Sound like? Not my delights or your delights but God's delights...What can you do with fountains? What can you do with " in your light we see light"
Hebrews 9:11-15 •
Jesus -" high priest of the good things to come" . What does that mean? What's a priest? What's a high priest? Israelite children would know what a high priest is and they would have life associations.
the blood of Jesus...offered to God...to "purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!"
Look at the nouns. "blood," "calves," "goats," "mediator," "covenant". . . Go through the list of nouns in this passage. Even the action words. Without using theological Christianese...what do they mean to you? What did they mean to the Israelites? What do they mean to children in your faith community? What did they mean to Israelite children?
Is there something to be said about "high church" helping us understand more of the scriptures? How about "low church?"
John 12:1-11
Passover meant something to Israelite children and adults. Bethany. The place where ___ happened. There was a memory associated with this place. Jesus did something. I think I posted about this passage but retell the story. You have a home, dinner, people, perfume ...what 5 senses are engaged? How? What can we learn about Jesus and what He was teaching us about His father?
Here is another story about the Holy Spirit. We also hear about justice.
Someone is special. Someone is "chosen." Children know about that. Here is someone who "will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street. . ." What does that look like? sound like? He won't break "a bruised reed". He won't quench "a dimly burning wick. . ." What does that look like? For your older kids, your teens, do these qualities have something to do with justice?
Something more about justice and a promise, "He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. "
In verse 5 we have visual imagery perhaps reminding us of the creation story. Children know what it means for someone to take them by the hand. "I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness."
vs 9 "See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them." When God does what He says He will do, share it with your children.
Psalm 36:5-11 • Look up at the heavens. God's love extends to the heavens. Look up at the clouds. God's faithfulness extends to the clouds. Look at mighty mountains. God's righteousness is like that. Look at the ocean depths. God's judgments are like that.
And the Psalmist says, "you save humans and animals alike, O LORD." I can never find that verse when I'm looking for it but there it is.
Hiding in the shadow of His wings - a fun fort to create for little ones. Special food, special drink & lots of it.
"...you give them drink from the river of your delights..." what does that look like? Taste like? Sound like? Not my delights or your delights but God's delights...What can you do with fountains? What can you do with " in your light we see light"
Hebrews 9:11-15 •
Jesus -" high priest of the good things to come" . What does that mean? What's a priest? What's a high priest? Israelite children would know what a high priest is and they would have life associations.
the blood of Jesus...offered to God...to "purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!"
Look at the nouns. "blood," "calves," "goats," "mediator," "covenant". . . Go through the list of nouns in this passage. Even the action words. Without using theological Christianese...what do they mean to you? What did they mean to the Israelites? What do they mean to children in your faith community? What did they mean to Israelite children?
Is there something to be said about "high church" helping us understand more of the scriptures? How about "low church?"
John 12:1-11
Passover meant something to Israelite children and adults. Bethany. The place where ___ happened. There was a memory associated with this place. Jesus did something. I think I posted about this passage but retell the story. You have a home, dinner, people, perfume ...what 5 senses are engaged? How? What can we learn about Jesus and what He was teaching us about His father?
Monday, March 22, 2010
Lent 6
[Liturgy of the Palms - March 28, 2010
Vanderbilt Divinity Library's Revised Common Lectionary]
In all of these posts I throw out lots of ideas... no one's saying do all of it. Pick one. These are thoughts, ideas, that I think can be presented to or rather shared with children.
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29(NIRV)
where were the children?
thanksgiving - always saying thank you
God is good - who is good to you? what do they do?
Faithful love that continues forever - who always loves you? (real people)
Opening the gate, opening the door - who's door? who can go through the door?
"I will give thanks to you, because you answered me.
You have saved me." thank you! you answered me! when did someone do that? God does too! thank you! you saved me! when did someone do that? God does too!
The stone that the expert builders rejected became the most important stone. What would that look like to children? Build a rock house. What rocks work and what rocks don't?
Be happy for the wonderful things God does - like what?
"Lord, save us.
Lord, give us success." What do your children need help succeeding at? Pray together. If they can't write let each child whisper in your ear. Write it on a slip of paper and put it in a box and pray that God will help with all those things.
"From the temple of the Lord we bless you." - who can you pray for? who can you bless?
"The Lord is God.
He has made the light of his favor shine on us.
Take branches in your hands. Join in the march on the day of the feast." God has shown us that He's happy with us that's why we can take palms in our hands and join in the festivities.
worship: "You are my God, and I will give thanks to you.
You are my God, and I will honor you.
Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good.
His faithful love continues forever." Children can learn to say this. How do you honor someone?
Luke 19:28-40 (NIRV) Here is the story of Jesus & the palms
where were the children?
Your older kids can probably begin to remember places and the events (or stories) that took place there: Bethany, the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem... Put a map on the wall and pictures for each event that happened there.
Your kids may not relate to a desert environment but Jerusalem is a big city. Some children live in big cities. A village is not a big city. Some children live in villages. Some children live in the countryside. Just points of association for kids to give them a sense of place.
A donkey's colt - big? little? Jesus- Big? Little? What is an animal like who has never been ridden? The significance of a donkey's colt as opposed to a grown-up donkey? A war horse or a stallion? Have there been donkeys in any other Bible stories or stories about Jesus? I read something about the donkey vs the war horse, once. Can't remember where. I think it had to do with Jesus coming in peace. Include info about times & customs & such for older kids.
How would you feel if some stranger were taking your animal? Friend of a friend?
Would you throw your coat on a dusty road for a donkey to walk on? They didn't have dry cleaners. They didn't have washers & dryers. How did they wash their clothes? What would they need? Water? Easy to find in a desert?
The people were so grateful! Would you stand in the streets with your friends and worship God and sing? As Jesus walked along the road they worshipped God. They blessed Jesus. They publically and literally sang His praise and thanked Him for all the wonderful things He did.
They referred to him as king while another king ruled their land. Yet they weren't crying for a take-over. They called out, ". . . may there be peace and glory in the highest heaven. . . "
Why did the religious leaders want Jesus' disciples to stop? What did Jesus say? Imagine the religious leaders forcing all those people to stop and then the stones crying out to worship God instead...imagine! That would make for an interesting Palm Sunday activity - painting happy, joyful, singing faces on rocks and lining them up by the doors.
Vanderbilt Divinity Library's Revised Common Lectionary]
In all of these posts I throw out lots of ideas... no one's saying do all of it. Pick one. These are thoughts, ideas, that I think can be presented to or rather shared with children.
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29(NIRV)
where were the children?
thanksgiving - always saying thank you
God is good - who is good to you? what do they do?
Faithful love that continues forever - who always loves you? (real people)
Opening the gate, opening the door - who's door? who can go through the door?
"I will give thanks to you, because you answered me.
You have saved me." thank you! you answered me! when did someone do that? God does too! thank you! you saved me! when did someone do that? God does too!
The stone that the expert builders rejected became the most important stone. What would that look like to children? Build a rock house. What rocks work and what rocks don't?
Be happy for the wonderful things God does - like what?
"Lord, save us.
Lord, give us success." What do your children need help succeeding at? Pray together. If they can't write let each child whisper in your ear. Write it on a slip of paper and put it in a box and pray that God will help with all those things.
"From the temple of the Lord we bless you." - who can you pray for? who can you bless?
"The Lord is God.
He has made the light of his favor shine on us.
Take branches in your hands. Join in the march on the day of the feast." God has shown us that He's happy with us that's why we can take palms in our hands and join in the festivities.
worship: "You are my God, and I will give thanks to you.
You are my God, and I will honor you.
Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good.
His faithful love continues forever." Children can learn to say this. How do you honor someone?
Luke 19:28-40 (NIRV) Here is the story of Jesus & the palms
where were the children?
Your older kids can probably begin to remember places and the events (or stories) that took place there: Bethany, the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem... Put a map on the wall and pictures for each event that happened there.
Your kids may not relate to a desert environment but Jerusalem is a big city. Some children live in big cities. A village is not a big city. Some children live in villages. Some children live in the countryside. Just points of association for kids to give them a sense of place.
A donkey's colt - big? little? Jesus- Big? Little? What is an animal like who has never been ridden? The significance of a donkey's colt as opposed to a grown-up donkey? A war horse or a stallion? Have there been donkeys in any other Bible stories or stories about Jesus? I read something about the donkey vs the war horse, once. Can't remember where. I think it had to do with Jesus coming in peace. Include info about times & customs & such for older kids.
How would you feel if some stranger were taking your animal? Friend of a friend?
Would you throw your coat on a dusty road for a donkey to walk on? They didn't have dry cleaners. They didn't have washers & dryers. How did they wash their clothes? What would they need? Water? Easy to find in a desert?
The people were so grateful! Would you stand in the streets with your friends and worship God and sing? As Jesus walked along the road they worshipped God. They blessed Jesus. They publically and literally sang His praise and thanked Him for all the wonderful things He did.
They referred to him as king while another king ruled their land. Yet they weren't crying for a take-over. They called out, ". . . may there be peace and glory in the highest heaven. . . "
Why did the religious leaders want Jesus' disciples to stop? What did Jesus say? Imagine the religious leaders forcing all those people to stop and then the stones crying out to worship God instead...imagine! That would make for an interesting Palm Sunday activity - painting happy, joyful, singing faces on rocks and lining them up by the doors.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Lent 5
Isaiah 43:16-21 (NIRV)
The passage starts revisiting a story - not just a story but a story from Israel's past. He reminds them that Israel's enemy was "blown out like a dimly burning flame" - an image that's easy to show children. Then God says, "Forget the things that happened in the past. Do not keep on thinking about them. I am about to do something new. " Sometimes, even children need to hear that.
The imagery is wonderful. The desert. The need for water. God's lavish promise of water. The animals. God's desire for us to sing His praises. It probably requires an appreciation for dry sandy desert places and a deep appreciation for water. (Most of us take water seriously for granted.) What can you do with your kids to recreate that need? Children were part of the community of faith that experienced God's blessing and God's wrath, the oppression of His enemies and God's deliverance and the emotional environment there. Children were there.
Psalm 126 (NIRV)
Again, a reference to a story in Israel's past that children would have experienced - an unpleasant memory, if you will. But they came home. God brought them back home. Not even sure the grown-ups or children were part of a generation to remember "home" but they were part of a community that God promised to deliver and there were children there to experience His promise fullfilled. An emotional experience. And other nations saw what God did.
Lots of emotion in this psalm. Planting with tears. Reaping with joy. A promise of success when you don't think it's possible. There's water in this Psalm, too. The water cycle. Rain is good! In a desert culture the fact that water is critically necessary for survival is "in your face" so to speak. The kids were there to experience all of this. They experienced the desert every day. They were there in that emotional environment, too. Why do you suppose people cry when they plant their gardens in a hot dry land? Where does the rain come from? How does the rain make them feel?
Philippians 3:4b-14 (NIRV)
Paul lists all the ways he has to trust in himself. Most of us could write a list like that: credentials, experience, skills, strengths, gifts, education, who we know...the list goes on. Paul's credentials made him especially well equipped for the job God gave him even apart from God's call on his life. Plus he seems to be one of those "perfect" people. But because of Christ Jesus he calls all of this "nothing". Some translations refer to it as "dung". I do believe that's the word they use in the original but I'm not a Hebrew scholar. I have friends who could give you more contemporary graphic language for that. And yes, as used here, it's that strong - appropriately so. You can go back to the original and look but I believe that's the context of "nothing" and "garbage" here.
Paul says I would trade all of my credentials and qualifications - all that's good about me- to know Jesus better. He talks about "being right with God" having to do with constantly trying to get to know Christ better. We use the word "faith." We use it all the time. We try to explain it or give it meaning but I'm not sure how much real meaning it has for kids (or anyone) until they experience "faith" and they experience interacting with God - getting to know Him better. Some people of faith balk at talk of experience and emotion but here it appears that the focus is on faith meaning "always wanting to get to know God better". Can't kids relate to that? If Christianity is relational - not a religion- can you have a relationship without experience and emotion? We believe without seeing. To believe without seeing, without experience, without emotion, is great faith. Paul saw, he experienced, and I do believe he was a very emotional man.
Paul was a champion even as he was writing Philippians but his attitude was that he wasn't there yet. He had to keep pressing on to know God better. After all that Paul had walked through, it still wasn't yet within the Apostle Paul's grasp. Verse 13-14 (I actually like other translations better for this passage) "Brothers and sisters, I don't consider that I have taken hold of it yet. But here is the one thing I do. I forget what is behind me. [again, forgetting the past] I push hard toward what is ahead of me. I move on toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it. The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus himself. " For kids who are heavy into sports, that's the imagery here. Playing to win. There is a time to remember the past and it's stories in order to know God better and a time to let it all go in order to know God better.
John 12:1-8
Here is the story of Mary pouring perfume on Jesus' feet. You could just tell the story or act it out. There are characters (people) in this story from other familiar-to-children stories in the Gospels. Did you ever try presenting a series of stories (over a 6-8 wk period) that focus on the same character(s)? All the stories about Mary, Martha, Lazarus. All the stories about Judas - especially for older kids who feel like they've heard that story "a million times". If we hear all the stories about that person what can we learn about them? What can we learn about God- Jesus? Father? Holy Spirit?
So here they are eating dinner together. It might help to understand the customs that the people in the story would have been familiar with. Why not take a tiny "expensive" bottle of perfume and pour it on someone's feet. See what happens. See what insights you'd gain doing it that you wouldn't get just listening to the story. I'd bet money that your kids will remember. Every time they walk into your room and they can still smell that smell, they'll remember. You can act it out. You can use a huge basket of play money and think about what it could buy for you. How much money does the average person in your church earn in a year? What can they buy with that much money? What could it buy for someone poor? Trade all of it for a tiny bottle of smelly perfume to pour on Jesus' feet. Act out the story and see where it takes you. Not to downplay the girl characters and stories of scripture but did you ever stop and think that there are lots of "guy stories" in the scriptures? Lots of parts, lots of roles for boys. Lots of roles for strong women, too. The scriptures have lots to teach us about lots of things.
The passage starts revisiting a story - not just a story but a story from Israel's past. He reminds them that Israel's enemy was "blown out like a dimly burning flame" - an image that's easy to show children. Then God says, "Forget the things that happened in the past. Do not keep on thinking about them. I am about to do something new. " Sometimes, even children need to hear that.
The imagery is wonderful. The desert. The need for water. God's lavish promise of water. The animals. God's desire for us to sing His praises. It probably requires an appreciation for dry sandy desert places and a deep appreciation for water. (Most of us take water seriously for granted.) What can you do with your kids to recreate that need? Children were part of the community of faith that experienced God's blessing and God's wrath, the oppression of His enemies and God's deliverance and the emotional environment there. Children were there.
Psalm 126 (NIRV)
Again, a reference to a story in Israel's past that children would have experienced - an unpleasant memory, if you will. But they came home. God brought them back home. Not even sure the grown-ups or children were part of a generation to remember "home" but they were part of a community that God promised to deliver and there were children there to experience His promise fullfilled. An emotional experience. And other nations saw what God did.
Lots of emotion in this psalm. Planting with tears. Reaping with joy. A promise of success when you don't think it's possible. There's water in this Psalm, too. The water cycle. Rain is good! In a desert culture the fact that water is critically necessary for survival is "in your face" so to speak. The kids were there to experience all of this. They experienced the desert every day. They were there in that emotional environment, too. Why do you suppose people cry when they plant their gardens in a hot dry land? Where does the rain come from? How does the rain make them feel?
Philippians 3:4b-14 (NIRV)
Paul lists all the ways he has to trust in himself. Most of us could write a list like that: credentials, experience, skills, strengths, gifts, education, who we know...the list goes on. Paul's credentials made him especially well equipped for the job God gave him even apart from God's call on his life. Plus he seems to be one of those "perfect" people. But because of Christ Jesus he calls all of this "nothing". Some translations refer to it as "dung". I do believe that's the word they use in the original but I'm not a Hebrew scholar. I have friends who could give you more contemporary graphic language for that. And yes, as used here, it's that strong - appropriately so. You can go back to the original and look but I believe that's the context of "nothing" and "garbage" here.
Paul says I would trade all of my credentials and qualifications - all that's good about me- to know Jesus better. He talks about "being right with God" having to do with constantly trying to get to know Christ better. We use the word "faith." We use it all the time. We try to explain it or give it meaning but I'm not sure how much real meaning it has for kids (or anyone) until they experience "faith" and they experience interacting with God - getting to know Him better. Some people of faith balk at talk of experience and emotion but here it appears that the focus is on faith meaning "always wanting to get to know God better". Can't kids relate to that? If Christianity is relational - not a religion- can you have a relationship without experience and emotion? We believe without seeing. To believe without seeing, without experience, without emotion, is great faith. Paul saw, he experienced, and I do believe he was a very emotional man.
Paul was a champion even as he was writing Philippians but his attitude was that he wasn't there yet. He had to keep pressing on to know God better. After all that Paul had walked through, it still wasn't yet within the Apostle Paul's grasp. Verse 13-14 (I actually like other translations better for this passage) "Brothers and sisters, I don't consider that I have taken hold of it yet. But here is the one thing I do. I forget what is behind me. [again, forgetting the past] I push hard toward what is ahead of me. I move on toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it. The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus himself. " For kids who are heavy into sports, that's the imagery here. Playing to win. There is a time to remember the past and it's stories in order to know God better and a time to let it all go in order to know God better.
John 12:1-8
Here is the story of Mary pouring perfume on Jesus' feet. You could just tell the story or act it out. There are characters (people) in this story from other familiar-to-children stories in the Gospels. Did you ever try presenting a series of stories (over a 6-8 wk period) that focus on the same character(s)? All the stories about Mary, Martha, Lazarus. All the stories about Judas - especially for older kids who feel like they've heard that story "a million times". If we hear all the stories about that person what can we learn about them? What can we learn about God- Jesus? Father? Holy Spirit?
So here they are eating dinner together. It might help to understand the customs that the people in the story would have been familiar with. Why not take a tiny "expensive" bottle of perfume and pour it on someone's feet. See what happens. See what insights you'd gain doing it that you wouldn't get just listening to the story. I'd bet money that your kids will remember. Every time they walk into your room and they can still smell that smell, they'll remember. You can act it out. You can use a huge basket of play money and think about what it could buy for you. How much money does the average person in your church earn in a year? What can they buy with that much money? What could it buy for someone poor? Trade all of it for a tiny bottle of smelly perfume to pour on Jesus' feet. Act out the story and see where it takes you. Not to downplay the girl characters and stories of scripture but did you ever stop and think that there are lots of "guy stories" in the scriptures? Lots of parts, lots of roles for boys. Lots of roles for strong women, too. The scriptures have lots to teach us about lots of things.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Lent 4
Joshua 5:9-12 (NIRV)
Whether or not you want to talk about circumcision is up to you but it was physical evidence that you were born into a covenant faith community. In most Christian communities Baptism has taken the role (is that the word?) of circumcision. For older kids that discussion would take you into other parts of scripture.
God taking away "... the shame of being laughed at by [Egypt]..." Most kids know what it's like to be laughed at. Consider the story without superimposing who or what Egypt "represents". Just look at the story.
This passage is rich with the stories of Egypt, leaving Egypt, the first Passover and all the passovers between (how many would that be?), the manna, the promise of deliverance, the promise of land that would be their own. It's rich with sensory experience: eating food grown from their own land, harvested by their own hands ... how did all that translate through the eyes of the children? How old were they when they experienced all of this and what had they experienced before? How about their parents? Their grandparents? How old were those who had childhood memories of Egypt? Of trekking through the desert? Of almost making it to the promised land and turning around to wander again? And how did all of this affect the children?
Psalm 32 (NIRV)
Forgiveness. Confession. Freedom from guilt. Prayer. "When troubles come like a flood..." I love that phrase! There's that hiding place again, safety.
Picture a child surrounded by people singing praises to God for saving them from something that just happened.
God's promise to teach & guide & watch over. I'm guessing most kids were familiar with bridles and bits and stubborn animals when those Psalms were written.
Throughout this Psalm there are verses about honesty and doing what's right.
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (NIRV)
"So from now on we don't look at anyone the way the world does." What does that mean? Better yet, what does that look like? Sound like? Feel like? "At one time we looked at Christ in that way. But we don't anymore." How does the world see Christ? How do we see Him?
New & old. Brought back to God. Not holding someone's sin against them. Official messengers begging someone to "Come back to God." Jesus makes it possible for us to come back home to God.
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Who are the people we avoid? Who are the people we won't eat with? Jesus sat down and ate with them.
The story of the lost sheep isn't included. But would you risk the safety of 99 living creatures in your care to go out looking for one when you know there are predators lurking in the dark? And these weren't people, these were "just" animals. Farmers are familiar with losing an animal here and an animal there.
The parable of the Lost Son is a story to tell. What questions can you ask that will encourage kids to explore the story, ponder the story, talk about the story and the people in the story rather than looking for the "right" answer? What observations do they make? About each of the boys? About the father? About God? Do you know anyone who had a story like that to tell?
Whether or not you want to talk about circumcision is up to you but it was physical evidence that you were born into a covenant faith community. In most Christian communities Baptism has taken the role (is that the word?) of circumcision. For older kids that discussion would take you into other parts of scripture.
God taking away "... the shame of being laughed at by [Egypt]..." Most kids know what it's like to be laughed at. Consider the story without superimposing who or what Egypt "represents". Just look at the story.
This passage is rich with the stories of Egypt, leaving Egypt, the first Passover and all the passovers between (how many would that be?), the manna, the promise of deliverance, the promise of land that would be their own. It's rich with sensory experience: eating food grown from their own land, harvested by their own hands ... how did all that translate through the eyes of the children? How old were they when they experienced all of this and what had they experienced before? How about their parents? Their grandparents? How old were those who had childhood memories of Egypt? Of trekking through the desert? Of almost making it to the promised land and turning around to wander again? And how did all of this affect the children?
Psalm 32 (NIRV)
Forgiveness. Confession. Freedom from guilt. Prayer. "When troubles come like a flood..." I love that phrase! There's that hiding place again, safety.
Picture a child surrounded by people singing praises to God for saving them from something that just happened.
God's promise to teach & guide & watch over. I'm guessing most kids were familiar with bridles and bits and stubborn animals when those Psalms were written.
Throughout this Psalm there are verses about honesty and doing what's right.
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (NIRV)
"So from now on we don't look at anyone the way the world does." What does that mean? Better yet, what does that look like? Sound like? Feel like? "At one time we looked at Christ in that way. But we don't anymore." How does the world see Christ? How do we see Him?
New & old. Brought back to God. Not holding someone's sin against them. Official messengers begging someone to "Come back to God." Jesus makes it possible for us to come back home to God.
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Who are the people we avoid? Who are the people we won't eat with? Jesus sat down and ate with them.
The story of the lost sheep isn't included. But would you risk the safety of 99 living creatures in your care to go out looking for one when you know there are predators lurking in the dark? And these weren't people, these were "just" animals. Farmers are familiar with losing an animal here and an animal there.
The parable of the Lost Son is a story to tell. What questions can you ask that will encourage kids to explore the story, ponder the story, talk about the story and the people in the story rather than looking for the "right" answer? What observations do they make? About each of the boys? About the father? About God? Do you know anyone who had a story like that to tell?
Monday, March 01, 2010
Lent 3
Isaiah 55:1-9
Remember that "all" and "everyone" includes children.
You could create a shopping activity for kids from verse 1 & 2 but to make it really meaningful kids would have to do something challenging-but-not-impossible to earn whatever they would exchange for a snack - a salty snack to make them thirsty. I found myself wondering how do we "buy" without money to buy or buy without price. Wouldn't that make it just a give away? If so, then why not say, "Free food!" Or is there something more here?
From verse 2. Spend your money on bread, spend your labor on that which brings you satisfaction. Eat what is good. All that makes sense to me but I found myself recoiling a little at "delight yourselves in rich food." I don't want to tell kids that but it's there. Does that mean we add meat, gravy, wine sauces, butter cookies, baklava & chocolate creams to our snack? Why is it there? Luxury you don't have to buy? Example of God's rich love, lavish giving, and goodness? Why am I recoiling at "delight yourselves in rich food..."If you're not used to it, it can make you sick. If you are used to it, you probably have the $ to buy it but maybe I'm being too practical.
Psalm 63:1-8
Thirst & water are here again in this Psalm.
Dry, tired land. Do you know of any dry, tired land nearby? Photos of a desert or dry worn-out land would work, too. Water. Why do we need it? Why does the land need it? What happens when you water a dry, weary land? Can you show it over a couple weeks time?
What is a sanctuary? What does it mean to find sanctuary? Can you recreate the experiential "safe place" of that?
Do you praise God with your children for His love ? With lips? Words and song? Even toddlers can play with the idea of praising lips, singing lips, happy lips. Play with lifting hands, praising hands, praying hands, happy hands, helping hands.
What is a blessing? Do you bless God? Do you bless one another? Do you bless the children in your care? By name? Does your pastor?
Do you call on God's name? Which name will you call today? Father? Shepherd? Teacher? Lord & ruler? Counselor? For a child? What names does your child know for God? Names that he/she can relate to? Names that he/she can call?
What is a rich feast to a child? More than enough of the foods you love? Which foods and drink would make a rich feast for your children? Do these passages lose meaning in a culture already as rich as ours?
Do you think about God when you lay in your bed? Do your children? What do they think about?
When did God help you? Do your children know when God helps them? Did you ever feel safe under the shadow of His wings and sing a happy song? Does God have wings like that chicken Jesus talked about?
"My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me." Did you ever see a clingy child or animal? If something clings to your sweater (a piece of lint, a static-y kleenex) or your pant leg (a burdock) what does it look like? What does it feel like to cling to something? A blanket? A teddy bear? A mom? How do you feel when someone holds you up with their strong hand? When do you need them to do that? When are you happy for them to do that?
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
This passage starts with a reference to an OT story. Do you see a pattern of references to OT stories in Paul's epistles? In the gospels of Jesus?
All...all...all...a huge group of people - all ages- experiencing that trek out of Egypt together, experiencing all that God did or the effects of all that God did. They felt the affects of saying "Yes" to God and saying "No" to God. What was that like for the children?
At what point do you introduce good & evil? Early, so they grow a healthy fear of things they should fear? Later, so they understand about making choices? Early so you train them to make those good choices whether they understand the why or not?
School-aged children understand about testing. "No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it." Alike, but different from the tests you take in school. Something to talk about.
How young can a child understand "test"? I will ask you a question. If you answer correctly or if you do the right thing, I will give you an M&M.
Can you use testing as a teaching tool? Depending on how you use it, what does it teach? Should we test as part of Christian formation because God tests us? Does He test us to facilitate learning (to help us see areas where we're weak and help us fix them) Does He use it to re-enforce and condition us to make the correct choice? Does He test us to show us our weaknesses or set us up to fail? To celebrate winners? To rank us? To see if the teaching methods work? To grade the teachers? What do the stories of scripture tell us about God's testing?
Luke 13:1-9
From a teaching and learning perspective it might be interesting to look at how Jesus questioned his listeners - when He answered His own questions and when He didn't.
Is there story background to go with the first verses of this section that teach us about the repentance Jesus is talking about?
To how young an audience can you tell or re enact the story of the fig tree? Can you do it without interpretations or explanations? It's a wonderful story to act out!
Remember that "all" and "everyone" includes children.
You could create a shopping activity for kids from verse 1 & 2 but to make it really meaningful kids would have to do something challenging-but-not-impossible to earn whatever they would exchange for a snack - a salty snack to make them thirsty. I found myself wondering how do we "buy" without money to buy or buy without price. Wouldn't that make it just a give away? If so, then why not say, "Free food!" Or is there something more here?
From verse 2. Spend your money on bread, spend your labor on that which brings you satisfaction. Eat what is good. All that makes sense to me but I found myself recoiling a little at "delight yourselves in rich food." I don't want to tell kids that but it's there. Does that mean we add meat, gravy, wine sauces, butter cookies, baklava & chocolate creams to our snack? Why is it there? Luxury you don't have to buy? Example of God's rich love, lavish giving, and goodness? Why am I recoiling at "delight yourselves in rich food..."If you're not used to it, it can make you sick. If you are used to it, you probably have the $ to buy it but maybe I'm being too practical.
Psalm 63:1-8
Thirst & water are here again in this Psalm.
Dry, tired land. Do you know of any dry, tired land nearby? Photos of a desert or dry worn-out land would work, too. Water. Why do we need it? Why does the land need it? What happens when you water a dry, weary land? Can you show it over a couple weeks time?
What is a sanctuary? What does it mean to find sanctuary? Can you recreate the experiential "safe place" of that?
Do you praise God with your children for His love ? With lips? Words and song? Even toddlers can play with the idea of praising lips, singing lips, happy lips. Play with lifting hands, praising hands, praying hands, happy hands, helping hands.
What is a blessing? Do you bless God? Do you bless one another? Do you bless the children in your care? By name? Does your pastor?
Do you call on God's name? Which name will you call today? Father? Shepherd? Teacher? Lord & ruler? Counselor? For a child? What names does your child know for God? Names that he/she can relate to? Names that he/she can call?
What is a rich feast to a child? More than enough of the foods you love? Which foods and drink would make a rich feast for your children? Do these passages lose meaning in a culture already as rich as ours?
Do you think about God when you lay in your bed? Do your children? What do they think about?
When did God help you? Do your children know when God helps them? Did you ever feel safe under the shadow of His wings and sing a happy song? Does God have wings like that chicken Jesus talked about?
"My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me." Did you ever see a clingy child or animal? If something clings to your sweater (a piece of lint, a static-y kleenex) or your pant leg (a burdock) what does it look like? What does it feel like to cling to something? A blanket? A teddy bear? A mom? How do you feel when someone holds you up with their strong hand? When do you need them to do that? When are you happy for them to do that?
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
This passage starts with a reference to an OT story. Do you see a pattern of references to OT stories in Paul's epistles? In the gospels of Jesus?
All...all...all...a huge group of people - all ages- experiencing that trek out of Egypt together, experiencing all that God did or the effects of all that God did. They felt the affects of saying "Yes" to God and saying "No" to God. What was that like for the children?
At what point do you introduce good & evil? Early, so they grow a healthy fear of things they should fear? Later, so they understand about making choices? Early so you train them to make those good choices whether they understand the why or not?
School-aged children understand about testing. "No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it." Alike, but different from the tests you take in school. Something to talk about.
How young can a child understand "test"? I will ask you a question. If you answer correctly or if you do the right thing, I will give you an M&M.
Can you use testing as a teaching tool? Depending on how you use it, what does it teach? Should we test as part of Christian formation because God tests us? Does He test us to facilitate learning (to help us see areas where we're weak and help us fix them) Does He use it to re-enforce and condition us to make the correct choice? Does He test us to show us our weaknesses or set us up to fail? To celebrate winners? To rank us? To see if the teaching methods work? To grade the teachers? What do the stories of scripture tell us about God's testing?
Luke 13:1-9
From a teaching and learning perspective it might be interesting to look at how Jesus questioned his listeners - when He answered His own questions and when He didn't.
Is there story background to go with the first verses of this section that teach us about the repentance Jesus is talking about?
To how young an audience can you tell or re enact the story of the fig tree? Can you do it without interpretations or explanations? It's a wonderful story to act out!
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