Memory Verse:
"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6)
Teaching Aids:
1) Poster - Title: "Jesus Bends Down (Philippians 2:5-11) to Raise Us Up (Ephesians 2:6)"; Have kids color various pictures of Jesus surrounded by and lifting up children. Glue these pictures to the poster.
Read and Discuss:
1) Discuss the context of this passage by pointing out how today's passage fits in with two previous references in chapter 9 to Jesus raising up a child (ie, vs 27; vs 36) and a third reference to children in vs 42.
4) (vs 13a) "People were bringing little children..." The words and context tell us that these were babies (ie, they literally had nothing to offer)
5) (vs 13b) "but the disciples rebuked them". In Jesus' time children were considered the least important (ie, in last place) in all of society.
6) (vs 14) "... for the kingdom of God belongs such as these." (see also Chap. 9:35-37)
7) Why did Jesus use these lowly babies as an example of what one must be like to enter the kingdom of God?
The Main Point:
What did the children have to offer Jesus? (nothing)
Power? (no)
Money? (no)
Good Works? (no)
Look up and Read: (Mark 10:33-34) "saying, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise."
Look up and Read: (Mark 9:33-37) "And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me."
Jesus knew what His mission was. He came down from the very highest place (ie, "first" place) to the very lowest place (ie, "last" place) to offer Himself as a free gift to those who have absolutely nothing to offer!
Why was Jesus so "indignant" with his disciples when they tried to turn away the little children?
He knew that only those who know they have nothing will come to the only One who can give them everything!
The Gospel:
Jesus gave up His high place (Phil. 2:5-11)... first place... to take the last place... to become low for us (ie, like a child) so that He could raise us up to the highest place on His Father's lap (Eph. 2:4-6)!!
Gospel Consequences:
For Ourselves: Knowing Jesus accepts us "with open arms" (vs 16) only when we come to Him with nothing, frees us from trying to impress Him.
For Others: Knowing we are accepted by the only One who matters frees us from seeking that acceptance from others (vs 13).
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
The Great Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
Memory Verse:
"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
Teaching Aids:
1) Poster - have kids color and put their names on pictures of kids. Glue these figures to the road, lying down on the poster which has these words written on it: The Greater Samaritan (and the community of "victims"). (John 15:12-14)
Read and Discuss:
1) The lawyer wants to trap Jesus (vs 25) but Jesus has other ideas... he sees the deeper need in the heart of the lawyer (v 29).
2) What does justified mean? (show word puzzle "Not guilty by reason of Jesus"). Are we able to justify ourselves?
3) (vss 26-27) Review the 10 Commandments and show how this answer summarizes both tables.
4) When Jesus responds in vs 28 is he giving the lawyer good news? Can we really keep these? (only if we bring the law down... which is what the lawyer tries to do by asking, "Who is my neighbor?")
5) (vs 30) This road, from Jerusalem to Jericho was called the "road of blood" and was very dangerous, full of robbers.
6) Note how carefully the Samaritan cares for the victim. What specific things does he do to show his care? (vss 34-35)
7) Does he care for him like a stranger? Like a family member (a blood brother would not have made better provisions for care than the Samaritan cared for the stranger)? Like he (himself) would want to be cared for?
The Main Point:
Who are we most like in the story?
Priest and Levite? (oftentimes yes)
Samaritan? (usually not)
Victim? (certainly!)
Look up and read, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (John 15:12-14)
Who is the greater Samaritan?
The Gospel:
"According to the Bible, we are like that man, dying in the road. Spiritually, we are "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:5). But when Jesus came into our dangerous world, he came down our road. And though we had been his enemies, he was moved with compassion by our plight (Romans 5:10). He came to us and saved us, not merely at the risk of his life, as in the case of the Samaritan, but at the cost of his life. On the cross he paid a debt we could never have paid ourselves. Jesus is the Great Samaritan to whom the Good Samaritan points." - from Generous Justice by Tim Keller
Now look at the poster... What is written under the Title "The Greater Samaritan"? (and the community of "victims").
What does that mean? (that we're all in the same boat!)
"Christ Himself is the merciful One; He restores fellowship and has given Himself for others. Through Him we again know ourselves one with others and learn to practice community. That community is the revelation of the true life with God." - from Promise and Deliverance vol. III by S.G. De Graaf
Gospel Consequences:
For Ourselves: Seeing that we are freely justified in Christ frees us from the need to justify ourselves (vs 29)
For Others: Recognizing our common condition with others empowers us to "Go and do likewise" (vs 37), motivated not by guilt, but by gratitude.
"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
Teaching Aids:
1) Poster - have kids color and put their names on pictures of kids. Glue these figures to the road, lying down on the poster which has these words written on it: The Greater Samaritan (and the community of "victims"). (John 15:12-14)
Read and Discuss:
1) The lawyer wants to trap Jesus (vs 25) but Jesus has other ideas... he sees the deeper need in the heart of the lawyer (v 29).
2) What does justified mean? (show word puzzle "Not guilty by reason of Jesus"). Are we able to justify ourselves?
3) (vss 26-27) Review the 10 Commandments and show how this answer summarizes both tables.
4) When Jesus responds in vs 28 is he giving the lawyer good news? Can we really keep these? (only if we bring the law down... which is what the lawyer tries to do by asking, "Who is my neighbor?")
5) (vs 30) This road, from Jerusalem to Jericho was called the "road of blood" and was very dangerous, full of robbers.
6) Note how carefully the Samaritan cares for the victim. What specific things does he do to show his care? (vss 34-35)
7) Does he care for him like a stranger? Like a family member (a blood brother would not have made better provisions for care than the Samaritan cared for the stranger)? Like he (himself) would want to be cared for?
The Main Point:
Who are we most like in the story?
Priest and Levite? (oftentimes yes)
Samaritan? (usually not)
Victim? (certainly!)
Look up and read, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (John 15:12-14)
Who is the greater Samaritan?
The Gospel:
"According to the Bible, we are like that man, dying in the road. Spiritually, we are "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:5). But when Jesus came into our dangerous world, he came down our road. And though we had been his enemies, he was moved with compassion by our plight (Romans 5:10). He came to us and saved us, not merely at the risk of his life, as in the case of the Samaritan, but at the cost of his life. On the cross he paid a debt we could never have paid ourselves. Jesus is the Great Samaritan to whom the Good Samaritan points." - from Generous Justice by Tim Keller
Now look at the poster... What is written under the Title "The Greater Samaritan"? (and the community of "victims").
What does that mean? (that we're all in the same boat!)
"Christ Himself is the merciful One; He restores fellowship and has given Himself for others. Through Him we again know ourselves one with others and learn to practice community. That community is the revelation of the true life with God." - from Promise and Deliverance vol. III by S.G. De Graaf
Gospel Consequences:
For Ourselves: Seeing that we are freely justified in Christ frees us from the need to justify ourselves (vs 29)
For Others: Recognizing our common condition with others empowers us to "Go and do likewise" (vs 37), motivated not by guilt, but by gratitude.
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