Timothy s Nurturing Family

Transcription

1 October 2, 2016 Proper 22 Scripture Semicontinuous Scripture Lam. 1:1 6 Lam. 3:19 26 Scripture Scripture Complementary Hab. 1:1 4; 2:1 4 Ps. 37:1 9 2 Tim. 1:1 14 Luke 17:5 10 Timothy s Nurturing Goal for the Session Children will hear the story of Timothy and his family and give thanks for people who help them grow in faith. PREPARING FOR THE SESSION Focus on 2 Timothy 1:1 14 WHAT is important to know? From Exegetical Perspective by Lewis R. Donelson This journey from suffering to glory is the heart of the gospel. The challenge here is to hold to this gospel of suffering and glory. Paul was appointed herald, apostle, and teacher of this gospel (v. 11). Timothy is called to hold fast to this gospel, to guard the good treasure entrusted to you and to do so with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us (v. 14). The passage as a whole raises the ancient question that haunts many Christians. Do we trust the yet unfulfilled promises of the gospel, when so much evidence in our lives seems to contradict them? Can we live our lives accordingly? WHERE is God in these words? From Theological Perspective by Joseph L. Price As a culmination to this opening, the author incorporates a stanza of an early church hymn that grows out of the underlying issues of doctrinal authority and personal experience: I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (v. 12 KJV). The writer proposes that Christian experience serves as the litmus test to verify the salvific work of Christ. He is persuaded by the depth of his belief in Christ as the one who transforms that he will be held in divine acceptance and favor until that day, the end of time and the judgment of all. SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? From Pastoral Perspective by Olive Elaine Hinnant Paul s fear that Timothy will be ashamed and not tell others of his faith reminds us that this good news is always one generation away from extinction. If one generation becomes ashamed of the gospel and does not risk testimony, how will the next generation know? This seems to be the ultimate concern here; at the end of his life, Paul needs Timothy to carry on for him. Churches take this responsibility seriously when we provide Christian education classes to pass along knowledge of the Scriptures and faith to all ages. NOW WHAT is God s word calling us to do? From Homiletical Perspective by J. Peter Holmes In the midst of struggles, there seemed to be no thought of anger or anxiety, but rather gratitude. Amid discouragement or even despondency about the setbacks and the challenges to the faith, the mentor s gratitude helped Timothy to see that he was part of something so much bigger Christ s ministry. When we face setbacks, pausing to give thanks can make all the difference in the world. Gratitude puts things in perspective Westminster John Knox Press Fall 2016 Grades K 2 1

2 Timothy s Nurturing FOCUS SCRIPTURE 2 Timothy 1:1 14 Focus on Your Teaching Many children live far from grandparents, aunts, or uncles. The era of generations attending church together may seem a distant memory. Also, more families are multireligion families and passing on the faith can be complex and sensitive. Be aware of such dynamics in your learners lives. Take care that no child is made to feel embarrassed or less than because Dad doesn t go to church or Mom isn t a Christian. In the church the concept of family is expanded; all are sisters and brothers united in Christ. Dear God, thank you for those who have encouraged me in my faith, for all the teachers, pastors, friends, and family members who run this race with me today. Amen. YOU WILL NEED Bible battery-powered candle green cloth Giving Tree, paper hands (from Sept. 18) Color Pack 1, 11, 12, 32 markers Singing the Feast, ; CD player copies of Resource Sheet 1 fine-tipped markers For Responding option 1: table tennis balls, permanent marker, turkey basters option 2: aluminum foil, scissors, clear tape option 3: Resource Sheet 2, supplies listed there LEADING THE SESSION GATHERING Before the session, if you are using option 1 in Responding, bring one table tennis ball and one turkey baster for every four learners. Use a permanent marker to write Faith on each ball. If you are using option 2, tear two sheets (about 12" x 16") from a roll of aluminum foil for each learner. In each sheet, make two 5" cuts down from the top of the sheet and one 7" cut up from the center of the bottom (see diagram on p. 4). Greet each child by name. Ask learners to help you place a green cloth in the center of your learning space and place the candle and the Giving Tree on it. Invite newcomers to write their names on Color Pack 1, using a marker. Hang a paper hand on a branch while naming a way you like to use your hands to help others. Invite each child to hang a paper hand and tell a way he or she likes to help others. Light the candle and pray aloud, encouraging learners to repeat each phrase: Dear God, / we are here today to learn, to pray, and to praise. / Thank you for bringing us together. / Amen. Invite learners to look at Color Pack 11. Pointing to the frames on the poster, name some people on your family tree. Invite learners to take turns pointing to the frames and naming people in their families. As a group, list things that people in their families have taught them, such as how to read, ride a bike, catch a fish, or bake. EXPLORING Open the Bible to 2 Timothy. Explain that this is a second letter to Timothy from his teacher, Paul. Timothy was a young minister and Paul wrote to him to encourage him as a leader in the Christian church Westminster John Knox Press Fall 2016 Grades K 2 2

3 Timothy s Nurturing Circle of Love Refrain: The circle of love goes around, around, The circle of love goes Stop, reach out, your sister (your brother; someone) needs you, And the circle of love goes Listen, someone is crying, Wondering why she s been denied. Stop, reach out, your sister needs you, And the circle of love goes Refrain (your brother) Look, someone is searching, Trying to find his way back. Stop, reach out, your brother needs you, And the circle of love goes Refrain (someone) No one can travel life s road all alone; We all need a friend now and then. Stop, reach out, someone needs you, And the circle of love goes Refrain (someone) EASY PREP Invite the children to listen for information about Timothy s family as you read aloud Color Pack 12. Reread the verses about Lois and Eunice if necessary to help the children identify Timothy s mother and grandmother. Discuss: P What did Timothy learn from his mother and grandmother? P Why do you think his mother and grandmother taught Timothy about God s love and about Jesus? How do you think they did this? P How do you learn about God s love and about Jesus? Distribute copies of Resource Sheet 1 (Signs of Thanks) and read aloud the instructions. Remind the children of how thankful Paul was that Timothy had a mother and grandmother who trusted God s love, knew that Jesus is God s Son, and helped Timothy grow in trusting and knowing this too. Ask: P If you were Timothy, whose names would you write on these signs? Encourage the children to consider whose names they might write on the signs, such as: parents, grandparents, pastor, children s choir director, siblings, Sunday school teachers, neighbors. Distribute fine-tipped markers and invite children to complete the signs on their sheets, helping with spelling as needed. Ask: P Who brings you to church? Why do you think they do? Invite the children to imagine that everyone they have named is joining them in singing Circle of Love (Color Pack 32, track 5 on Singing the Feast, ). Read aloud verses from Color Pack 12. Discuss: P Why does Paul say that faith trusting God s love is a treasure? P What does it mean to guard this treasure? How do the people you listed on your sheet help you do this? RESPONDING Mark the options you will use: 1. Passing on the Faith Game This game offers children an opportunity to give thanks for those who are passing the faith on to them. Form groups of four or six. Have half the players from each group stand at one side of your meeting space and the other half at the opposite side. Recall how Lois and Eunice passed on the faith to Timothy helped him to trust God s love and learn about God s Son, Jesus. Give one player in each group a table tennis ball and a turkey baster. When you say Pass the faith! this player will call out the name of someone who is passing the faith to him or her, and then squeeze air from the turkey baster to move the ball to a teammate on the other side. When the teammate receives the ball, he or she calls out a name and moves it back in the same way. Continue play until each child has had a turn. Afterward, discuss: What was easy about this game? What was challenging? When is it easy to tell another person that God loves him or her? What is your favorite way to do this? 2016 Westminster John Knox Press Fall 2016 Grades K 2 3

4 Timothy s Nurturing 2. Sculpture Children can create visual reminders of the people in their lives who help them learn to live in God s ways. Demonstrate how to make a figure from a sheet of foil that has been cut as shown in the sidebar. Shape the top center section to form the head and the outer top sections the arms. The two lower sections become the legs. Use tape to secure the sculpture to the table so it stands up. As you make the figure, tell about a person who has helped you grow in faith. Ask learners to think of a person who cares for them the way Lois and Eunice cared for Timothy. Give each child two prepared sheets of foil. Invite them to make one figure of that person and one figure of themselves doing something together. After the sculptures are finished, invite the learners to tell about their figures. Ask each one: How does this person help your learn about God s love? 3. Prayer Book Children can learn about writing down prayer reminders by making these autograph prayer books. Help children make books by demonstrating each step on Resource Sheet 2 (Prayer Book) and then pausing for children to complete it. Encourage learners to take their books to your church s fellowship time or to where people gather before or after worship and get autographs from as many people as they can. Remind them that the church family cares for them and wants to help them grow in God s love. Tell them to take their journals home and pray for each person who signed their books and give thanks to God for their church family. CLOSING Ask learners to gather around the candle with their copies of Resource Sheet 1 (Signs of Thanks). Invite them to tell what they enjoyed most in today s session. Recall how Paul encouraged Timothy to be grateful for his mother and grandmother. The Bible tells us to give thanks for the people who have helped us know about God and Jesus. Explain that you will pause during the prayer so they can speak the names of the people they wrote on their sheets. Pray aloud: Dear God, thank you for the Bible story of Timothy and his mother and grandmother. Thank you for the people who love us and help us know you better (invite children to speak names). Amen. Say goodbye to each learner by name Westminster John Knox Press Fall 2016 Grades K 2 4

5 October 2, 2016 Timothy s Nurturing Grades (K) 1 2 Resource Sheet 1 Signs of Thanks These children want to help you say thank you to God for people who have helped you learn about Jesus. Write one name on each sign Westminster John Knox Press

6 October 2, 2016 Timothy s Nurturing Grades (K) 1 2 Resource Sheet 2 YOU WILL NEED 3 sheets of construction paper can be different colors hole punch yarn scissors markers Prayer Book Directions: 1. Fold the top of one sheet of construction paper ¼ of the way down. 2. Fold one sheet of construction paper in half. 3. Fold the top of one sheet of construction paper ¾ of the way down. 4. Slide the pages inside each other, lining up the folds, so that the flaps form a booklet as shown in the diagram. 5. Punch two holes along the fold, about 1" in from each side. 6. Thread an 8" piece of yarn through each hole and tie a knot. 7. The book can be used horizontally or vertically. Use a marker to write Prayer Book and your name on the top flap. Decorate this cover page, if you like Westminster John Knox Press