Deny, Carry, Follow. Focus on Mark 8: n PREPARING FOR THE SESSION. WHAT is important to know? WHERE is God in these words?

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1 February 25, 2018 Second Sunday in Lent Gen. 17:1 7, Ps. 22:23 31 Rom. 4:13 25 Mark 8:31 38 Deny, Carry, Follow Goal for the Session Third- and fourth-graders will examine what Jesus means when he says they must deny themselves and take up their cross to follow him. n PREPARING FOR THE SESSION Focus on Mark 8:31 38 WHAT is important to know? From Exegetical Perspective, Jouette M. Bassler A climactic moment in Mark s Gospel occurs when Peter acknowledges Jesus true status: You are the Messiah (Mark 8:29). This reading presents the ensuing conversation, which clarifies what Jesus messiahship entails. The pattern of this passage Jesus prediction of his suffering, misunderstanding and resistance by his disciples, teachings on the nature of discipleship appears twice more in the Gospel (9:30 37; 10:32 45). But by the end of this section the disciples seem no closer to comprehension and acceptance than they were at the beginning. WHERE is God in these words? From Theological Perspective, Joseph D. Small It is easy for us to skip over Peter s shock and revulsion at the prospect of a suffering messiah; we know the end of the story. This hinge in Mark s Gospel points us to Martin Luther s contrast between what he called the theology of glory and the theology of the cross. The theology of glory is built on assumptions about the way a god is expected to act in the world. The theology of the cross, however, is grounded in God s self-revelation in the weakness of suffering and death. The theology of glory confirms what people want in a god; the theology of the cross contradicts everything that people imagine that God should be. SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? From Pastoral Perspective, Paul C. Shupe Mark has put this teaching moment of Jesus with his disciples at the center of his Gospel. Doing so, he reminds us that the first call Jesus made to others was not to be apostles or to be ordained or even to be members in the church, but simply to be his disciples, taking responsibility for going on their own journeys of faith with the living God. During Lent we are wise to ponder the picture of Jesus on the road to Jerusalem, calling all his disciples to take up our own crosses and to walk with him in paths of love and service. NOW WHAT is God s word calling us to do? From Homiletical Perspective, W. Hulitt Gloer This is a word for everyone who would be Jesus disciple then and now. We must deny self; so long as the tyranny of self exists, we will never take up the cross. We will forever be seeking painless shortcuts to the kingdom. All our efforts to make another way are a denial of the one who showed us the way, the way of the cross. When we are finally willing to accept Jesus for who he is, the suffering one who lays down his life for others, then we can understand who we are to be, and we can take up the cross and follow him Westminster John Knox Press Grades 3 4 1

2 Deny, Carry, Follow FOCUS SCRIPTURE Mark 8:31 38 Focus on Your Teaching Children know about belonging to groups and following leaders. They know that it can be challenging to meet the expectations of coaches, teachers, and other leaders. Sometimes adults in the church make it sound too easy to follow Jesus. It is more helpful to be honest and acknowledge that sometimes it is difficult. Help learners grow in understanding that Jesus directive to deny ourselves, carry our cross, and follow him is at the heart of discipleship. Finding concrete ways to engage this theme is tricky, but these learners are old enough to begin exploring the cost of discipleship. YOU WILL NEED purple cloth white batterypowered candle 6 battery-powered votive candles Resource Sheet 1 from February 18 Color Pack 2, 25, 26, 29, 31 copies of Resource Sheet 1 Singing the Feast, ; CD player small bell For Responding option 1: copies of Resource Sheet 2, purple copier paper, scissors, pencils, markers option 2: mobiles started February 18 or coat hangers or dowel rods, cardboard or craft foam, craft sticks, white glue, pencils, scissors, hole punch, string option 3: information about Lenten project Loving God, shape me as a faithful disciple and guide me as I lead the children you have entrusted to me. Amen. n LEADING THE SESSION GATHERING Before the session, if you are using option 3 in Responding, check with your church office for information about any Lenten projects or offerings that are being planned by your church. Greet children as they arrive, and invite them to arrange the purple cloth in the center of your meeting space. Have them place the candles on the cloth, arranging the six votive candles in a cross shape with the Christ candle at its center, as shown on Resource Sheet 1 (Lenten Rituals) from February 18. Gather around the candles. Point to Color Pack 2, and remind learners that this is the church year season of Lent. Review the meaning of Lent from Resource Sheet 1 from February 18. Light all the candles and lead the Gathering Ritual from the resource sheet. Sing Jesus Loves Me (Color Pack 29; track 14 on Singing the Feast, ). Display Color Pack 26 as you ask: P Would you like to follow these footprints? Why or why not? P Where do you think you would end up if you followed these footprints? 2017 Westminster John Knox Press Grades 3 4 2

3 Deny, Carry, Follow Jesus Loves Me Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; In his love we shall be strong. Refrain: Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. Jesus loves me! This I know, As he loved so long ago, Taking children on His knee, Saying, Let them come to me. (Refrain) Jesus loves me, still today, Walking with me on my way, Wanting as a friend to give Light and love to all who live. (Refrain) A Christ candle is a large white candle with a symbol for Christ on it, such as a cross. When lit, it reminds us that Christ is present when we gather. Use a marker or sticker to add a cross to your candle. EXPLORING To begin exploring the focus scripture, play a game of Follow the Leader. Tell children you will be the leader. Have learners follow you around your meeting space, mimicking your actions and words. After a few minutes, gather the group. Ask: P What is good about having someone to follow? When would you rather not have to follow someone? Tell learners that in the Bible reading for today, Jesus teaches about following. Distribute copies of Resource Sheet 1 (Following Jesus), a choral reading based on Mark 8: Ask for volunteers to read the three voice parts. Give learners a few moments to look over the reading, and offer help with pronunciation. Perform the choral reading. Encourage learners to refer to the resource sheet as needed as you discuss the story. Ask: P Who is with Jesus? P What did Jesus say would happen to him? P Why do you think Peter objected to what Jesus said? P Why do you think Jesus scolded Peter? P What do you think Jesus means by deny yourself, carry your cross, and follow me? What does Jesus want his followers to do? Read again the final All section of the choral reading. Comment that this is one of Jesus most challenging teachings it takes a lifetime to fully understand it. Take a moment to dig deeper into each part of Jesus instructions. Say: P To deny oneself means to honor Jesus authority, instead of choosing one s own way. It means being willing to give up part of one s own comfort so that others can have a better life. Who is a good example of what it means to deny oneself as a follower of Jesus? P In the time of Jesus, the Roman government punished some convicted criminals by hanging them on a cross to die. This punishment was called crucifixion. Often, criminals were forced to carry their own crosses on the way to their crucifixion. The crosses were very heavy and difficult to carry. People along the way insulted and ridiculed the person carrying the cross. Jesus calls us to follow him publicly and openly, even when it is difficult or when others make fun of us. When is it hard for Jesus followers today to carry their cross? P Following Jesus means to act like Jesus in the world. It is like the game Follow the Leader Jesus followers do what Jesus does and speak as Jesus speaks. It is not always easy to know how Jesus might want us to act in the world today. What helps Christians today to figure out how to act like Jesus? Sum up Exploring by discussing: P Which of these three deny self, carry cross, follow Jesus is most difficult for you? Why do you think that is so? What might help you grow in your ability to do this? 2017 Westminster John Knox Press Grades 3 4 3

4 Deny, Carry, Follow EASY PREP RESPONDING Mark the activities you will use. 1. Kirigami Cross The cross is the central symbol of the Christian church, reminding Christians of the sacrifice Jesus made and also of how we are called to carry our own crosses. Distribute copies of Resource Sheet 2 (Kirigami Cross) and purple copier paper. As a group, work through the instructions for making a kirigami cross, explaining that kirigami is a Japanese art form of folding and cutting paper. Some children may find this to be a challenging project. You might remind them that persevering is one of the things Jesus calls his followers to do. Have children use markers to write Deny Self Carry Cross Follow Me on their finished crosses. Tell them to hang their crosses at home as a reminder of Jesus words. As time allows, make additional crosses to hang in your meeting space. 2. Lenten Mobile Help mark the weeks of Lent by having each learner make a mobile. Each week during Lent, a different symbol will be added. (If you did not begin the mobiles on February 18, use a wire coat hanger or two crossed and tied dowel rods to make the mobile base.) For this week, add a footprint cross to the mobile. Have each learner trace around one foot on a piece of cardboard or craft foam, then cut it out. Provide craft sticks and white glue for learners to use to make a cross and attach it to the footprint. Have them punch a hole in the top of the footprint and put a string through it to hang on the mobile. 3. Reaching Out Denying self, carrying a cross, and following Jesus mean caring for the needs of others. Lent is a time when many Christians participate in special offerings or mission projects through their local congregation or denomination. Find out what your church is doing and how learners might be involved in the work. Tell the children about this project and work with them to make a plan for how your group will take part. Make a list of who will do what, including dates for when certain things will be completed. Plan to check on your progress weekly. I m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me 1. I m gonna *live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime! I m gonna *live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime! 2. *work 3. *share CLOSING Gather the group in a circle around the candles. Pass around Color Pack 25, inviting children, in turn, to hold the picture and say one way it reminds them of today s Bible story. Sing I m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me (Color Pack 31, track 11 on Singing the Feast, ). Follow the closing ritual on Resource Sheet 1 from February 18. (Keep this sheet to use again in upcoming sessions.) Say good-bye to learners by name, telling them that you will pray for them this week. 4. *care 2017 Westminster John Knox Press Grades (K)1 2 4

5 February 25, 2018 Deny, Carry, Follow Grades 3 4 Resource Sheet 1 Following Jesus (A Choral Reading Based on Mark 8:31 38) Voice 1: Jesus was walking along a road with his disciples. A crowd of people was walking with them. Jesus knew he would be arrested and killed one day. He wanted to prepare the disciples for this. Voice 2: Jesus said: I will suffer, die, and then in three days rise again. Deny, carry, and follow me! Voice 3: Peter was shocked! He did not want Jesus to say things like this. Voice 1: Jesus told Peter: Get away from me. You are thinking only about human life and not about heavenly life with God. Deny, carry, and follow me! Voice 2: Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said: If you want to be my followers, you must deny yourselves. Don t think of yourselves first. Carry your cross. Be willing to make sacrifices for the sake of God s kingdom. Follow me. Do the things I am doing. Deny, carry, and follow me! Voice 3: Jesus kept speaking: If you are willing to do these things, you will be saving your life. What is the point of having everything, if your heart is not at peace with God? Don t be ashamed of me and my words. If you are, I will be ashamed of you. Jesus said, Deny yourself, carry your cross, and follow me. Deny, carry, follow! Deny, carry, follow! DENY, CARRY, FOLLOW! 2017 Westminster John Knox Press

6 February 25, 2018 Deny, Carry, Follow Grades 3 4 Resource Sheet 2 1. Hold a sheet of 8½" X 11" paper in front of you, so that the long sides are on your left and right. 2. Bring the bottom corner marked A to the point marked C on the diagram so that the sides of the paper match. Your paper will have a rectangle at the top and a triangle below it. Crease the paper well along the fold. (Diagram 1) 3. Take the bottom corner marked D up to the point marked B, matching the right sides of the paper. Crease the paper again along the left fold. The paper will have the same rectangle at the top with a smaller triangle below it. (Diagram 2) 4. Fold the shape in half from point E to point F and point C to point B, matching the right sides of the paper. Crease along the left fold on the paper. (Diagram 3) 5. With a pencil, draw a line about 1½" from the right of points marked G and H. Cut along this line. (Diagram 3) 6. Unfold the paper and see your cross. (Diagram 4) Kirigami Cross 2017 Westminster John Knox Press