Transcending Barriers

Transcription

1 May 10, 2015 Sixth Sunday of Easter Scripture Acts 10:44 48 Scripture Ps Scripture John 5:1 6 Scripture John 15:9 17 Transcending Barriers Goal for the Session Youth will discover that the Holy Spirit challenges us to break down barriers in proclaiming the gospel. PREPARING FOR THE SESSION Focus on Acts 10:44 48 WHAT is important to know? From Exegetical Perspective, A. Katherine Grieb Peter s question Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? underlines the priority of God s action and the subsequent response of the church. To restate the words spoken to Peter in his vision at Joppa, what God has made clean, the church must not call profane (10:15). The pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius and his companions shows God s acceptance of these Gentiles. They have received the gift of the Spirit (speaking in tongues and extolling God) just as we have, a clear reference back to the outpouring of the Spirit upon Jewish Christians at Pentecost. WHERE is God in these words? From Theological Perspective, Noel Leo Erskine It is instructive that in Peter s sermon in Cornelius s house the Holy Spirit interrupts him again. It is as if the Holy Spirit seeks to remind the listeners that, as eloquent as Peter s sermon was, what is crucial is not Peter s perception of the gospel, but Peter allowing God to speak through and in spite of him. God was and is and must always be the subject of salvation. Peter was an instrument, not the source of salvation. The new revelation made possible by the inbreaking of the Holy One was clear. SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? From Pastoral Perspective, Jeffrey D. Peterson-Davis In this brief text we find exemplified the extravagance of the Holy Spirit and the wideness of God s grace. This story demonstrates that the Spirit is not bound by the limitations that even faithful believers have. The Spirit is not only poured out on the Gentiles; it is given to the Jewish Christians, enabling them to see with new eyes and capture a new vision of the kingdom of God. This is an important text for the church today. Not only do the wounds of exclusion run deep in our culture and in the church; the realities of uncrossed boundaries still exist. NOW WHAT is God s word calling us to do? From Homiletical Perspective, Barbara K. Lundblad Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? (v. 47). Peter echoes the question the Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip back in chapter 8: Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized? Those who heard that story could have shouted, Everything prevents you! You re a different race, you are from a far-off country, you are a sexual misfit, and you have had very little instruction. In both stories, there were good reasons to withhold the water of baptism. Yet the Holy Spirit surprised Philip on a desert road and surprised Peter in Cornelius s house. The Holy Spirit can be disruptive. 1

2 Transcending Barriers FOCUS SCRIPTURE Acts 10:44 48 Focus on Your Teaching Society seems fixated on outward appearances: skin color, clothing, or group of friends. Teenagers probably have witnessed stereotyping, exclusion, and other kinds of intolerance based on prejudice and preconceived notions. During their time at church, the youth in your group have an opportunity to explore societal assumptions that create divisions between insiders and outsiders. In this week s reading from Acts, they will see how exclusion can become inclusion when barriers are broken down. O God, use me to help youth explore the call of the Holy Spirit in their lives, helping them to see with new eyes and to cross boundaries. Amen. YOU WILL NEED Bibles copies of Resource Sheet 1 For Responding option 1: newsprint, marker, newspapers, newsmagazines option 2: Computer with Internet access, paper, pens option 3: copies of Resource Sheet 2 For Music Connection computer with Internet access Apostle: Messenger, ambassador, envoy; a term used for the first disciples of Jesus. The first qualification for being an apostle was to have seen the Lord. LEADING THE SESSION GATHERING Greet youth as they arrive. Invite them to participate in a role-playing exercise in which some are insiders and others are outsiders. Count off by twos. Have the ones (the Insiders) stand shoulder to shoulder in a circle with their arms locked, while the twos (the Outsiders) try to gain access to the group by making small talk. The Outsiders should be friendly, complimenting, and nice to the group of Insiders. The Insiders should respond with mean comments and refuse the Outsiders entry into the group. Switch roles after a few minutes, then briefly discuss the experiences of inclusion and exclusion. Ask youth to keep the concept of insiders and outsiders in mind as they explore the Bible passage for this week. Pray: O God, open our eyes and hearts to perceive your Word to us. Amen. EXPLORING Explain that today s Scripture reading comes from the book of Acts, also called the Acts of the Apostles. This book tells the story of the beginning of the Christian church and the actions of Jesus followers after he was no longer with them. The events in chapter 10 are a turning point in the story of the Christian church. Distribute copies of Resource Sheet 1 (The Acts in Acts 10), and review together what happened before today s Scripture reading. Gentile: name for those who were not Jewish Explain that, until this point in the book of Acts, the apostles had been teaching and preaching the good news about Jesus to other Jewish people. They thought that Jesus message was meant only for those within the Jewish faith. Ask: P Why do you think Peter decided to visit Cornelius, a Gentile? P How do you think Peter felt that day in Cornelius s house? 2

3 Transcending Barriers Ask a volunteer to read Acts 10: Now the fuzzy meaning of Peter s dream becomes clear. Ask: P How did the dream help Peter cross the boundary between insiders and outsiders? Invite a volunteer to read today s focus passage, Acts 10: Ask: P What did Peter s friends learn when they saw the gift of the Holy Spirit being given to the Gentiles? P What did Peter decide to do? Option: Form pairs to role play the conversations. Explain that Cornelius and his family invited Peter and his companions to stay for a few days. Invite youth to imagine some of the conversations during those days. Ask: P What might Peter s friends have said to him about what he did? P How would Peter have explained what had happened? P What might Cornelius and his family have wanted to ask Peter? P How do you think Peter and his companions were going to explain what happened to other apostles back home in Jerusalem? Explain that Peter s daring and faithful step in Acts 10 removed the barrier separating Jews and Gentiles. His decision was the beginning of a whole new Christian church, one that included outsiders. Ask: P Where do you see barriers being broken down in your school or other community? P What barriers could you break down to further fulfill Peter s vision? EASY PREP RESPONDING Choose one or more of the following learning activities: 1. News Review Youth will search current news stories for barriers between people and look for ways to proclaim the gospel. Begin by writing the following terms on newsprint: bias, prejudice, bigotry, discrimination, and racism. Discuss together what each of those terms mean. Distribute newspapers and newsmagazines, and form pairs to review them, looking for articles that speak about barriers caused by bias, prejudice, bigotry, discrimination, or racism. Have the participants discuss the items. Ask: What do these stories have in common? What would need to happen to break down the barriers between these groups? How could proclamation of the gospel help break down barriers? Challenge the group to look for ways to speak or enact the gospel to fight against discrimination and other barriers to justice and peace. A recording of the song: youtube.com/ watch?v=rwugsydkuxu 2. Song Writing Participants will explore the challenge to break down barriers in proclaiming the gospel. Invite youth to imagine what it would be like if those at the margins were listened to and welcomed fully into faith communities and society. Listen together to the song Imagine by John Lennon. Then invite the youth to work alone or in pairs to illustrate the sentiments of Lennon s song by rewriting the song with a faith message based on today s Scripture reading. Wonder together how the writing of a new song can be a way to proclaim the gospel. Consider presenting the songs to others in the congregation, perhaps during worship or in another setting. 3

4 Transcending Barriers Option: Visit bethechange.challengeday.org to see what others have done; encourage youth to consider starting a be the change club at school. 3. Be the Change Project Youth will identify barriers of exclusion in their community and be challenged to help break down those barriers. Distribute copies of Resource Sheet 2 (Be the Change), and invite youth to review the steps for change listed on page. Ask the youth to name some of the barriers and divisions that exist in their schools or community. What might they do to be the change that helps break down those barriers? Challenge the youth to take time this week to follow the steps listed on the resource sheet: identifying a barrier, choosing an action to make that situation better, and making a commitment to act. Invite them to report to the group next week. CLOSING Invite youth to role play another insider-outsider game, but this time ask the group of Insiders to genuinely include the Outsiders and make them feel welcome in the circle. Gather for the closing prayer, inviting youth to offer hand movements to illustrate the beginning of each section. Say: O God, open our ears to hear what you are saying to us in the people we meet. Open our eyes to see the needs of people around us. Open our hands to reach out across barriers. Open our mouths to proclaim your good news. Open our minds to discover new truths about the world. Open our hearts to love you and our neighbors as you have loved us. Amen. ENHANCEMENT MUSIC CONNECTION Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created in 2002 to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The idea came from a belief that music has the power to break down boundaries between people and to create a global family. PFC crews travel around the world, recording and filming musicians in many countries who all are singing the same songs. One of the songs recorded recently is Love Is All. Watch a video clip (available at playingforchange.com/episodes/love-is-all-2) of children around the world performing this song. P How could this project help to spread the gospel of love? 4

5 May 10, 2015 Transcending Barriers Youth Resource Sheet 1 The Acts in Acts 10 The Characters Cornelius: a Roman soldier; a Gentile; a religious man who worshiped God Peter: an apostle; a Jew; one of Jesus close friends Scene One: (Acts 10:1 8) About 3 o clock one afternoon, Cornelius has a vision that scares him half to death. An angel, who knew him by name, tells him to send his men to another town to find someone named Peter. Scene Two: (Acts 10:9 16) Meanwhile, Peter is having a quiet time up on the roof of the house where he is staying. He has a vision of a huge sheet coming out of the sky, full of all sorts of creatures that Jews aren t allowed to eat. Peter heard a voice telling him to help himself because nothing that God makes is bad. Scene Three: (Acts 10:17 33) While Peter is still thinking about this crazy vision, there is a knock on the door. Standing there are the men sent by Cornelius, asking him to come and see their boss. Peter has no idea what might be waiting for him, but he accepts the invitation. When Peter arrives at Cornelius s house, it is full of relatives and friends. It is a risky situation for Peter because Jewish law does not allow him to be a guest in the home of a Gentile.

6 May 10, 2015 Transcending Barriers Youth Resource Sheet 2 Be the Change Be the Change is a movement based on the words of Mahatma Gandhi ( Be the change you want to see in the world ). It inspires people to notice what is happening in the world around them, to choose actions that create positive change, and to act as a living example of the power of contribution and compassion. Formula for Change Step 1: Notice Wake up. Keep your eyes open and notice what s happening around you. Step 2: Choose Once you decide to get involved in any situation, think through your list of options and alternatives for dealing with the situation. Take your time and choose the course of action you believe will best serve everyone involved. Step 3: Act Once you have made a decision about what you feel would be the best way to help, take action! Now is your time to Be the Change! 1 1. Be the Change Challenge Challenge Day Used with permission.