The Pharisee and the Publican Luke 18:9-14

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1 Page1 The Pharisee and the Publican Luke 18:9-14 Learning Objectives 1. The children will examine what type of heart s attitude is pleasing to God. 2. The children will be able to explain what it means to be humble. 3. The children will be able to relate the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican in their own words. Memory Verse: Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God I have heard you, declares the Lord. --2 Chronicles 34:27 Getting Started Check You Attitudes Give each student a copy of the following list: Friendly Humble Positive Rebellious Grumpy Goofy/Playful Stubborn Negative Mean Shy Outgoing Selfish Tell the students to take a few minutes and circle the attitudes they have most often. After a few minutes, ask for a show of hands to see who circled each attitude. Ask the students: When you hear that someone has an attitude, what comes to mind? If there is a wrong attitude, isn t there also a right attitude? In today s lesson, we will discover the kind of attitude God wants us to have. Bible Lesson with Discussion Questions Message: Be humble and selfless in all things. Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector 9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don t cheat, I don t sin, and I don t commit adultery. I m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income. 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner. 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

2 Page2 Bible Lesson with Discussion Questions - continued Discussion Questions: 1. What were the differences between the two men in the parable? (Make a T-Chart on the board to illustrate this.) Pharisee - Prayed about himself - Thought he was better than others - Did not confess to any sins - Offered a tenth of what he had Publican - Prayed for mercy - Humbled himself to God - Realized he was a sinner - Gave his heart to God 2. What kind of attitude did the Pharisee have when he prayed to God? (Arrogant, boastful, etc.) 3. How about the Publican? What was his attitude? (He was humble, etc.) 4. What do you think Jesus wants us to learn from this parable or story? (God wants us to be humble and repentant when we come to Him. If we act like we do no wrong and are better than others, we look small in God s eyes. But if we are humble, then in God s eyes we are great.) 5. Define humble. (Discuss. Humble = Not proud or arrogant.) 6. Why do you think Jesus told this parable? (Discuss together.) Application to Real Life Keeping a Christ-Like Attitude If our attitudes are going to be like Jesus, if we re going to be humble and selfless, what does that look like in real life? Read the following scenarios to the students. Tell the students that they are to listen and let you know what they think having a Christ-like attitude would look like. (Call on one or more students to respond to each scenario or ask for volunteers. Encourage all the students to share their thoughts.) Attitude Scenarios - What should you do? 1. Your mom or dad tells you to do something you don t want to do. 2. A friend at school needs some help with a project and you ve got plans to go hang out with some of your friends. 3. Someone who usually gets made fun of at school approaches you and tries to start up a conversation. 4. Your sibling is being annoying and really getting on your nerves. 5. A coach is not playing you as much as you think you deserve. There are all kinds of situations in life where our attitude needs to be like Christ s attitude. As we learned in today s lesson with the Pharisee and the Publican, we always want to have an attitude that is humble and selfless.

3 Page3 Memory Work Suggestions 5 minutes 1. Recite the memory verse. 2. Practice finding the memory verse and/or Bible text in their Bible! 3. What fruit of the spirit is the topic of today s lesson? (humbleness) Ask the children to explain what it means and give an example. 4. Play a game to review an article of faith (toss the bean bag/stuffed animal, the person who catches it says the next word try to go faster and faster). 5. Allow a volunteer (child) to lead the class in an opening/closing prayer. Activity Ideas Bible Time Give each student a heart that is already cut out. (Card stock may work best since it is thicker and more durable.) Have the students look up the following passages from the bible. Matthew 6:1-2, Matthew 6:3-4, Matthew 5:16, Matthew 7:1-2, Matthew 7:3-5. (Note: Since some of the passages are longer, give each student one or two to look up and write on their hearts. Leave time for sharing, so that all the students can be exposed to all the Bible verses.) The students should write down the bible verses on the front of their heart. When they are finished, on the back of the heart, have the students write about what we can learn from the verses. (Note: All of the verses are directions God is giving for having a good heart). Having the Right Attitude Make sure everyone has a Bible. Look up in the Bible: Philippians 2:1-11 and allow the students to read it to themselves quietly. Ask the students: What is Paul trying to tell the Philippians in these verses? (Paul is talking about having the right attitude.) Take another look at verses 3-5. Read them a couple of times together so all the students can get the point. Discuss these verses together. What is Paul saying about how we need to be? Paul tells the Philippians and us that our attitudes should be like Jesus attitude. What do you think that means? Read Philippians 2:6-11 again. What did Jesus do that were examples of a good attitude? Make a list together on the easel or white board. Have the students write down the list as well. Examples of Jesus attitude: Did not think equality with God was important to hold on to. Made himself nothing. Took on the nature of a servant. Humbled Himself. Obedient until death. This passage (verses 6-11) gives us an example of ultimate selflessness. Paul motivates the Philippians and us to be like Jesus in that way with our attitude.

4 Page4 Activity Ideas Continued Digging Deeper ~ Humbleness What does the word mean and how do we show it? What is the opposite of being humble? (having pride or being boastful or arrogant). What are some ways we would show pride or arrogance? (Take answers from students, and some may include those listed below) Make a T-chart or a list of the student answers. Then go back and think about being humble. Go through each response on the list and talk about the opposite action that would portray humbleness. a. Thinking you are better than others and treating others badly. b. Boasting about something you accomplished. c. Thinking you know everything or are smarter than everyone else. d. Thinking you don t need God. e. Thinking that your way is the best and you don t have to consider what God wants. Journal Choose One Refer to the list of attitudes from the intro/hook activity at the beginning of today s class. Which attitudes did you circle that described you? What do you think about that? Write about it. What would you change about your heart s attitudes? Why? Write about it. Homework Ideas - Read: Matthew 18:23-35 about the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant. - Learn the Memory Verse: Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God I have heard you, declares the Lord. --2 Chronicles 34:27 - Learn the Article of Faith - Did someone ever do something to you that made you really angry? Write about what happened. Describe your feelings. How long did it take you to get over what that person did to you? Bring your real-life scenario to Religious Instruction next week. Other Resources NT Support Curriculum Page 5 The Pharisee the Publican

5 Page5 Take Home Page: The Pharisee and the Publican Today I learned Today your child learned that we should be humble and selfless in all things. The children explored the story of the pharisee and the publican. They also talked about what it means to be humble. Help me learn my memory verse Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God I have heard you, declares the Lord. --2 Chronicles 34:27 Ask me 1. What was the difference between how the pharisee and the publican each prayed to God? 2. What does it mean to be humble? 3. Why do you think Jesus told this parable? Live Your Faith Talk with your child about what it means to respond with and have a Christ-like attitude. Share with your child your own challenges with keeping an attitude of humbleness and selflessness. Let your child know that no one is perfect and encourage him/her to continue to do his best to follow Jesus example for their life.