Jesus and the Rich Man

Transcription

1 October 14, 2018 Proper 23 Semicontinuous Job 23:1 9, Ps. 22:1 15 Complementary Amos 5:6 7, Ps. 90:12 17 Heb. 4:12 16 Mark 10:17 31 Jesus and the Rich Man Goal for the Session Third- and fourth-graders will discuss the story of the rich man and consider how they might trust Jesus way of living. n PREPARING FOR THE SESSION Focus on Mark 10:17 31 WHAT is important to know? From Exegetical Perspective, C. Clifton Black This passage presents both human responsibility and God s grace. Life in God s eternal presence depends on conduct consistent with God s eternal will for justice among his creatures. Such, however, is impossible for mortals without God s gracious help. The God to whom Jesus points, and in whom he committed his own trust, does not want some portion of Christ s disciples. God intends to claim them entirely, without remainder or reservation. That is the promise of eternal life. Never is it realized painlessly or without sacrifice for the gospel s sake (10:29), whether by this Christ or by his followers. WHERE is God in these words? From Theological Perspective, James J. Thompson Jesus questions not merely greed but also wealth itself and the virtues that help us to acquire it. Certainly, those who pride themselves on their possessions or expect material prosperity to provide them with ultimate security are sadly mistaken. Even honestly acquired and generously shared wealth is dangerous to our salvation, because it prompts us to rely on ourselves rather than God. Jesus also questions those who pride themselves on their virtue and faith. Even honestly sought virtue and faith are dangerous, because they also prompt us to rely on ourselves rather than God. We are saved only when we stop worrying about our salvation and turn our attention to God and neighbor. SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? From Pastoral Perspective, David B. Howell Life in the kingdom of God is about transformation and character change. With the difficulties of life, we want to cry out like the disciples, Then who can be saved? (v. 26). Who can live a kingdom life? How can I change? How can I take the necessary first steps? Being in the company and presence of Jesus is a good first step. Character transformation begins with identification with Jesus ( Come, follow me ). And identification with Jesus signifies that character change is not only a slow process but also a relational process. Likewise, nestled and nurtured in the company of believers, people are enabled to take first steps into new behavior. NOW WHAT is God s word calling us to do? From Homiletical Perspective, Charles L. Campbell We cannot dismiss Jesus radical command to the rich man or Jesus sharp words about the impossibility of the wealthy entering the kingdom. This is critical today, particularly in privileged, Western congregations, which must be considered rich. This should not be dismissed by appealing simplistically to the impossibility of God as a form of grace that negates Jesus commands. Nor should Jesus uncompromising words to the rich man be dismissed as forcing the man to rely on grace alone by presenting him with an impossible demand. Jesus command and his word of grace must be held together, as Dietrich Bonhoeffer emphasized with costly grace. 1

2 Jesus and the Rich Man FOCUS SCRIPTURE Mark 10:17 31 Focus on Your Teaching Third- and fourth-graders are often concerned about fairness. They believe the rules should apply in the same manner to everyone. In today s Bible story, Jesus asks the rich man to do something challenging to sell his possessions and give the money to the poor an action that seems contrary to the rules of the way the world works. Children, thinking concretely, will wonder how this challenge applies to them. As you listen to their thoughts, help them move from a focus on fairness to a focus on trust. Remind them that Jesus loved the rich man, even when he was unable to do what Jesus asked. YOU WILL NEED battery-powered white candle brown paper grocery bag Singing the Feast, ; CD player Color Pack 13, 31 copies of Resource Sheet 1 markers scissors Bibles For Responding option 2: copies of Resource Sheet 2, pencils option 3: ribbon or strips of cloth, children s puzzles or simple jigsaw puzzles You Shall Love the Lord Your God You shall love the Lord your God, alleluia! You shall love the Lord your God, alleluia! With all your heart and soul and mind, alleluia! With all your heart and soul and mind, alleluia! Loving Savior, help me trust you and be a messenger of your hope. Amen. n LEADING THE SESSION GATHERING Before the session, cut a brown paper grocery bag and smooth it out to make a flat piece. Welcome learners and invite them to help you place the brown paper in the center of your meeting space. Place the candle on it. Explain that during Ordinary Time (season after Pentecost), Christians think about how faith is part of our everyday lives, like a brown paper bag. Faith is not something for Sundays only, but it helps us every day. With a marker, write We Follow Jesus Every Day in the center of the brown paper. Invite learners to use markers to sign their names. (Save the brown paper for upcoming sessions.) Sing together You Shall Love the Lord Your God (Color Pack 31; track 21 on Singing the Feast, ) as you light the candle and welcome Jesus presence in your midst. Offer this prayer: Loving God, you promise to be with us in whatever happens each day. Help us know that you are near us today. Amen. Place Color Pack 13 on the brown paper. Invite learners to imagine what this boy might be wondering or worrying about what tough questions might he be asking. Ask for volunteers to tell about the hardest thing they might have to do in the next two days. Encourage each one who shares to name one person he or she trusts to help figure out what to do in that situation. EXPLORING Tell learners that before today s Bible reading takes place, Jesus was teaching crowds of people who came to see him. People reacted to Jesus words in many different ways! Distribute copies of Resource Sheet 1 (How Do You Feel?). Invite learners to name how the person is feeling in each illustration. As a group, decide on a color for each of the four circles. Have learners color each of the four circles in the chosen colors and then cut them out. Tell learners they will use the circles as you read the story. 2

3 Jesus and the Rich Man Distribute Bibles and work together to find Mark 10: Read the passage aloud in segments as given below, encouraging learners to follow along in their Bibles. Pause after each segment to have learners move their circles to the pictures on their resource sheet that show their answer to the question. After reading Mark 10:17, ask learners to use their circles to mark on their resource sheets their answers to each of the following questions: P How do you think the rich man felt when he came to see Jesus? How did Jesus feel when he saw the rich man? How did the disciples feel about this visitor? How are you feeling about this story so far? After reading Mark 10:18 20, ask: P How do you think the rich man feels now? After reading Mark 10:21, ask: P How do you think Jesus feels at this point? How about the rich man? How are you feeling about this story at this point? To play Rock, Paper, Scissors: Two players face each other and say in unison, Rock, paper, scissors. After the word scissors, the players show one of three gestures: rock a clenched fist; scissors two fingers extended and separated; or paper hand flat, palm down. The object is to pick a gesture that defeats that of the opponent: rock breaks scissors, scissors cut paper, paper covers rock. If both players choose the same gesture, players try again. EASY PREP After reading Mark 10:22 23, ask: P How do you think the rich man feels as he walks away? How do you think Jesus feels as he watches the man leave? How do you feel when you hear this? What do you think the disciples are feeling? After reading Mark 10:24 26, ask: P How do you feel when you hear what Jesus says to the disciples? After reading Mark 10:27 28, ask: P What are the disciples thinking now? What is your reaction to Jesus words? After reading Mark 10:29 31, ask: P If the rich man had heard Jesus say this, how do you think he would have responded? Ask learners to tell you the story in their own words. Go around the group and have each person add what happened next, so everyone has a chance to contribute. Discuss: P What do you think the rich man expected in his conversation with Jesus? P What did the rich man do that showed he trusted Jesus? How does someone show that they trust another person? P What would you say is the most important thing Jesus said to the rich man? RESPONDING Mark the activities you will use: 1. Excuses, Excuses This game will help learners name the things that keep people from living in Jesus way. Form a circle. One person is It and walks around the inside of the circle, stopping in front of one person. The pair then play Rock, Paper, Scissors. When 3

4 Jesus and the Rich Man It has the winning gesture, he or she changes places with the person standing in the circle, and the new It has to name an excuse a person today might make if Jesus asked him or her to follow. If the person in the circle has the winning gesture, It gives the excuse and moves to the next person in the circle. Play until everyone has had a turn. After the game, wonder together about why it is difficult for some people to trust Jesus enough to follow him. 2. Trusting Give learners a chance to ponder more deeply what it means to trust Jesus and follow him. Ask learners which is easier: trusting other people or trusting Jesus, and why. Distribute copies of Resource Sheet 2 (I Trust) and pencils. Invite learners to think about the people they trust. Have them write names of people in the concentric circles for each category. Discuss how they came to trust those people. Tell them to list on the sheet things that help a person grow to trust another person and ideas about what helps a person grow to trust Jesus. If you have an odd number of students, form some groups of three as well as pairs. Expect lots of laughter as learners try to work while tied together! 3. Paired in Trust As learners experience trusting another person, they can gain insight about trusting Jesus. Form pairs and tie their four hands together loosely with a piece of ribbon or a strip of cloth. Have each pair assemble a child s puzzle or a simple jigsaw puzzle. For the first minute, have the pairs work without talking. After that time, allow them to talk to each other. When pairs have finished, discuss: How did talking or not talking affect how well you and your partner worked together? What did you do that showed you trusted your partner? Have learners imagine that they are connected with Jesus as they were connected with their partners. Wonder together about how they know what Jesus wants them to do. What shows that they are following Jesus lead in the things they do each day? CLOSING Ask learners to bring their colored Me circle from Resource Sheet 1 and gather around Color Pack 13. Ask: How do you feel now about trusting Jesus and living his way? As you sing You Shall Love the Lord Your God (Color Pack 31; track 21 on Singing the Feast, ), invite learners to place their colored circles on the question marks of Color Pack 13. Remind them that each day they can choose how they respond to Jesus invitation to follow. They can trust that Jesus will love them, even when they can t do exactly what Jesus expects. Pray aloud: Jesus, you always love us. Help us trust your way of living as we grow in trusting you. Amen. As learners depart, assure them that you will keep them in prayer until next Sunday. Invite them to pray for you also. 4

5 October 14, 2018 Jesus and the Rich Man Grades 3 4 Resource Sheet 1 How Do You Feel? Rich Man Disciples Jesus Me 2018 Westminster John Knox Press

6 October 14, 2018 Jesus and the Rich Man Grades 3 4 Resource Sheet 2 I Trust I can play with these people at recess. I can trade food with these people at lunch. I can give these individuals something for safekeeping. I can tell these individuals when I make a big mistake. I can count on the promises of these individuals. Things that help me trust another person: Things that help me learn to trust Jesus: 2018 Westminster John Knox Press