Teacher s Guide Lesson #1-10 Justice, Kindness, and Humility Micah 5:2-4; 6:6-8 1
Gregory Rawn Jenna Gospodarek Renae Boehmer Beth Cox Victoria Hoppes Rev. Sarah Nye Ann Schwarz Rev. Anna Shirey Kara Smith-Laubenstein Anne Tews Schwab Nicholas McDougal Benjamin Borter Living the Word: Teaching Kids God s Story (Narrative Lectionary, Year 1) Text and illustrations copyright 2013-2014 by Spirit and Truth Publishing All rights reserved. No part of this curriculum may be used or reproduced in any other manner whatsoever without written permission. For information, contact Spirit and Truth Publishing at www.spiritandtruthpublishing.com. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 2
Justice, Kindness, and Humility Micah 5:2-4; 6:6-8 Micah 6:6-8 The prophets brought God s commandments and hope to the people of God. God s people received a commandment to work for justice, love others, and love God. We are commanded to work for justice, love others, and love God, too. The Prophets Service After completing this lesson, students will be able to: Recognize the role of the prophets in the Bible by comparing their methods of communication with those of God. Recall the prophecy of Micah by re-creating the text through word and hand motions and movements. Demonstrate an understanding of doing acts of justice, kindness, and humility by offering acts of service to God. 3
Activities a la Carte Activities Into the Story Do Justice Think about what it means to do justice. Supplies 5 min. Lunchbox or bag (preferably filled with food) Bible Nuts and Bolts The Prophets Students learn about prophets in the Bible and their roles. Learning the Story Justice, Kindness, and Humility Retell Micah prophecies in a creative way! Living the Story An Offering to God Think about how you can do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. 10 min. Whiteboard or large sheet of paper Marker Cards or letters in addressed envelopes Cell phone Bible 15 min. Bible (one for every 3-4 students) Paper (optional) Pencils, pens, and coloring supplies (optional) 10 min. Copies of Activity Sheet #1-10.A Scissors Crayons or markers Pens and pencils Offering plate or basket Candles, linens, and other objects to create an altar (optional) Soft instrumental music and method for playing music (optional) 4
Activities a la Carte Additional Activities Showing Kindness Together Create a class service project to show kindness together. Walking Humbly Practice walking humbly with God. 15 min. Activity Sheet 1-10.B Pen or pencil Whiteboard or large sheet of paper (optional) Marker (optional) 10 min. Copy of Activity Sheet #1-10.C. Way of creating a path or course (optional) Key Verse Memory Cards Practice walking humbly with God. 10 min. Bibles Index cards Pens or pencils Student Bible Book: Justice, Kindness, and Humility Students create their own Bible story book! Closing Prayer 10 min. Each student s binder Copies of Activity Sheet #1-10.D A three-hole punch Pens Markers and/or crayons A sample page (See below) 5 min. 5
Background for Teachers Justice, Kindness, and Humility Today your class will begin their journey through the prophets by hearing the message of Micah in Micah 5:2-4 and 6:6-8. In today s Bible passage, the prophet Micah brings words of judgment and hope to the people of God. come from Bethlehem. For a people facing attacks and invasions from outside areas, these words are words of hope for the future. Then in Micah 6:6-8, the prophet gives the people a different message: that God commands them to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. In this passage, we read two different messages given to God s people by the prophet Micah. The first message, in Micah 5:2-4, is one of hope. The prophet tells the people that there will be a king who will come from Bethlehem. The second message, in Micah 6:6-8, asks what type of offering the people should bring to God. The response given is that the people should do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. (v. 8) Though the Learning the Story activity will tell both messages in this story, the focus of the lesson will be on Micah s message in Micah 6:6-8. Bible Nuts and Bolts: The Prophets This week, your class will be introduced to the idea of prophets in the Bible. Many of your students may be familiar with prophets as people who can predict the future. In today s lesson, your class will be introduced to the Biblical image of the prophet: a person who is a messenger of God. In the Bible, the prophets had visions and received the word of God. It was the prophet s job to deliver this message to the people. These messages include messages of hope and peace, but they also include messages of judgment. The prophets served as communicators of these messages to the people of God. God s people received a commandment to work for justice, love others, and love God. In Micah 6:6-8, the people are instructed to love God and love others through their words and actions. The people are told that God doesn t only desire their material offerings and worship; instead, God also desires their whole lives to be dedicated to faithfulness, service, and working for what is right and true in the world. This is done through words and action. We are commanded to work for justice, love others, and love God, too. When we work for justice, we don t just work for goodness in the world. We work to help people meet their needs. We show kindness and compassion through serving others. When we walk with God, we live lives of faithfulness, discipleship, and prayer. In today s lesson, your students will explore these themes and think about how they can live out these commandments in their daily lives. Spiritual Practice: Service The Living the Story activity will invite your class to think about how they can live out the commandments of Micah 6:8 through their own individual service. Then, they will give these acts of service as an offering to God. This will help your class apply the words of the prophet to their daily lives. Story Themes The following themes are the focus of this lesson. The prophets brought God s commandments and hope to the people of God. In Micah 5:2-4, the prophet tells the people that a new ruler of Israel will 6
Lesson Plan Into the Story (5 minutes) Do Justice Think about what it means to do justice. You will need: Lunchbox or bag (preferably filled with food) During class: Today we are going to start a journey through the prophets. In our first story about the prophets, God s people are asked to do justice. Do you know what it means to do justice? [Most students will respond, No. ] I m going to tell you a story. At the end of the story, I want you to tell me how you d handle this situation. 3. Show students the lunchbox. One day you carry your lunch to school. At lunch time, you sit at a table in the cafeteria next to another student in your class. You start to unpack and eat your lunch. 4. Empty the lunchbox on the table. As you start to eat your food, you look at your friend sitting next to you. You notice that they only have an apple in their lunch. When you ask them about it, they say that there wasn t much food at home they could bring for their lunch. What do you do? [Answers will vary, but may include: share part of my lunch, give the friend some food, share food, etc.] You would probably share some of your food with your friend, right? When you do this, you are showing love to this person and helping them have the food they need so they won t be hungry. This is an example of what it means to do justice. 6. When we do justice, we act out of love toward another person. We also help others meet a need that they have. 7
Bible Nuts and Bolts (10 minutes) The Prophets Students learn about prophets in the Bible and their roles. You will need: Whiteboard or large sheet of paper Marker Cards or letters in addressed envelopes Cell phone Bible During class: 1. Today we are going to learn about a special way that God communicated with people. Let s start by making a list of some of the ways that we communicate. What are some ways that you give people messages? [Answers will vary, but may include: letters, emails, text messages, phone calls, talking to them, social media, etc.] 2. Show the letters and cell phone. There are lots of different ways we communicate with people. It might not happen as much anymore, but we might send a letter or note to someone. Sometimes we might send them a note in an email. Or we call or text them using a phone. 3. Hold up the Bible. In the Bible, God communicated with people through prophets. Do you know what the job a prophet was? [Students may or may not know the answer to this question. Some students may say that a prophet gave messages from God. Others may think of prophets as people who can predict the future.] 4. Hold up the Bible. In the Bible, the prophets were special people who delivered messages to people. The messages they delivered came from God. God would speak to the prophets and then they would speak to the people. Sometimes God gave messages of hope, and sometimes God gave people commandments through the words of the prophets. 5. Today we are going to hear a message that one of these prophets, Micah, gave to the people of God. Listen closely to hear what message the prophet has for the people! 8
Learning the Story (15 minutes) Justice, Kindness, and Humility Retell Micah prophecies in a creative way! You will need: Bible (one for every 3-4 students) Paper (optional) Pencils, pens, and coloring supplies (optional) During class: 1. Divide the group into smaller groups of three or four people each. Hand each group a Bible. Instruct students to turn to Micah 5:2-4 and 6:6-8. 2. Today we are going to read some of the words of the prophet Micah. Micah had a special message to give God s people. 3. Read the passages aloud as a group once. Then, say: Now, you are going to have a chance to retell the message to our class in your own creative way! As a group, find a way to communicate the message of the prophet to everyone else. You can create a song, a dance, artwork, a poem anything! I ll give you a few minutes to work, then we ll share our creations with everyone. 4. Give students some time to work. After 5-7 minutes, bring the large group together and invite small groups to share their creations. 5. After everyone has retold the story, ask: What messages did Micah give the people of God? [That a ruler would come from Bethlehem, that the Lord requires us to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.] 6. At the end of the story, Micah tells the people that there are three things that God requires them to do. What are these three things? [To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God.] 7. Micah gave the people of God a message of hope. Micah also gave them some very important and specific instructions from God. God s people were asked to love God, love others, and help other people make sure they have the things they need. 9
Living the Story (10 minutes) An Offering to God Think about how you can do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. You will need: Copies of Activity Sheet #1-10.A Scissors Crayons or markers Pens and pencils Offering plate or basket Candles, linens, and other objects to create an altar (optional) Soft instrumental music and method for playing music (optional) Before class: 1. Make at least one copy of Activity Sheet #1-10.A for each student. If you think your students will have more than one idea to offer, have multiple copies available for them. 2. If desired, set up a table in your space to serve as an altar area. Place linens and candles on the table, along with the offering plate or basket. 3. If desired, set up the music for this activity. During class: 1. The instructions that Micah gave the people of God still apply to us today. We are asked to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. One way we can do this is by loving and serving other people. 2. Hand each student a copy of Activity Sheet #1-10.A. 3. There are many acts of service we can do to act in love toward other people and help them have the things they need. Think about a way that you can serve another person and help them in love. Maybe you can share part of your lunch with a friend who doesn t have much food, or you can donate some of the clothes you don t wear anymore to a homeless shelter. Write an act of service on the footprint and decorate it how you wish. 4. Give students the opportunity to write and color. Then, instruct them to cut out the footprint. You may wish to create a reflective atmosphere by playing some soft music. Once students are finished, continue. 5. In our story today, the people of God are asked what kind of offering they should bring before the Lord. The response they are given is to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. Today, we are 10
going to give our acts of service as an offering to God. One at a time, bring your footprint up and place it in the offering plate. 6. Invite students to bring up their footprints. You may wish to play soft, instrumental music in the background. 7. Thank you for giving your offering today. At the end of class, you ll get to take your footprint home as a reminder of how you can act in love toward other people. Additional Activities Showing Kindness Together (15 minutes) Create a class service project to show kindness together. You will need: Activity Sheet 1-10.B Pen or pencil Whiteboard or large sheet of paper (optional) Marker (optional) Note on choosing a service project: Prior to leading discussion with your class, you may want to check with your congregation to determine some needs in your community, and how your class can help meet these needs. Contact your Sunday school director, outreach coordinator, pastor, or representatives of specific ministries for suggestions and ideas. You also may want to talk to your congregation about when would be the best time to complete your project. During class: 1. We just thought of some ways that we can individually live out Micah s words and act in love toward other people. Now, we re going to plan a way to do justice and love kindness as a class. We re going to do this through a class service project! 2. Lead the students in a discussion and planning session, using Activity Sheet #1-10.B as a guide. You may wish to write notes on a whiteboard or large sheet of paper. This project should encourage students to work together, and can be easily done in conjunction with Thanksgiving, Advent, or Christmas celebrations in your church. 3. Keep the notes from your conversation for future reference. 4. Great job! This service project will really help others. As we do this project, remember how we re loving and serving others. 11
Walking Humbly (10 minutes) Practice walking humbly with God. You will need: Copy of Activity Sheet #1-10.C. Way of creating a path or course (optional) Before class: 1. Make a copy of Activity Sheet #1-10.C. 2. Set up the course for your prayer walk. If you have a large enough room, you may wish to use painter s tape or masking tape to mark a pathway on the floor. You can also have students walk around your church building or outside. 3. If you wish to do this activity outside of your normal classroom space, be sure to set up in an area where there won t be many distractions for students. During class: 1. In today s story, the prophet Micah tells the people that they should walk humbly with God. We are going to practice walking with God by taking a prayer walk. 2. Instruct the students to line up in a single-file line. If you are walking a course in your room, have them line up at the start of the course. If you are walking outside, lead them to the pathway. 3. In a moment we are going to start walking. I will start by reading a prayer aloud, and then give you an idea of what to pray for as we walk. Then, we ll start walking. I will stop you during the walk to give you other prayer ideas. Remember that we are spending time with God, so we should be quiet and respectful of people and their prayer time. 4. Guide students through the walk as instructed on Activity Sheet #1-10.C. At the end of the prayer time, say: Thank you for walking with God for a few minutes. When you go home, try to find a way to walk with God every day! Key Verse Memory Cards (10 minutes) Make a card as a reminder of one of today s Key Verses. You will need: Bibles Index cards Pens or pencils 12
During class: 1. Hand each student a Bible, index card, and pen or pencil. Instruct students to turn to Micah 6:8. 2. Today we are going to make a card that will help us remember what the prophet Micah told the people of God in Micah 6:8. Let s start by reading the verse together. 3. Read the verse aloud a couple of times. 4. On your index card, write the verse. Then you can take your card home with you. Place it in a spot where you ll see it all the time: on your fridge, on the mirror in your bathroom, even on top of your pillow. Every time you see the card, say the verse. Soon, you ll have it memorized! Student Bible Book: Justice, Kindness, and Humility (10 min.) Students create their own Bible story book! You will need: A three-ring binder for each student (See Note) Copies of Activity Sheet #1-10.D on 8.5 x 11 cardstock paper or plain paper A three-hole punch Pens Markers and/or crayons A sample page (See below) Before class: 1. Create a sample page using the instructions below to demonstrate to students approximately what their page should look like. 2. You may copy the activity sheet onto the cardstock, or just have students write it all themselves. During class: 1. Hand out one piece of cardstock paper and a pen to each student. 2. Show students the sample page you made before class. 3. Say: This year in class we are going to create our own Bible books of the stories we will cover. 4. If you did not copy the activity sheet onto the cardstock, instruct students to write the name of the story on the top of their page (in portrait orientation) and write the passage underneath the title. 5. Ask: What are some of the important things we have learned from this story? [Answers will vary, see story themes for suggested answers] 13
6. On the bottom of your page, please write one or two important things that you have learned from this story. In the middle of the page, draw a picture from the story or illustrate one of your important things you ve learned. 7. When students are finished, have them put their names on the back and collect the pages. Three-hole punch the papers and put them in individual binders for each student to be kept at church until the end of the year. Closing Prayer Before ending class, make a point to come together to pray. Use the following or say your own prayer. 14
An Offering to God Use this footprint to offer to God your acts of service and kindness. 15
Showing Kindness Together Use this guide as a way to plan a class service project! 1.What are some of the needs of people in our community? 2.How can we help meet these needs? 3.How can we encourage people in our church to help? 4.Our project will be: 5.When will this project start, and when will it end? 6.What are some specific things that each person in the class can do to help plan this project? 7.What s the next step? 16
Walking Humbly Prayers Start by instructing everyone to close their eyes. Dear God, you ask us to walk with you every day. Help us be close to you through our thoughts and words. We start by thanking you for our many blessings. Have the class open their eyes. Instruct the class to pray some of their thanksgivings while they walk. Have the class walk for about 20 seconds, and then stop. Dear God, you give us many people who love us and take care of us. Take care of them and help them when they are in trouble. Instruct the class to pray for their family and friends while they walk. Have the class walk for about 20 seconds, and then stop. Dear God, the world needs your love and help. Take care of the world and the people in it. Instruct the class to pray for the world while they walk. Have the class walk for about 20 seconds, and then stop. Dear God, you help the poor and heal the sick. Help those who are in any kind of trouble. Instruct the class to pray for those in trouble while they walk. Have the class walk for about 20 seconds, and then stop. Dear God, you don t just listen to our prayers for other people, but you listen to the prayers we have for ourselves, too. Listen to our own prayers. Instruct the class to think about their own petitions while they walk. Have the class walk for about 20 seconds, and then stop. Dear God, thank you for hearing our prayers and thanksgivings. Help us remember to walk with you every day. Amen. 17
Justice, Kindness, and Humility Micah 5:2-4; 6:6-8 I learned: 18
The Story @ Home Narrative Lectionary, Year 1 Justice, Kindness, and Humility Today your student began their journey through the prophets by hearing the message of Micah in Micah 5:2-4 and 6:6-8. In today s Bible passage, the prophet Micah brings words of judgment and hope to the people of God. In this passage, we read two different messages given to God s people by the prophet Micah. The first message, in Micah 5:2-4, is one of hope. The prophet tells the people that there will be a king who will come from Bethlehem. The second message, in Micah 6:6-8, asks what type of offering the people should bring to God. The response given is that the people should do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. (v. 8) Though the Learning the Story activity will tell both messages in this story, the focus of the lesson will be on Micah s message in Micah 6:6-8. Bible Nuts and Bolts: The Prophets This week, your student was introduced to the idea of prophets in the Bible. Many of your students may be familiar with prophets as people who can predict the future. In today s lesson, your class will be introduced to the Biblical image of the prophet: a person who is a messenger of God. In the Bible, the prophets had visions and received the word of God. It was the prophet s job to deliver this message to the people. These messages include messages of hope and peace, but they also include messages of judgment. The prophets served as communicators of these messages to the people of God. Story Themes The following themes are the focus of this lesson. The prophets brought God s commandments and hope to the people of God. In Micah 5:2-4, the prophet tells the people that a new ruler of Israel will come from Bethlehem. For a people facing attacks and invasions from outside areas, these words are words of hope for the future. Then in Micah 6:6-8, the prophet gives the people a different message: that God commands them to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. God s people received a commandment to work for justice, love others, and love God. In Micah 6:6-8, the people are instructed to love God and love others through their words and actions. The people are told that God doesn t only desire their material offerings and worship; instead, God also desires their whole lives to be dedicated to faithfulness, service, and working for what is right and true in the world. This is done through words and action. We are commanded to work for justice, love others, and love God, too. When we work for justice, we don t just work for goodness in the world. We work to help people meet their needs. We show kindness and compassion through serving others. When we walk with God, we live lives of faithfulness, discipleship, and prayer. In today s lesson, your students will explore these themes and think about how they can live out these commandments in their daily lives. Spiritual Practice: Service The Living the Story activity invited your student to think about how they can live out the commandments of Micah 6:8 through their own individual service. Then, they will give these acts of service as an offering to God. This will help your class apply the words of the prophet to their daily lives. 19
LIVING THE WORD Try it @ HOME Last week we heard about the prophet Elisha healing Naaman in 2 Kings 5:1-14. In today s story we are introduced to the other prophets of the Bible through the message of Micah. In next week s story, found in Isaiah 2:1-4; 36:1-3, 13-20; and 37:1-7, we hear another prophet, named Isaiah, bring a message of hope and peace to the troubled world of the people of God. In today s story we are commanded to love God and love other people. We can live out this commandment by living lives of service and working for what is right and just in the world. This week, think about one action you can do each day as a family to show others God s love for them. Try to perform one act of service or discipleship each day. You can do this through simple service projects, helping friends and neighbors, even spending time saying a prayer or reading the Bible together each day. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Isaiah 40:3-5 Isaiah 43:1-2 Amos 5:14-15 Hosea 6:6 Jeremiah 16:14-15 Jeremiah 29:10-12 Isaiah 9:2 Color a picture based on the imagery in this passage. What does the prophet say the world will look like? Use play dough to create a sculpture of yourself. Thank God for creating you and for making you a part of God s family. As a family, talk about this: how can you seek good in your life, and not evil? Read your favorite Bible story from a favorite Bible. What can you learn about God from this story? This passage is a promise to God s people to lead them out of exile. Take a walk together. As you walk, talk about a time when God helped you return safely home Sit in a circle. Then, go around the circle and have each family member share one thing they are praying for today. Thank God for listening to your prayers. Turn out the lights in a room and light a candle. Thank God for the light we see in our lives.