February 10, 2019 Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany Isa. 6:1 8, (9 13) Ps. 138 1 Cor. 15:1 11 Luke 5:1 11 Goal for the Session Third- and fourth-graders will examine the story of the miraculous catch of fish and practice telling what they know about Jesus. n PREPARING FOR THE SESSION Focus on Luke 5:1 11 WHAT is important to know? From Exegetical Perspective, Gay L. Byron At first glance Luke 5:1 11 is difficult to classify. It is generally considered a call narrative. This passage is also considered a miracle story, given the abundant outcome manifested at verse 6. Yet the theme of discipleship provides a theological anchor for this story about the fishermen and their experience with Jesus. The lection ends with the theme of renunciation, indicated by the terse statement, they left everything and followed him (v. 11). This is the heart of discipleship. For Luke, it includes the denial of family, friends, and physical possessions (5:28; 9:57 62; 14:33; 18:22 23). WHERE is God in these words? From Theological Perspective, David L. Ostendorf The life-altering power of God s word spoken, heard, and heeded is dynamically evident in this story of call. The word begins to move horizontally outward and outbound from Jesus. It falls on the ears of crowds hungry for that word; it falls on the ears of Simon and James and John, afraid, amazed, attracted, and ready. Not knowing what lay ahead on that open and uncharted journey from their familiar fishing boats, they left everything and followed him, unbound, outward-bound, horizon-bound, captured by a word that they would, in turn, carry on the ground among people waiting for it, listening for it. SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? From Pastoral Perspective, Howard K. Gregory The invitation to put out into the deep for a catch provides a sharp contrast to our human penchant for the predictable and the routine. It is an invitation to venture into new ground or new depths, but it also points to new challenges in mission and ministry for the church in every generation. We are challenged to respond to the urgings of God breaking into human lives. In the case of Simon, as for the Christian faced with such a command, there is the realization that the most profound and significant experiences of God and life are not to be found in the safe ways and places. Simon obeys the instruction and is surprised. NOW WHAT is God s word calling us to do? From Homiletical Perspective, Peter Eaton The NRSV rendering catching people masks a dynamism in the Greek that is lost in translation. Jesus is saying to Peter that he will be taking or saving men and women alive for the kingdom. To take men and women alive is a very different image from simply catching them as though they are food to be consumed. So how can the preacher and the community of the body of Christ make Jesus real for others and for ourselves in ways that are both true and genuinely compelling? 1
FOCUS SCRIPTURE Luke 5:1 11 Focus on Your Teaching At this age, children are starting to feel somewhat self-conscious and don t want to look different. They ll readily discuss favorite TV shows or video games with their peers, but may be afraid to talk about Jesus in the same way. Generally speaking, attending church isn t as socially acceptable as it once was. Children may worry they will be ridiculed if they talk about Jesus outside of the church. We can help by providing opportunity for them to practice, first in the safety of their faith community and then in the larger world. Loving God, help me grow in confidence as I speak to others about Jesus. Give me wisdom as I empower the children to do the same. Amen. YOU WILL NEED green cloth battery-powered Christ candle Color Pack 21, 22, 30, 31 Singing the Feast, 2018 2019; CD player Resource Sheet 1 scissors Bibles masking tape wooden spoon small ball basket For Responding option 1: chairs; Singing the Feast, 2018 2019; CD player option 2: copies of Resource Sheet 2, newsprint, markers or crayons, poster board option 3: index cards, pens n LEADING THE SESSION GATHERING Before the session, cut out the question strips on Resource Sheet 1 (Fishy Questions), fold each one, and place strips in a basket. Use masking tape to make the outline of a boat shape on the floor. Make the shape large enough for all learners to stand inside it at once. Greet children as they arrive. Ask volunteers to arrange the green cloth in the center of your meeting space and place the candle on the cloth. Recall that this time in the church year is called Ordinary Time (or the Time after Epiphany). Note that the color green suggests things that are growing. Show Color Pack 21. During this season, we think about growing in our faith and learn more about what it means to follow Jesus as the people in the picture did in Jesus time. Ask a volunteer to light the candle as you say, We light this Christ candle, remembering the light of God s love that Jesus brought into our world. Sing Tell Me the Stories of Jesus (Color Pack 31; track 16 on Singing the Feast, 2018 2019). Pray aloud: Loving God, thank you for bringing us together today; help us to learn more about you. Amen. Have the group stand around the edges of the boat shape on the floor. Ask: P Have you ever gone on a surprise trip? Each person who has had that experience jumps into the boat and tells what happened. After all the stories, everyone jumps out again. Repeat with the following questions: P Did you ever get an unexpected present? P Have you ever had an unexpected guest? P Did you ever receive unexpected news? Comment that the Bible story for today is about a time when something unexpected happened, and it changed the lives of many people. 2
Tell Me the Stories of Jesus Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear; Things I would ask Him to tell me if He were here; Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea, Stories of Jesus, tell them to me. First let me hear how the children stood round His knee, And I shall fancy His blessing resting on me; Words full of kindness, deeds full of grace, All in the love light of Jesus face. Some children may be surprised that Simon would let Jesus use his boat and then leave everything to follow him. In Luke 4:38 40 we read that Jesus came to Simon s home and healed his mother-inlaw and others. Jesus is not a stranger to these fishermen. EXPLORING Have everyone sit in the boat shape. Ask for volunteers to play the parts of Simon, James, John, and the people in the crowd. If you have a large group, you can have more than one child playing each character. Show how to find Luke 5:1 11. Encourage children to take special note of the things their characters do and say. Show Color Pack 21 as you read aloud the passage as the children act out the story. Invite children to use their imaginations to act out the story. Read the passage again, but pause at verses 3, 5, 10, and 11. Invite children to create frozen pictures, or tableaux, of each scene as they unfold. Hold a microphone (large spoon) and act as a news reporter who has just arrived to interview people about the events of the last few hours. Name a character from the story, and the person(s) playing that role comes forward to be interviewed. Encourage the group to help each other with the answers. P Simon: How did you feel after working all night and catching nothing? P Crowd: Why did you come to listen to Jesus? P James and John: What did you think when you saw all the fish in Simon s net? P Simon: How did you feel when you saw all the fish you had caught? P Crowd: What did you think when you heard about the huge catch of fish? P Simon, James, and John: Why did you decide to follow Jesus? Direct the children to come out of character. Discuss: P What did you find surprising about this story? P What do you think James, John, and Simon did with all those fish? P Why do you think Simon, James, and John followed Jesus? Show Color Pack 22. Read the memory verse in unison several times. Next, have learners pass the ball around the circle, with each person saying one word of the verse as he or she holds the ball. Repeat several times, increasing the speed each time. If you want to make this more challenging, have the children pass the ball back and forth across the circle. Ask: P What do you think it means to bring in people instead of fish? Have the children sit in the boat shape. Pass around the basket. Invite each child, in turn, to pull out a folded slip. Have a volunteer read the question. Together discuss and answer the questions. 3
EASY PREP Option: Extend this activity by providing plain T-shirts and fabric markers or fabric paints. Following package instructions, have each one transfer his or her design onto a T-shirt. Place a piece of cardboard inside the T-shirt to prevent designs from bleeding through. Do Lord, O Do Lord O do remember me. O do remember me. O do remember me, Way beyond the blue. Yes, Lord, O yes, Lord, I know I need to pray. Yes, Lord, O yes, Lord, I know I need to pray. Yes, Lord, O yes, Lord, I know I need to pray, Way beyond the blue. O do help me to pray. O do help me to pray. O do help me to pray, Way beyond the blue. RESPONDING Mark the activities you will use: 1. Game Children will enjoy a game and discuss how to tell others about Jesus by following his way of living. Comment that one of the easiest ways of telling others we are followers of Jesus is by doing what Jesus did. Like Jesus, we can show God s love through kind deeds. Invite the children to think about how they can show kindness in the coming week. Place chairs in a circle. You need one fewer chair than there are players. Play a favorite song from Singing the Feast, 2018 2019, and have the children dance around the circle of chairs. When the music stops, everyone races to sit in a chair. The child left standing tells about one act of kindness he or she is planning to do for someone in the coming week. 2. T-shirts Children will think about what they could tell others about Jesus and then design a T-shirt. Comment that there are all kinds of ways to tell others what we have discovered about Jesus. Distribute copies of Resource Sheet 2 (One Thing). Discuss the question with your group. Print the children ideas on newsprint. Possible ideas include: Jesus came to tell us about God s love; Jesus is my friend; I follow Jesus; Jesus shows us the way to God. Then invite them to design a T-shirt on poster board with crayons or markers. 3. Drama Children will practice telling others about Jesus through a simple role-play. Ask the group to list the people they might meet and places they might go in a typical week. Print each idea on a separate index card. Place the cards in two stacks, one pile for people and one for places. Recall that wherever we go and whomever we meet, we have the chance to act like Jesus or talk about him. Form small groups. Ask each group to take a card from each pile. Invite them to consider the people and places on their cards and work together to create a skit in which they talk about Jesus in that situation. Give the learners time to prepare their skits and then present to the group. CLOSING Gather in a circle around the candle and light it, if necessary. Invite learners to tell one thing they have learned about following Jesus. Play Do Lord, O Do Lord (Color Pack 30; track 5 on Singing the Feast, 2018 2019) and invite the children to clap and sing along with the music. Pray aloud: Thank you, God, for sending Jesus into our world and for the love he has for us. Help us as we take that love out into the world. Amen. Say good-bye to each child by name. Thank learners for coming, and affirm the positive contributions they have made to the group. 4
February 10, 2019 Grades 3 4 Resource Sheet 1 Fishy Questions What is one way to tell other people about Jesus? Who is one person you could tell about Jesus? What would you say if someone asked you, Who is Jesus? What would you say if someone asked you, What are some things Jesus did? What would you say if someone asked you, What did Jesus teach? What would you say if someone asked you, Why do you go to Sunday school? One way to tell others about Jesus is by acting like he did. What is one way you can behave like Jesus this week? 2018 Westminster John Knox Press
February 10, 2019 Grades 3 4 Resource Sheet 2 One Thing If you could tell people only one thing about Jesus, what would it be? Design a T-shirt to say that one thing about Jesus. Design Tip: Use only a few words and keep the design simple, so your message is clear. 2018 Westminster John Knox Press