Images of Attentiveness, Caregiving, and Leading BACKGROUND As learned in the first strand, the God who created us loves us very much. God watches over us and protects us. God helps us and guides us along the way. God has given us free choice to make our own decisions, but accompanies us on our journey and never leaves us. We focus on God and ask for God s guidance and direction on our journey. As we strive to live godly lives we look to Jesus, God s son, as our model and our leader. GOD AS LANDOWNER AND GARDENER The images of landowner and gardener/vine grower remind us of how God watches over us, cares for us, and is attentive to us. The landowner watches over the land and makes sure it is cared for. This, in turn, produces abundant crops. The gardener enjoys tending the garden and is delighted when the plants grow well. An attentive gardener will often use pruning shears to cut away nonproductive growth on the plants. It may seem a bit frightening at first, but this actually stimulates the plant to produce more flowers and bear more fruit. It also helps the plant grow stronger. In the same way, as we experience difficulties in our lives, these experiences can be God s way of pruning us. Accepting and living with difficulties can bring great spiritual fruit into our lives. Our spiritual branches can bud and blossom, bringing beauty into the world. As we follow Jesus and remain in him, our branches will bear much fruit. Jesus tells us that he is the vine, connected to each one of us, the branches. So, in turn, we are all connected to one another since as part of the same vine. It s wonderful to think that we are all connected in Jesus! GOD AS MASTER POTTER The potter was an integral part of society in both Old and New Testament times. Pottery-making was a common task, full of symbolic meaning. Both the potter and the clay are significant in this metaphor. The potter has the power and ability to shape the clay. The potter is a bit like a leader, while the clay follows the work of the potter s hands. As a pot is made, whether by hand or on the wheel, the potter continually interacts with the clay. The potter is attentive to what the clay needs. The clay cannot be pushed beyond its limits. Does the pot need to be more definitive needing a more striking statement, or more direction in the rim or shoulder? Does it need a more solid base? More life? More visual weight? The clay is not simply passive and impressionable... the best pots are a result of wedding the wills and characteristics of both the clay and the potter. This implies something about God s sovereignty that God is not just powerful and imposing, but relational, listening, and responding. GOD AS SHEPHERD The psalmist compares God to a good shepherd who protects the sheep from harm and knows each one by name. Ezekiel, who used strong imagery throughout his writing, developed the image of God as a shepherd with more detail than any Images of God: Images of Attentiveness, Caregiving, and Leading 143
other author in the Bible. For the wandering Hebrew nomad or sheep herder, this was an appropriate metaphor. God is a sheep herder who cares for the sheep, keeping away dangerous animals, searching for lost lambs in the dark and cold. The good shepherd looks for green pastures, and uproots thorns and poisonous weeds, going ahead of the sheep to keep them safe. The sheep hear and know the shepherd s voice. The metaphor of God, and later Jesus, as the good shepherd is a worthy one, for the sheep trust their shepherd to lead them, and the shepherd loves the sheep (Jeremiah 23:1-4, Ezekiel 34:11-12). The comparison of God to shepherd is used repeatedly throughout the Bible. One much-loved passage is Psalm 23, which begins, The Lord is my shepherd. Jesus had compassion on the crowds, because they were like sheep without a shepherd (Mark 6:34). The image of God as shepherd begins with Jacob (Genesis 48:15) and ends with Revelation 7:17. GOD AS JUDGE AND KING God as judge indicates God s authority over all. God is a righteous judge and will judge with truth (Psalm 96:13). God is concerned with justice for all people. God s justice is associated with acts of salvation and deliverance, and with mercy and forgiveness. God s justice includes deliverance of the oppressed, giving food to the hungry, setting prisoners free. God s radical justice sets the example for how we should treat others in our lives today (Psalm 103:6). The Bible tells us about the king of glory. Who is this king of glory? The Lord Almighty he is the king of glory (Psalm 24). God as king is similar to God as judge. A good king rules with justice and mercy. When the Israelites wanted to appoint a human king, it signified that they were willing to reject God as their king. Eventually, human kings levied heavy taxes on the people and oppressed God s people, the opposite of God the King. God loved and cared about the people. We can be thankful that God s kingship, justice, and mercy extend to us today. God loved us so much that he sent Jesus to earth as a servant king, to die for our sins that we might be saved. Images of God: Images of Attentiveness, Caregiving, and Leading 144
Images of Attentiveness, Caregiving, and Leading LESSON 12: IMAGES OF GOD AS LANDOWNER AND GARDENER Objective Students will realize that our spiritual roots help shape our connection to God. They will be encouraged to recognize the fruits and gifts that come from their relationship with God. Key Concepts God s promises are for all who believe in Jesus Christ. Other Christians impact our lives and affect our growth. Our relationship with God connects us to a source of nourishment. Text: John 15:1-4; Psalm 139:13-14 Estimated Lesson Time: 50 minutes Materials Names of Bible characters (p. 148) Tape Image of landowner-gardener (p. 149) Image of grapevine (p. 150) Packet of seeds Flower plants or seeds, potting soil, small containers, water Spiritual Family Tree handout (p. 151) I Am the True Vine handout (p. 152) Teacher Preparation 1. Choose names from the list of Old Testament and New Testament Bible characters (p. 148), enough for each student to have one. Cut the names apart. Have names and tape ready when the students come into class. 2. Cut out and color the images of the landowner/gardener and grapevine. 3. Prepare handouts, making one copy per student. 4. Have a packet of seeds for a hands-on lesson and for planting (if you are doing that part of the lesson). INTRODUCING THE LESSON Guess the characters. As students enter the classroom, tape a Bible character s name on each one s back. Allow five or ten minutes for the students to guess the names on their backs by asking only yes-and-no questions of their classmates. After students have guessed correctly, have them remove the papers from their backs and return to their seats. 145
LESSON STEPS 1. Images of Attentiveness, Caregiving, and Leading. Introduce the students to this third and final section of Images of God. Point out that you will now be using the third poster. Hold up the symbols of the landowner and the vine. Place these two images under section three: Images of Attentiveness, Caregiving, and Leading. Reinforce the verses for this lesson, John 15:1-4: I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. Talk about why the symbols of landowner/ gardener and grapevine fit in this section. 2. Pour seeds into your hand. Remind students that the characteristics of a plant are contained in the genetic code of each seed. In the same way, God created us with certain characteristics. Read Psalm 139:13-14: For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knot me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. Even though our genetic codes are there from the beginning, our lives are influenced by those around us. Our family members, friends, pastors, teachers and other role models all impact our lives and affect our growth. 3. Talk about role models. Have students brainstorm 10-20 people they admire and view as role models for their own spiritual growth. These role models can come from any background and historical time period. Discuss: Why have you chosen these people? What characteristics of these people attract you the most? If you could invite one of these people to dinner, what would you like to discuss with him or her? How are you most like the person you chose? How are you least like the person you chose? 4. Distribute copies of Spiritual Family Tree. Give these instructions to the students: Try to think of 10-20 people in your life who have influenced your faith. Write these names on the family tree. For instance, on the stem, you might write your parents names or the name of someone who has been a spiritual parent to you. Ask the students why they think this family tree is not in the shape of a tree. Why is it a grape cluster? Explain that the stem is similar to the trunk of the tree. The stem connects them to the vine, God or Jesus, so the person written there should be the one they feel connects them to Jesus or God the best. The oldest members of your spiritual family tree, or your ancestors should be written at the thickest part of the cluster, towards the stem. More recent spiritual family members should be written more toward the tip of the cluster. The students themselves should be at the very tips of the clusters. 5. Using the handout I Am the True Vine, have the students look up passages about the landowner and gardener/vine grower. After they have read each passage, have them draw the role Jesus played in this image of landowner, gardener, and vine. Review the worksheet with the students. 6. Plant a flower or seeds in a pot to give to a parent or relative. Students should add a note to say what they appreciate about how God has made this person. 146
EXTEND THE LESSON (These activities will extend the lesson to longer than 50 minutes.) Personal reflection. Have students journal on the following questions about their spiritual family trees: Why did you choose these people? What characteristics do you admire most? How are you most like these people? How are you least like them? Plant a garden of perennial plants on your school s campus. Many nurseries are willing to donate plants to schools. Have the students prepare the soil, plan the garden, plant the plants, and water the plants regularly. Bible References for teacher information: Landowner Gardener/Vine grower Matthew 20:1-15 John 15:1-2 Psalm 24:1-2 Romans 11:17-24 147
bible characters Directions for teachers: Cut out the following squares with names for Introducing the Lesson. You may need to add more names, if you have more students or if you need more names of a certain gender. If you add more names, make sure they are biblical persons from Genesis to Revelation. There are 26 names here; 13 are females and 13 are males. Sarah Solomon Abraham Mary, mother of Jesus Rebekah Daniel Noah Mary Magdalene Rachel Jonah Moses Elizabeth Miriam Peter Gideon Anna Deborah John the Baptist Samuel Priscilla Ruth Matthew David Lydia Naomi Mark 148
god as landowner/gardener 149
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spiritual family tree For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother s womb. (Psalm 139:13) 151
Name: I Am the True Vine John 15:1 Directions: Look up the following scriptures. List the role Jesus and his Father played in the passages. What attributes of God can you understand from these passages? 1. Read John 15:1-4. a. What roles do Jesus and his Father have in this passage? 2. Read John 20:10-17. a. What role does Jesus have in this passage? 3. Read Matthew 20:1-16. a. What role does God have in this passage? 4. Read Matthew 21:33-44. a. What role does God have in this passage? 152
ANSWER KEY I Am the True Vine John 15:1 Directions: Look up the following scriptures. List the role Jesus and his Father played in the passages. What attributes of God can you understand from these passages? 1. Read John 15:1-4. a. What roles do Jesus and his Father have in this passage? Jesus is the vine. His father is the gardener. Jesus reminds us to remain in him. The branches that stay connected to God bear fruit and are pruned. 2. Read John 20:10-17. a. What role does Jesus have in this passage? Jesus is mistaken for a gardener. He is the risen Christ. Jesus seems to take on a different look, one that is not recognized. When Jesus says her name, Mary then recognizes him as the risen Christ. 3. Read Matthew 20:1-16. a. What role does God have in this passage? God is the landowner of a vineyard in the story. He hires workers all throughout the day. All workers are paid the same, no matter what time they started work. God wants many workers, and is open to hiring people all day long. God defends paying all workers the same. This parable shows God s grace. We receive grace as a gift from God. The person who comes to God at the end of life enjoys the same benefits as the person who follows God early in life. 4. Read Matthew 21:33-44. a. What role does God have in this passage? God is a manager of land which grows fruit. He has other people run his land. God will take away the land and give it to those who will produce fruit and manage it better. God wants the people put in charge of the property to be just stewards. God will replace the unjust workers for people who will care for things well. 153