2 nd /3 rd Grade Jan 21 Jesus Calls Outcasts Bible Verse Some Pharisees asked Jesus' disciples, Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and other sinners? Jesus heard them and answered, Healthy people don t need a doctor, but sick people do. (Matthew 9:11-12) Teacher Enrichment This lesson is the third in the Life of Jesus series which examines how Jesus is our best example for inclusion. Jesus included everyone in his ministry from simple fishermen, to government leaders and kings; from devout followers to those considered sinners; and from old to young. Each week will explore the various ways and people Jesus chose to serve and teach. At the beginning of His ministry Jesus chose disciples to be His helpers in spreading God s message. You may think Jesus would choose popular or well liked people, but Jesus actually made some unexpected choices. With the calling of Matthew, Jesus chose a hated and dishonest tax collector. Jesus knew Matthew was as sinner, He knew Matthew was disliked, He knew Matthew was an outcast, yet He chose him anyway. Jesus did not judge Matthew as others did, but rather He saw Matthew s heart and knew Matthew would follow Him. Jesus didn t let Matthew s reputation or the opinions of others keep Him from including Matthew in His ministry. The good news for us is God does the same today. He includes ALL of us in His love, regardless of our reputation or our popularity. In response to God s acceptance of us, we must follow Jesus example of inclusion. This lesson will teach children that God calls everyone to follow Him, including those who are disliked or left out. Children will explore how they can follow Jesus example and not judge or exclude others.
Before Class Begins Place the Sign In sheet and a pen where parents can see it upon arrival. Place the Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards and pens where students can see them upon arrival. Check that you have supplies for this lesson: Arrival Activity, Jesus Calls Matthew Activity Sheet 1 per child Index Cards Toilet paper God Looks at the Heart Glasses Cutout 1 per child Stickers Place an arrival activity at each place on the table. Welcome SUPPLIES: Sign In sheet, Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards, Attendance chart, stickers, Jesus Calls Matthew activity sheet, pencils Greet each child individually as they arrive. Introduce yourself by name. Help children find or add their name on the attendance chart. Provide each child with a sticker to place in today s column on the attendance chart. Encourage children to complete a Joy or Concern card if they have a particular joy or concern they would like to express. Collect completed Joy & Concern cards. Encourage children to complete a Time or Talent offering card if they gave their time to God or used their talents to serve God or others during the previous week. Children should keep their own completed Time and Talent cards. If children bring monetary offering, they should keep it with them. Direct children to complete the Jesus Calls Matthew Activity Sheet. Encourage conversation among the children and with you! Get to know the children in your classroom by asking about their week including school, activities and families. Introduce new children to each other and encourage friendships.
Children s Worship SUPPLIES: Sign In sheet, Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards Arrive at Ruth Hall at 9:20 or 11:05. Bring the Sign In sheet and completed Joy & Concern cards to Ruth Hall. Hand the Joy & Concern cards to the Children s Worship leader as you arrive. Have children bring their completed Time & Talent cards and any monetary offering. If additional children arrive while in Ruth Hall, have parents complete the Sign In sheet and remind parents that pickup is in Room 105. Encourage children to participate in Children s Worship and provide re-direction if necessary. Assist the Children s Worship leader as needed. At the conclusion of Children s Worship, have children line up and return to Room 105. The Lesson SUPPLIES: Index cards, Toilet paper, God Looks at the Heart Glasses cutouts, Stickers, markers, crayons Gather all the children on the carpet, but keep them standing. SAY: Today we learned about judging people without really knowing them. We are going to hold a demonstration to see what that really means. I need three volunteers. Give each volunteer an index card, but instruct them not to look at the card and not to let ANYONE see the word on their card (there are 2 NICE cards and 1 MEAN card). Instruct volunteers to hold the card against their chest/stomach with the word facing in so no one can see it (including them). Wrap the arms/body of the first volunteer in toilet paper, enough that you can no longer see the card they are holding. (You do not need to wrap head or legs, they need to be able to walk) Have the other children wrap the other two volunteers.
SAY: Let s make a circle around our wrapped up friends. I want you to take a look at our friends and decide who is mean and who is nice. Let the children come to a consensus. Have the person who is designated as mean leave the circle. Have the other children close ranks so the mean person is left out. SAY: Well I m glad we got rid of that mean person. I m glad our circle is just nice people and friends now. Whew! I m sure glad that mean person isn t included anymore. ASK: Hmm, are you sure we got rid of the right person? How did you decide who to pick? Did our friends appearance give us any clues about who was mean and who was nice? (Encourage answers) Maybe we should check. Have the children break out of their wrappings and reveal their cards. Ask the left out child how it felt to be excluded from the group. If the children guessed wrong, ask the left out person how it felt to be judged incorrectly and how the children feel about judging someone incorrectly. SAY: We judged without really knowing what was on the inside of each person. We couldn t see their cards. We all judge others sometimes. Maybe you ve done that at school. Maybe you ve even seen someone BEING mean and feel like you KNOW they are mean, but do we know what s in their heart? Have the children sit on the carpet together. Lead a discussion about judging others. Questions for the Discussion Do you know anyone at school whom it seems that no one likes? Why doesn t anyone like this person? Do you think that person has some good qualities that maybe no one else can see? How might you be able to help those people who seem to be left out at school? When you feel left out, does it help to remember that God loves you? Remind children that Jesus chose Matthew to be His disciple. People thought Matthew was a mean, dishonest tax collector and they did not like him. But Jesus saw Matthew s heart and knew he would follow God. We should follow Jesus example to include everyone even those others do not like. We should look at people s hearts.
SAY: We are going to make some glasses to help us remember that God looks at people s hearts and we should do the same. Show children the sample craft. Have the children move from the carpet to seats at the table. Give each child a God Looks at the Heart Glasses cutout. Have children cutout and decorate their sunglasses using markers and stickers. Help children staple the right ear piece to the glasses. Closing Lead the children in a closing prayer. You may say your own prayer, ask one of the children to say a prayer or use the one below. God, Help us to look at people s hearts. Thank you for knowing our heart and for including us, and everyone, in your love. Amen If time remains before parents arrive, encourage children to return to their Jesus Called Matthew activity sheet if they did not complete it. Also encourage conversation between children and with you. This is another opportunity to build relationships with the children in your classroom.
People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 1 Sam 16:7 God Looks at the Heart Glasses