Lesson: Parables 3

for Saturday, 12 March 2011 –

Volunteers: paul (younger), colleen (older), kaitlyn, alyssa

Driving: am: fran; pm: sheila

Topics:

1. the wise and foolish builders (Matt 7:24; Luke 6:46)
2. good Samaritan (luke 10:25)
3. friend at midnight (luke 11:5)

Memory Verse: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11; NIV)

Extra Supplies:

• box of square crackers for building activity [use crackers in cupboard, or graham crackers]
• 10 scarves for helping activity
• coloring pages (Paul)

Outline

• (10:00am) together: Matthew 6 “Lord’s prayer“
• review class rules —
• Sing —
• Paul and Kaitlyn or Alyssa to little lambs room with the 6 or so younger kids. Colleen and the other helper stay in catechism room with the older group
  
• Lesson — (see below)
  
• memory verse (see above)
• Younger group return to catechism room
• Activities — see below
• (11:00 am) SNACK/BREAK–
  
• (11:20 am) two-team review relay game with questions from today’s class
• crafts/activities — continued
• stickers/bookmarks (in bin)
• Sing —
• Pray: [Colleen]
• (11:50 am) tidy

Lesson

1. The Wise and Foolish Builders

• Jesus taught from a mountain; He sat down while He taught
• (He taught again similarly after choosing 12 apostles from His disciples and going down the mountain with them to a level place — see Luke 6:17,46)
• (Use text of Matthew 7:24-27 (NIRV) for the rest. NIRV omits the word “sand,” but it is probably helpful — more tangible for the kids)
• Note: Luke records the “sermon on the plain,” where Jesus asked, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and still don’t do what I say?”

Discussion topics:

• What does ‘Lord’ mean? In the Greek, “kurios,” so supreme master / owner — i.e., if we call Jesus ‘Lord, Lord,’ it means we know that He should be obeyed —
• Before the rain, floods, and winds come, do you think there’s any noticeable difference between the house built by the wise man and the house built by the foolish man?
• What could be the deeper meaning in this parable? (the house could represent our life — the outcome could represent eternity)

2. The Good Samaritan (luke 10:25)

• Use text of Luke 10:25-37 (NIRV).
• Show OT texts the lawyer quoted:
  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)
  “…love your neighbor as you love yourself…” (Leviticus 19:18)
• Note: The two silver coins would have paid for several days of care

Discussion topics:

• Was the lawyer (religious expert) genuine in his question, or looking for an opportunity to accuse Jesus?
• Was the lawyer correct in the answer he gave Jesus? Yes
• priests: worked in the temple, giving gifts and prayers to God
• Levites: assistants to the priests, of the tribe of Levi (recall this son of Jacob)
• Samaritans: People who were not Jews, but were living in an area of Israel (see map) — they worshipped on Mount Gerizim, where they once had a temple, and Jews and Samaritans hated each other

3. The Friend at Midnight (luke 11:5)

• Jesus taught this to His disciples — it is part of His answer to their request, “teach us to pray” (see “the Lord’s prayer”)
• Use text of Luke 11:5-13 (NIRV).

Discussion topics:

• If a family were together in a bed, if one person got up it would disturb every member of the family
• what does this lesson teach us about how we should pray?

Review Questions

1. (2 points) How does a wise man build a house? and what does a wise man do with the words of Jesus? (1. builds his house on the rock; 2. “puts them into practice”)
2. What are the benefits of obeying Jesus’ words? (Multiple answers are possible — the text indicates that such a man will stand firm when troubles come.)
3. What happens when rain, floods, and winds come to a house that a man built on sand? (The house falls with a loud crash.)
4. (2 points) How did the authority on the law answer when Jesus asked him what is written in the law? (1. ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart / soul / strength / mind’; 2. ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’)
5. (2 points) When a man going from Jerusalem to Jericho was robbed and left for dead, who passed by on the other side of the road? (1. a priest; 2. a Levite)
6. (5 points) The Samaritan used some of his own stuff to help the man who had been attacked by robbers. List as many of these items as you can remember. (1. olive oil; 2. wine; 3. bandages; 4. donkey; 5. money)
7. What did the Samaritan promise the owner of the inn? (to return and pay any extra cost)
8. How can we show love to a neighbor? (meeting their needs)
9. When the man needed bread at midnight, at first his friend would not get out of bed to help him, but finally he did. Why? (Because the man persisted / kept on asking.)
10. What was Jesus teaching us about God in the parable of the friend at midnight? (That God will answer our prayers.)
11. (2 points) Jesus said three things that were similar. The first was, “Ask, and it will be given to you.” What were the other two things? (Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.)
12. What examples did Jesus give of a gift that a father might give to his son? (A fish; an egg.)
13. What did Jesus say that our Father in heaven will give to those who ask? (the Holy Spirit.)

Activity Ideas

(These ideas from “180 Faith-Charged Games for Children’s Ministry”)

1. “Saltine Houses”: (Matthew 7:24) One by one, have players use square crackers to build a house (like a house of cards). If their house falls, they get credit for any story with at least two “walls.” Whoever builds the house with the most stories wins.
2. “Help your Neighbor”: (Luke 10:27) Divide into two teams. Each team has 5 chairs, with a scarf tied to the leg or bottom of each chair. Make sure that the scarves cannot be removed easily and are placed as inconspicuously as possible. Instruct teams to work together to remove the scarves from the chairs. The first team to remove all five scarves wins. [Afterward, ask children: Did you have to help one another to remove the scarves? Why is it important to help others?]