Zaccheus

KFW 11/3/2013

Zaccheus (Luke 19:1-10)

Once there was a man named zaccheus.  There are four things you need to know about Zaccheus before we get started:  1) Zaccheus was very very short. 2) Zaccheus had a LOT of money 3) nobody liked Zaccheus very much because he had a LOT of money, which he got by collecting taxes.  Ask your mom and dad—they probably don’t like tax collectors much either.  And 4) Zaccheus lived in the city of Jericho.

Our story today begins with Jesus coming to Jericho.  People were very excited to see Jesus.  Can you cheer “Hooray!  Jesus is here!”  There were CROWDS of people EVERYWHERE just trying to see Jesus!  Zaccheus stood trying to see Jesus, but he couldn’t see over all the people. He was too short! He tried to move closer.  “Excuse me!  Coming through!”  He’d say—he though he was VERY important because he had such an important job and he knew Jesus would want to see him!  He still couldn’t see Jesus! He was too short! He tried to move closer, and STILL couldn’t see him.  So do you know what he did?  He climbed a BIIIIIIG Sycamore tree!  Can you climb with me. Up, up, up, up!  And he looked out over the crowd (put a hand over your eyes) and he kept looking for Jesus! Far in the distance he could see Jesus coming!  He kept watching as Jesus got closer and closer and closer! 

As soon as Jesus got to that spot, he looked up into the tree and called, “Zaccheus!  Come down!  Right now! I must stay at your house today!”  (have the kids repeat with you, a phrase at a time).  WOW!  The people around him were mad!  They said, “how can Jesus go to his house?  Zaccheus is not very nice!  He takes our money and then talks all about his money!”

Zaccheus thought.  He came down and said to Jesus, “Here Lord—I now give half of everything I have to the poor, and if I have been unfair, I will give them each four times what I should give them to be fair.”   

Jesus said to him, “Today, you have made me very happy and have shown how much you love me.  You are acting like one of my children.  I came, hoping to show you my love and to love all who feel lonely.”

What did we learn?  Jesus came to love us.  Jesus will help us when we are lost or afraid, he loves us even when others think we are not nice or can’t be loved.

The paragraph that's highlighted is the one I'm struggling the most with to change into something kids can understand.  The original says that "Today salvation has come to [Zaccheus], because he is a son of Abraham."  Jesus says then that he came to save the lost.  In your own understanding, do you feel that saying his actions show him to be like one of God's children and that Jesus came to share love and help those who feel lonely is an okay interpretation for kids?  How else can we maybe integrate the story of Zaccheus into their frame of understanding? 

Jacob Wrestles

Jacob Wrestles (Genesis 32:22-31, pp. 46-47 in the spark bible)

Abraham had a son, and his name was Isaac.  Isaac had a son, and his name was Jacob and JACOB was a brave man who wasn’t afraid to speak up and ask questions.  Where’s Jacob—oh here he is!    

Ok…

Jacob was on his way home from a long trip (walk, walk, walk, walk).  He stopped by a river to sleep one night.  Can you pretend to sleep?  ZZZZZZ…

During the night, a man woke Jacob up (pssst!  Psst! Taps Jacob) Jacob was surprised.  Can you make a surprised face? Then the man started wrestling Jacob.  “Who are you?  What do you want?”  Jacob wondered.

They wrestled.  And wrestled.  And wrestled some more.  How long do you think you could wrestle with someone?  How long does it take until you’re tired?  How about very tired?  Well, Jacob and the man wrestled alllllll night until the sun came up.  Jacob would not give up!  He would not stop.  “Let me go!”  cried the man.  “No!”  said Jacob “Not until you have blessed me!”  The man asked “What is your name?”  “Jacob,” said Jacob.  The man then blessed Jacob, and said,  “Now you will have another name.  Israel.  It means that you have wrestled with God!”

What a surprise!  Could it be true?  Could Jacob have been wrestling not with another man but with GOD?  Jacob wrestled God, and God blessed him!  Jacob hurried the rest of the way home—what a story to tell his family!

Have you ever had to do something very, very difficult?  Did you talk to God, asking for  his help as you did?  What are some difficult things that God has helped you to do through him?

______

I'm not sure this is enough for the kids for Sunday, but I have to admit that this is one of my favorite old Testament stories.  It's a little obscure, sure, but...how many times do we, as adults, sometimes feel like we're wrestling with God himself in the midst of trials, begging to come out of it, stronger, and feeling like we've been heard?  As I was working on this, it became intensely personal.  I was trying to think about how to bring it to life for the kids, I found this blogger's interpretation:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/carlgregg/2011/07/a-god-who-will-wrestle-with-you-until-daybreak-a-progressive-christian-lectionary-commentary-on-genesis-32-for-sunday-july-27/

He brings into play here a great book by Henri Nouwen--"The Wounded Healer" and the notion that Jacob could use that hurt (the hip socket injury) for his own purposes (a wounded wounder who would take out that pain on others) or for God's glory--becoming a wounded healer.  The second option takes a great deal of humility and care, but Jacob does manage to go before his brother, Esau, and ask forgiveness.  While Jacob 'prevails' in this encounter, it is used by God to shape Jacob as an even better leader.  In fact, I'd almost say that in Jacob's winning, he's reminded of his own smallness and the love of God who was willing to take human form and willing to let Jacob struggle in order to be transformed.

Much of the last 2 years has felt this way for me, personally.  Most who see our older son from afar see a pretty wild child still.  He's busy, loud, defiant, and often violent when he doesn't get his way.  Trust me, he's  disciplined at home and we keep pretty firm rules...but there are children unlike others and Tristan is one that often has me on my knees begging God for a break, for more sleep, more energy, less tears and frustrations, a closer relationship with other moms and kids--and a few fewer bruises, scratches and fears about his ability to be a good member of society as he grows up.  

Many people have felt free enough to tell me in public that he needs discipline or I must be missing something or another in my parenting.  Let me tell you, it's hard not to lash out sometimes, knowing that they only see that moment and believe that I'm not stepping up to help him grow into an empathetic, articulate and disciplined individual because we've put hours into workshops, working with therapists, training, books, and watching other 4 year olds?  I know that not everyone has these kinds of challenges.  But then there are the parents who see us, continuing to muddle through, and feel comfortable telling us about their own struggles--or in coming to church knowing that even if their child is having trouble in behaving, they probably won't be alone.  So perhaps we are 'prevailing' in our wrestling match with God, begging him to help us through the challenges of having a Tristan, but that he's doing in in ways we didn't anticipate.  He is blessing us with new ways to reach out to others, and new levels of endurance and patience.  Come to think of it, this is one where I don't know if I'd rather God prevailed in this struggle for submission, or if he'd just do what I'd asked and give me a bit more sleep and calm in my life!

But I know I'm not in control--whether or not I prevail in the wrestling matches, it's still just about learning to see the blessing in the midst of what sometimes feels like a beating.  Can I, like Jacob, walk away excited to tell others that I have struggled/wrestled with God and prevailed in my ability to grow and in my ability to see his blessings? Or will I sit and focus on how hard it's been,  and how little I see God doing what I wanted him to do?

For Oct 13: Curious George Meets the Gospel

Jesus and the 10 Lepers/Lessons on Thankfulness

This version is still pretty rough--and I'd love to hear your suggestions on how to make this better :D

Narrator:  Hi, George!  How are you?

George: Ah haha!

Narrator: That’s good!  Oh look! (points)

Someone in the audience (obviously a plant): I have this banana in my bag—would you like some?

George: uh huh uh huh! (nods, and immediately grabs it, ‘eats’ it, and asks for more)

Narrator:  Oh George—she/he was offering to just share the banana, and there was only 1.

George throws a tantrum (have fun with it :D)

Narrator:  George, let me tell you a story about being thankful for what you have…oh!  But I think you might get bored if I just tell you.  Kids!  I need your help acting this out for George—can you help me? Okay!  Let’s go!

(From Luke 17:11-19, adapted from the Message by EAH)

^11-13  One day, Jesus was walking to Jerusalem.  Can you walk with me?  (lift your knees, swing your arms) walk, walk, walk.  As he came to a place between Samaria and Galilee, he came into a town where there where many people.  As he entered the village, 10 sick people met him.  Can you count 10 with me on your fingers?  (count to 10, lifting fingers one at a time).  They had sores all over their bodies because they had a disease called leprosy.

George:  OUCH!

Narrator:  Yes, George—OUCH!  They hurt very much! They didn’t want Jesus to get sick, though, so they called from far away—cup your hands around your mouth (demonstrate) and say it with me!, “Jesus, have mercy on us! Help us!”  (say in smaller sections so the kids can say it along with you)

, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

Jesus told them:

 “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”

Narrator: They started walking towards the priests, but knew they couldn’t even go into the city—people with sores were not allowed to enter the city, and definitely not the temple! They walked slowly, heads down, sad.  Walk with me—walk, walk, walk. 

They looked down and saw—they were healed!  No sores!  Yay!  (have kids say “yay!” too—they usually do on their own :D)—*Have George cheer too!*

Narrator:  but when 9 of the 10 others kept walking (walk, walk, walk), one man turned around and RAN for Jesus.  He came back to Jesus and said “Thank you” (use sign language along with words—fingertips to mouth, and move down/away and forward).  Can you say and sign it with me?  Thank you! He was so happy, he kept saying thank you over and over again!

Jesus said, “weren’t there 10 of you? Where are the other nine? No one else is thankful, except the one? Get up. Go on your way. Your faith has healed and saved you.”

Narrator: See George? 10 men (raise 10 fingers) were given something by Jesus, but only 1 (lower 9 of the fingers) came back to said thank you—and Jesus told him how good it was to be thankful and say thank you.  Can we teach you to say “thank you”?  (teach George the sign with help from the kids). 

Narrator:  George, do you have something to say?

George: ah ah (signs thank you).

Narrator:  Kids, is there something you like as much as George likes Bananas?  What do you want to say “thank you” to Jesus for?

Follow by singing a song of the Day--I think I like this one I found, sung to the Tune of "5 Little Ducklings"

Ten little lepers got healed that day.
But only one leper came back to say.
"Thank you, Jesus, for making me well
Many people I will tell."

Jesus asked, "Where are the nine?
I healed ten bodies and made them fine."
But only one came back to me
Remember God gives to all graciously.

Angels and talking about Michaelmas

Ever feel like you agree to something because it seems very logical and a good idea at the time, only to find out how HARD it will be later when you sit down to do it?  This week’s story is exactly like that.  As we sat down to talk about lessons a few months ago, all the of the stories related back to things we had already talked about for the season or covered later for Reformation Sunday.

Shirley mentioned that Sunday, September 29 was called the “Feast of the Archangels” and, specifically, was Michaelmas or St. Michael’s Sunday so we could do something “on the Angels.”  Do you realize how very little the spark bible and children’s resources cover actual biblical stories on angels?  I found one with Michael eventually(though he's not mentioned by name the in kid's bible version)—and it’s one of my favorites for kids who are scared.

God Rescues Us

(Daniel 3:19-30 pp. 180-183 in the Spark bible)

Have you ever been scared?  REALLY scared?  When I was a little girl, I was scared of sleeping away from home.  I remember that when I visited my grandparents who lived FAR away, they had this picture hanging on the wall in the room where I slept:

My grandma always told me that it was there to remind me when I was scared that no matter what, there were angels watching over my every step.  Today’s story is kind of about that.  I need your help to tell this story—can you help me with some words and motions?

Once there was a king named Nebuchadnezzar.  Wow, that’s a big name!  King Nebuchadnezzar thought he was a very important man.  So important, in fact, that he made a BIG gold statue made of himself.  Can you stand tall and proud like a statue?  You all look wonderful!

Well, King Nebuchadnezzar did more than have a statue made—he wanted everyone to bow down to his statue and worship him!  He asked everyone “BOW!  BOW before my statue!”  But three brave men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, said “no!  We will not bow down before you or your statue.  We only worship the one true God.” 

King Nebuchadnezzar was MAD.  He was sooooo mad, his face scrunched up like this (can you make this face?) and he turned so red and angry that he almost turned purple!  Wow, that’s mad!  “NO one disobeys the king!” yelled Nebuchadnezzar.  The king said:

“You!  Tie them up and throw them into the fiery furnace!  Turn up the heat and the flames to SEVEN times hotter than normal!”

WOW!  It was hot!  The king couldn’t resist though—he HAD to peek inside and see how they were doing.  He was very surprised!  Can you make a surprised face for me?

“I thought we threw three men in there!”  he shouted.  “but I see FOUR men walking around in there.  They’re not even tied up!  They’re fine.  WHAT IS GOING ON?!”

The extra man in the furnace was an angel named Michael who was sent by God to protect the three men from the fire.

The king FLUNG open the door (can you fling open the door?)  He flung open the door of the hot, fiery furnace and called “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, come out right now!”

When they came out, everyone noticed that the fire hadn’t hurt them.  They didn’t smell like smoke even! King Nebuchadnezzar was amazed, realizing what had happened.

“Your God sent an angel to protect you.  You disobeyed me and faced death rather than worship someone other than God.  I declare that no one in any country can say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego because no god can do what their God can do.”

The angel Michael was with them, protecting them from evil and the fire.  Have you ever felt protected by angels?  God promises us that his messengers will be with us always, much like my grandma used to tell me about!  

Two Masters

This one was hard, honestly, and I drew mainly from the Spark version.  I mean, what do you say to kids to talk about using earthly goods to store up heavenly rewards??Do you even talk about that or just talk about serving only one master? I wanted to focus more here on the benefits of serving others and serving God than on using money to manipulate, as serving fits well with the JLF that will have taken place at our church the day before. 

KFW  September 22, 2013

Two Masters (Luke 16:1-13; pp. 384-385 in the spark bible)

What does it mean to serve God—do you know?    Jesus wanted to help his disciples learn to serve God, so he told them a story:

Narrator:  Once upon  a time there was a rich man

(Rich man jingle coins in his pocket)

Narrator:  He had someone who worked for him and took care of his money

(Rich man hands his coins over to a manager)

Narrator: But this man was greedy and cheated the rich man so he could get more money for himself

(manager starts to put the money into a piggy bank, but we see him put some of the money in his own pockets)

Narrator: When the rich man found out what the worker had done, it made him VERY ANGRY.  GRRR!

Rich man:  (shocked!)  I can’t trust you!  Show me how you took so much of my money, and then leave!

(Manager turns his pockets inside out, while the rich man makes a sad face, slumps body posture, etc.)

Narrator:  The worker wasn’t honest.  He tried to serve the rich man and himself.  Jesus told the disciples

Jesus:  “My friends you must always be honest in what you do. Decide what is most important to you, because you can’t serve God and be greedy serving yourself at the same time.”

What are some ways you have served others this week? What are some things you have been tempted to keep for yourself instead of share or give to others?