The Good Samaritan

KFW July 14, 2013

The Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37 (Spark bible p. 360-365)

Clever man:  I’m a smart man and know ALLL the rules.  I think I know them better than this Jesus person—I think I can trick him into giving a wrong answer.  Oh TEACHER!  What must I do to live forever with God?

Jesus:  What do the commandments say?

Clever man: The commandments say you should love God with everything you have.  And you should love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.

Jesus: that’s the right answer!  Live like this and you’ll live with God forever.

Clever man:  so, Jesus, who is my neighborhood.

Jesus:  Let me tell you a story.  A man was traveling down a scary and rocky road by himself.  All of a sudden, a group of men jumped out.  They stole his money and hurt him, and left him by the side of the road.  He moaned and groaned in pain.  He couldn’t get up. 

Priest: [walks by, humming.  Sees the man.]  OH! [moves to the other side of him and keeps walking]

Man/Woman: [walks by, humming.  Sees the man]  Oh umm I’m late.  I must get going [ runs/moves quickly by the man].

Samaritan:  [Walks by, sees the man].  OH!  [stops]I am so sorry you are hurt.  Here are some bandaids.  Let me wash your owies. Here, have something to eat.  Let’s go over to that hotel so you can get some rest and relax. 

Jesus: The man had to leave for a few days, and so he paid the hotel owner to help take care of the hurt man while he was gone.  He wanted the hurt man to get better.  So which of these three people was a neighbor to the man who was hurt?

Clever man:  The one who stopped to help him.

Jesus:  God wants us to help everyone.  People of every size, shape, and color and from every country are important to God.  Happy people, sad people, scary people, people who are easy to love and people who are not easy to love.  Now, go and be like the Samaritan and help everyone who needs help.

What are some ways you can help your neighbors this week?  Let’s start making our “love your neighbor jars” together!  [I have small mason jars for each family—I hope I have enough!]

The Story of Namaan (Draft 1)

In preparing for this week's KFW, I started looking for new ways to approach the text (2 Kings 5:1-14, pages 150-151 in the spark bible).  While I haven't found new ways to introduce it or share it yet, I was in for a bit of a shock.

I had no idea that Leprosy was still a disease that took so many lives, especially in Asia and Africa yet today.  The worst part?  While it is easily transmitted, it is easily CURED.  Yes, cured.  With the right treatments, even the skin discoloration that indicates the beginning of the disease can disappear over time--and loss of limbs and sight are entirely preventable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtIgXbi4m1c

Once upon a time there was a rich and powerful soldier by the name of Namaan.  People respected him and he had everything he could ever want--money, power, servants of his own--except he had Leprosy.  Leprosy is a disease that slowly turns your skin different colors and then makes toes, fingers, hands, legs fall off and eyes go blind.  Namaan was afraid.  One day, Namaan's servant said, "it's too bad you cannot go see the prophet nearby in Israel.  He could cure you--I KNOW he could!" Namaan told his boss, the King of Aram, and the King told him "Go!  I will send a letter with you to the King of Israel explaining the situation, and money to make sure that you are healed by this prophet!"

When Namaan met with the king of Israel and gave him the letter, he tore his robes, yelling "why did the King of Aram send you here?  I'm not God.  I can't heal you.  Does he think that by paying me I can do miracles?"  Then he remembered the prophet, Elisha, was nearby.  "Go see Elisha, the prophet.  He may be able to help you."

Namaan arrived at Elisha's door, with other soldiers and horses waiting, but Elisha only sent out a messenger to talk with Namaan. “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."

Namaan was angry.  He had come alllllll this way to see a prophet, and brought him money to have him wave his hands over the spots and watch them disappear.  Namaan wasn't even seen by the prophet!  Not only this, but he was also told to go wash in the stinky, dirty river there--the Jordan--and SEVEN TIMES??  What difference does the number of times make?  Weren't the rivers nearer his home cleaner?  Better for healing?

His servants spoke to him, and said "If Elisha had asked to do something difficult, wouldn't you have done it?  Wouldn't you have walked up mountains, swam across oceans, eaten bugs or even played the quiet game for HOURS? Go and wash--it's simple--and you will be healed! 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the prophet and his servant had told him to, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

What did Namaan learn?  Sometimes God asks us to do something that seems easy, but requires faith.  Sometimes God asks us to trust and to listen to people who usually have to listen to us.


...so what else do you think is important to share with children from this story? Do we try it with puppets?  Talk with them about how leprosy is still a disease around today and we, as caring christians, could have something to do with bringing healing to others in Christ's name?  I'm up for all new ideas you can throw at me!

Following Jesus

KFW—June 30, 2013

Following Jesus (Luke 9:51-62)

[Set up:  Have Jesus up at the front to start, with readers spread around the room.  Children will follow Jesus around the room]

Narrator:  One day, Jesus and his disciples were walking along the road to Jerusalem.  Can we walk behind Jesus as he travels?  Join me!

At each village, people called out for Jesus.

GREEK CHORUS:  (can you join me and call out for Jesus?  Jesus!)  Jesus!

Narrator: Jesus called out to each person he met. 

Jesus:  Follow me  (Greek chorus:  FOLLOW JESUS!)

Reader 1:  I will follow you wherever you go!

Jesus:  Every animal has a place to call home, but I go from place to place. (points to reader 2)  Follow me! (Greek chorus:  FOLLOW JESUS!)

Reader 2:  Wait!  I need to bury my father who just died.

Jesus:  The dead have no worries anymore.  Think about the living and tell them about God.  (points to reader 3)  Follow me! (Greek chorus:  FOLLOW JESUS!)

Reader 3:  I will follow you!  Oh, but first I need to go back and tell my family goodbye.

Jesus: No one who says they will follow, but turns around to look at his old life is ready to tell others about God.

Narrator:  What did Jesus ask the three people to leave behind?  He asked them to leave behind homes, family, and everything they knew!  Which do you think would be the hardest?  What did they gain by following Jesus?  What can you tell others/your friends about following Jesus?

NOTES-- for parents, further thoughts, and children's sermon

Oh, this is yet another 'easy' text.  Coupling this one with the Old Testament readings on Elijah and being asked to leave everything behind (including cooking their oxen that helped run the farm before leaving) in order to follow God's calling, we start to see a theme--and that is that following our calling and Jesus is costly.  This is no simple and easy thing.  Bonhoeffer's "The Cost of Discipleship" (and Bonhoeffer's life in general) comes to mind when we talk about this subject.  Though not all of us will be called to lay down our lives as martyrs, all of us are called to give up our lives to God for his will.

I guess the place to start with all of this for children is to talk about the idea that appears in the new testament reading--freedom, and that with that freedom comes responsibility.  Salvation is the greatest kind of freedom, but it also comes with responsibility--the responsibility to share the good news of Jesus and to give up what we want so that we may share more of his story.

Banquet with Simon

Banquet with Simon (Luke 7:36-8:3, spark bible p. 354-357)

Narrator:  One day, Jesus was invited to dinner at Simon’s house.

Simon:   (to the kids) Can you help me welcome Jesus?

Jesus knocks

Simon:  Welcome! (Kids: welcome)  Thanks for coming, Jesus (Kids:  Thanks for coming, Jesus!)

Narrator:  Jesus was ready to eat, when he heard a woman at the door.  When she saw Jesus, she started to cry.  The woman was known to have done many wrong things.

Woman:  Booo Hooo!  Sniff!

Jesus: Please pass the grapes

Narrator: The woman bent over Jesus’ feet and cleaned them dry with her tears.  Drip, drip drip (Kids:  drip, drip, drip!)

Jesus:  Please pass the cheese.

Narrator: the woman dried the tears on his feet with her long, dark hair.  Wipe, wipe,  wipe.  Can you wipe like the woman did?  (Kids:  wipe, wipe, wipe).  The woman was kissing Jesus’ feet and rubbing them with oil.

Simon:  I didn’t invite that woman!  What is she doing?

Narrator:  Simon was angry.  Jesus cleared his throat and told a story.

Jesus:  Two people owed the bank money.  One person owed a bank 500 coins.  The other person owed the bank 50 coins.  The bank canceled payments for both people.  Who was more thankful?

Simon:  The one who owed more money, right?

Jesus:  I’m like that bank.  I forgive and forget big and little mistakes (puts hand on woman’s head)  She needs a lot of forgiveness, so she shows me great love.  You are my host, but you didn’t greet me as a special guest.  You have little mistakes for me to forgive, so you give me only a little love.

Narrator:  Jesus turned to the woman.

Jesus:  Dry your eyes, friend.  I forgive all you’ve done wrong.  You have a strong faith.

Narrator:  Simon had learned a very important lesson.   All people are important and equal to Jesus.  Jesus forgives and forgets mistakes of all sizes. 

If Jesus were coming to your house, how would you get ready for his visit?  What would you do or ask when he came to your house? 

Thoughts for Grown ups

I'll admit it--I'm just thankful this week isn't about a miraculous healing.  Sharing this story with the children is a bit more straightforward.  It's good news we can all take home--God is loving and caring.  Jesus forgives us, no matter how large or small our mistakes.  I also love the way Jesus draws attention to this and gently corrects Simon here.  It reminds me of the Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies (PBIS) at my son's school.  Here, he focuses on the beauty of the woman's actions before addressing Simon's approach and correcting.  I think it's a reminder we can all use--God loves even those we find un-loveable and it's important to look for beauty and redeeming qualities, viewing others how God might see them.

Elijah and the Widow

Kid Friendly Worship.  June 9, 2013.  Elijah and the Widow—1 Kings 17:8-24, page 140-142 in the Spark bible

Narrator (Widow):  Come in, friends!  It sure is hot here in Zarephath lately, isn’t it?  I expect that you came to hear about the stranger living with me?   God has done miracles in our house because of him.  

Several weeks ago when it was so hot and dry that almost no one was outside, I went out to gather sticks near the town gate for our dinner.  The stranger, Elijah approached me and said, “Excuse me, Ma’am?  Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?”  Of course, I was happy to do it, with it being so hot and him coming so far.  As I started to leave, though, he said “oh, and can I have a piece of bread too, please?”  I stopped and almost started to cry.  I turned around to tell him the truth—“I’ve got nothing to offer you.  I only have a little flour (hold up jar) and a little oil (hold up jar) at home.  Not enough to make even a biscuit.  I’m going home to make a fire with the sticks so that my son and I can eat this meal and then get hungrier and hungrier and die.”

He said something amazing!  He told me “Don’t be afraid. Go home and cook, But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me.   Then make something for yourself and your son from the flour and oil you have left.  God told me and wants me to tell YOU that  ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”

He ate.  We ate.  There was more left over!  We would have enough for another day.  I made food the next day. He ate.  We ate.  There was MORE!  God kept providing food for all of us! 

But then my son got sick and stopped breathing. I picked him up and carried him to Elijah. I yelled at Elijah because I was so sad.  “Why do you hate me, man of God?  Did you just come to eat my food and kill my son?”  He told me to give him my son.  I did (look sad with empty arms outstretched).  He took him to the room I let Elijah stay in and he laid him on the bed.  He started so loudly I could hear him downstairs.  He was asking God to help him start breathing again. Soon, he came back downstairs carrying my son.  He was breathing!  He was smiling!  I was amazed. I knew he was a man of God, and that when he said God was speaking to him, he was telling the truth! 

What are some ways we can be like Elijah and take care of hungry people?  How can we care for someone who is sick?

___Thoughts for the adults

Well...two weeks in a row we're talking about healing in many ways.  However, that's not the heart of the story that struck me.  God told Elijah that he should go to Zarephath and that a woman would help feed him.  God could have chosen anyone to feed Elijah.  Though drought probably made food hard to come by, he chose an especially difficult case--a widow (who, in that society, was basically seen as having no worth and no power) who was a bit cranky/immediately defensive with Elijah, and then her son demonstrates illness and DIES.  The thing that struck me here is that the miracle isn't just the food.  In fact, I'd argue the more powerful miracle here is that she puts her trust in God and does as Elijah asks.  She makes food for him first, though she barely has any even for her son and herself.  She was PLANNING to die, but in her trust and faith, God helps see her through.  This grizzled, bitter woman in her trust brings about a miracle even more powerful than feeding a prophet--she begins to believe and praise God, telling others about the amazing things Elijah had done in God's name.  She is the living example of "I believe God.  Help my unbelief."

It's strange to me how abruptly the story ends though.  She states that she knows he is a man of God and...the next sentence takes us into a new section, three years into the drought.  The only sense I can make of this is that this widow continued to serve and care for Elijah until he was ready to go confront the king.  Another truly amazing example of faith-she took this stranger into her home, he stayed a long time, and she continued to serve.  If only we could all be so faithful and thankful for what God offers!