So what do we do with the demanding teachings of the new testament? Do we tell them to the children - and if so, is there are correct age? It's true that not all stories are age appropriate. Some teachings are too nuanced; if they were taken literally their meaning would be missed. But, the threads of judgement and mercy, the realities of life, sin and the call of God on humans are all throughout the scripture. From the garden of Eden, to the tower of Babel, in the story of Noah, with Abraham and Isaac on Mt. Moriah, Moses on the threshold of the promised land; in the life of David, and in the prophets. As we encounter Jesus we meet God who is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. (Psam 145:8)
I am going to write a few things about this Sunday. Take what is useful and helpful for your class this week.
The text for this week (Mark 9:38-50) from the Message reads:
John spoke up and said, "Teacher, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn't in our group."
Jesus wasn't pleased. "Don't stop him. No one can use my name to do something good and powerful and in the next breath cut me down. If he's not an enemy, he's an ally. Why anyone, by giving you a cup of water in my name, is on our side. Count on it that God will notice.
On the other hand, if you give one of these simple, childlike believers a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you'll soon wish you hadn't. You'd be better dropped in the lake with a millstone around your neck.
If your hand or your foot gets in the way, chop it off and throw it away. You're better off maimed or lame and alive than the proud owner of two hands and two feet, godless in a furnace of eternal fire. And if your eye distracts you from God, pull it out and throw it away. You're better off one eyed and alive than exercising your twenty-twenty vision from inside the fire of hell.
Everyone's going through a refining fire sooner or later, but you'll be well-preserved, protected from eternal flames. Be preservatives yourselves. Preserve the peace.
From the epistle of James we read:
Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders to pray for you and anoint you with oil in the name of Jesus. Believing prayers will heal you and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven - healed inside and out.
Make this your common practice: Confess you sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something to be reckoned with. Elijah for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn't rain and it didn't - not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.
My friend, if you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back so that they are rescued from wandering away from God.
James 5:13-20
Regarding the Gospel:
I think the first verse is apt for children. I have often heard kids talk about their friends in other churches and wonder if they are Christians. Children have a tendency (just like adults) to separate people into groups and to be suspicious of those who are in groups other than theirs. In this text the disciples have taken note of a group of people who are healing in Jesus name but are not a part of their group. Jesus says, "Everyone who is not against me, if for me. If people are doing good in my name, God will notice. You can count on it." Perhaps you can highlight other churches in our community that are doing good. Tell about what God is doing in the church in our city and be encouraged. You can even bring in some pictures of other churches. This Sunday is World Communion Sunday (one could argue, every Sunday is World Communion Sunday) nevertheless, it is good practice to draw attention to the fact that we gather with believers around the world. One body, sharing in one cup and one bread!
This reading also emphasizes the importance of us not causing other Christians to sin. How do we encourage people to sin? Maybe we draw people into gossip by whispering about others? Maybe we hurt another in the words that we say by telling others things that aren't true about who they are or who God is and they fall into wrong ways of thinking or acting. Jesus wants us to look out for each other and encourage faith in one another, when we are sinning against other people/causing others to sin, we break down community. Perhaps they can recognize this in their families: "don't tell mom and dad what we are doing... go and get that $5 on the counter and bring it to me, mom won't care...." These are little examples but they show how we draw people into our web of sin. Jesus cares a lot about how his followers/the body of Christ/ the church treat one another. After all, we are his body on earth! We are to show the world the love and forgiveness of Jesus. How can we do this if we don't treat each other well?
The verses about chopping off limbs and sin connect back to the lesson from last week which talks about sacrifice. These verses are not a demand for physical self-mutilation. They are, however, filled with very strong and attention-grabbing language in calling for Jesus' followers to get rid of whatever in life tempts us to be untrue to God. I wonder what the children would identify as things which get in the way of following God and loving others.
We are to be the salt of the earth (Be preservatives yourselves! The Message, Mark 9:). We are the salt of the earth when we don't worry about rank or position but when recognize in one another a common commitment to Jesus, to the gospel and to the life of a servant.
Regarding James:
I like the passage alongside the gospel because it talks about the practices of Christian community: "If you are hurting, pray. If you are joyful, sing. Are you sick? Call the church elders to pray for you to anoint you with oil... confess your sins to each other so that you can live together whole and healed."
This is a great opportunity for us to talk about these four forms of prayer throughout the week and on Sunday morning. Do you pray when you are hurting? How do we do this on Sunday morning? Do you ever sing when you are joyful? Do you have a favourite song that you like to sing? Does our church do prayers of anointing? What does it look like? Perhaps you might ask someone from prayer ministry to come to your class, show you some anointing oil and introduce your class to prayers of anointing.
It is worth mentioning that not all prayers are answered the way we hope or can see at the time. I am sure Elijah prayed for things in his life that were not answered how he had hoped. When our prayers aren't answered in the way we prayed it doesn't mean God isn't real, isn't listening to you or doesn't love you or me. Praying to God isn't like rubbing a genie. Praying to God is entering into the heart of love, it is listening to Jesus, it is bringing ourselves before God, it is confessing our sin, giving thanks, praying for others, it is mystery and revelation.
I picked up a great little book this summer entitled: Drawing Our Prayers by Sybil MacBeth. It gives children and adults some tools for praying through drawing: confessing, praying for others, using symbols, listening. I would recommend spending time in prayer this week including prayers of thanksgiving, listening, confession and praying for others. If you would like me to scan you some ideas from the book just let me know!
May God be with you and the children in your class!
I give thanks to God whenever I think of you!
- Sara
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