FAITH CHALLENGE

1 JOHN 4:7-12

April 18-May 16

Week 1: Seeing God in Jesus Christ

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-12

Memory Verse: Beloved, let us love one another for love is from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7 (NAS)

Concepts:

· Love comes from God.

· We cannot see God, but we know that God is with us when we love each other.

· God showed God’s love for us most clearly in Jesus Christ.

Objectives:

· Students will create objects that represent their understanding of God.

· Students will read stories about Jesus and discuss what they teach us about God and about love.

· Students will share what they learn with each other.

Gathering Time: (Guide and Coach)

1. At the beginning of each class, the Coach greets arriving students and supervises snacks.

2. The Guide and Coach remind students to write prayer joys and concerns on the Prayer Wall and to place their offering in the offering jars.

3. Provide clay, magazines and newspapers, computer paper, colored pencils or markers, and pencils As students arrive, have them make a representation of God. It can be a drawing, a clay sculpture, a newspaper/magazine clipping, or something in writing. The Guide directs this activity.

4. After most students have arrived and snacks are ended (no later than 9:55 a.m.), the Guide asks the Coach to lead an opening prayer. This can be brief and may or may not involve the prayer chain.

Workshop Lesson Procedure: (Guide takes over from here)

Scripture/Bible Story: 10:00-10:10

1. Pass out Bibles and ask students to find 1 John 4:7-12. Students may at first look for the gospel of John. Inform them that 1 John is from a group of letters said to be written by John, one of Jesus’ disciples and are labeled 1, 2, and 3 John. They are after Paul’s letters. Ask students to take turns reading the verses of the Bible passage aloud.

Background for the Guide: 1 John is probably not a letter at all, for it has no salutation and no conclusion. About all we can say is that it is a written communication to a group of Christians, possibly a sermon. Traditionally, 1, 2, and 3 John have all been ascribed to John, the son of Zebedee, one of the disciples of Christ. The writer of 1 John seems to be aware of the Gospel of John. It may have been written near the end of the first century or even a little later.

1 John and the Gospel of John share common language and imagery: words like “life,” “light,” “love,” “word,” and “world” figure prominently in both. Jesus’ commandment to “love one another” is central to the Gospel (13:34) and to 1 John.

Like most of the NT writings, 1 John was written to address a specific set of problems:

· Some members of the community to which it is addressed claimed to be without sin (1:8).

· Some failed to obey Jesus’ commandment to love one another (2:9-11).

· Some claim to possess God’s Spirit, but deny that Jesus was really human (4:2).

1 John emphasizes Jesus’ humanity and atoning sacrifice for human sin. Because God loved us so much as to sacrifice God’s only Son, so we ought to love each other.

2. To be sure that students understand what they have read, use the following questions to discuss the passage. Feel free to come up with your own discussion questions as well.

· What does John tell his readers (us) to do? Love one another.

· Why is it important that we love each other? It shows that we have been given new life; it shows that we are children of God; and it shows that we know God.

· Why does loving each other show that we know God? Because God is love.

· How do we know that God is love? Because God showed God’s love for us by sending God’s Son, Jesus Christ, into the world. In Christ, God come to earth in human form to be with God’s people and show them what love/God is like.

· The earliest disciples were able to see God because they could see Jesus teaching and preaching and healing. What are some ways that we can “see” God? We see God in stories about Jesus in the Bible and in people whom we love and who love us.

Application (10:10-10:35):

1. Ask for volunteers to share and discuss their representations of God. List characteristics of God that the students name on chart paper. Example: If they cut out a picture of someone helping someone else, you could write any number of things: “God cares for us,” “God helps us”.

2. Normally, you would have a graphic representation of the Bible lesson to post on the timeline. Since students have created their own graphic representations of God, invite those who have created something on paper to post their representations on the timeline under “God empowers a church.”

3. Ask “How do we know these things about God?” Receive any answers you get with little comment, simply affirming students’ contributions to the discussion. Listen for any who suggest that one way that we know what God is like is by knowing (reading, hearing, experiencing) what Jesus Christ is like. Today’s Bible lesson is about how we know what God is like and how we know what love is like (because God is love).

4. Point out how differently each student has represented what God is like. Each representation provides a different “interpretation” of God. What are we to do with all these interpretations? How are we to know? One way is to look to Jesus. Jesus offers us some clarification. If we look at the way he lived his life and related to other people and use him as an example of how to live our lives and relate to other people, we can know better what God is like and what real love is.

5. Divide the class into as many groups as you have adults in the classroom. Divide the copies of the “Jesus stories” (attached) equally among the groups. Each group will need:

· Several “Jesus story” discussion sheet sets. (Each group gets a different set of Jesus stories and there are several copies of each story, e.g. group 1 might get the story of the paralytic and the story of the Jesus washing the disciples’ feet; group 2 might get the story of the man with a withered hand and the story about feeding the 5000, and so on).

· A piece of flipchart paper and a marker.

· Bibles.

· The adult leader will need the small-group instructions and the “adult version” of the stories (they have possible answers to the discussion questions in italics).

6. Tell the groups that they will be reading some stories about Jesus and the ways that he showed love to different people in the gospels. Each group will be reading and discussing different stories. When the groups are finished the class will come back together to discuss what we have learned about:

· What God is like.

· What love is like.

7. Allow about 10-15 minutes for the small groups to discuss their stories. Each group may only have time to do one story. This is fine. Don’t feel like you have to get through all of them. (Further instructions for small-group discussion are found at the end of this lesson.)

8. When the small-group time is up, call the class back together. Ask the reporter from each group to tape their flip-chart paper on the wall and briefly share for each story:

· What happened in the story?

· Who needed God’s love in this story?

· What did Jesus do to share God’s love?

· What do we learn about God in this story?

· What do we learn about love in this story?

Wrap-up:

1. Close the class by singing They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love. If any students know it already, you can invite them to sing it through once with you to teach it to the rest of the class.

2. Ask students to tidy up. Gather all “Jesus Story” handouts for use the next time the lesson is taught.

Closing (Coach):

1. The Coach conducts the closing prayer time. All students and adults gather around the prayer chain. The Coach begins and ends the prayer. The Coach asks each student to contribute a joy, thanksgiving or concern in turn.

2. Close/lock the door and turn off the lights.

Guide preparation in advance:

1. For questions on this lesson plan, call Susan Mazzara, 387-0920.

2. Gather supplies and make photocopies as listed in the supply list.

3. Write the words to They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love (attached) on flipchart paper (large enough for class to sing off of) and post it on the wall.

Supply List:

Flipchart paper, tape, and markers.
Supplies for the opening activity: modeling clay, magazines, newspapers, scissors, paper, pens ,pencils, markers, crayons.
Copies of the “Jesus stories” for small-group discussion. Make three or four copies each of the student versions. Make one copy each of the adult versions (the ones with possible answers in italics). The stories are arranged from shortest to longest. Collect these at the end of the lesson for use with the next class.
One copy of the small-group discussion instructions for each adult leader in the class.
Bibles (available in the classroom)

References

Susan Mazzara’s study guide.
Lyrics to They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” are from http://www.angelfire.com/co/inspiration/byourlove.html. You can also listen to the tune at this website.

Jesus Stories: Small-Group Instructions

Prepare a piece of flipchart paper with the following headings (you might orient the paper in landscape to provide more room to write)”

Story	God . . .	Love . . .

Ask for volunteers from the group to be: a reader, a discussion leader, a recorder, and a reporter.
Ask the reader to read the first story aloud.
Ask the recorder to write a one- or two-word summary of the story in column 1 (for example, “Paralytic,” “Feeding 5000,” or “Woman at the Well”).
Ask the discussion leader to use the summary and questions provided for each story to discuss the story. Have the recorder fill out the chart. Only the last two questions get posted on the flipchart paper.
When the group has discussed as many stories as time permits, the reporter will share the group’s chart with the rest of the class.

Jesus Stories: Discussion questions (adult version)

Note: While this sheet suggests some answers to the discussion questions, the answers it gives are not exhaustive. The students may very well have answers that do not match these and are just as good. These are provided simply to give you ideas to facilitate discussion if it starts drag.

Mark 9:38-41: For or against Jesus

Summary: One of Jesus’ disciples reports that an outsider, a person who is not in with Jesus’ group of followers is healing people. The disciples want to stop the person, but Jesus says to let the person continue his ministry.

1. Why did the disciples want to stop the man? Because he was an outsider. He wasn’t “part of the in crowd.”

2. Why did Jesus refuse to stop the man? Because he was performing a valuable service for the people he healed. Because the man recognized that Jesus had the power of God to heal, even though the man was not “one of them.”

3. Do you know an outsider or have you yourself ever been excluded?

4. How does it feel not to be accepted as part of the “in crowd”?

5. Why do you think we are so tempted to shun outsiders? Because they are “different” from us. Because we sometimes are not sure enough of our own “insider” status not to feel threatened by other people.

6. How was Jesus’ response to the man different from how we sometimes treat outsiders? Jesus recognized and accepted the man for who he was and the gifts for healing he had. Jesus was not biased by the man’s “outsider” status.

7. What does this story teach us about God? God is accepting and affirming. God cares for people whom others want to reject.

8. What does this story teach us about love? Love is accepting. Love is not jealous. Love is generous; it doesn’t hold back just because someone is an outsider.

Mark 3:1-6:Man with the Crippled Hand

Summary: In Jesus’ time, illness and deformities were considered a sign if sinfulness. People thought that if you were sick or deformed, it was because you were sinful. Only people who were not guilty of sin were allowed to go into the temple and offer sacrifices. The man with the crippled hand would have been an outsider. Jesus decided it was more important to heal the man and restore his place in the community than to obey a law that prohibited him from healing on the Sabbath.

1. What would have been the “legal” thing for Jesus to do? Leave the man’s hand crippled.

2. What did Jesus do instead? He healed the man because he thought the man’s welfare was more important than the law.

3. Do you know of any “laws” that do (or did) more harm than good? Some examples that come to mind are segregation in the United States, laws that prohibited black people and women from voting, Apartheid in South Africa. If the students bring up any that cause controversy (such as the current debate over gay marriage) simply affirm their contribution to the discussion and point out that sometimes it takes quite a while for lawmakers to work these things out and in the meantime they cause a lot of disagreement; then redirect the students’ attention to the questions.

4. Why do you think we are sometimes reluctant to change laws that do more harm than good? We are unsure of the effect it might have on society and our uncertainty makes us afraid to change. We are afraid of giving up power to other people.

5. How was Jesus’ response to the man and the law different from the Pharisees’? Jesus thought the man’s welfare was more important than the law.

6. What does this story teach us about God? God cares more about people and their good than about rigid adherence to the law.

7. What does this story teach us about love? Love is courageous. Love is not afraid to do the right thing even when it draws opposition.

Matthew 9:1-8: Healing the Crippled Man

Summary: In Jesus’ time, illness and deformities were considered a sign if sinfulness. People thought that if you were sick or deformed it was because you were sinful. At that time people also believed that only God could forgive sin. When some people brought a crippled man to Jesus to be healed, Jesus said to him, “Your sins are forgiven.” This shocked many people, but Jesus showed that God had given him authority to forgive sin by also healing the man.

1. Why did Jesus say to the man, “Your sins are forgiven”? Because at that time people believed that sickness was a sign of sin.

2. Why did this shock the crowd? Because they did not believe that Jesus had God’s authority to forgive sin.

3. These days do we ever say to each other, “Your sins are forgiven”? Yes. In worship, the worship leader tells us “Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us also forgive one another.” When we pass the peace in worship and say “Peace be with you,” it is the same as saying to each other “Your sins are forgiven.”

4. Have you ever known someone who needed to hear, or have you yourself ever needed to hear, someone say, “Your sins are forgiven”?

5. What do you think sometimes holds us back from saying “I forgive you” to each other? Pride, inability to let go of hurt feelings.

6. What does this story teach us about God? God chooses to give authority to people to forgive sins.

7. What does this story teach us about love? Love is forgiving.

Matthew 15:21-28: A Woman’s Faith

Summary: A Canaanite woman (someone who is not Jewish, as Jesus and his disciples are) stops Jesus and asks him to heal her daughter. Jesus’ disciples are embarrassed by this woman and tell Jesus to send her away. At first Jesus ignores her, then he refuses her request, but finally he relents and heals her daughter.

1. Why are the disciples embarrassed by the woman? Because she is making a scene. Because she is a non-Jew and they do not want to be seen around her.

2. How does Jesus respond to the woman’s persistence? He listens to her request and heals her daughter.

3. What did the disciples see in this woman? That she was a pest; that she was a non-Jew.

4. What did Jesus finally see in this woman? That she really did have a lot of faith.

5. What does this story teach us about God? God sees beyond the external things (like embarrassing behavior and nationality) and looks at people’s faith.

6. What does this story teach us about love? Love looks not at the outside of people, but at the inside.

Matthew 14:13-21: Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

Summary: Jesus has been healing many people and it is late. The disciples urge Jesus to send the crowds away to find food, but Jesus challenges the disciples to feed the crowd. When the disciples fear that they cannot feed the crowd, Jesus takes their food and blesses it. The disciples somehow manage to feed the whole crowd with plenty of leftovers.

1. What did the disciples want to do? Disperse the crowd and have everyone fend for themselves.

2. What did Jesus want to do? Keep the crowd together and have his disciples feed them.

3. How do you think the disciples felt when Jesus told them to give the crowd something to eat? Frightened, intimidated, incredulous, overwhelmed.

4. Have you ever had to do something that you felt was beyond your ability?

5. How were you able to accomplish it?

6. How do you think the disciples managed to feed the crowd? Lots of answers are acceptable: maybe the bread and fish were miraculously multiplied, maybe the crowd was inspired to share food that they had brought with them, or maybe everyone pooled their money and were able to buy enough food to feed each other.

7. What does this story teach us about God? God asks us to stick together and take care of each other.

8. What does this story teach us about love? Love is compassionate. Love is generous. Love is resourceful. Love looks out for others.

Mark 9:17-27: Spirit-Possessed Boy

Summary: Jesus meets a man whose son is possessed by a demon. The disciples tried to heal the boy, but could not. The man is doubtful that even Jesus can heal the boy and he expresses his doubt. When Jesus challenges the man and the disciples on their lack of faith, the man cries out, “I do have faith. Please help me to have even more.” Jesus then heals the man’s son.

1. Why did the man doubt that Jesus could heal his son? He had seen that the disciples were unable to heal him. He was afraid. His son had been sick for a very long time. Perhaps he had lost hope.

2. How was Jesus able to recognize the man’s doubt? The man said, “if you can.”

3. How did Jesus respond to the man’s doubt? He reassured him by saying “Anything is possible for someone who has faith.”

4. Think of a time when someone doubted that you could do something. How did it make you feel? When I [Susan speaking here] queried my family on this question, they answered: angry, frustrated, resentful, indignant, “OK, do it yourself, then!”. However, accept just about any answers that the students offer.

5. How was Jesus’ response different from the way we might respond? Jesus didn’t react in a defensive, resentful angry way. He was more concerned about increasing the man’s faith, so he reassured him and then healed his son.

6. What does this story teach us about God? God is patient. God’s first priority is with nurturing our faith. God remains faithful to us even if we doubt God.

7. What does this story teach us about love? Love is patient. Love puts other people ahead of our own feelings. Love is less concerned with self than with other people.

John 13:3-17: Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

Summary: During his last meal with his disciples, Jesus washes his disciples’ feet and tells them that they should do the same for each other. At the time of Jesus, washing dinner guests’ feet was a task that servants did. Jesus was taking the part of a servant and telling his disciples that they should be like servants to each other.

1. Why do you think Peter objected to Jesus washing his feet? Peter thought it was too menial a task for Jesus. Peter thought it was beneath Jesus. Peter thought that Jesus was too important to act like a servant.

2. Did Jesus literally want the disciples to wash each other’s feet? Probably not. What he probably meant was for the disciples to be humble with each other and to treat each other with great respect, as a servant would treat a house guest.

3. Jesus was preparing his disciples to be leaders in the church. What characteristics do we associate with leaders? They are the “bosses,” the ones who tell everyone else what to do; they are in charge; they make all the decisions.

4. What qualities does Jesus want the leaders of the church to have? To be humble, to see to the needs of the church, to be servants, not to think of themselves as better than anyone else.

5. What does this story teach us about God? God is humble. God leads us by example. God took on the role of a servant.

6. What does this story teach us about love? Love is humble. Love serves the needs of others. Love is not selfish.

Jesus Stories: Discussion questions (student version)

Mark 9:38-41: For or against Jesus

1. Why did the disciples want to stop the man?

2. Why did Jesus refuse to stop the man?

3. Do you know an outsider or have you yourself ever been excluded?

4. How does it feel not to be accepted as part of the “in crowd”?

5. Why do you think we are so tempted to shun outsiders?

6. How was Jesus’ response to the man different from how we sometimes treat outsiders?

7. What does this story teach us about God?

8. What does this story teach us about love?

Mark 3:1-6:Man with the Crippled Hand

1. What would have been the “legal” thing for Jesus to do?

2. What did Jesus do instead?

3. Do you know of any “laws” that do (or did) more harm than good?

4. Why do you think we are sometimes reluctant to change laws that do more harm than good?

5. How was Jesus’ response to the man and the law different from the Pharisees’?

6. What does this story teach us about God?

7. What does this story teach us about love?

Matthew 9:1-8: Healing the Crippled Man

1. Why did Jesus say to the man, “Your sins are forgiven”?

2. Why did this shock the crowd?

3. These days do we ever say to each other, “Your sins are forgiven”?

4. Have you ever known someone who needed to hear, or have you yourself ever needed to hear, someone say, “Your sins are forgiven”?

5. What do you think sometimes holds us back from saying “I forgive you” to each other?

6. What does this story teach us about God?

7. What does this story teach us about love?

Matthew 15:21-28: A Woman’s Faith

1. Why are the disciples embarrassed by the woman?

2. How does Jesus respond to the woman’s persistence?

3. What did the disciples see in this woman?

4. What did Jesus finally see in this woman?

5. What does this story teach us about God?

6. What does this story teach us about love?

Matthew 14:13-21: Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

1. What did the disciples want to do?

2. What did Jesus want to do?

3. How do you think the disciples felt when Jesus told them to give the crowd something to eat?

4. Have you ever had to do something that you felt was beyond your ability?

5. How were you able to accomplish it?

6. How do you think the disciples managed to feed the crowd?

7. What does this story teach us about God?

8. What does this story teach us about love?

Mark 9:17-27: Spirit-Possessed Boy

1. Why did the man doubt that Jesus could heal his son?

2. How was Jesus able to recognize the man’s doubt?

3. How did Jesus respond to the man’s doubt?

4. Think of a time when someone doubted that you could do something. How did it make you feel?

5. How was Jesus’ response different from the way we might respond?

6. What does this story teach us about God?

7. What does this story teach us about love?

John 13:3-17: Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

1. Why do you think Peter objected to Jesus washing his feet?

2. Did Jesus literally want the disciples to wash each other’s feet?

3. Jesus was preparing his disciples to be leaders in the church. What characteristics do we associate with leaders?

4. What qualities does Jesus want the leaders of the church to have?

5. What does this story teach us about God?

6. What does this story teach us about love?

THEY'LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE

Based on John 13:35 music and lyrics by Peter Schools