FAITH CHALLENGE
Matthew: Jesus’ Ministry
Helping Hand – Lesson A, Week 1
Scripture: Matthew
25:31-46 (CEV)
Memory Verses:
“You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand.” (Galatians 6:2 CEV)
1.
The Coach leads the
opening routine: snack, fellowship, Prayer Wall activity, and Prayer
Chain. Name tags are available.
2.
The Coach reviews the
timeline. Remind the class that we are
still in the “God sends a son” section of the timeline. We have studied Jesus’
birth and baptism and one small part of his ministry, the Zacchaeus story. For Lent
and Easter we studied Jesus’ death, resurrection and Holy Week. We now go back
to our study of Jesus’ ministry with 2 lessons from Matthew. Note that this is
out of chronological order.
3.
Ask for the offering.
Youth are asked to bring soup cans instead of money as their offering for this
five-week unit. Stack cans that are
brought today. These cans will become a
“bridge” between the paper mache people in the Pentecost offering display. Explain the display to the class: The paper
maché people represent the needy (sad, dejected). The “bridge” of cans is our bridge to them and a visual reminder
of reaching out to help others. After
Pentecost, the soup cans will be sent to the Raleigh Soup Kitchen.
4.
Introduce the Guide,
who leads the workshop lesson.
1.
In this lesson we learn
what it means to answer Jesus’ call to live in a way that exhibits God’s
purpose for the world. Over the next 2 weeks we are going to work on a couple
of mission projects to help the needy, the Soup Kitchen and Pentecost offering.
2.
Introduce the memory
verse. Divide the class and the verse
into 2 parts. Repeat the verse as a call and response 3 or 4 times. After
several repetitions, switch parts and repeat the verse a few times again.
Call: You obey
the law of Christ …
Response: when you offer
each other a helping hand.
3.
Discuss what it means.
What is the law of Christ? (We are called to a new way of life that
shows God’s purpose for the world.) Do you obey
this call? Do you offer a helping hand? To whom? Gather ideas for what it means
to offer a helping hand with: family members, friends, in the community
(church, school and other activities).
4.
Distribute Bibles and
read the scripture passage for this lesson. There is a great deal of talk in
this passage about judgment. It is not meant to be scary; it was mean to be
comforting. This story says, “If you remain faithful to my commandments – to
love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and to love your
neighbor as yourself - then Jesus will judge you righteous (in right
relationship) when He comes again.”
What actions do not demonstrate the law of Christ? How do we mess up? It is not enough to do good, then ignore the fact that we can do bad. Whenever we help someone in need, we are helping Jesus. Whenever we don’t help someone in need, we are not helping Jesus. It works both ways!
Activity
#1
1.
Song study. We are
going to listen to an artist’s interpretation of this passage. Note how he uses
variations in his music (speed, volume, tones, major, minor) to support his
interpretation and further convey meaning to the words. Divide the class into
small discussion groups. Distribute the lyrics for The Sheep and the Goats.
2.
Display the discussion
questions. After you have played the music, encourage the kids to answer the
questions among themselves in their small groups.
·
When and how did the
music change throughout the passage?
·
What happens to the
sheep, the goats?
·
Are you more of a sheep
or a goat?
·
When do you act like a
goat? A sheep?
·
Is it easier to be a
sheep or a goat?
·
What are the rewards of
acting like a goat? A sheep?
·
What does Jesus say we
should be?
Activity
#2
We are going to create a
Pentecost offering display to encourage members of the congregation to
contribute to the Pentecost offering. Explain the Pentecost offering, what it
is, who it is for, etc
We will create 1 or 2
(depends on class size) life-sized paper mache children to represent those with
needs that can be helped by Pentecost offering. Today we will create the head,
hands and feet. Next week, we will paint the “people”. Play the music and other
songs relevant to the passage while the kids work.
1.
Divide the class into
groups. Assign a body part to each group: head with neck, left hand, right
hand, left foot, right foot.
2.
Apply paper mache. Apply only 3 layers in the following order.
1. Newspaper strips 2.
Newsprint with no print and 3. Paper
towels. Newsprint leaves many edges but
the paper towel layer gives a nice finished texture. By using three different layers you can easily see what still
needs to be worked on. *
3.
Leave all to dry until
next week. Suggest that the kids who are working on the heads, find time during
the week to paint the heads a flesh tone color. That will allow details to be
added to the face in the following week.
4.
For next week, remind
the kids to bring soup cans. Ask for
several volunteers to bring old clothing for their person - long pants and long
sleeved shirts.
* I found that there wasn’t enough time to
apply the last layer of paper towel and the forms started getting too wet to
handle. We left them to dry and I applied the last layer mid-week so that they
were ready to paint on the following Sunday. I also painted the heads prior to
Sunday. The kids working on the head could then concentrate on hair and face
details.
1. Ask students to tidy up.
1. The Coach conducts the closing prayer time. Pray for the goats and the sheep. The needy and organizations that help those in need. Ask for help this week to seek out and help, someone who needs care.
2. Close/lock the door and turn off the lights.
1. Check out your room setup and supplies. You will need tables set up. If it is nice outside, spread out onto the deck for some of the work.
2. Memory verse written on the board
3. Write song discussion questions on flip chart paper
4. Make copies of lyric sheet.
5. Gather paper mache supplies—see below.
6. Make forms for body parts.
7. Prepare the paste: 1 1/2 cup water, 1 cup flour, 1/4 salt
8. Practice making the paper mache so you will be able to instruct the kids.
To Create
Forms:
Create a form of each
body part: a hand, foot, or head. Use old socks to form the feet and rubber or
latex gloves for the hands. Fill these
with tightly crumpled newspaper. You can extend the socks to make legs by
rolling up newspaper. Use tissue to fill the fingers. You will need to compare
sizes to make sure the appendages are in proportion. Use masking tape to add
stability to the form and make smooth surfaces.
I also created hands and
feet by tracing my own hands and feet onto cardboard (I scaled back the size a
bit!) I then filled both sides of the cardboard to create 3D shapes. This went
a little faster than stuffing gloves and socks.
To create the basic shape
of a head use a cardboard form (see lesson 2 of Helping Hand), stuffed with
newspaper and completely cover in masking tape to create a smooth surface. Tape
a face mask form (purchased at a craft store) onto the head form.
Note: This
is a lot of work to prepare, but well worth the effort when you see your real
kids getting into the project.
· Bibles (CEV)
· CDs and player
· Handouts of song lyrics.
· Pentecost information – recipients, organizations, what it is, etc.
· Precut into 1 inch and ½ inch strips: newspaper, newsprint, plain paper towel (no print)
· Masking tape
· Several trays of paste
· Plastic or latex gloves, face mask forms, socks and cardboard form for head (if desired)
· Old shirts that youth can wear to protect their clothes during paper mache.
References
Group Publishing, Bible Teaching Ideas – New Testament. Loveland, CO. 1994
Keith Green, “The Sheep and the Goats” from the CD The Ministry Years, 1980-1982, Vol. 2.
Thank you to Jean Carey (rotation.org friend) for her
suggestions and information on paper mache.
The Sheep And The Goats by
Keith Green
And when the Son Man comes, and all the Holy Angels with him,
Then shall he sit on His Glorious throne,
And he shall divide the nations before Him, as a shepherd separates the sheep
from the goats.
And he shall put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left,
And He shall say to the sheep; come ye, blessed of My Father,
inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,
For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat,
I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink,
I was naked, and you clothed me,
I was a stranger, and you invited me in,
I was sick, and I was in prison, and you came to me.
Thank you! Enter into your rest.
And they shall answer Him, yes, they shall answer Him,
And they'll say, Lord? when?
When were you hungry Lord, and we gave you something to eat?
Lord, when were you thirsty? I can't remember. And we gave you drink?
Huh, when were you naked Lord, and we clothed you?
And Lord, when were you a stranger and we invited you in?
I mean, we invited lots of people in Lord. I’d never forget that face.
And Lord, when were you sick and we visited you?
Or in prison, and we came to you? Lord, tell us?
In as much as you did it to the least of my brethren, you've
done it unto me.
Oh yes, as much as you've done it to the very least of my brethren, you've done
it,
you've done it unto me. Enter into your rest.
Then He shall turn to those on His left, the goats.
Depart from me; you cursed ones, into everlasting fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat,
I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink,
I was naked, out in the cold, in exposure, and you sent me away,
I was a stranger, and I knocked at your door,
But you didn't open, you told me to go away,
I was sick, racked in pain upon my bed,
And I begged, and prayed, and pleaded that you'd come, but you didn't,
I was in prison, and I rotted there,
I'd prayed that you'd come.
I heard your programs on the radio, I read your magazines, but you never came.
Depart from me!!!
Lord, there must be some mistake, when?
Lord, I mean, when were you hungry Lord and we didn't give you something to
eat?
And Lord, when were you thirsty, and we didn't give you drink?
I mean, that's not fair, well, would you like something now?
Would one of the Angels like to go out and get the Lord a hamburger and a coke?
Oh, you're not hungry, yeah, I lost my appetite too.
Uh Lord uh, Lord, when were you naked,
I mean Lord, that's not fair either Lord,
We didn't even know what size you wear.
Oh Lord, when were you a stranger Lord,
You weren't one of those creepy people who used to come to the door, were you?
Oh Lord, that wasn't our ministry, Lord. We just didn't feel led, you know?
Lord, when were you sick? What did you have, anyway?
Well, at least it wasn't fatal; oh, it was?
I'm sorry Lord; I would have sent you a card.
Lord, just one last thing we want to know,
When were you in prison Lord? What were you in for anyway?
I had a friend in Leavenworth...
ENOUGH!
In as much as you've not done it unto the least of my brethren,
You've not done it unto me.
In as much as you've not done it unto the least of my brethren,
You've not done it unto me. Depart from Me.
And these shall go away into everlasting fire.
But the righteous into eternal life!
And my friends, the only difference between the sheep and the goats, according
to this scripture,
is what they did, and didn't do!!