FAITH CHALLENGE
Matthew: Jesus’ Ministry
Dealing with Conflict (Lesson B,Week 2)
Scripture: Matthew 18:15-17
Memory Verse: “You obey the law of Christ when
you offer each other a helping hand.”
Galatians 6:2
· If people offend us or hurt us, we don’t embarrass them by pointing out their faults in public.
· When we hurt each other, Jesus asks us to work very hard at making up.
· Jesus tells us always to work on helping each other do better.
· Students will learn details of one of Jesus’ teachings about responding to the hurts others cause us
· Small groups will write two endings to a puppet script and present them to the class.
1. The Coach leads the opening routine: snack,
fellowship, prayer wall activity, and prayer chain. Nametags are available.
2. The Coach collects the offering. For this unit, we
are asking students to bring in canned goods as their offering. By now most students should be aware of the
food offering, but for any who may not know, the information is: Each year, the Presbyterian Church
collects an offering at Pentecost to help needy youth and families. This year Faith Challenge students are
creating a paper Mache display for the narthex to encourage the congregation to
give to the Pentecost offering. The
display will be two life-size paper Mache people with a “bridge” of canned food
between them to show how we can help others.
It is important that every Faith Challenge student bring at least one
canned item each week so our “bridge” will be long enough
3.
The Coach reviews the
timeline and the previous week’s workshop activity. This unit focuses on some of Jesus’ teachings and is part of the
“God Sends a Son” section. Remind students this is out of chronologic order in
relation to Jesus’ life, because the last unit was Jesus’ Death and
Resurrection which we studied during the church season of Lent.
4.
The Coach introduces
the Guide who leads the lesson.
1. Conduct a brief review of last week using the flip chart paper with the pattern for “I” messages. Review the difference between aggressive, passive, and assertive approaches to conflict. If there are a large number of students who were not present last week, the Bible passage can be read again and briefly discussed.
2. Divide the class into three groups. Pass out two copies of one puppet script (at the end of the lesson) to each group. Allow students to spread out throughout the room or to use the deck if the weather is nice. Ask students to prepare two endings to their script.
· First ending will show the characters responding in an unhelpful or unhealthy way to resolve the situation or conflict. The ending can be either aggressive or passive.
·
Second ending shows the characters handling this
situation using “I” messages.
3. Allow students 15 minutes or so to work. Remind them to write the words their puppets will say for each ending on the bottom and/back of their script. They will perform their endings for the class later.
4. Call the class back together and have each group perform their script twice—once with each ending.
5. After each group has performed, allow a few minutes for discussion to agree or disagree with the endings the group has suggested.
6. After all groups have performed, present the memory verse for this lesson in the following manner: Write each word of the verse on separate pieces of paper. “You, obey, the, law, of, Christ, when, you, offer, each, other, a, helping, hand.” Galatians 6:2. Pass out the papers and tell the students to put the verse in order. Do not provide any assistance. Let them work as a group to figure out how it goes. When they think they have it correct, ask them to check it by finding it in the Bible.
7. Repeat the memory verse aloud two or three times.
8. If additional activities are needed, pass out paper and ask each student to write the memory verse and/or a brief prayer relating to the lesson. Some prayer ideas are: confession for a time they did not respond to a conflict or difficult situation as Jesus would have liked; thanksgiving when someone else responded to a hurt they caused with forgiveness; supplication asking God to help them respond appropriately when their friends and/or family hurt their feelings. NOTE: This could also be done at the end of the first lesson. Keep the papers for the students’ journals.
1. Ask students to tidy up
2. The Coach conducts the closing prayer.
3. Close/lock the door and turn off the lights.
1. Check out the room before your first Sunday workshop so that you know where everything is located. The room set-up should be stools or chairs around the room. One table with a large sheet draped over it may be used as the puppet stage. Or if you prefer, a fabric screen is available to use as a stage.
2. Make eight copies of each puppet script--two for each group and two extra.
· Puppet scripts
· Puppets, fabric screen (if desired), or just a sheet draped over a table.
· Bibles, clip boards, pencils
· Writers’ Bible study materials titled “Two Teachings of Jesus” prepared by Susan Mazzara
· Puppet lesson from Faith Quest Advent unit on Peacemaking, 2001. copyright Kirk of Kildaire
MEGAN AND
KAITLIN
Megan and
Kaitlin talking on the phone.
MEGAN: Hey Kaitlin! What’s
up?
KAITLIN: “Nothin’ much, except we
got a new puppy. Come over and see
her.”
MEGAN: “OK. It’s great you live
next door. That means I can see my best
friend anytime I want. And now you’ve
got a new puppy! I’ll be right there.”
Megan walks across the stage
as if she’s walking to Kaitlin’s house.
KAITLIN: “See my puppy. Her name
is Mandy.”
MEGAN: “She’s adorable! I want one just like her!”
Megan and Kaitlin play with
the puppy for a few minutes.
MEGAN: “Well, I need to get home for supper. See you tomorrow.”
KAITLIN: “Well, no, I can’t see you tomorrow. I’ll be with Allison.
She’s coming to spend the weekend with me.”
Megan walks away slowly with
head down, appearing sad and hurt.
A few days later. Megan calls Kaitlin on the phone.
MEGAN: “Hey Kaitlin, can I come
see the puppy? She’s so cute
KAITLIN: “No, Jessica is here right now.
Bye”
Write
two endings for this script
1.
Characters
responding in an unhelpful or unhealthy way
2.
Characters
handling the situation as Jesus taught
FRANKIE AND
BOB
Frankie and Bob are in drug
store, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, or a similar store.
FRANKIE: “Hey, Bob. Watch me walk
out of here with this pen—and I’m not going to pay for it.”
BOB: “Frankie, you know that’s wrong.
Don’t do it.”
FRANKIE: “What’s one pen? They
won’t miss it”
Frankie picks up pen and
walks away.
Write
two endings for this script
1.
Characters
responding in an unhelpful or unhealthy way
2.
Characters
handling the situation as Jesus taught
JOSH AND
REBECCA
Josh and Rebecca are talking
together.
JOSH: “I hope the social studies test isn’t too hard.”
REBECCA: Me too. I really need a
good grade. If I get another low grade,
I’ll get a “D” on my report card. My
dad will be SO mad!”
JOSH: “Well, I hope you
studied. I worked hard on this last
night.”
REBECCA: “I had soccer practice, so I couldn’t study.”
JOSH: “Well, good luck, anyway.
Josh and Rebecca sit down near
each other and appear to write. Josh works hard. Rebecca obviously looks at Josh’s paper and writes down
answers. Josh looks up realizes what
Rebecca is doing.
Write
two endings for this script
1.
Characters
responding in an unhelpful or unhealthy way
2.
Characters
handling the situation as Jesus taught