FAITH CHALLENGE

Paul’s Letters

March 14 - April 11, 2004

Week 1:  New Creation

 

Scripture:          2 Corinthians 5: 17-21

 

Memory Verse:        Jesus said, “I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give”  John 14:27.

 

Concepts:

·         When Jesus died, he made peace between the world and God, and gave us new life.

·         As Christians, we are called to share the message of peace with others.

·         We share the message of peace by reflecting (modeling) the peace of God.

Objectives:

·         Students will understand what a metamorphosis is and how Christians can experience a spiritual metamorphosis in Christ.

·         Students will complete an art project depicting a metamorphosis.

·         Students will understand that spiritual metamorphosis helps people share the message of God’s peace with others.

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.      After students have posted their prayer concerns, ask them to begin working in pairs to make the caterpillar/butterfly project outlined at the end of this lesson.  Students may begin on this as they arrive. There is no need to wait until all have arrived to begin.  Place supplies and 2 copies of the instructions on each table.  Ask students to read and follow the instructions.

4.      At approximately 10:10—or after most students have completed the butterfly/caterpillar ask them to tidy up, and sit down.  Remove supplies from the tables so they are not a distraction.

Workshop Lesson Procedure: (Guide takes over from here)

 

Bible Story/Application:

1.      Pass out Bibles and ask students to find 1 Corinthians 5: 17-21.  Before reading this passage, conduct a brief discussion about this book of the Bible using questions similar to the following:  Students may not know the answers—but allow them to speculate first before providing the correct answer. 

·         What is this book of the Bible?  A letter written by Paul to the church he started in Corinth.

·         Who was Paul?  A pharasee who persecuted Christians until he experienced Jesus on the road to Damascus.  After that he preached tirelessly to the Gentiles about Jesus. 

·         Where is Corinth?  Use the map made in a previous lesson about the travels of Paul to review with students the location of major landmarks such as Jerusalem, Rome, and Corinth.

·         Make an estimate of the year in which Paul wrote this letter.  54-56 CE

·         Did Paul write any other letters?  Most of the books of the New Testament following Acts are confirmed letters that Paul wrote to other churches or people or thought to have been written by Paul.

·         Why did Paul write these letters?  Most letters were written for specific purposes such as answering questions the new church raised, or to help a church that was struggling with problems.  Sometimes the letter was written to provide encouragement for the congregation to remain faithful.  Sometimes he wrote in response to some news her heard about the congregation.  2 Corinthians was written to tell the church in Corinth that they had not been forgotten and Paul would visit again when he was able. 

2.      Ask students to take turns reading verses from this passage. 

3.      Discuss the passage using the following questions as guides.

·         What do these Bible verses say God has done for us?  Made us new people—new creations. God has also made peace with us. 

·         How has God done this?  By sending Jesus.  Even thought Jesus was sinless, he took on the role of sinner and was crucified as a sinner.  Jesus took the place of all people who have sinned (everyone).  This was God’s way of making our relationship with God right again—of making peace with us. 

·         Since our relationship with God has been made right again through Jesus, what does God expect us to do?  Make peace with other people.  God expects us to be peacemakers, just like God is a peacemaker. 

4.      When it seems students have an understanding of the passage, continue the discussion with additional questions.

·         What is metamorphosis?  Again, look up the definition in a dictionary. A change in form.

·         Give an example of something that undergoes metamorphosis.  A tadpole changing into a frog, a caterpillar changing into a butterfly.

·         Do people go through a metamorphosis?  “No” because we change in size and shape—but do not change form. 

·         Can people go through a spiritual metamorphosis?  Let students discuss this possibility.

·         Ask for an example from the Bible of someone who changed or went through a spiritual metamorphosis.  Paul—on the road to Damascus that we have studied. 

·         Why do you think we made the caterpillar/butterfly project earlier?  To remind us that we can change and become new spiritually in Christ—just as Paul did. 

 

5.      Divide the class into groups of two or three.  Students may select their own group—or the guide may ask them to number off, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, … to form groups. 

6.      Give each group one of the biographies attached to this lesson.  Ask the group to read the biography and be prepared to share it with the class. 

7.      Ask each group to answer the question: “Does the person in your biography demonstrate a “new creature in Christ” or a “spiritual metamorphosis”?  “If so, how?  If not, why not?” It might be helpful to have this question written on the white board or on chart paper as a reminder of what the groups should focus on as they are reading the biographies.

8.      After each group has read and considered their person/biography, ask them to give a short summary to the class, particularly answering the question above. 

9.      NOTE:  If time is short, the guide can summarize one or two of the biographies and ask the class to answer the question about a “new creature in Christ” as a group. During the discussion, help students recognize that God in our lives brings a new life to each of us.  We are different people than we would be without God. 

 

Wrap-up:    

 

  1. Bring closure to the discussion by posting the “visual” on the timeline.  Use the attached butterfly, caterpillar, or both to serve as the visual for this lesson. A pair of students might also volunteer for their caterpillar/butterfly project to be posted as the visual.   These pictures remind us how God makes us a new person in Christ. 

 

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 Gail Jordan at 851-8270 or e-mail at gejordan@wcpss.net

2.      Set up the country room with tables (2-3) and stools at the tables. 

3.      Make the caterpillar/butterfly project so you understand how it is supposed to turn out.  It will be more challenging to allow students to read the directions and follow without your sample.  However, if preferred, allow students to view your sample.

4.      Photocopy 4-6 “Instructions for Project”

5.      Photocopy 10-12 copies each of the butterfly and caterpillar.

6.      Purchase black construction paper at Wal-Mart, Michaels, etc.  Other supplies are on hand in the classroom.

7.      Make one copy of each biography attached to the lesson.

8.      Write the following question on the white board or chart paper. “Does the person in your biography demonstrate a “new creature in Christ” or a “spiritual metamorphosis”? 

Supply List

·         12 x 18 black construction paper

·         Glue, scissors

·         Markers or colored pencils

·         Map of Paul’s travels

·         Bibles

References

·         Faith Challenge Bible study notes, Paul’s letter, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

·         Science Museum of Minnesota, www.smm.org

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROJECT

 

 

1.    Supplies:

·        12x18 inch black construction paper

·        caterpillar and butterfly picture

·        scissors

·        glue

·        colored pencils or markers

 

2.    Cut out and color the caterpillar and the butterfly.

 

3.    Lay the picture of the butterfly on top of the caterpillar and cut the two pictures into strips about an inch wide.

 

4.    Lay the strip with the left edge of the butterfly on the black construction paper.  Next lay the strip with the left end of the caterpillar next to the strip of wing. 

 

5.    Alternate butterfly, caterpillar, butterfly, caterpillar, in the correct order until there are no more strips.  Glue in place.

 

6.    Fold the black construction paper accordian style like a fan.  Make sure the folds are the same size as the strips. 

 

7.    Fold and unfold to see what happens!