FAITH CHALLENGE

Paul’s Letters

March 14 – April 11,2004

Week 2: Reconciliation

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 peace.
As Christians, we are called to share the message of peace with others.
We share the message of peace by reflecting or modeling the peace of God for others.

Objectives:

· Students will have a good idea what reconciliation means.

· Students will learn they can practice the art of reconciliation in real life situations.

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. As students arrive give each a piece of paper on which you have written one word from the Bible verse, including the word “John” and the numbers “14” and “27”. Ask them to work together to post the Bible verse correctly on the wall. This may require some coaxing and discussion—but encourage them to complete the task so that Bible verse can be displayed during the lesson. If needed, suggest they use the words to help decide where in the Bible to find the verse and look it up.

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:

1. Pass out Bibles and ask students to find 1 Corinthians 5:17-21. Read the Bible passage aloud. Often we ask students to read in turn—but an idea to bring a bit of variety might be to read it together—or for the guide to read with emphasis and expression.

2. Next pass out photocopies of the same passage from the NRSV (attached). Again read aloud in one of the ways suggested above.

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

· What are some differences between these two versions of the Bible? Students may name several differences, but one to be noted is use of the word reconciliation in the NRSV compared to the word peace in the CEV.

· Ask the class to define reconciliation. Make available at least 2 different dictionaries and/or concordances. Ask a couple of volunteers to look up the word reconciliation. Although the CEV uses the word peace as a synonym, reconciliation is really the act of making peace—of reaching out to anyone with whom we do not have a good relationship and trying to make that relationship right again. So, it seems that a better definition for reconciliation might be peacemaking rather than just peace.

· NOTE: It would be helpful to write the word reconciliation on the white board and to briefly write the definition beside it.

· What is peace? Answers may vary—and most are acceptable—absence of war, quiet, no fighting, etc.

· What is reconciliation? Two people or groups that were fighting or unhappy with each other are not able to work together. Two people or groups that were angry with each other, no longer carry grudges or anger. One point to be made is that reconciliation involves the two people or groups coming back together—it is more than just not fighting with each other anymore.

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

· 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 reconciling, 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. Reconcile differences, hurt feelings, and angers. God expects us to be peacemakers, just like God is a peacemaker.

Application:

1. Tell the class they will spend the rest of the morning practicing how they can share the peace and reconciliation from God in their lives.

2. Ask students to divide into pairs or triplets. Encourage no more than three students in each group. Ask the groups to go to separate areas of the classroom. Give each group a piece of paper with an unsolved situation written on it. .

3. Ask each group to think about their situation and to create two endings. One ending promotes reconciliation and peace—and the other does not.

4. After 10-15 min, call the class back to order. In turn, ask each group to stand up, read their situation and act out each of their solutions. Encourage them to act out the non-peaceful solution first—and then the one that promotes reconciliation.

5. Remind the class that Paul wrote a letter to the church in Corinth to try to reconcile with them. Sometimes, writing is a helpful way to bring two groups or people back together. Tell the group that this time instead of acting out their endings, they will write a letter that is reconciliatory and one that is not.

6. Give each group a copy of the youth group conflict outlined at the end of the lesson. If time permits, ask each group to write two letters. If there is not time, ask them to write the reconciliation letter only

7. After 15 min or so, call the class back together and ask each group to read their reconciliation letter. Discuss as needed.

Wrap-up:

Bring closure to the activity. Restate the lesson’s key concepts and plans for the following week.

2. Ask students to tidy up.

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 email at gejordan@wcpss.net.

2. The City room should be set up with tables and chairs/stools.

3. Students will need a copy of the situation about which they are writing, a copy of the letter worksheet and a pencil.

4. The visual could be an envelope with the word Reconciliation written on it.

5. If an extra activity is needed students could read together the words to “Make Me a Channel of Blessing.” This ties in with being and ambassador for Christ in peacemaking and reconciliation.

6. Make approx 20 photocopies of the scripture from the NRSV. These can be collected at the end of the first class and used again with the second class.

Supply List

· Copies of both worksheets and the hymn. ( It might be too awkward to bring hymnals)

· Pencils

· Envelope for visual (timeline)

References

· 2Corinthians 5:17 – 21 ( Faith Challenge Bible Study Notes)

· Webster’s School Dictionary, Merriam Webster Publishing, 1980.

Sharing the Peace Situations

Cut and distribute as students arrive. Make enough copies so each student has one scenario. It’s okay if more than one student has the same situation.

1. Someone cuts in front of you in the cafeteria line.

2. Mother calls you to dinner at the most important part of your favorite TV show. You are really annoyed.

3. Your mom wants you to visit your grandmother/aunt and you’d rather not.

4. A sales clerk treats you like a little kid.

5. A friend took a CD player from the school and asks you to keep it for awhile so the friend won’t get caught.

6. Your best friend and another girl/boy are making fun of the clothing of another student in your class. You know for a fact that this student’s father is very ill and unable to work. Do you join in the teasing? What should you say to your friend? Are you worried you might lose your friend if you don’t join the teasing? What do you do?

7. You just heard some news about a friend of yours. Her boyfriend is gong to break up with her during lunch today. She has always bragged a little about her boyfriends, so you are really sort of glad that this is going to happen. You feel bad because this news makes you so happy, but you justify your feelings by thinking that she deserves it. What do you do? Do you try to tell her what you have heard? Do you stay silent and try to comfort her later? Do you stay silent and watch her suffer during lunch? What is the best thing to do?

8. You just saw the person sitting next to you cheating on a test. Do you tell the teacher? Do you speak the news to all your friends? Do you talk to the person after class and tell him how you feel about cheating? Do you just keep quiet? What in the world should you do?

9. A terrible rumor is circulating about a wonderful student at your school. You know for a fact that the rumor is not true. It makes such a great, juicy piece of gossip though that you are tempted to tell someone else and pass the bad story along. What should you do? Should you tell the truth to the person who told you the story?

10. You and a friend are in a store when you see your friend slip a piece of candy into her pocket. What do you do?

Sharing the Peace Worksheet

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

Allow the kids to work together in groups of 2 or 3.

As Christians, we are called to share the message of peace. If we know Christ, we are new and should reflect this peace. Read the strip of paper that you were given. Write below how you would reflect the peace of Christ in the situation on your paper.

What could you do? The wrong way to show peace.

Why should you do ? The right way to show peace.

Reconciliation - The action of making friendly again. ( such as, to reconcile friends who have quarreled.) To settle, adjust or make agree.

Pretend that the eighth graders are ruining youth group for the seventh and sixth graders. They take over all of the activities and never try to let sixth and seventh graders be part of the group. They seem to not even notice that sixth and seventh graders are in the room! Sixth and seventh graders are beginning to drop out of youth group because they feel so out of place. To make matters even worse, the eighth graders have been heard to call the sixth graders “Babies.” Finally, the sixth and seventh graders have decided to write a letter to the eighth graders and their leaders. Remember: As Christians, we are called to share the message of peace with others. And…we share the message of peace by reflecting the peace of God. Attacking the eighth graders verbally will not do any good. Use the letter form on the other worksheet , work with a partner, and come up with a good reconciliatory letter.

Kirk of Kildaire Youth Group

ttt

High Meadow Road t Cary, North Carolina 27511

Eighth Grade Youth Group Members and Leaders

Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church

Dear Fellow Youth Group Members,

Sincerely,

The sixth and seventh graders