This workshop leader’s Bible study
is a historical, theological, and contextual introduction to the Doubting
Thomas rotation of Kirk of Kildaire’s Faith Quest workshop rotation
program. It is intended to provide
workshop leaders with:
·
A historical context for understanding the Bible story.
·
A Biblical context for reading and teaching the story.
·
The theological basis for the concepts to be taught to
the children.
In Kirk of Kildaire’s Faith Quest program, workshop
leaders attend a one-hour Bible study two weeks prior to the start of a new
rotation. This Bible study helps
workshop leaders understand how the concepts to be taught to the children are
derived from the Bible story and how the lessons in the rotation fit together
to reinforce the concepts. It also
provides an opportunity for the workshop leaders to grow in their own faith and
understanding of the Bible.
It will be helpful to have a
chalkboard, whiteboard, or flip chart for writing down questions or
observations during the Bible study.
Note: This is not a comprehensive study of the
text, but only a few notes to help provide context and background for workshop
leaders. Consult titles cited in the
reference list at the end of these notes for more information.
Scripture:
John 20: 19-31
“Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1 CEV
·
If workshop leaders do not know each other, give them
an opportunity to introduce each other and say which workshop they will be
leading.
·
Begin the Bible study by praying for God’s guidance as
teachers begin a new rotation.
Ask a workshop leader to read the text aloud. Since this rotation focuses on an entire chapter, you might want to divide the reading among three or four workshop leaders.
Ask the workshop leaders what
questions came to mind as they heard the story or read it before the Bible
study. Write down any questions that
arise and will need to be answered during the Bible study.
GOSPEL OF JOHN
Background
The author of the Gospel of John does not identify himself nor does he tell us when or where he is writing. Church tradition identified the author as John the son of Zebedee, a disciple of Jesus and held that the Gospel was written in Ephesus. Current scholarship however holds that there is no solid evidence to support John as the author who identifies himself only as the beloved disciple (O’Day, 500). Also Ephesus is now considered as one among many possible locations for the writing of John. It is believed that the Gospel was written sometime between 75-100 CE for a community that found itself in a struggle with Jewish leaders. In her commentary on John Gail O’Day says that “The Fourth Evangelist and those for whom he wrote understood themselves to be a persecuted religious minority, expelled from the synagogue, their religious home, because of their faith in Jesus” ( 505).
Genre
John is the Fourth Gospel, a theological narrative written to tell the Good News of God revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Both the story told about Jesus and the style used to tell it, differ greatly in John as compared with the other three Gospels (O’Day, 493). Matthew, Mark and Luke are grouped together as the Synoptic Gospels which means “seen together” and John is thought of separately as the Fourth Gospel (O’Day, 494).
Structure
John 13:1 is a turning point in the Gospel and therefore John has traditionally been divided into two parts: Chapters 1-12 (The Book of Signs) and Chapters 13-20 (The Book of Glory) (O’Day, 507). Chapter 21 “is most often treated as an appendix or second ending but O’Day sees it as integral to the gospel (O’Day, 507 and 509). Believing that this oversimplifies things, Gail O’Day offers the following structure in her commentary in the New Interpreters’ Bible (pp.508-509):
John 1:1-51 The Prelude to Jesus’ Ministry
John 2:1-5:47 “The Greater Things”: Jesus’ Words and Works
John 6:1-10:42 Jesus Words and Works: Conflict and Opposition Grow
John 11:1-12:50 The Prelude to Jesus’ Hour
John 13:1-17:26 The Farewell Meal and Words of Jesus
John 18:1-19:42 “The Hour Has Come”: Jesus’ Arrest, Trial and Death
John 20:1-31 The First Resurrection Appearances
John 21:1:25 Jesus’ Resurrection Appearance at the Sea of Tiberius
Themes
The overriding theme and “foundation on which the rest of the Gospel is built” is that “Jesus is the incarnate Word of God” (O’Day, 495). All of the other themes reflect and build upon this central idea.
Overview
Each of the gospels tells their own unique stories about Jesus’ resurrection appearances. In John the stories are found in Chapters 20 and 21. Chapter 20 has the stories of the empty tomb and appearance to Mary Magdalene, the appearance to the disciples and finally the appearance a week later to Thomas (O’Day, 838).
Verses 24-25: Thomas has become known as the one who doubted and demanded proof but really he asked for and received nothing more than what Jesus had given to the other disciples earlier. They doubted Mary Magdalene’s story until they saw for themselves that Jesus was alive. (O’Day, 849).
Verses 27: The word doubt is not actually in the text. “A literal translation of v. 27b reads, ‘Do not be unbelieving but believing.’”(O’Day, 850). This story, it seems, is not about doubting or questioning, but about “the grounds of faith”. “Jesus exhorts Thomas to move from a position of unbelief to belief” and gives him what he needs to accomplish this (O’Day, 850).
Verse 28: When he sees Jesus, Thomas is led to make “the most powerful and complete confession of Jesus in the Fourth Gospel” (O’Day, 850).
Verse 29: It is unclear whether 29a is a question or a statement but it is not all that important. Essentially, Jesus words here reassure us that we can believe without having seen him face to face (O’Day, 850).
Themes
1. Theology and Christology: Thomas’ declaration “My Lord and My God” sums up John’s ideas about the incarnation perfectly.
Ask each workshop leader to
summarize his or her workshop. As they
do so, point out the concepts that each lesson reinforces. Ask workshop leaders if they have any
questions about the logistics or practical application of their lesson.
Antioch Arcade: The children will hear the story of Doubting Thomas and will focus on the fact that Jesus is alive and is our Lord. They will then play a game called Draw Your Own Conclusion that shows ways we can know and believe things without seeing them.
Apostles’ Playhouse: The children will explore their faith and the story of Doubting Thomas by using their five senses. They will learn that they can use their senses to learn about and believe in new things as Thomas did.
Creation Station: The children will draw a picture where Jesus is there even though he cannot be seen. They will learn about how Jesus helped Thomas with his doubts and that even though we cannot see Jesus we can believe in him.
Holywood: The children will view a video that tells the story of Jesus resurrection and appearances to the disciples, including Thomas. They will learn about how sometimes we believe things we do not see because we trust what others tell us about it. They will also talk about where they can go for help with their doubts.
Good News: The children will listen to and participate in the retelling of the story of Thomas. They will then have fun drinking Kool Aid that is not what it seems at first sight – it sometimes looks blue and sometimes green but tastes like cherry!
Praising Puppets: The children will perform skits that teach them about believing without seeing and about how to handle it when they have doubts. They will talk about how Jesus helps us to believe in him just as he helped Thomas.
Return to the questions that were
gathered at the start of the hour. Have
they been answered? Are there any
further questions about the Bible story or about the lessons?
Close the Bible study with a
prayer.
O’Day, Gail R. “The Gospel of John” The New Interpreter’s Bible, vol. IX. Leander Keck, et al. editors. (Nashville, Abingdon Press, 1995). (pp.493-514 and 838-853).