This workshop leader’s Bible study
is a historical, theological, and contextual introduction to the Advent
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:
Matthew 1:18-25, 2:13-15, and Luke 1:26-28, 2:1-17
“For unto
you is born this day in the city of
v
God works through
ordinary people who obey him.
v
Jesus is both
human and God.
v
God planned from
the beginning to bring Jesus into the world to save the world.
v
The story of
Jesus’ birth (and life, death, and
resurrection) is a story about God.
v
Jesus has many
important names: Son of God, Son of the Most High, Son of David, Emmanuel,
Christ the Lord, the Son of Man, the Messiah.
v
Jesus came into
the world to reveal God the Father.
·
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.
As you know each gospel presents its own story about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Mark and John do not include stories about the birth of Jesus. Matthew’s and Luke’s accounts of Jesus’ birth differ significantly. In his commentary Matthew Boring argues that much is lost and little is gained by trying to assemble these different birth stories into one picture of Jesus’ birth (150-151). I contend however that we are given these stories side by side in the Biblical canon and therefore must view them together when trying to learn from them about who God is, who Jesus is, and who we are. So let us look at the two stories from Matthew and Luke and discover what they have to teach us.
|
What do we learn about: |
Matthew |
Luke |
|
Jesus’ Birth |
·
The birth itself is not narrated but we are
told he is born in · There are signs that Jesus is royalty. · He is visited by important people – the Magi – and hunted by the king. ·
Begin in |
· The telling of the birth is brief and gives few details ·
He is born in · He is visited by shepherds. · Jesus’ humanity is emphasized – he is born human. · Mary speaks of the preference of the poor in her hymn/prayer. ·
Go from |
|
Jesus |
· child from the Holy Spirit · “will save people from their sins” · Emmanuel · son of David (through Joseph) · Jesus = Joshua = Yahweh helps or saves. Joshua was also the successor to Moses. “a common human name” (Boring, 134-135) |
· great; Son of Most High · will reign on the throne of David forever · holy; Son of God · from the Holy Spirit · descended from David through Joseph |
|
God |
· God is the main actor – the one making things happen · speaks through angels and works through people · clear that God is with us and that this gospel story is a story about God (Boring, 138) |
· God is the main actor · speaks through angels and works through people · God can do anything! |
|
Humans/the world |
· Joseph – righteousness. See the tension between the law and the new way of Jesus (Boring, 136) · obedience · we need saving |
· Mary – obedient – a vessel for God’s work · what God is doing in the world is not just spiritual – see a connection with the injustices in the world |
|
God’s plan or purposes |
· “formula quotations” Matthew uses these to make the point that Jesus is “the fulfillment of the whole of Scripture” (Boring, 135). · prophecies concerning Jesus’ birth are being fulfilled. ·
|
·
birth in |
Our challenge is to take all these ideas and find a way to make sense of it all for ourselves and for the children. Jesus is a king and a servant – human and God – powerful and yet in his birth and death, powerless. In and through it all, God is in control. God chose to bring Jesus into the world. God planned it and made it happen. God continues to be in control and to be active in the world.
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.
Apostles’ Playhouse: The children will play a game while listening to the story being read, and then they will work in small groups to create a tableau or still picture based on one part of the story.
Creation Station: After learning that throughout history artists have created works that celebrate events concerning Jesus life through a rich tradition of art and music, the children will choose scenes from the Christmas story and portray them in a stained glass triptych format.
Holywood: The children will view the video The King is Born which covers all the concepts in general terms. They will also discuss all the different names used to refer to Jesus in the story.
Praising Puppets: While acting out four puppet skits the children will learn that Jesus is both human and God. They will also learn that Jesus has many names, as a result of being who he is (both God and man) and then learn what some of those names mean.
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.
Boring, M.
Craddock, Fred. “Luke.” Interpretation. James Luther Mays, et al. editors. (Louisville, John Knox Press, 1990). (pp. 1-12, 21-37).
Culpepper, R. Alan. “Luke.” The New Interpreter’s Bible, vol. IX. Leander Keck, et al. editors. (Nashville, Abingdon Press, 1995). (pp.3-37 and 49-67).