First Thoughts: This lesson comes down to this simple instruction: that we are to love one another. It's easy to say but virtually impossible to accomplish. If we look at the way most of our churches function, we can easily recognize the same dynamics that apply to any other club or organization to which we've belonged. There are hurt feelings, gossiping, and in-fighting, people are scapegoats and excluded. This is because each human comes to community with certain deficits and fears, certain gifts and blessings, certain personalities and proclivities, which create limitations in how we can be fully present to each other. This is common to every human community, except one that is constantly transformed by God's grace. A community that puts its focus on God's intention and guidance finds, not that our human limitations are eliminated, but they become secondary to the primary task of experiencing and sharing God's love together. Finally there is the possibility of healing, growth, and understanding. This is what Jesus meant when he said the world would recognize the disciples. Their way of being together would be so extraordinarily different, so powerfully refreshing, there was no way they would ever be confused with a mere human institution. To the extent that our churches submit to God's grace, we become that witness. To the extent that we rely on our own devices, we blend in with the rest of the world. To prepare for your time with the children, invite God's grace to transform your heart and open you to the beauty and belovedness of each child.
Teaching On Your Own: Hey everybody. I've got a problem I need your help with. See, I want everybody to know that I'm a Christian, but I can't figure out the best way to do that. First, I thought I could wear this cross necklace all the time, but I'm afraid that might be too subtle. Another possibility is for me to carry this Bible around everywhere I go. Maybe that would catch people's attention. Or I could just print up a great big sign that says "Hey, I'm a Christian!" on it and tape it to my chest. What do you think? Now that I think of it, though, I'm not sure any of those things would really PROVE I'm a Christian. I mean, anyone can do those things, right? Whether they're a Christian or not. So how do you think I can let people know I'm a REAL Christian? Maybe we can get some ideas from our scripture passage today. Jesus tells us that if we want others to see that we're Christian, we have to love each other. That sounds easy, doesn't it? But it's harder than we think. Loving each other means treating each other with kindness even when we have problems or disagreements. It means praying for each other even when we've feeling angry or hurt. It means treating each other with respect even when things get really hard and we want to fight. These are things that are only possible when we ask for God's help and guidance. And that's how people will know we're special, because we're doing something so different from what most people do. So I guess I need to spend less time worrying about what's on my body and more time praying about what's coming out of my heart. What do you think?
Teaching As A Team:
(Leader 2 holds necklace and Bible in hand, considers)
Leader 1: Hey, (name), what are you doing?
Leader 2: I'm trying to figure something out. See, I want the world to know I'm a Christian, but I don't know the best way to go about it.
Leader 1: Yeah?
Leader 2: Yeah. I mean, I could just wear a simple cross necklace, but I'm afraid that might be too subtle. Another possibility is for me to carry this Bible everywhere I go. Maybe that would catch people's attention. But I'm not sure.
Leader 1: Uh huh...
Leader 2: Or I could just print up a great big sign that says "Hey, I'm a Christian!" on it and tape it to my chest.
Leader 1: Um, yeah. That would be an option. But you know I'm not sure any of those things would really PROVE you're a Christian.
Leader 2: What do you mean?
Leader 1: I mean anyone can do those things, right? Whether they're a Christian or not.
Leader 2: Well, then, how will I let people know that I'm a REAL Christian?
Leader 1: Jesus tells us how in our scripture passage today. If we want others to see that we're Christian, we have to love each other.
Leader 2: Love each other? But that's not such a big deal.
Leader 1: Oh, but it is. Loving each other means treating each other with kindness even when we have problems or disagreements. It means praying for each other even when we're feeling angry or hurt. It means treating each other with respect even when things get really hard and we want to fight. These are things that are only possible when we ask for God's help and guidance. And that's how people will know we're special, because we're doing something so different from what most people do.
Leader 2: I guess I need to spend less time worrying about what's on my body and more time praying about what's coming out of my heart.
Leader 1: I think Jesus would definitely agree with that.
Closing Prayer: Loving God, who teaches us to love, help us to be kind and compassionate in all circumstances, that the world might see something new and extraordinary in us, and know we are your children. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: To reinforce this message in a home or classroom environment, talk a bit about the difficulty we might experience in trying to be loving all the time. Ask the children to come up with situations at home where they feel angry or hurt. How about at school? Even at church misunderstandings and conflicts arise. If we are on our own, we naturally respond either with fighting back or with pulling away and either way the relationship is lost or damaged. But if we rely on God and invite God to help us deal with our feelings, new possibilities arise for us. Draw a comparison between being a Christian and running a marathon. How many of the children right now think they could run a 26-mile marathon? They can buy running shoes and the right clothes, but if they actually want to run such a distance, they must train for it. If they put in the training, and do in fact run a marathon, anyone looking at them would think, "Wow -- that person's REALLY a runner!"
The same is true for us as Christians. If we train as Christians, praying to God when we need help, practicing kindness and forgiveness with each other, then our strength grows. Eventually we find we can run a marathon of the heart, able to love in all circumstances, even people who are particularly difficult to love.
For a craft idea help your children make tissue paper stained-glass projects. Provide each child with a piece of black construction paper and transparency paper. Give them a window template, which they can trace and cut out. You should be left with a black window frame, with the panes cut out. (I like to use a church-style frame, with a pointed top and I usually cut the frames out in advance, to save time.) Have the children glue colored tissue paper all over the transparency paper. Finally glue the covered transparency paper to the back of the black window frame. (You can also glue a second transparency paper on the back, to protect the tissue.) You might also attach a piece of yarn to the top of the piece, so they can hang it in the window. Remind the children that what makes the craft really extraordinary aren't just the colors on the transparency, but the effect of the light passing through the colors. The same is true for us as Christians. It's when the light of God shines through us that we become truly extraordinary in the eyes of the world. Close with a time of prayer.
