Hello to everyone participating in our Learning Together story this month! This is the third and final online lesson for March based on “The Servant King” found on pages 286-293 in The Jesus Storybook Bible. The Biblical references are located in Mark 14 and John 13-14.
Children: If you recall, Jesus and his helpers were having the Passover meal together in an upstairs room. He had washed everyone’s feet to show how much he loved all his friends, and now, while sharing this meal, Jesus told them about God’s plan for rescuing the whole world and how Jesus himself will die instead of anyone else. Jesus’s helpers were very upset to hear this, and to make them feel better, Jesus gave them, and us, a way to remember Him. He said that His body was like a piece of bread that will break, and the cup of wine is like His blood that will pour out. We remember Jesus’s rescue when we eat the bread and drink the wine during our communion, an act of sharing. One last thought … Judas, a traitor friend! What was his terrible plan? Adults: Was Judas forgiven for his betrayal? According to Billy Graham and other scholars, Judas was not forgiven for his betrayal of Jesus, and one reason is because he could not bring himself to repent of the sin he had committed. There's a difference between feeling sorry over something we have done, and actually repenting of it. Judas knew he had done wrong, and when the full force of his terrible act hit him, the Bible says "he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins" to those who had paid him (Matthew 27:3). Although he admitted he had sinned, it was too late, and the Bible says he went out and killed himself. Feel free to blog any questions, comments, or thoughts below. Next week we will meet for our fourth Sunday in-person gathering after church in the Fellowship Hall to discuss the March story and do a fun craft. Hope to see you! This week’s prayer: Lord, as we take this bread, we remember that You are the bread of life. You feed our souls and nourish our hearts. Amen Have a good week, everyone! Margo Greer
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March Week 2
Hi Friends! Today’s posting is week 2 for March’s story of “The Servant King” found on pages 286-293 in The Jesus Storybook Bible. The Biblical references are located in Mark 14 and John 13-14. Children: As usual, I will begin by requesting that you read the story out loud to an adult or out loud by yourself. By now you probably understand why feet, back in Jesus’s time, would be really stinky. You also know that a servant usually would have to do the yucky task of washing them. When Jesus washed his helpers’ feet, he was a servant showing His great love for them. He tells his helpers to “do this for each other.” Being a servant is to be a helper. Draw or make a list of ways that you can show your love to others by being helpful to them, as Jesus was. Adults: Sometimes it can be hard to let others serve us. When Peter found out what Jesus was going to do for them, immediately he said, “You shall never wash my feet.” (John 13:8) In that same verse, Jesus responded by saying, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Peter was not responding out of humility, but out of pride instead. He didn’t think that he could possibly receive what Jesus was about to do. If he had not allowed Jesus to serve him like this, he might have missed out on one of the most important things that Jesus was trying to teach him. We must not assume that we are not good enough to be served by others. If we are too prideful to accept what others want to do for us, we might completely miss what Jesus has done for us as well. We must be humble enough to allow others to minister to us. ~This week’s prayer: Heavenly Father, In prayer I ask that you help me to love others as much as you love me. Next week we will talk about the last supper that Jesus had with his helpers. Until then, Stay safe, Margo Greer Hello, everyone! March has arrived, and so has Learning Together’s new story for this month. You will once again be invited to listen and read and create and pray around one particular story. Find your copy of The Jesus Storybook Bible and turn to “The Servant King” on pages 286-293. The Biblical references are found in Mark 14 and John 13-14. Children: Please begin by listening to the story read aloud in our Learning Together Tuesday email. You may wish to look carefully at all the pictures shown in the story as you listen. All members of your family are encouraged to listen together. Our discussion begins with STINKY FEET! Yuk! Why would the friends of Jesus be arguing about stinky feet? Check out the pictures on pages 286 and 287 and think about what the streets were like for the people who lived in Jesus’ time. Oh my! No fun there! But what would stinky feet have to do with Jesus? Why would Jesus wash his friends’ stinky feet? Why would he tell his friends to wash each other’s stinky feet? Hmm! Think about these questions and jot down your thoughts to share or draw a picture of the scene. Adults: It is hard to imagine coming into this world, knowing that you are not just here for your personal benefit, but that you came to be a servant of others. This is exactly what Jesus came to do. Jesus came to serve, not be served. Our society is one where it is common to look out for our own good, not so much looking out for the good of others. After Jesus washed the disciples’ feet he said to them, “I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:15) Jesus expressed his love for the disciples when he humbly washed their feet (“Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”) and we are to follow in his footsteps and do likewise. We are to show others the same kind of love that Jesus shows us, and we are to accept others serving us. ~This week’s prayer: Dear Lord, I pray that I will follow your example to gladly help others. Enter your comments below! Have a great week! Margo Greer |
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