JESUS
AIM: God shows us His character through Jesus
12.God is PEACEFUL (Y3 T2 U3a)
Teaching Idea: God shows us He is PEACEFUL through Jesus giving advice on how to
sort out arguments.
Learning Tool: Bead with ‘PEACEFUL’ written on it for bracelet
Bible Verse: “Even before I speak, you already know what I will say.” Psalm 139:4
Show flashcard picture from previous devotion (Two children yelling at each other).
Last Rally we talked about how we need to get rid of things that are wrong, and we discussed how these two could get rid of what was wrong. We all have arguments from time to time, and we all need help to sort them out.
Soon you will see a short drama in which the disciples are arguing among themselves, then we’ll read a short Bible reading. As the drama and the reading are happening try to answer these questions:
- Why do you think that the disciples did not want to tell Jesus what they were arguing about?
- How do you think that the advice which Jesus gave them would have helped to sort out their argument?
Short Drama
Brief drama without any scripts which shows the argument about who was the greatest. Could use simple costumes. Use your imagination and make up good reasons for why Peter might have felt more important than James, and why John might have felt that he was more important than Andrew, etc. In your drama do not attempt to resolve the argument.
- Bible Reading Mark 9:33-35
“They came to Capernaum, and after going indoors Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they would not answer him, because on the road they had been arguing among themselves about who was the greatest. Jesus sat down, called the twelve disciples, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must place himself last of all and be the servant of all.”
Discuss the two questions:
- Why do you think that the disciples did not want to tell Jesus what they were arguing about?
We are not told in the Bible, however we can guess at their discomfort. Possible answers:
They were all followers of Jesus and meant to be friends. Jesus did not argue like that. Jesus might have been disappointed in them arguing. Jesus was really the ‘greatest’ and so they should not even have been thinking that one of them was the greatest. They were ashamed of themselves.
- How do you think that the advice which Jesus gave them would have helped to sort out their argument?
Read verse 35 again and help the girls to work out what it means before they say how it would help. Concentrate on the word ‘servant’ and use that to focus their attention. Do not spend too much time on this explanation since it will be picked up properly in the next section.
- Jesus’ Advice To His Disciples
Display and read out the following:
JESUS’ ADVICE TO HIS DISCIPLES
“Whoever wants to be first must place himself
last of all and be the servant of all.”
Mark 9:35
This means:
- Do not be selfish
- Think of others as more important than yourself
- Always look after the other person before you look after yourself
Cut the following four Discussion Starters apart. Read aloud one discussion starter at a time (could get different Rally Members to read each) and then discuss. Refer back to Jesus’ advice to His disciples. Use only as many discussion starters as you have time for.
What might this argument be about?
“You can’t have it! It’s mine!”
“Well, you never use it, so it’s mine now!”
Look at Jesus’ advice to His disciples:
Discuss: If we followed Jesus’ advice how might that help sort out this argument?
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What might this argument be about?
“Shove off. I’m going first. It was my idea!”
“No! You shove off! I was here first!”
Look at Jesus’ advice to His disciples:
Discuss: If we followed Jesus’ advice how might that help sort out this argument?
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What might this argument be about?
“It’s not fair. You never let me do it!”
“Why should I? You never let me when I want to!”
Look at Jesus’ advice to His disciples:
Discuss: If we followed Jesus’ advice how might that help sort out this argument?
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What might this argument be about?
“Who do you think you are, anyway? I’m older than you!”
“Who cares? I might be younger than you, but you’re more stupid than me!”
Look at Jesus’ advice to His disciples:
Discuss: If we followed Jesus’ advice how might that help sort out this argument?
Cut the following Prayer Cards apart. Hand out prayer cards to children who are happy to read out loud. Open in prayer, have children with prayer cards read them out loud, then close in prayer.
Thank you, Jesus, that your disciples were just like us and sometimes argued. |
Dear God,
We don’t like arguments.
Please help us to take your advice. |
Thank you, Jesus, for your good advice that helped to sort out the disciples’ argument. |
Jesus, sometimes we are selfish and that makes arguments.
Please forgive us. |
Thank you, Jesus, that your good advice can help sort out our arguments. |
Dear God,
Please help us to think of others as more important than ourselves. |
Dear God,
Please forgive us for the times when arguments have got out of hand. |
Dear God,
Please help us to look after other people instead of always looking after ourselves. |
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