October 21, 2012
Semicontinuous
Job 38:1–7, (34–41)
Ps. 104:1–9, 24, 35c
Complementary
Isa. 53:4–12
Ps. 91:9–16
Heb. 5:1–10
Mark 10:35–45
Proper 24
Servants Are Great
Goal for
the Session
Children will encounter the story of James and John’s
request, and practice ways of serving as Jesus served.
Q P R E P A R I N G
F O R
T H E
S E S S I O N
Focus on Mark 10:35–45
WHAT is important to know?
— From “Exegetical Perspective,” C. Clifton Black
The principal metaphors for discipleship in Mark 10 are “servant” (diakonos: vv. 43, 45) and “slave” (doulos:
v. 44). The main idea they share is “intermediate service on a superior’s behalf,” which in 10:42–43a is
contrasted with overweening Gentile tyranny. In the Old Testament the ideal monarch is the people’s servant
(1 Kgs. 12:7). In Mark the clearest expression of the Son of Man’s peculiar service is “to give his life a ransom
for many” (10:45; cf. the servant’s portrayal in Isa. 52:13—53:12).
WHERE is God in these words?
— From “Theological Perspective,” James J. Thompson
Jesus presents a stark contrast to the disciples’ conception of leadership, and thus to the prevailing conceptions
of status and success in the ancient and modern worlds. For Jesus, the ruler must be a servant leader, not
a tyrant. The goal is to serve, not to be served. Whoever would be first must be last. This vision of servant
leadership is a powerful antidote to our common notions of a servant that equates the position with lowly
status and leadership with the ability to attain markers of success, such as material acquisitions, prestige, and
managerial or political power over others.
SO WHAT does this mean for our lives?
— From “Pastoral Perspective,” David B. Howell
So are we really that different from these greedy sons of Zebedee? We might not make outlandish requests,
but in our hearts we often covet the best of the lot, the top spot, the place of recognition. Indeed, this is part
of the human condition. We can attempt to explain our greed for the best in a number of ways. Theologically,
some would say that it is as simple as Genesis 3 (the fall); others might explain it in psychological terms such
as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Erikson’s stages of development, or Freud’s id impulses. In any event, this is
the way we are. Or, as Jana Childers has said, we have Zebedee DNA in our genes.
NOW WHAT is God’s word calling us to do?
— From “Homiletical Perspective,” Charles L. Campbell
In this text the cross is not primarily focused on individual forgiveness. Nor does the cross call us simply to
bear the burdens of life or to practice ascetic self-denial or passively to accept violence or abuse. Rather, Jesus
calls the community of faith, in its life together, to offer an alternative to the ways of the Domination System—
and to bear the suffering that inevitably comes as a result. Just as Jesus resists the Domination System [power
over others as a primary principle of social organization] throughout his ministry—even unto death on a
cross—so he sets us free (ransoms us, v. 45) from that system, so we might become faithful disciples and take
up his way of resistance.
© 2012 Westminster John Knox Press
Grades (K)1–2
1
Servants Are Great
FOCUS SCRIPTURE
Mark 10:35–45
YOU WILL NEED
Focus on Your Teaching
For a child, being first is usually strongly preferred to being last. Being last may equate with
a long wait or getting the smallest piece. Being the last one to finish may even mean getting
in trouble! In the reality of daily life, it’s more fun to be first. The children will understand
James and John’s request to have the best seats. Today’s story is an opportunity to wonder
together what life looks like when we choose to place the needs of others first.
R green tablecloth from
September 2
R small table or large
cardboard box
God, help me to affirm each child by name today. Don’t let me play
favorites! May your love flow through me, reminding each of these
children how precious they are to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
R children’s crosses
(from Resource Sheet
1 on September 2)
Q L E A D I N G
T H E
S E S S I O N
R washable markers
R basket
R cross that stands
R electric candle
R children’s Bible
R adult-size shirts or
baseball-style caps
R Color Pack 15, 16
R Singing the Feast,
vol. 2; CD player
R copies of Resource
Sheet 1, 2
R thin paper, large
mirror
R newsprint, markers
Note to teacher: To
help learners experience
the sense of how
Jesus’ teaching seems
backward compared
to the teaching of the
world, today’s lesson is
intentionally backward!
Gathering includes
closing activities;
Exploring has activity
options; and Responding
is the time to explore the
Bible story.
© 2012 Westminster John Knox Press
GATHERING
Before the session, create a worship center by placing the green tablecloth on a small table
or a large cardboard box. Place the children’s Bible, standing cross, candle, basket, and the
children’s crosses on the table. Provide extra crosses for children who do not have one.
Welcome the children by saying, “Good-bye.” Tell them that lots of things will seem out of
order or backward today! Have each person wear an oversized shirt or a ball cap backward.
Gather around the worship center and light the candle. Acknowledge that you usually do
this first, and that you don’t want to change that. The light of Jesus’ light shines at the
beginning and the end of your time together.
Invite the children to think about what your group usually does last—sing a song and say a
prayer. Ask learners to join you in prayer, adding their words as noted:
Dear God, thank you for the first thing we saw this morning: (invite
children to name things). Thank you for the first sounds we heard this
morning: (invite responses). Thank you for the first people we saw this
morning: (invite responses). Thank you for Jesus, who goes before us and
behind us and beside us, always and forever. Amen.
Show Color Pack 15 and ask the children to describe what is happening in the picture. Sing
“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” (track 11 on Singing the Feast, vol. 2). This can be sung as
a call and response, with half the learners singing “I have decided” and the other half singing
“to follow Jesus.”
Grades (K)1–2
2
Servants Are Great
I Have Decided to
Follow Jesus
I have decided to follow
Jesus;
I have decided to follow
Jesus;
I have decided to follow
Jesus;
No turning back, no
turning back.
Though none go with me,
still I will follow;
Though none go with me,
still I will follow;
Though none go with me,
still I will follow;
No turning back, no
turning back.
My family with me will
follow Jesus;
My family with me will
follow Jesus;
My family with me will
follow Jesus;
No turning back, no
turning back.
EXPLORING
Choose which option you will use:
1. Let Me Help Introduce the concept of serving one another by playing a game. Form
two teams for this relay-style game. Set a starting line and an ending line, and have
the teams line up at the starting line. First congratulate all the players for winning
the game! (After all, we are doing things backward.) When you say, “Go,” the first child
should walk backward to the ending line, sit down, take off his or her shoes, then sidestep back to the team, leaving the shoes behind. As the shoes pile up, mix them together.
When all shoes are in the pile, ask the two teams to line up at the starting line. When
you say, “Go,” the first person in line will walk backward to the shoe pile, take any two
mismatched shoes (not their own) and then side-step back and sit down at the end of
their team line. When all the shoes have been picked up, tell learners to find the owners
of the shoes they are holding and put them on their feet. Players cannot put their shoes
on by themselves. When everyone has their shoes back on, ask: What was the hardest
part of the game? What was it like to help someone else? Did you like having someone
help you with your shoes? Why or why not?
2. Mirror, Mirror. Introduce the Bible verse for the session, Mark 10:43. Give each child a
piece of thin paper and a marker. Have them write their names in large letters on the
paper. Then have them turn the papers over and trace the letters on the other side.
Invite them to look at their backward names in the mirror. Give each child a copy of
Resource Sheet 2 (Mirror, Mirror) and invite them to hold it up to the mirror. Ask the
children to figure out what the picture is. Invite them to read the verse with you in
unison. Ask them to tell what word they think will complete the verse. Tell them you
will come back to this later.
RESPONDING
Gather the children to hear a story about a question that Jesus’ disciples asked. Show
Color Pack 16. (This page has two images: Jesus talking with two disciples and Jesus with a
surprised expression. Cover or fold back the image of Jesus alone and show just the image
of Jesus with the disciples.) Ask:
P Which of these people is Jesus? What do you think this group is talking about?
Reveal the image of Jesus alone. Have learners look at his expression. Ask:
P What kind of expression is on Jesus’ face?
P What do you think this might tell you about the story we are going to hear today?
Say, “Today we have been wearing things backward, doing things backward, and looking at
things backward because of something Jesus said to his disciples. Let’s hear what he had to
say.”
© 2012 Westminster John Knox Press
Grades (K)1–2
3
Servants Are Great
Read aloud Mark 10:35–41 from a children’s Bible.
P What did James and John want? (Possible answers include: to sit next to Jesus in
heaven; to have the best and most important seats.)
P How did the other disciples feel about James and John asking Jesus for the best seats?
If your group has
kindergartners, you
might want to read
the Bible story from
a children’s Bible
storybook, adjusting the
questions as needed to
match the wording in
the Bible you use.
Read aloud Mark 10:42–45. Comment on how surprised James and John must have been
when Jesus told them about being first and being great. Ask:
P What is a servant? What kinds of things do servants do?
P Read verses 43–45 again. Why might some people be surprised by Jesus’ words? How
do these words seem backward, compared to what many people say and do today?
Distribute markers and copies of Resource Sheet 1 (From Last to First). Show the children
how to move the last letter of each word to the front of the word. Read the verse aloud
together: “If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others” (Mark 10:43,
CEV). If you have younger children in the group, work as a group to solve the puzzle.) Have
learners read the verse aloud in unison.
Have learners look again at Resource Sheet 2 (Mirror, Mirror), using the mirror. Read the
verse together, and ask what word they would use to complete the verse.
P What do you think Jesus means by being “the servant of all the others”?
P Why do you think these words surprised the disciples?
P Why do these words still surprise Christians today?
Write the following words on newsprint: greedy, bossy, rude, rough, mean. Ask volunteers
to read the words aloud. Point out that these words are backward—opposite—from what
Jesus teaches about being great. Invite volunteers to take turns crossing out one of the
words and telling you a new word to write in its place that will help the group remember
how to be great like Jesus. Ask:
P What is one thing you will do this week to practice being great like Jesus?
CLOSING
Invite each child to take off the oversized shirt or ball cap and stand in a circle. Hold one of
the caps or shirts and say, “If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others”
(Mark 10:43, CEV). Repeat the verse together. Pass the hat or shirt around the circle, inviting
each child, in turn, to say one word of the verse.
Ask learners to join you in prayer:
Teacher: The Lord be with you!
All: And also with you!
Teacher: Let us pray. Dear God, show us how to live as Jesus taught. Show us how
to serve each other in love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Say, “Hello,” to each learner as he or she leaves.
© 2012 Westminster John Knox Press
Grades (K)1–2
4
Grades (K)1–2
Resource Sheet 1
October 21, 2012
From Last to First
Directions: To find what Jesus told the disciples, take
the last letter of each word and move it to the front of
that word. The first word has been done for you!
fI
If
ouy
antw
ot
eb
reatg
ouy
ustm
eb
het
ervants
fo
lla
het
therso
Mark 10:43, CEV
© 2012 Westminster John Knox Press
Grades (K)1–2
Grades (K)1–2
Resource Sheet 2
October 21, 2012
VEC ,34:01 kraM
Mirror, Mirror
© 2012 Westminster John Knox Press
Grades (K)1–2