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Feb. 17, 2019 Jesus Is Worthy

Luke 10:38–42 Mary and Martha

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only

true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

John 17:3

DATE PONDER POINT

THE BIG GOD STORY REMEMBER VERSE

Welcome and Worship (15 minutes)

Begins class creating an inviting atmosphere for kids to feel welcome and engage kids in worship through singing and communion.

The Big God Story (18 minutes)

Creates space for children to hear God’s word and prepare respond to the Holy Spirit in small groups

Small Groups (20 minutes)

Kids will build relationships with each other and their leaders, and respond to what they learned in the Big God Story as well as how to apply it to their lives

Bless & Dismiss (4 minutes)

Bless kids to send them out with a sense of peace so they can be a blessing to others.

• The large group room will be divided into three sections. Please help kids find which section they should sit in according to their grade: 1st-2nd, 3rd-4th & 5th-6th.

• Toward the end of small group time, A/V Tech will play the 2 minute warning sound followed by a song. During or immediately following the song please regroup in the large group meeting space (not before).

• 5th & 6th graders can go directly to Snack Shack after small group time, rather than regrouping in the large group space.

Host Administrative To Do’s: • Make sure no group is too large • Make sure each group has enough supplies • Close curtains and divider wall for small groups

at 9:00 and 10:15 (and re-open after 9:00) • Cue the tech when to play the 2 minute warning

with song. • Call names for dismissal after blessing

SCHEDULE Large Group

Small Group

2 Min Warn.

Regroup/Dismiss 5th-6th

1st Service (9:00) 9:00 9:33 9:53 10:00

2nd Service (10:15) 10:15 10:48 11:08 11:15

3rd Service (11:30) 11:30 12:03 12:23 12:30

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GOAL: Worship & welcome is all about engaging kids and helping them enter into worship, letting

them know that class has begun preparing their minds for what they are going to hear.

WELCOME (Host):

Stage Lights On VIDEO LOOPS: Welcome Loop, 5 Min Countdown, Welcome Image

We are so glad you are here today. Welcome the kids in your own words then say the following

to the kids: Let’s all stand and hear God’s word and sing our praise to Him…

OPENING WORSHIP SONG (Worship Leader):

Turn out main overhead lights REMEMBER VERSE VIDEO

WORSHIP VIDEO 1: This Is Amazing Grace

WORSHIP VIDEO 2: The Way

(Direct kids to get with their groups and circle up with their small group leader before sitting down)

SMALL GROUP CONNECT IMAGE

CONNECT QUESTIONS (Host): 4 MINUTE COUNTDOWN VIDEO

• If you had one super power what would it be?

• Would you rather play in the snow or play in the sand?

• Would you rather set the table, wash the dishes, or take out the trash?

TIMELINE VIDEO

(Storyteller)

The Big God Story: Point out that what kids are about to hear is true and is recorded in the

Bible. Open your Bible to the passage and leave it open and visible throughout The Big God

Story. Invite kids to open their Bibles and follow along as you storytell. Children respond to what

the Holy Spirit is teaching them as they reflect on the day’s portion of The Big God Story.

The Prayer of Release: This allows children and leaders to pause, be still, and ask God to quiet

their hearts and minds. Before you pray, you might ask the kids to hold out their hands, palms

up, in a spirit of releasing their worries and distractions in order to better receive what the Holy

Spirit might have for them today. Then encourage the kids to quiet their voices, take a seat, and

pray with you.

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The Big God Story:

• Scripts for Mary, Martha, and Jesus- Will need 3 volunteers assigned prior to storytelling • Broom, apron, cleaning supplies for Martha

Storyteller Script

Who are some of your favorite singers or athletes? Invite kids to answer; share your own favorite. I bet a lot of us could just sit and listen to them for hours! Well, in today’s part of The Big God Story, we’re going to hear about a woman who chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His teaching. Before we hear her story, let’s pray. Lead children in a Prayer of Release to pause, be still, and ask the Holy Spirit to quiet their hearts and minds.

While Jesus was on earth, He traveled with His disciples from town to town, teaching and healing people everywhere. Jesus’ disciples saw all of the amazing things Jesus did, and they knew Jesus was worthy of their following. What does worthy mean? Invite kids to respond. Yes! Think of worthy as worth-y. He is worth following—He deserves to be followed. He is so good and powerful and amazing that He not only deserves our following, but He deserves our devotion, our honor, our worship, and our very lives! Invite children to say, “Jesus is worthy” aloud with you.

As Jesus and His disciples traveled, they came to a village where two sisters named Mary and Martha lived. Have “Mary” and “Martha” actors wave to the kids. Then have them act out what the Storyteller describes. Right away, Martha got busy trying to be a good host. She cooked, cleaned, and ran around the house trying to get everything prepared for dinner. Meanwhile, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to Him. Martha got upset because Mary wasn’t helping her. Invite children to open their Bibles to Luke 10:40 and follow along.

Martha: (speaking to “Jesus” and looking very annoyed): “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40).

Storyteller: Why do you think Martha got so upset? Interact with answers. Yeah! She thought it was unfair that she was doing all the work!

Mary, on the other hand, was sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to Him. She saw that Jesus is worthy. Mary was acting just like a disciple. In Jesus’ time, only men could be disciples. By acting like a disciple, Mary was taking on a man’s role!

Martha: She shouldn’t be doing that!

Storyteller: Martha expected Jesus to scold Mary and tell her to get to work in the kitchen. But He didn’t! Invite children to follow along as you read Luke 10:41.

Jesus: “Martha, Martha … you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41–42).

Storyteller: Through this response, Jesus gently corrected Martha. His response must have been very surprising to the people there. Martha was doing what people normally expected.

Martha (interrupting): I’m just trying to be a good host to Jesus and His disciples! But Jesus told

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me I’m distracted by all these preparations! Martha now looks thoughtful.

Storyteller: Because of Martha’s busyness, she missed out on something far more important: being with Jesus. But Mary, who recognized that God Himself had come into her home, sat at Jesus’ feet. Like a disciple, she was devoted to Him and His teaching. Martha, on the other hand, was busy with getting the house ready for Jesus, which caused her to be distracted.

Martha: I just wanted to make sure everything in my house looked and smelled and tasted good! I just wanted everything to be perfect!

Thank the leaders for their great acting.

God loves being in relationship with us. It’s important to Him. When Mary chose to be with Jesus, she was choosing to be in relationship with Him by spending time with Him, learning from Him, and loving Him. Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen what was better and that it wouldn’t be taken away from her. What do you think that means? Encourage answers. Good thoughts.

Mary saw that Jesus is worthy of following, and she and Martha devoted their lives to their relationship with Jesus. Jesus continued travelling with His disciples and preaching good news. He healed the sick, and He even went on to raise Mary and Martha’s brother from the dead! Jesus is worthy of worship, praise, adoration, and devotion because He is the Son of God, the healer of the sick, the Savior of the world! He is worthy! Invite children to repeat, “Jesus is worthy!”

Just like Mary and Martha, we’re also called to sit at the Lord’s feet, to learn from Him, and to pray to Him. In fact, getting to talk to God in prayer is one of the blessings of being in a relationship with God. If you find yourself worried, pray and invite Jesus to take control of the situation. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, will give you His peace in the midst of your worry. Through prayer, we can enjoy a relationship with Jesus as we talk to Him and learn to live as His disciples. Tell a story of a time when you realized Jesus is worthy.

Tell the kids we are going to close the Big God Story by worshipping him. Ask the kids to wait until they are asked to come forward to take communion.

WORSHIP VIDEO 3: Your Love Never Fails

After a time of worshipping have kids come and take communion if they have been baptized, and bring their offering.

Fade out song slowly at Worship Leader’s prompting.

(As the song comes to a close Worship Leader tells groups to head to their small group space. Say something like, “Let’s continue responding to what God is teaching us as we dismiss to our small groups. Please follow your small group leader at this time.”)

IMAGE: It’s time for small groups

Turn main overhead lights on

Dismiss for small groups—refer to map for small group locations

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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At the end of small groups...

Tech cue: 2 minute warning with exit song, using ceiling speakers, at the host’s prompting

Turn speakers back to wall speakers for blessing, closing song and dismissal.

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GOAL: Kids build relationships with each other and their leader as they respond to what they heard

in the Big God Story.

JESUS IS WORTHY SUPPLIES • Paper feet (one per child) • Markers ENGAGE When Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to Him teach, she was acting like a disciple. She knew that Jesus was worthy of her whole life, and she wanted to follow Him. Just like Mary, when we see that Jesus is worthy, we respond by worshipping Him.

Let’s take some time thinking about Jesus and thinking of how you want to show Him He is worthy. Mary sat at His feet, and spent every moment with Him listening to Him. Now it’s your turn think about what you love about Jesus, and how you can show Him He is worthy. Maybe you love that Jesus is powerful, that He is kind, that He is a Friend, or that He is merciful. Maybe you love that Jesus is your Savior, or maybe you love that He forgave all your sins. After you think about some of the things you love about Jesus, you can grab a foot and a marker. Then, write a word or draw a picture of that thing you love about Jesus as a way to show He is worthy. Take your foot home to remind you that Mary chose the best…..sitting at the feet of Jesus. Use the Following Discussion Questions to further the conversation.

• What does the word worthy mean?

• When Jesus and His disciples stayed in Martha’s home, what did Mary do? Luke 10:39 What did Martha do? Luke 10:40

• Why was Martha upset with her sister Mary? Luke 10:40

• Why do you think that Mary’s choice was better than Martha’s? Luke 10:41-42

• How does it make you feel to know that Jesus invites you to “sit at His feet” and learn from Him?

BLESSINGS Close your small group time reading a final scripture and blessing your kids using the Blessing Card from your supply bin in your cart.

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GOAL: Bless kids to send them out with a sense of peace so they can be a blessing to others.

CLOSING REMARKS/ANNOUNCEMENTS (Host):

Wall Speakers On

TRANSITION ACTIVITIES (HOST):

The videos listed below are 12-13 minutes long. Please play as listed below and feel free to stop the video whenever it’s time to start the next service.

After 9:00 service play - Transition Compilation 12

After 10:15 service play - Transition Compilation 11

DISMISSAL (STORYTELLER):

Call names of kids as parent come to pick up and welcome kids who are being dropped off.

Encourage parents to enter the room and encourage kids and parents to exit out the middle door

(103)

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It can be easy to get so caught up in serving God that we neglect loving God. In a broken world where there is so much to be done, our hearts get caught up in God’s beautiful vision for restoration and we take off running. A few years ago, while serving a church in Harlem, New York City, my relationship with God often revolved around building the kingdom and serving the people He placed on my heart.

But it was during this season that I first felt the pull to go on an “Alone with God Retreat.” I began hearing the phrase, “Come away”—in songs, Scripture, and just in my heart. I sensed the invitation: ”Come away. Just sit at My feet. Let Me pour My love on you.”

I had never done a retreat of this kind before, so it felt strange to pack up my bags and board a plane to Florida for a “vacation with God.” But as I spent time basking in the sunlight, resting, going deep in worship, and allowing Jesus’ love to pour all over my heart, I was filled with joy and my number one priority came back into place. Jesus is worthy. He is worthy of holding first place in our hearts. He is worthy of quality time and affection, sometimes at the expense of other tasks. Jesus is worthy of face-to-face, unhindered, one-of-a-kind love.

Kelly Goddard HRock Church

Jesus is worthy of our worship. Mary knew this, and she was boldly willing to sacrifice everything to follow Him. More than just about any of Jesus’ other disciples, Mary understood that Jesus is worthy of all honor and devotion. We see this clearly by how she acted around Jesus. In Jesus’ day, women faced very clear societal expectations—and Mary disregarded them. She didn’t care how it looked. She was devoted to worshipping Jesus.

The Jewish educational system of the day was separated into three different levels. In Bet Sefer (both boys and girls, ages 6 to 12), children learned to read and write and to memorize the Torah. After this level, the girls would stay at home to help with the family. Most boys would begin to learn a trade, and only the top students would continue their education.

These top male students who had memorized the Torah (Genesis—Deuteronomy) continued their study in Bet Midrash (ages 13 to 16). They also continued to be taught by the local rabbi (while learning the family trade) and memorized the entire Tanach (the Old Testament). The best of the best would then be selected by a famous traveling rabbi to enter Bet Talmud (ages 15 to 30). Very few would make it this far. These would often leave home to travel with and emulate everything the rabbi did. They would be called “Talmidim,” or “disciples.” To be called a Talmidim was the highest of honors.

Only Talmidim were allowed to sit at their rabbi’s feet and learn from him. Jesus’ Talmidim did just this. And in today’s passage of Scripture, we see that Mary did this too. Instead of working in the kitchen where women were supposed to be, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet. Despite what people may think of us, we’re all called to surrender everything in order to keep walking on the straight path to Jesus. He is worthy of our worship..

How long has it been since you’ve knelt, like Mary, before the Lord? This reverent act of surrender is still practiced in many other societies on a daily basis, yet it’s one we tend to avoid. The humbling

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posture of getting down on our knees, bowing low, and submitting to God seems so simple. And yet we rarely do it.

Have you noticed that in the midst of our heartfelt attempts to serve the Lord we often forget to stay in that essential posture of reverence for Him? Sometimes we get so busy serving that we rush through the day without a single prayer or moment of authentic worship. Sometimes we don’t hear God’s gentle voice correcting us out of our busyness because we’re too busy to listen!

As you prepare for this week’s lesson, spend some time kneeling before the Lord in silence or in thanksgiving. Pray that the Holy Spirit will draw near to you and guide you in giving our Savior the reverent worship He so richly deserves.