Love Your Neighbor |
Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost- Week of Oct 31, 2021 - Proper 26
Praying
Begin your devotion time by praying this prayer: Dear God, your love is revealed to us when we are in community with others. Open our hearts to fully love you, and give us the grace to love others. Amen.
Reflect on the Way of Love together: This week's practice on the Way of Love is WORSHIP. In the reading from Mark, we are reminded of the two great commandments: to love God and love others. How do we sho love for God through worship? How does showing love for others inform our worship?
Reflect on the Way of Love together: This week's practice on the Way of Love is WORSHIP. In the reading from Mark, we are reminded of the two great commandments: to love God and love others. How do we sho love for God through worship? How does showing love for others inform our worship?
preparing
Children have more agency and greater influence today than any other period in human history. Yet, they still remain vulnerable. They depend on adults to care for them, to provide their basic needs, and to keep them safe. It is exactly this vulnerability that draws Jesus to the children who seek his blessing. In this lesson, children will explore what it meant to be a young person in ancient Israel as well as the ways they can support vulnerable children in today’s world.
Begin the time with your children by asking them to imagine that they trade roles with their parents or caretakers for a week. They would do everything the adults normally do and the adults would become like children. What would it be like to take care of all of the household responsibilities, go to work and care for the adults? What might make this fun? What would make this challenging? Would they rather take on the adult roles or continue being kids? Note that children need time to develop. Adults know it is important for children to grow up, so they provide what the kids need to ensure they can focus on being kids.
Prepare to read Mark 12:28-34 aloud.
First, provide context for the passage. (If you explored Mark 9:30-37 with the group a few weeks ago, you can recap the message of that text.) Explain that children were not seen the same way in Jesus’ time as they are today. Children were the least important people in that culture. They had to be cared for and couldn’t provide much help to their families. They had little protection, making them vulnerable. Encourage the children to keep this in mind as you read the Scripture.
Begin the time with your children by asking them to imagine that they trade roles with their parents or caretakers for a week. They would do everything the adults normally do and the adults would become like children. What would it be like to take care of all of the household responsibilities, go to work and care for the adults? What might make this fun? What would make this challenging? Would they rather take on the adult roles or continue being kids? Note that children need time to develop. Adults know it is important for children to grow up, so they provide what the kids need to ensure they can focus on being kids.
Prepare to read Mark 12:28-34 aloud.
First, provide context for the passage. (If you explored Mark 9:30-37 with the group a few weeks ago, you can recap the message of that text.) Explain that children were not seen the same way in Jesus’ time as they are today. Children were the least important people in that culture. They had to be cared for and couldn’t provide much help to their families. They had little protection, making them vulnerable. Encourage the children to keep this in mind as you read the Scripture.
Reading
Mark 12:28-34
The First Commandment
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your Hod with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Then the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that 'he is one, and besides him there is no other'; and, ' to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,' and 'to love one's neighbor as oneself,'--this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that no one dared to ask him any questions
The First Commandment
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your Hod with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Then the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that 'he is one, and besides him there is no other'; and, ' to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,' and 'to love one's neighbor as oneself,'--this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that no one dared to ask him any questions
Four minutes to watch this Godly Play Story for this week
Reflecting and Responding
Adults and small children
Read Mark 12:28-34 aloud.
Reflect: A commandment is a law or a rule that God wants us to follow. The scribe asked Jesus what the most important rule was. He probably thought that this would be a difficult question to answer. But Jesus didn't have any trouble answering. Right away he said, love God and love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.
Whenever we're not sure how to help or what the best thing to do, we can remember that Jesus said we should love God and love each other. That's more important than anything else.
That seems easy, but often it's not. Have you ever been unsure about what to do when you or someone you know is angry or sad or unhappy? Even when we're unsure about how to help, we can remember these commandments: Love God and love your neighbor. Even though we still might not always be sure what to do, if we do our best to love each other all the time, we'll be following Jesus.
Respond: What are some roles in your house? Draw pictures of the rules or have an adult help you write some of them down. Now circle the most important rules. Is loving each other one of the rules? If not, make a sign to remind your family that loving each other is more important than anything else. Put your sign on a door or wall as a reminder.
Reflect: A commandment is a law or a rule that God wants us to follow. The scribe asked Jesus what the most important rule was. He probably thought that this would be a difficult question to answer. But Jesus didn't have any trouble answering. Right away he said, love God and love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.
Whenever we're not sure how to help or what the best thing to do, we can remember that Jesus said we should love God and love each other. That's more important than anything else.
That seems easy, but often it's not. Have you ever been unsure about what to do when you or someone you know is angry or sad or unhappy? Even when we're unsure about how to help, we can remember these commandments: Love God and love your neighbor. Even though we still might not always be sure what to do, if we do our best to love each other all the time, we'll be following Jesus.
Respond: What are some roles in your house? Draw pictures of the rules or have an adult help you write some of them down. Now circle the most important rules. Is loving each other one of the rules? If not, make a sign to remind your family that loving each other is more important than anything else. Put your sign on a door or wall as a reminder.
adults and older children
Read Mark 12:28-34 aloud.
Reflect: Why do we go to church? Is it so we can see our friends, or put on that cute new outfit? While we might enjoy the fellowship, or having somewhere to go, the reason we go to church is much deeper. We go to church to worship God and practice loving God and loving each other.
Every week, we do things to remind us to put God first - we confess our sins and say we're sorry. We sing music to praise God, We hear Bible stories which tell us about how God has journeyed with God's people through time. We hear stories of other people who have tried to live faithfully. All of these things should be helping us to remember to put God first and show our faith through love!
Do you have a favorite part of church? What is it? How do you remember to put God first all the time, and not just when you go to church?
Respond: Find the materials you need for this activity: a jar, one bigger rock, and smaller rocks or marbles. Imagine the jar is your heart Begin to name things you love, and put the marbles in the jar. One by one, the jar will fill up. Now try to fit the big rock in - does it fit? This big rock symbolizes God. Empty the marbles out of the jar and try it the other way - if God goes in first, all the smaller marbles should fit around it. This is why it's important to love God first, so there's enough room!
Reflect: Why do we go to church? Is it so we can see our friends, or put on that cute new outfit? While we might enjoy the fellowship, or having somewhere to go, the reason we go to church is much deeper. We go to church to worship God and practice loving God and loving each other.
Every week, we do things to remind us to put God first - we confess our sins and say we're sorry. We sing music to praise God, We hear Bible stories which tell us about how God has journeyed with God's people through time. We hear stories of other people who have tried to live faithfully. All of these things should be helping us to remember to put God first and show our faith through love!
Do you have a favorite part of church? What is it? How do you remember to put God first all the time, and not just when you go to church?
Respond: Find the materials you need for this activity: a jar, one bigger rock, and smaller rocks or marbles. Imagine the jar is your heart Begin to name things you love, and put the marbles in the jar. One by one, the jar will fill up. Now try to fit the big rock in - does it fit? This big rock symbolizes God. Empty the marbles out of the jar and try it the other way - if God goes in first, all the smaller marbles should fit around it. This is why it's important to love God first, so there's enough room!
Connecting
Neighbors not yet known
There are some passages in the Bible that feel like they are part of our DNA: The story of Jesus' birth; the crucifixion and resurrection narratives; even Noah's tumultuous boat ride with a slew of animals. These stories are so much a part of our faith that most of us can't even remember when we first heard them. In fact, when we hear these texts read in worship services or we come to them in our Bibles, we often gloss over them, sure that we already know all there is to know about them. In this week's Gospel lectionary text, Mark's account of Jesus discussing the Greatest Commandment with a scribe is one of these all-too-familiar passages for me. In this lesson, children will look at this common reading with fresh eyes, considering how they might deepen their understanding of love for their neighbors.
Starting off
Begin your time with the children by having them list the names of their neighbors. Then ask them what makes these people neighbors. What is a neighbor to them? Not that we often think of our neighbors as people who live in close proximity to us. These are usually people we cn name and with whom we are at least acquaintances.
Next, ask the children who they think Jesus might have considered his neighbors. They likely will notice that Jesus lived a nomadic lifestyle or they may quickly realize that Jesus considered all people his neighbors. Encourage them to hold on to this definition of neighbor as you read aloud this Scripture passage.
Bible reading
Read aloud Mark 12:28-34. Note that if you are using a children's Bible, it may include a version of one of the parallel Gospel readings (Matthew 22:36-40 or Luke 10:25-28). For the purposes of this lesson, you can use any of these readings.
After reading the passage, have the children recount the two commandments Jesus says are "first" and "second." The first commandment is "the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength" (vv. 29-30). The second commandment is "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (v. 31). Ask the children to reflect on what they think each of these commandments means. What does it mean to love God with all of your heart, mind, and strength? What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself? What does each of these commandments look like in action? How do we or cqn we demonstrate each? Remind the children to consider neighbor using Jesu' definition.
There are some passages in the Bible that feel like they are part of our DNA: The story of Jesus' birth; the crucifixion and resurrection narratives; even Noah's tumultuous boat ride with a slew of animals. These stories are so much a part of our faith that most of us can't even remember when we first heard them. In fact, when we hear these texts read in worship services or we come to them in our Bibles, we often gloss over them, sure that we already know all there is to know about them. In this week's Gospel lectionary text, Mark's account of Jesus discussing the Greatest Commandment with a scribe is one of these all-too-familiar passages for me. In this lesson, children will look at this common reading with fresh eyes, considering how they might deepen their understanding of love for their neighbors.
Starting off
Begin your time with the children by having them list the names of their neighbors. Then ask them what makes these people neighbors. What is a neighbor to them? Not that we often think of our neighbors as people who live in close proximity to us. These are usually people we cn name and with whom we are at least acquaintances.
Next, ask the children who they think Jesus might have considered his neighbors. They likely will notice that Jesus lived a nomadic lifestyle or they may quickly realize that Jesus considered all people his neighbors. Encourage them to hold on to this definition of neighbor as you read aloud this Scripture passage.
Bible reading
Read aloud Mark 12:28-34. Note that if you are using a children's Bible, it may include a version of one of the parallel Gospel readings (Matthew 22:36-40 or Luke 10:25-28). For the purposes of this lesson, you can use any of these readings.
After reading the passage, have the children recount the two commandments Jesus says are "first" and "second." The first commandment is "the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength" (vv. 29-30). The second commandment is "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (v. 31). Ask the children to reflect on what they think each of these commandments means. What does it mean to love God with all of your heart, mind, and strength? What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself? What does each of these commandments look like in action? How do we or cqn we demonstrate each? Remind the children to consider neighbor using Jesu' definition.
Relating the passage to our lives
Note that earlier in the lesson the children named the people they consider their neighbors. They know each of these people by name. However, there are likely neighbors in their community who they do not know well or are not even aware of.
Note that earlier in the lesson the children named the people they consider their neighbors. They know each of these people by name. However, there are likely neighbors in their community who they do not know well or are not even aware of.
Praying
Close your time together by praying for one another, your neighbor, community and the world.

Source:
Mark Passage
JOELLE BRUMMIT-YALE is the director of children’s and youth ministries at Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. When not at the church, she can usually be found at home with her son and husband caring for their many animals and developing their family homestead.
-Presbyterian Outlook
Mark Passage
JOELLE BRUMMIT-YALE is the director of children’s and youth ministries at Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. When not at the church, she can usually be found at home with her son and husband caring for their many animals and developing their family homestead.
-Presbyterian Outlook
Children are welcome in Worship
Jesus Welcomes the Children
Rev. Kenny Hubbells' Sermon last Sunday - 18 minutes