Jesus Without Language

We’ve over-spilled the lectionary this week to bring you an introduction to a face that is very familiar in the acts narrative -that of Barnabas. While his name is not really Barnabas at all, it’s Joseph, it seems this new moniker of Barnabas is something the Apostles bestowed upon him, suggesting a close familiarity in the burgeoning group. He is described as a Levite from Cyprus, so no rough fisherman, and was probably highly respected y means of birth. That his fields’ sale is enough to be mentioned in scripture shows it was almost certainly significant.

This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.

Main Passage : Acts4:32-37

This is part of a single lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

 Joseph, who everyone called Barnabas, had joined a new Jewish group in Jerusalem. It was lead by the apostles of Jesus from Nazareth. Jesus had not been an ordinary Jew; he’d been the Messiah, God’s own son that the Jewish people had been waiting for. He’d upset a lot of people because he wasn’t the type of messiah they wanted. Jesus didn’t lead an army or throw out the Romans; instead he told people to love their enemies, to care for those who were overlooked, and to be a servant to all. The authorities had killed Jesus, but death was no obstacle for Him. Jesus came back to life. Meeting Jesus’s followers had totally changed Barnabas’s life.

Those who believed in Jesus shared everything. Absolutely everything. They gathered together every day to pray, praise God, and find out how they could serve each other. The apostles would teach the truths they had learnt from Jesus, heal the sick and provide for the poor. Some of the women would cook huge meals and feed anyone who was there. For example, a man got a new job but had no shoes, and the next day a shoemaker brought him a pair. It was that kind of group; everybody shared everything.

One day, a man walked up to the apostles and laid a small bag of coins at their feet. He had sold something and wanted the apostles to give the money to those who needed it. The next day there was another gift laid at the apostles’ feet, and the day after that too! Barnabas prayed he would have something to give. He wanted to help the community of Jesus followers. It was a servant’s prayer, a good prayer, a prayer he hoped would make Jesus smile.

A few days later his prayer was answered. A man asked Barnabas if he would sell his field. It was a large field that had belonged to Barnabas’s family for many years. The man was really surprised when Barnabas joyfully shouted ‘Yes!’ straight away. He was so surprised that Barnabas had to explain that he hadn’t even thought of selling his field but God had answered his prayer.

The next day after work, Barnabas went to meet the other followers, unable to stop smiling. As soon as he arrived, he ran to the apostles so fast that he almost tripped… twice!. Then, he gently placed the bag of gold at their feet. Peter picked it up and tipped the contents onto his hand expecting a few small coins. As the bright gold coins rained over his hand and onto the floor, the apostles stood open mouthed.

Barnabas could have kept the money, but he had understood what it meant to serve even when it cost you. God had plans for Barnabas, and this was just the first step.

This week we look at Psalm 118. It has such strong echoes of Palm Sunday for us, and yet it was written long, long before the event. As the set psalm for Palm Sunday, it allows us to weave the two stories together to give the familiar narrative a parallel perspective.

These psalm lessons follow the Lectionary passages for the six weeks of year B Lent.

This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.

Main passage: Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29
Additional Passages: Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–44, and John 12:12–19.

This is part of a multi lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

We are going to read a song, a song Jesus may have sung with his friends, a song from the book of songs to be sung – the book called Psalms. Today is a special day; it’s the day Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. Do you know the story? Jesus had sent two of his friends to get a young donkey and climbed on the back of the animal as they approached the city. The road was busy with people travelling into Jerusalem for the festival that week. I’m sure many of the groups of people had been singing psalms on their journeys. Perhaps someone was singing this psalm?

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.

2 Let Israel say, “His faithful love endures forever.”

It would be a good psalm to sing in celebration on this day. They could see Jesus coming. Might he be the Messiah? The Holy One from God? He was riding a donkey – not a war animal like a horse, but an animal of peace. The crowds went crazy, slowing down to let him and his followers through.

23 This came from the Lord; it is wondrous in our sight.

24 This is the day the Lord has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Lord, save us! Lord, please grant us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.

Even those not singing started yelling the same words. “Hosanna” they called – which means ‘Lord save us’. The tune was in their heads. Not everyone could stop singing the song. Some continued singing, and the next bit gave them an idea.

27 The Lord is God and has given us light. Bind the festival procession with branches up to the horns of the altar.

They grabbed the branches off the palm trees nearby and started waving them madly. Coats and branches littered the ground welcoming Jesus on the small animal. Had the long awaited Messiah arrived?

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.
 
Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

This week we look at Psalm 119. I’ve only used part of the ‘bet’ refrain from this psalm, as it’s the longest in the bible. If you have an older group or older group members, you may wish to give them another refrain from this psalm to explore too. This part of the song that references youth and so directly speaks to those who are still journeying towards adulthood. It also gives a really practical answer, in that we should dive in to the word of God, swim in the messages he gives us and not just dip our toes in the water!

These psalm lessons follow the Lectionary passages for the six weeks of year B Lent.

This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.

Main passage: Psalm 119:9-16
Additional Passages: Psalm 119

This is part of a multi lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

We are going to read a song, a song Jesus may have sung with his friends, a song from the book of songs to be sung – the book called Psalms. This Psalm is a little bit special – it’s an acrostic, it gives us a little poem or verse for each of the the twenty two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Have you ever made up an acrostic? You take each letter and use it to say something. Perhaps you know an acrostic for the colours of the rainbow or the points on a compass?

Twenty two poems would take a very, very, long time to read. Psalm 119 is the longest psalm and it’s also the longest chapter in the whole bible! But just because we can’t look at all the poems doesn’t mean we can’t look at just one. Lets choose the second one, the letter ‘b’ or ‘Bet’ in Hebrew. Listen carefully and every time the writer mentions scripture (messages from God) clap your hands in the air.

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word.

10 I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands.

11 I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.

12 Lord, may you be blessed; teach me your statutes.

13 With my lips I proclaim all the judgments from your mouth.

14 I rejoice in the way revealed by your decrees as much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate on your precepts and think about your ways.

16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

Wow – the writer must really love the word of God to mention it so much in his poem. Sometimes when we read the bible we just read the popular stories but there is so much more to discover. When we see the big picture of the whole bible it helps us to understand all the small bits too. When we read the psalms as we have done for the last few weeks it helps us understand the way people have always worshipped God. When we read the Old Testament it helps us to understand Jesus. To understand why Jesus came and why he had to die at Easter time. We should treasure the bible just like the psalm writer did.
 
 
Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

This week we look at Psalm 107. I’ve only used part of the Psalm, but older groups may want to read the whole thing. It’s a song that turns suffering into praise. Accepting there will be suffering, there will be bad things, but that God can save us from them is part of the trials of discovering life. Teaching children that God does not promise us a life of ease is an important part of developing their faith into something that is lasting.

These psalm lessons follow the Lectionary passages for the six weeks of year B Lent.

This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.

Main Passage : Psalm 107

This is part of a multi lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

We are going to read a song, a song Jesus may have sung with his friends, a song from the book of songs to be sung – the book called Psalms. Have you ever been rescued? How did you feel afterwards? Did you thank the person who saved you? God’s people were always getting into trouble, and God kept saving them, again and again. This is a song of joy to thank God for being the one who always saves his people.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim
that he has redeemed them from the power of the foe
3 and has gathered them from the lands—
from the east and the west,
from the north and the south

Pause – Wow!
In those few lines God tells us three things:
God’s love never ever runs out,
there is nothing so big that God can’t save us from it,
and we can never get too far from God to be saved.

19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
he saved them from their distress.
20 He sent his word and healed them;
he rescued them from their traps.
21 Let them give thanks to the Lord
for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all humanity.
22 Let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices
and announce his works with shouts of joy.

Do you think when they sung that song they shouted the last bit? There is so much to celebrate about God’s faithful love. It never leaves us, it never gives up or fades away; it never stops working. God wanted to save us so much he came down from heaven. Jesus came to save us, to show us a bigger picture of the love of God, to win the war over darkness. How can we join the celebration and thank God today? 

Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

This week we look at Psalm 19 – I’ve just used some early verses here, but older groups may want to read the whole thing. It’s a passage about the glory of creation, pointing us towards God. Rather than tell a story about the passage, we will incorporate the verses into the ‘talk’ time.

These psalm lessons follow the Lectionary passages for the six weeks of year B Lent.

This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.

Main Passage : Psalm 19

This is part of a multi lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

 
We are going to read a song, a song Jesus may have sung with his friends, a song from the book of songs to be sung – the book called Psalms. This song is all about seeing God’s glory. Lets have a closer look at just a little part of the song – perhaps you can read the rest of the song at home.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour out speech;
night after night they communicate knowledge.
3 There is no speech; there are no words;
their voice is not heard.
4 Their message has gone out to the whole earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming from his home;
it rejoices like an athlete running a course.
6 It rises from one end of the heavens
and circles to their other end;
nothing is hidden from its heat.

Wow isn’t the world an amazing place. The sun in the sky is so powerful. We can see so much of God in the beautiful world he gave us to live in. But is the amazing world enough? Did God give us this world and then leave us alone? NO! God continued to speak to his people. Listen to the next bit.

7 The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one’s life;
the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad;
the command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up.

God also gave us his word, his commands, his instructions, his stories in the bible.
And God didn’t stop there did he?

He then sent Jesus to help us understand the commands He had given to his people.
Jesus helped us to see that the law of the Lord really would lead us to have life to the full,
just as God always intended.

Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

This week we look at Psalm 22 verses 23 to 31. It’s a passage about, God’s people, the nations, and the call of praise. Rather than tell a story about the passage, we will incorporate the verses into the ‘talk’ time.

These psalm lessons follow the Lectionary passages for the six weeks of year B Lent.

This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.

Main Passage : Psalm 22

This is part of a multi lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

I wonder when you sing songs?
Do you ever sing songs on journeys?
We know that Jesus’s friends and family would have sang songs as they travelled.

Imagine a big crowd, moving slowly, the old ladies wobbling on their old legs, the young men carrying the heavy bags, the kids running back and forth, the babies crying. Then someone in the back of the crowd calls out a line from a song, and another voice responds.
(If possible, get two voices to read this psalm, the second reading the words in bold)

23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
All you descendants of Israel, revere him!

25 I will give praise in the great assembly because of you;
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear you.

26 The humble will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the Lord will praise him.
May your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord.
All the families of the nations will bow down before you,

28 for kingship belongs to the Lord;
he rules the nations.

30 Their descendants will serve him;
the next generation will be told about the Lord.

31 They will come and declare his righteousness;
to a people yet to be born
they will declare what he has done.

This is such a joyful song about every generation. God loves his people, no matter how old or young they are, and they can all praise him.

Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

This week we look at the first 10 verses of Psalm 25. It’s a beautiful passage. Rather than tell a story about the passage, we will read the verses pausing to discuss their meaning, then repeat the verses without pauses at the end.

These psalm lessons follow the Lectionary passages for the six weeks of year B Lent.

This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.

Main Passage : Psalm 25

This is part of a multi lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

We are going to read a song, a song Jesus may have sung with his friends,
a song from the book of songs to be sung – the book called Psalms.

1 To you, Lord, I lift up my soul

Pause.
Do you know what your soul is?
It’s not something you can hold. It’s the part of you that makes you (insert child’s name).
When we give God our soul, we give him who we are.

2 My God, I trust in you. Do not let me be disgraced; do not let my enemies gloat over me.
3 No one who waits for you will be disgraced; those who act treacherously without cause will be disgraced.
4 Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths.

Pause.
Would you like to know God’s paths?
How would you feel if the God of the whole universe were guiding your way?
Listen carefully what types of path the author wants to be guided along.

5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; I wait for you all day long.
6 Remember, Lord, your compassion and your faithful love, for they have existed from everlasting.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my acts of rebellion;
in keeping with your faithful love, remember me because of your goodness, Lord.
8 The Lord is good and upright; therefore he shows sinners the way.

Pause.
This bit of the song tells us that even when we go wrong, God will still guide us.

9 He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
10 All the Lord’s ways show faithful love and truth to those who keep his covenant and decrees.

Pause. Read again without the notes.

You could end by asking which part of the psalm the listeners liked the most?

This story is one of those encounters that is really hard to explain away. There is no reason why a man with a mental illness would recognise Jesus as God. All the same, it is apparent that Jesus does not want whatever is possessing the man to keep shouting. It’s not time yet for the penny to drop among many of his followers yet! Jesus sees a man who needs help and heals the affliction, releasing the man’s mind and in the process releasing his mouth too!

This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.

Main Passage : Mark 1:21-28

This is part of a single lesson pack, all ready to print and go.

The time had come. Jesus was ready to begin teaching.

Off Jesus went to the synagogue (the church for the Jewish people), and when it was time for people to speak, he began preaching. The listeners were amazed. Nobody had ever preached like this before. Jesus didn’t tell them all the different viewpoints or mess about with long-winded traditions; he spoke simply, with authority.

But not everyone and everything was happy to see Jesus. A man entered the synagogue who was being controlled by an impure* spirit. When the spirit saw Jesus, he knew exactly who Jesus really was.

The spirit inside the man made him call out:
“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?”

What a question! What did Jesus want? Before him he saw a man who was in pain, a man who was being controlled, a troubled man. What do you think God’s heart of love for mankind wanted to do for this man and the spirit who tortured him?

“Have you come to destroy us?” The spirit yelled.
“I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

Well that was too much from this spirit – Jesus had only just started teaching people. They weren’t ready to recognise that he was The Son of God, the Messiah, the Holy One.
“Be quiet!” said Jesus in a firm voice.
“Come out of him!”

The poor man was shaken so hard as the spirit shrieked and cried out that he fell to the floor. When Jesus reached the man, the spirit had gone. The man was free. The man looked at Jesus without words to thank him. How long had he been imprisoned by the spirit? Jesus had healed him, freed him, given him a chance at life again.

The people were all amazed. Who was this man who taught with authority, who ordered the spirits? Soon everyone had heard of Jesus from Nazareth. Before long, whenever Jesus spoke, a crowd would gather.

*substitute ‘evil’, ‘bad’, or ‘demonic’ if you prefer.