4/9/11  Proper 18

Theme: Setting the rules

Bible Reading

Matthew chapter 18 verses 15-20

Preparation

This section of Matthew's Gospel is all about community. These particular verses are about dealing with disagreements and about praying together. The first section (15-18) speaks to us about dealing with someone who has done something wrong. The second section is one of the most famous Gospel passages about prayer but it also reinforces the strength that is to be found in co-operation.

Opening questions

At the beginning of a new term and a new school year we need to remind ourselves about special rules or agreements we have about the way we behave in school and in our classrooms. What rules can you remember from last term? Did they work well? Should we use the same rules again or even create new ones? I wonder what you think is the best way for a class to decide what its rules or behaviour guidelines ought to be?

[Encourage people to make suggestions.]

Why is it really important to think about our school rules together - why not just get someone to make the decision for us and tell us what we should do?

It is better to work together to decide the rules you will need to get along with each other. Working together usually produces a better result.

But rules by themselves are not enough - sometimes things go wrong, and then you need to sort things out it is better to try and sort things out. In the New Testament, the Gospel writer Matthew tells us some of the things that Jesus said about this sort of thing. Listen to what he writes:
[It might be a good idea to get someone else to read this out:]

If someone does something wrong, go and speak to them alone first, a conversation just between the two of you. If the person who has done something wrong listens to you, the matter is finished and over with. But if the person does not listen, take one or two other people with you. If the matter can still not be settled, the whole community will need to know. And if the person will not listen to the community, it will be as though the person is outside the community.

What does Jesus mean?

Jesus went on to tell his followers to agree together about their prayers too. This is one of the most famous Christian teachings.

In truth I tell you once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask for anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I am there among them.

This time Jesus is saying it is important not just to talk together, but to pray together too - and when we pray together He is here with us.

If you have a tradition of extempore prayer in your school, you may like to take this opportunity to offer a prayer opportunity now; alternatively you can reflect on the year to come:

As we begin a new year together, let's remember that we shall be much stronger if we work together, co-operating and listening to each other. And if we find there is a problem, let's try and sort it out quickly and quietly with a little fuss as possible, so we don't spoil our community.

Finish with this prayer:

Let us finish with the very famous prayer of St Francis. It is the kind of prayer that we can say over and over again, something that it is really good to know off by heart

Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon,
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is darkness, light,
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not seek so much to be consoled as to console,
Not so much to be understood as to understand,
not so much to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen

Also this week you could think about rules and laws: Exodus chapter 20 - the Ten Commandments; I Kings chapter 12-the proper way to lead people; Mark chapter 3 vss 1-6 - people are more important than laws for the sake of laws