11/19/09 Proper 23

Theme: Not doing bad is not the same as doing good!

Bible Reading

Mark 10:17-22

Preparation

Prepare cards with the following statements:

• I have not stolen anything on my way to school
• I have not told lies about other people
• I have not hurt any animals today
• I have not bullied anyone
• I have not been nasty to my younger sister/brother
• I have not broken any school rules so far!

And a second selection with similar statements to these:

• I tidied my bedroom before I came to school
• I fed the guinea pig/dog/cat/ etc. this morning
• I made friends with a new boy/girl in the playground
• I spent the right amount of time on my homework
• Add any appropriate local issues

Introduction

Show the first set of cards and discuss them. Ask how many of the children can agree with those statements. Apart from the words ‘I have’ what is the other word common to all of them - the word ‘NOT’.

You may want to tell a story about the boy who stood by as a fight developed in the playground. When asked why he didn’t do something to stop the fight he replied, ‘well, I didn’t join in.’

Introduce the Bible story in your own words. Point out the things that the young man had not done. Then discuss what Jesus asked him to do. Do you think that the young man did it? Did he go and give his money to the poor? Do you think he came back later and said to Jesus, ‘I have done what you asked – I have given away everything I have’?

Show the second set of cards and discuss them. Point out the difference – the word ‘not’ is missing. It is easy enough to say and think ‘I have not done something’ – it is much harder to actually do something useful that helps other people. Think of issues that fall into this category at your school.

Prayer

Jesus, friend and brother,

Help us to understand that simply not doing something is not enough. May we follow your example of caring so much that you came, lived amongst us and died for us.
Amen.