GFS Bible Syllabus – 2013-14
THEME: CARING
BIBLE SYLLABUS AND
LEADERS’ RESOURCE PACK
1 | Page
Introduction notes:
- The reference material used for the stories this year is directly from the Good News Bible 2004.
- This year’s Bible syllabus is centred on the theme CARINGusing three linked stories that build up on each other...
- 3-5 and 5-7 ages will work on the story of the lost sheep (Luke 15 1:7).
- 7-11 ages will work on two stories; the lost sheep and the lost coin (Luke 15 1:7 & 8:10).
- 11+ years will work on three stories; the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son(Luke 15 1:7, 8:10 & 11:32).
Bible stories:
The Lost Sheep – St. Luke Ch15 v1:7
One day when many tax collectors and other outcasts came to listen to Jesus, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law started grumbling, “This man welcomes outcasts and even eats with them!” So Jesus told this parable:
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them – what do you do? You leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and go looking for the one that got lost until you find it. When you find it, you are so happy that you put it on your shoulders and carry it back home. Then you call your friends and neighbours together and say to them, ‘I am so happy I found my lost sheep. Let us celebrate!’
In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine respectable people who do not need to repent.
The Lost Coin – St. Luke Ch15 v8:10
“Or suppose a woman who has ten silver coins loses one of them – what does she do? She lights a lamp, sweeps her house, and looks carefully everywhere until she finds it. When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together, and says to them ‘I am so happy I found the coin I lost. Let us celebrate!’
In the same way, I tell you, the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents.”
The Lost Son – St. Luke Ch15 v11:32
Jesus went on to say, “There was once a man who had two sons. The younger one said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the property now.’ So the man divided his property between his two sons. After a few days the younger son sold his part of the property and left home with the money. He went to a country fair far away, where he wasted his money in reckless living. He spent everything he had. Then a severe famine spread over that country, and he was left without a thing. So he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him out to his farm to take care of the pigs. He wished he could fill himself with the bean pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything to eat. At last he came to his senses and said, ‘All my father’s hired workers have more than they can eat, and here I am about to starve! I will get up and go to my father and say, Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired workers.’ So he got up and started back to his father.
He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms round his son, and kissed him. ‘Father,’ the son said, ‘I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.’ But the father called his servants. ‘Hurry!’ he said. ‘Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. Then go and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast! For this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost but now he has been found.’ And so the feasting began.
In the meantime the elder son was out in the field. On his way back, when he came close to the house, he heard the music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him, ‘What’s going on?’ Your brother has come back home,’ the servant answered, ‘and your father has killed the prize calf, because he got him back safe and sound.’
The elder brother was so angry that he would not go inside the house; so his father came out and begged him to come in. But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have worked for you like a slave, and I have never disobeyed your orders. What have you given me? Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends! But this sons of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes, and when he comes back home, you kill the prize calf for him!’ ‘My son,’ the father answered, ‘you are always here with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be happy because your brother was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.’ “
Teaching materials:
The Lost Sheep – St. Luke Ch15 v1:7
Lead In:
Display a sheepskin rug, fleece, balls of wool – feel and smell
Discuss sheep farming: sheep lost in snow-drifts, caught in barbed wire, chased by dogs, etc.
Long hours for sheep farmers, T.V. programmes, “One Man and His Dog”.
Long Ago:
Sheep pens – no slatted sheds
Disease – not vets or medicine
Hand shears – no electric shearing units
Attacked by foxes – no sheep wire or electric fences
Background:
There were no indoor feed units in Palestine, but flocks of sheep were common. Shepherds built stone walled folds for their sheep as a protection against wolves, bears, even lions. The life of a shepherd was hard and dangerous.
See Animals, Birds and Plants of the Bible, Ladybird Books
See The Parable of the Lost Sheep, Ladybird Books
We are going to hear a story Jesus told about a lost sheep. Jesus had been talking to tax-collectors and outcasts who were hated by the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. Even Jesus himself was disliked by these churchmen. However, Jesus did not turn away His listeners, even though they were not socially acceptable. He welcomed them and even ate with them. The Pharisees set out to cast a slur on Jesus, pointing the finger at Him for being “low down” in mixing with the rejected, so Jesus told them this story. It is a parable to teach them and us that every human being is valuable to God.
Bible Teaching:
Read St Luke Ch. 15 v1-7 or tell the story and study the verses in detail later.
Do you think the sheep knew it was straying?
Did the sheep know it was lost?
Did the sheep know it was in danger?
Did the sheep realise there were hungry, wild animals around?
Even if it wasn’t trapped or hurt, would it know the way home?
Did the Pharisees know they were straying?
etc.
The lost sheep could only bleat. It could not find its way home itself. Somebody had to care enough to search and search and not give up. Somebody had to find it.
Did the Pharisees know that the outcasts were valuable to God?
Were the Pharisees encouraging the cheats and outcasts to change their ways?
Did the outcasts realise their way was not good?
Did the outcasts start listening to Jesus, looking for the right way just as the sheep started bleating for help?
When we go our own way, do we realise we are straying from God?
Can we trust others not to cheat us, not to let us down?
Do we know there are evils lurking to trap us in alcohol, drug abuse, etc.?
Are we alert to the danger of social media?
Are we aiming for a sophisticated life-style or living simply to let others simply live?
Are we aware of pollution in our environment?
Are we giving time for family?
God sent Jesus “the Good Shepherd” to show us the way. God cares for us, He does not give up even when we are not caring about Him. We must care for other people, we must seek the lost, we must not give up.
God’s concern, care and then celebration. We all love a celebration. The shepherd finds the sheep and he is happy. The sheep was valuable; he was not slung across a shoulder. The shepherd gave the sheep the full support of two broad shoulders – the sheep could rest easy. Do we give a mere shoulder to cry on or do we give full-hearted support when the need arises? The shepherd called his neighbours. Perhaps they had been keeping an eye on the other 99 sheep. Maybe, they knew just how long the search had taken. They probably realised how hungry and weary the shepherd felt.
Were they willing him back quickly?
Were they praying for his safety?
Were they happy to do some extra work for their missing friend?
In an emergency, are we willing to step in and keep an eye on things? Willing to do our own work and then a little more for someone else? Some are called to leave their friends to go out to the mission field, but those at home can care for each other and be the prayer support and financial support for the missionary.
Friends and neighbours were called to join in the celebration. The locals, the grass-root people, rejoiced in the finding of the lost sheep. Do our invitations favour “nobs” or “nobodies”?
Heaven rejoices, God rejoices, when the lost is found and restored to Him.
Drama:
Echo story of the Lost Sheep:
Leader tells the story in simple sentences with some actions.
Girls echo each sentence and do the action.
Include sentences like, “The sheep was scared and began t bleat, ‘Baa, Baa, Baa’”.
Action:
“Hear no evil, see no evil, think no evil”.
Make up a “stay from straying” drill.
See a need – do a good deed.
Hear a lie – with truth reply.
Meet a glare – say a silent prayer
etc.
Encourage girls to use the Country Code: if a gate must be opened it must be closed.
If a child is lost, what do you do? Make up a “don’t get lost” drill.
Handwork:
- Make a sheep-fold from little pebbles and plasticine.
- Draw a sheep-fold.
Worship:
- Tell of person turning to Christ, e.g. John Newton (writer of Amazing Grace), a man lost to slave trading who became a Christian.
- Read Hymn 674, “There were ninety and nine that safely lay”.
Game:
Lost and Found:
Divide into groups around the room.
Tell the girls not to let anyone see the picture or word they are about to get.
Give a picture of a sheep or a card with the word “sheep” on it, to one girl in each group. Give a picture of a cow to one in each group. Give pig, hen, dog, cat, horse, etc. until every girl has a picture or a word.
The aim is for all the cows to get together, all the sheep to get together, etc.
A ‘sheep’ must find another ‘sheep’ and hold hands, then try to find another. BUT, use only the animal sound Baa or Moo, etc.
At “GO!” everyone moves and mingles making their sounds to find a ‘like animal’
All the sheep find each other and hold hands.
All the cows find each other and hold hands, etc.
Game ends when all the animals are in their own families.
Show the cards then, just to make sure!
Game Variation:
Say the word instead of the animal sound for lost families (more difficult), e.g.
- Shepherdcrookslingsheepfoldlamb
- Fishermannetboatfishsail
- Priestscrolloillampsynagogue
The Lost Coin – St. Luke Ch15 v8:10
Lead In:
Show a pound coin and a penny coin.
Discuss their value.
Then show a picture of valuable coins.
Long Ago:
Discuss sentimental value of things: Mum’s old vase, passed down from great granny, to granny and then to Mum. Not worth much in terms of money, but valuable as a keepsake.
Background:
In Palestine, a string of coins or a necklace of coins was given to a bride by her husband. It was usually worn on the head and was of great significance in the marriage. An Irish woman would value her wedding ring, not just because of its intrinsic worth but also because it is a sign of her husband’s love and a token of faithfulness to each other. What would Mother do if she lost her wedding ring?
A woman in Bible times would take great care of her coin necklace – to lose it would be unthinkable.
Bible:
Read St. Luke Ch.15 v8-10. Draw attention to the fact that the coin could not find itself. The lost sheep could bleat, the coin – nothing.
Jesus is showing in this parable that we cannot take ourselves to God. God cared so much that He sent Jesus to find us and bring us to Himself. Each one of us is valuable. Each coin was of great value and the woman cared enough to search and search and not give up until it was found.
Would the woman’s husband and her neighbours spot one missing coin? Her neighbours and friends probably saw the lamp glowing. The searching would not go unnoticed. Were they willing her to find the coin? Were they staying out of the way so that the search could go on? Were they busy drawing water for her and doing the other chores so that she would not have to worry about jobs left undone?
Would we be willing to take on extra work to ease the stress on a neighbour? The lamp being lit was like a distress flare. Would we notice the distress signals of those around us? Anxiety of young mothers, nervousness of new-comers, etc.
When the coin was found, the woman called her friends and neighbours. They had all shared the crisis, they would all share the rejoicing. Let us never forget those who do the ordinary, everyday jobs so that others may be free to do the extra-ordinary.
Does the mechanic get a garland when a driver wins a race?
Does the camera-man get applause when a star appears?
The Pharisees and teachers of the Law did not realise that God values each person just as the woman valued each coin. “The angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents”. God loves us but if we do not love God in return, He does not forsake us, He goes on caring for us and never gives up.
Action:
Start a lost property box for your church.
Write a report, plus drawings or photographs, for a lady who has lost touch with parish activities because she cannot leave a bed-ridden mother.
Ask someone who used to be active in church-work but who had lost the power of his/her legs to help you sort and trim used stamps for C.M.S.
Take a gift to someone who has lost a job.
Drama:
Mime lighting a clay lamp, sweeping with a broom, jump for joy, twirl in delight, dance in triumph, beckoning friends and neighbours. Then, with a partner, mime the same actions.
Worship:
In a few words, tell the story of Nicky Cruz, lost to alcohol and drug abuse who repented and became a Christian.
Handwork:
Make a 10-coin headband. Cut coins from silver foil and stick on cardboard band.
To fasten, use paper clip or put a slit in one end and cut a curl on other end. Slide curl through slit to close.
Game:
Hunt the Coin:
This is a game for eye work, so clasp hands behind your back. Girls stand outside door while leader hides coin in an unlikely spot, but leaving it partially exposed. It should be visible without girls moving, lifting, or opening anything. When girl sees coin, do not touch it or point to it, just sit down beside the leader. Game ends when all are seated. If last girls need help, the others could say “getting hotter” (nearer), “very hot” (very near) etc.
Leader then names a girl to fetch the coin and give it to the girl who was first to see it. This winner may place the coin to repeat the game.
The Lost Son – St. Luke Ch15 v11:32
Lead In:
Young people usually feel excited about the prospect of leaving home for boarding school or college. They may feel weary of the restrictions of family life and long to live a different life-style.
The parents, on the other hand, worry in case the evils of the world lure the teenagers into self-destroying experiments and experiences. A home where the disciplines of God are shown to enhance life – where responsible attitudes are fostered – helps to prepare youngsters for the move to a more independent yet productive life.
Long Ago:
Talk about hiring fairs in Ireland.
Discuss the harshness of life for teenagers who had to go off to work as servants for the “gentry”. How did young Irish-speaking islanders feel when they had to go abroad and work in large industrial cities?