Lesson for Sunday, March 1

Lesson For Sunday, March 1
Lent, Why aren’t Christians any nicer than non-Christians
And Daily devotions

1. Lesson Introduction with Power Point (Denise)
2. Praise and Worship
3. Drama
4. Small Group Encounters

After Drama Discussion
1. What was going on with Kristen and Anna?
2. What else were they feeling bad about besides losing the soccer game?
3. What did the boys do wrong?
4. What made it wrong?
5. Has anything like this ever happened to you?
6. How did you feel/what did you think about when this happened to you?
How did you feel/what did you think about the person who did this to you?
7. Is this kind of “joking’ ok? Why or why not?
8. What face of God are the boys showing?
9. Who in this drama is in need of repentance?
Why?
10. What is repentance? (to repent is to turn around. When we allow sin to separate us from God, we are the ones who have changed our relationship with God. We are the ones who need to turn back to God. God is always there. Repentance is our recognition tat we have not loved God with our whole heart, that we have rebelled and turned away from God, and that we desire to turn toward God)
11. Do you think the boys had any idea that their actions would actually keep someone from coming to church?

Part II:(The following section of the lesson is taken from Claim the Name Teaching Plans)
Activity: Divide your group up into pairs. Have each pair face one another and take turns describing a great breakfast.
Then, have one of them turn around so that his/her back is facing the partner. Now, have them take turns describing to each other what makes a great dessert.
While they are still in this position, ask them these questions:
1. How did the two conversations compare?
2. What does this activity tell us about being in right relationship with God?

Ash Wedneday:
On Ash Wednesday, we confess our sins before God. Specifically, we confess our sorrow for not keeping God at the center of our focus. We remember the people and things we have harmed through our selfishness and by not loving others as God loves us.

The Ripple Effect:
Drop a grain of rice in the bowl of water and watch the ripples spread. Discuss how when we sin, when we hurt others, the ripple goes out and continues out even beyond our vision and understanding.
But, there is hope. God promises us in 1 John 1:9 that “if we confess our sin, He who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

A part of the service of Ash Wednesday is the placing of ashes on the forehead as a sign of our repentance.

Say: Close your eyes now, and for a moment consider your sins and ask God for forgiveness. (give students a few moments to pray)

Say: I’m going to ask you to kneel, in a moment, and I’m going to place the sign of the cross on your forehead as a reminder of our own sins, and of the forgiveness and new life offered through Jesus Christ.

Say: To make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel in the presence of our Creator and Redeemer as a community of faith. (students kneel)
Hold up the bowl of ashes and Say: We know, Jesus, that you love us. We know that because of your sacrifice we are forgiven and given new life. Thank you God for your gift to us.
Using the ashes from the bowl provided, make the sign of the cross on each student’s head, and say to each student. As you do so, say: (Student’s name), go in peace, knowing that you are a child of God, that you are loved and forgiven. And be thankful.

III. Closing Prayer

Stand, and pray linking hands right over left. Then close with the following verse:
The Lord bless you and keep you.
25 the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD lift his countenance upon you
and give you peace."
Numbers 6:24-25