Life of Christ 02 Lesson 8 Cartoon Bible Story

A Story based on Matthew 20:17-28, Mark 10:32-45, Luke 18:31-34)

	One day as Jesus and his disciples traveled on the road to Jerusalem he began to tell them the things that were going to happen to him when he arrived in Jerusalem.
"I am going to be handed over to the boss priests and the phony religious people. They are going to decide I should be killed. They will hand me over to the Roman soldiers.
	They will make fun of me. They will spit on me.
They will whip me. They will nail me to a cross and kill me but on the third day after this, I will rise up again.
	Mrs. Zebedee, James and John's mom came Jesus. She came and kneeled down before him. "Lord Jesus," she said. "What do you want?" asked Jesus. "Lord Jesus, make a command that these two sons of mine, James and John may sit, one at your right side and the other on your left side in your kingdom."
Jesus looked at Mrs. Zebedee and her two boys. "Mrs. Zebedee, you don't know what you're asking for. Can you boys drink the cup that I am about to drink and be baptized with the baptism I am about to be baptized with?" (Jesus was talking about the suffering he was about to receive.)
	The boys looked at each other and said, "Sure". Jesus smiled and said, "You will indeed drink my cup and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on my right side and on my left side is not for me to decide. My father is preparing people for those jobs."
The other disciples were downright cranky when they heard what James and John wanted. "Who do they think they are? They want to be the bosses over us! Hmpff!!!! Never!!!! They're not going to be the bosses over us!"
	"Everyone come together, come close to me," said Jesus. "You know that in this world, rulers and leaders lord it over the people and boss them around. This is NOT the way I want you guys to act.”
“The people among you that will be great, will be servants, and whoever wants the first position has to serve like a slave."
	"Hey look at me," said Jesus. "I didn't come to be served, but I came to serve and to give my life as a ransom to rescue many people." Boys and girls, Jesus kingdom is opposite to the kingdoms of this world. The people who are high up in God’s kingdom are servants. They don’t expect people to serve them hand and foot, but they live to serve others.

Life of Christ 02      Lesson 8     Teachers Schedule and Games
(Assign your assistant's their roles and provide each member of your team with the material as early as possible so that they may learn their parts.)

Date: ________________

TEACHERS PRESENT: ________________________________________________________

Topic: True Greatness is Serving

Life of Christ 02      Lesson 8      Lesson Outline

Scripture for Study: Philippians 2:7, Matthew 20:17-28, Mark 10:32-45, Luke 18:31-34, Galatians 5:13

Memory Verse: Mark 10:43 Whoever wants to be great among you has to be your servant.

Central truth: Great people of God's kingdom have servant hearts. We should live to serve others.

Message to the Teacher: Every so often we should examine ourselves to see if our motives are pure. What are our motives for wanting position, fame or fortune? We should have Christ’s motivation to serve others not self.

Outline:

A. The motives of James, John and their mother. (What did they really want?)

• Why did Mrs. Zebedee want the right and left hand positions beside Jesus for her sons?
• The other disciples perceived it as being selfish ambition and they did not want James and John to be the bosses over them.
• Any one of us can fall into this trap. We should do what we do to benefit or serve others not so we can receive special recognition.

B. The motives of the kings and leaders of this world. (What do they really want?)

• Jesus said Kings of this world Lord it over others.
• They like to be the “bosses”.
• They want to be served and pampered.
• Not all leaders are like this. Some serve in public office because they really want to help others.

C. The motives of Jesus (What did he really want?)

1. Did he do what he did so people would worship him?
2. Did he do what he did so that people would make him a king?
3. Did he do what he did to get rich financially?
4. Jesus had all these things in Heaven before he came to earth.
5. Jesus came in the form of a servant to serve. He has told us to serve like he did. He came to help and     save us. Jesus is still reaching out to us helping and saving.

Life of Christ 02      Lesson 8      Puppet Skit

(Characters: King Stinky, Maid Sally)

(Maid Sally enters first.)

Maid Sally: All rise! The King is coming. (Maid Sally keeps at it until she gets the kids to stand up.) Hail, King Stinky of the great Kingdom of Stinkistan.

(King Stinky enters.)

Stinky: Thank you, thank you royal subjects. You may be seated. (He turns to Maid Sally). Not you Maid Sally, you go and get me a soda pop.

Maid Sally: Yes sir, King Stinky sir.

Stinky: And while you're at it, I want you to clean my room and make my bed.

Maid Sally: Yes sir, King Stinky sir.

(Sally exits.)

Stinky: Maid Sally! Hurry up! Where are you?

(Maid Sally returns)

Maid Sally: Yes King Stinky, what do you want now?

Stinky: I want you to go to the store and buy me some bubble gum and don't you take any cause I'll know if one is missing and if you do I'll throw you into the dungeon.

Maid Sally: Yes sir, King Stinky sir!'

(Maid Sally exits)

Stinky: Maid Sally! Where are you?

(Sally returns huffing and puffing.)

Sally: Yes King Stinky.

Stinky: Make me some pop corn.

Sally: Yes sir King Stinky Sir.

(Sally exits.)

Stinky: Maid Sally! Come here!

(Maid Sally returns breathing heavy.)

Maid Sally: Yes King Stinky.

Stinky: I want you to play nintendo with me, but you have to let me win. I'm the king and I wanna win.

Maid Sally: Yes sir, King Stinky sir.

Stinky: But first go and get me the bubblegum. What are you doing wasting time?!!!

(Maid Sally exits)

Stinky: Sally! Where is that maid when you need her?

(Sally returns.)

Sally: Yes King Stinky.

Stinky: Take out the garbage, feed my fire-breathing dragons, clean out my cat's litter box, do my homework and clean my toilet.

Sally:(very unenthusiastic) Yes sir, King Stinky sir.

Stinky: Are you talking back to me? Do you want me to throw you in the dungeon? Get my popcorn!

Sally: Yes sir, King Stinky sir.

(Sally exits.)

Stinky : I'm bossy, cause I'm the boss of everybody around here! I'm King Stinky of the Kingdom of Stinkistan. I'm awesome! I'm great! Let me just read my bible. (Pull up a bible.) Mark 10:43 says, “Whoever wants to be great among you has to be your servant.” Oh no! In Jesus’ kingdom the great people are the servants! I will have to change or I’ll end up being the least important person in the kingdom! Maid Sally! Come here.

Maid Sally: Yes sir, King Stinky sir.

Stinky: Sit down and let me go and get you a pop. You must be tired. You can practice the video games, so maybe you can beat me.

Maid Sally: Yes sir King Stinky. Boy he sure is different.

Stinky: I'm gonna help you feed the fire-breathing dragons. I'll do my own homework. I'll help you take out the garbage and after we clean my toilets, we'll go to your house and I'll clean your toilets.

(Sally faints.)

Stinky: Maid Sally! I think she's dead.

(Sally returns.)

Stinky: I guess it’ll take a bit of time for people to get used to the new and improved me.

(all exit)

Life of Christ 02      Lesson 8      Skit

(Teacher should be narrator and you can recruit kids on the spot to be the other roles. No prior memorization required. One way to make recruitment fun and fair is to do a quick audition for the speaking parts. Have 3 or 4 kids come up and ask them to say a line from the skit as that character. Then have the audience clap for the child they want to do the role. Loudest applause chooses the winner.)

(Characters: Narrator, Joseph, 2 brothers, Potiphar’s wife, prisoner)

(Props: A colourful coat, a fancy fur type coat)

Narrator: There was a young man in the bible named Joseph. When he was 17 years old God gave him two dreams that he would be great one day.

(Joseph enters. He is wearing his coat of many colours.)

Narrator: “I'm gonna be great one day!” said Joseph

(Joseph repeats the narrator.)

Narrator: But Joseph is going to find out what it means to be really great. Really great people help other people. Joseph had 10 older brothers and they all hated Joseph.

(2 brothers enter)

Narrator: The brothers gave Joseph a hard time. They were jealous of his coat and they hated that their dad loved him the best. “You’re daddy’s big suckie baby!” they said.

(Brothers repeat the narrator.)

Narrator: Joseph said, “I’m not a suck. I just like to help dad!”

(Joseph repeats narrator.)

Narrator: The brothers decided to get rid of their pesky little brother. They took Joseph’s coat of many colours and then they sold him as a slave.

(The brothers escort Joseph out of sight. Joseph weeps. The brothers laugh.)

Narrator: Joseph became a slave for an Egyptian man named Potiphar and whatever Joseph did he, did with all his heart. Even though he was a slave, he had a great helpful attitude, and Potiphar made him the boss of the house.

(Joseph enters.)

Narrator: One day when Mr. Potiphar was away, Mrs. Potiphar came to see Joseph.

(Mrs. Potiphar enters.)

Narrator: She noticed that he had become a man and he was very handsome. She begged him to come to her bedroom. “Come and kiss me!” she said.

(Mrs. Potiphar repeats narrator.)

Narrator: “No way!” said Joseph and he ran out of there.

(Joseph repeats the narrator and exits.)

Narrator: Mrs. Potiphar was very angry. “That slave attacked me! Arrest him!” she said.

(Mrs. Potiphar repeats the narrator and exits.)

Narrator: Joseph was in thrown into jail for something that he didn’t even do. He must have wondered if his dreams of being somebody great would ever happen. But he didn't let himself get down. For even in jail Joseph kept his helpful attitude.

(Joseph enters.)

Narrator: The other prisoners in jail were grouchy and very unhappy.

“This place is the pits!” said the prisoner.

(Prisoner enters and repeats the narrator.)

Narrator: Joseph helped the warden of the jail to take care of the prisoners. “Would you like some food?” asked Joseph with a cheerful voice.

(Joseph repeats the narrator.)

Narrator: “Sure,” said the prisoner, “you’re nice.”

(Prisoner repeats the narrator.)

Narrator: Thirteen years passed since Joseph had the dreams about being great, and then one day it happened! Pharoah, King of Egypt heard about Joseph in prison and called for him. “I gotta go!” said Joseph.

(Joseph exits.)

Narrator: “Hey! Who’s going to help take care of us now?” complained the prisoners.

(Prisoner repeats the narrator.)

Narrator: All rise for Joseph, Governor of Egypt.

(Joseph returns dressed as a governor. Put a fancy fur coat on him or something like that.)

Narrator: "Now I get to help LOTS of people," said Joseph.

(Joseph repeats the narrator.)

Narrator: Boys and girls, did Joseph only become a great person when the king made him the governor? No, Joseph was a great person because of who he was on the inside, a helper, a person who loved to serve other people. (To Joseph) Thank you Joseph you are a great inspiration!

Life of Christ 02      Lesson 8      Object Lesson #1

(Read Deut 17:18-20)

Props: Crown, paper, pen

Have a child pretend to be the new King of Israel. Begin to dictate the bible to them beginning at Gen 1:1. The child is to write as you are talking. (Don’t drag this out too long.)

Explain that each new person as soon as they became the king was supposed to write out their very own copy of the Law of God and that they must read from this book they wrote everyday so that he will "not become prouder than his countrymen" (New English Bible).

One way to keep from being lifted up in pride and to keep a servant’s heart is to keep the Word of God always before your eyes EACH DAY.

Life of Christ 02      Lesson 8      Object Lesson #2

(Read Luke 17:7-10)

(Props: Party noise makers, garbage can, few garbage articles, broom or mop)

Boys and girls Jesus said that when we do something for the Lord we should always remind ourselves that we are not doing it for reward, but because it is our duty to do. It should be the natural response when we understand what the Lord has done for us.

Recruit a child to come and do some ordinary household chores. Have them put some garbage in the garbage can and have them sweep etc. Pretend to throw a party for them. Blow the party noise-makers.

Boys and girls, do your parents throw a big party when you do your household chores? Why not? Because, it is your duty as part of the family. Remember as part of God’s family it is our duty to serve one another.

Life of Christ 02      Lesson 8      Review Game Questions

(Rules for the review game are contained on today’s Teachers Schedule and Games page.)

1. What did Jesus say would happen to him when they arrived in Jerusalem?
ANSWER: "I am going to be handed over to the boss priests and the phony religious people. They are going to decide I should be killed. They will hand me over to the Roman soldiers.

2. What did Jesus say the Roman soldiers would do to him?
ANSWER: “They will make fun of me. They will spit on me. They will whip me. They will nail me to a cross and kill me.”

3. What did Jesus say he would do on the third day after he died?
ANSWER: “On the third day after this, I will rise up again.”

4. Mrs. Zebedee, James and John's mom came to Jesus. She came and kneeled down before him. What did she ask?
ANSWER: "Lord Jesus, make a command that these two sons of mine, James and John may sit, one at your right side and the other on your left side in your kingdom."

5. What did Jesus mean when he asked if they were ready to drink from the same cup he was going to drink from?
ANSWER: Jesus was talking about the suffering he was about to receive.

6. What did James and John answer?
ANSWER: The boys looked at each other and said, "Sure".

7. Who is going to decide who sits on Jesus’ right and left side?
ANSWER: God the Father.

8. What did the other disciples think when they heard that James and John wanted to sit beside Jesus?
ANSWER: “They're not going to be the bosses over us!"

9. Who did Jesus say are the great ones in His Kingdom?
ANSWER: The servants.

10. What do the people who want the first position have to do?
ANSWER: Serve like a slave."

11. Jesus said, “I didn't come to be served, but I came to do what?
ANSWER: “Serve and to give my life as a ransom to rescue many people."

12. Jesus kingdom is opposite to what?
ANSWER: The kingdoms of this world.

13. Complete the sentence. The people who are high up in God’s kingdom are __________________.
ANSWER: Servants

14. Complete the Memory Verse: Mark 10:43 If one of you wants to become great, then he must serve you like a __________.
ANSWER: Slave

15. What does it mean to examine ourselves to see if our motives are pure?
ANSWER: Why are we doing what we are doing and is it for the right reasons?

16. This is a question for discussion. Do you think James and John had selfish ambition when they asked to sit on Jesus right and left side?
ANSWER: Teacher decide if answer is right.

17. When Jesus came to earth, what did he come as?
ANSWER: Jesus came in the form of a servant to serve.