Report Copyright Infringement View in OSM UK

Description

Aim: To look at the teachings of Jesus. Jesus has been referred as the ‘Master Teacher’ – so how did he do it? Taken from the BB Junior Pro Pack Spirit S-31

Resources

(none)

Instructions

How Jesus taught

• Others referred to him as ‘teacher’ (see Nicodemus, John 3)
• He refers to himself as teacher (Matt 26:18)
• Story of temple guards (John 7:45ff)

In the first instance, you can spot a leader because people look to be led by them. In the same way, you will want to come and listen to a good teacher.

Why did people want to listen to Jesus?

• He went to the people to speak to them.
• He talked to everybody, even the ‘undesirables’. He was a champion of the people.
• He was a fantastically skilled communicator who used various methods to convey his point.

Why did Jesus use Parables?

• Parables helped people to remember what Jesus said
• Parables helped people to focus on important issues
• Parables got people to think about the way they lived and treated others
• Parables were easy to understand, people could see themselves in the stories

Jesus did not just “tell” stories, imposing them on the listener. The listener was involved, perhaps presented with a puzzle to solve or a question to answer, or challenged to pass judgement on the situation described. They had to face the responsibility of making a decision for themselves about the morality of the situation, or about the way they lived their own life.

The whole idea was not to “entertain” the listeners, or to spoon-feed them the meanings, but to include an element of the unexpected; to make them confront implications, to reflect, to do the mental work necessary to appreciate the meaning and significance of the story and relate it to their own lives and attitudes.

Jesus did not invent the parable. Such tales were used by other Jewish teachers. However, rather than using them as an addition to other teaching methods, the impression we get from the Gospels is that Jesus made them the central feature of his teaching style.

To do

Explore some of the parables that Jesus used – see the list overleaf.

• The boys could retell one of the parables in their own words.
• A drama item could be undertaken using one of the parables, see “Extras” pages for suggested web links for drama topics.
• A painting, drawing or collage could be produced to depict one of the parables.
• They could write a ‘modern day’ parable.

Parable
Matthew Mark Luke
Chapter Verses Chapter Verses Chapter Verses
Lamp under a bowl 5 14 – 15 4 21 – 22 8 16
11 33
Wise and foolish builders 7 24 – 27 6 47 – 49
The Sower and the soils 13 3 – 23 4 3 – 8 8 5 – 8
4 14 – 20 8 11 – 15
Weeds 13 24 – 30
13 36 – 43
Mustard seed 13 31 – 32 4 30 – 32 13 18 – 19
Yeast 13 33 13 20 – 21
Hidden treasure 13 44
Valuable pearl 13 45 – 46
Net 13 47 – 50
Owner of the house 13 52
Lost sheep 18 12 – 14 15 4 – 7
Unmerciful servant 18 23 – 24
Workers in the vineyard 20 1 – 16
Two sons 21 28 – 32
Tenants 21 33 – 44 12 1 – 11 20 9 – 18
Wedding banquet 22 2 – 14
Fig tree 24 32 – 35 13 28 – 29 21 29 – 31
Faithful and wise servant 24 45 – 51 12 42 – 48
Ten virgins 25 1 – 13
Talents 25 14 – 30 19 12 – 27
Sheep and goats 25 31 – 46
Growing seed 4 26 – 29
Watchful servants 13 35 – 37 12 35 – 40
Money-lender 7 41 – 43
Good Samaritan 10 30 – 37
Rich fool 12 16 – 21
Unfruitful tree 13 6 – 9
Lowest seat at the feast 14 7 – 14
Great Banquet 14 16 – 24
Cost of discipleship 14 28 – 33
Lost coin 15 8 – 10
Lost (prodigal) son 15 11 – 32
Shrewd manager 16 1 – 8
Rich man and Lazarus 16 19 – 31
Master and his servant 17 7 – 10
Persistent widow 18 2 – 8
Pharisee and tax collector 18 10 – 14

Tags

• Parables
• spirit

Badge Links

This activity doesn't complete any badge requirements