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Lesson Plans for Older Children and Youth, The Last Sunday After Pentecost
Proper 29 (BCP pg. 185 or pg. 236), Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 46; Colossians 1:11-20; Luke 23:35-43 or Luke 19:29-38
WAYS TO BEGIN: Greet your class and spend time sharing what you did over the Thanksgiving holidays. If you like, provide some simple refreshments, then move to a circle for the lesson.

THE THEME: The Gospel is a portion of the Crucifixion story that deals, in part, with the Kingship of Jesus.

THE STORY: Luke 23:35-42. Explain to the class that today is the Sunday before Advent, a time when we reflect on the Kingship of Jesus. Read aloud or have a young person do so, the story.

SOME QUESTIONS TO TALK ABOUT:

1. What questions do you have about this passage? What do you believe is its message to us?
2. Why do you think Jesus refused to use his power to save himself? Could he have saved himself?
3. What kinds of powers influence your life? Who and what has power over you?
4. Over who and what do you have power?
5. Who are some people that you think have power? Describe how this power is used. Is it for good or for evil?
6. What kind of power do you believe Jesus possessed? How did he use it?

AN ACTIVITY TO DO: Most of us think that persons in leadership have some power. Look over the following characteristics of "Servant Leadership" and decide how Jesus reflected these values. Which one of these definitions of servant leadership do you believe in? Which ones would you find impossible to follow or you would not follow them because you disagree with their value? Which ones would you be willing to adopt as a rule of life? Let each pupil copy down the phrases they would be willing to adopt as a rule of life for them. Talk about how these tenets might change the way things are done in your school, community, home and church.

VALUES OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP( compiled by Vincent W. Warner)

1. Servant Leadership insists on collaboration rather than competition; it puts a premium on truthfulness and admitting mistakes.
2. Servant Leadership has the capacity to move to the other side, i.e. to feel with New Testament compassion.
3. Servant Leadership holds accountable, but never blames. Good leadership never blames- blaming is covering up. Accountability offers the possibility for growth.
4. Servant Leadership is willing to compromise with others when appropriate, and therefore, is not in need of always controlling the outcomes.
5. Servant Leadership, by letting go of controlling and trusting and validating others, is then possible to be of good cheer--to be joyful. Joy and cheer come from not always having to do it right.
6. Servant Leadership seeks the enhancement of the individual or community as the outcome over productivity.
7. In Servant Leadership power is for participation, not for domination--power with, rather than power over.
Servant Leadership systems (local church, diocese) succeed because they value and validate their members and tell the truth.
8. Systems fail because they exploit the members and hide and conceal.
In Servant Leadership, being a servant means putting oneself at risk, with humility and clarity that is cruciformity.
 

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