Lesson Plans: Proper 11 (A)
Sunday between July 17 and July 23 inclusive
Old Testament Lesson Plans: The Lord is with Us
Genesis 28:10-19
Written by Trudy Ardizzone
The Book of Genesis provides the foundational stories of our faith: God’s calling of a people; their often failed responses to Him; and God’s steadfast love throughout. The Abraham saga tells of the formation of the nation of Israel, beginning with the faithfulness of its patriarch, Abraham. Although disillusioned with the wickedness of men, God separates out one family line to bring divine blessing to all subsequent families of the world. Abraham, the model of absolute faithfulness, trust, and obedience, is symbolic of Israel’s idealized self. At the request of God, Abraham leaves his homeland and travels to a promised land. God promises him an heir even though Abraham and his wife, Sarah, are long past childbearing age, and Sarah gives birth to Isaac. Isaac marries Rebekah, who gives birth to twins, Esau and Jacob. Jacob tricks his brother Esau out of his birthright and blessing. Jacob then leaves his home for two reasons: Esau wants to harm him, and his parents want him to take a wife from among their own people. This is also an etiological story that explains the significance of Bethel as an important place of worship. Bethel means ‘house of God.’ The phrase ‘the gate of heaven’ suggests the ancient view that a sanctuary was a place where God came down to meet the people.
New Testament Lesson Plan: Wheat and Weeds
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Written by the Rev. Shannon Kelly
Jesus continues to engage in parables as he explores what the kingdom of God is like. The Gospel lesson for today focuses on the empire vs. God. The key message is that we are not to be the ones judging, but that it is God’s judgment in the end that matters. We are to let things grow as they will, and God will sort it out in the end. In our lesson today, we will focus on the first part of the Gospel lesson and let the children engage in thinking about what it means, rather than listening to Jesus’ explanation that was given to the disciples. You can understand Jesus’ point without having to get into end-times language.
