Lesson Plans: Proper 12 (A)

Sunday between July 24 and July 30 inclusive

Old Testament Lesson Plans: Waiting and Patience

Genesis 29:15-28

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. Today’s story highlights marriage customs of the time: multiple wives, a bride price, and older daughters having to wed before younger. It sets the stage for the growth of Israel into twelve tribes.

New Testament Lesson Plan: Have You Understood All This?

Matthew 13:31-33,44-52

Written by the Rev. Shannon Kelly

Today, we have a series of parables from Jesus. All of them tell us that the Kingdom of Heaven is not what we would expect, that God does amazing things with the small, that God does the unexpected, that God is doing a new thing with both the old and the new.