Christ Healing the Blind Man (Eustache Le Sueur, c1645)
Dear St. John’s familes,
In Sunday School over the next few weeks, we follow Jesus’s life and learn his teachings through miracles he performs and parables he tells.
In the 3-4-5 classroom, the children will hear about Blind Bartamaeus. These supernatural acts of love and power drew people to Jesus, revealed His divine nature, opened hearts to the message of salvation and caused many to glorify God. They also demonstrated Christ’s absolute authority over nature and his limitless compassion. Altogether, they proved that He was, indeed, the promised Messiah.
In our Godly Play classrooms, the children will be learning the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Here’s some interesting information I found about one of the reasons Jesus spoke in parables:
When we ask a question, maybe the answer isn’t as important as we think. Jesus often sidestepped the questions that were asked of him. Rather than answering the question he tells a story about something seemingly totally different. Why? Because he’s more concerned with our heart than adding to our knowledge. Our heart is what brings about change; our head just fills with facts. Sometimes the answers we think we need won’t bring us what we hoped. Sometimes the questions we ask aren’t really what we are after. More information rarely leads to life change. But when our heart is addressed life change is soon to follow. God gives us what we need, what we are really after. But he doesn’t always give us the answers we are seeking. Jesus knew that the answer wouldn’t bring comfort, hope, or create life change. But a story could. (Jeffrey Curtis Poor)
It occurred to me that Godly Play follows this method of teaching as well by telling stories and asking “wondering questions.” Instead of just giving the children what we think the meaning of the story is, the wondering questions invite them to explore their own heart for what the answer might be. I do think lessons resonate more fully when you’re allowed to make connections and draw your own conclusions. Food for thought ...
Warm regards,
Alexis
Alexis MacElhiney
Sunday School Director & Youth Coordinator