STRUGGLES
WELCOME TO WEEK 2
What are some of your struggles? Do you struggle to open a lid jar? Do you struggle to get a 100 on your spelling test? Do you struggle with a bully at school? Some of our struggles may be small and then we might have some big struggles, but we will learn this week that we can grow closer to Jesus through our struggles.
BIBLE STORY
Set up 2 bowls or small containers that will be used to catch small tossing items such as cotton balls, beans, small balls or small bean bags. Label one container “blessings” and the other container “woes’.
Let’s play a tossing game. I’m going to list a few scenarios and you decide if its a blessing or a woe. We consider blessings the good things that happen in life and woes are the not-so good things that happen. We can all think of woes that happen to us that are small, like losing a game or big things like losing a family member. If the scenario is a blessing, toss your item in the blessing container. If you think the scenario is a woe, toss your item into the woe container.
Materials: 2 small bowls or containers, small cotton balls, beans or small bean bags for tossing
-losing your favorite toy
-eating your favorite meal
-getting a good grade on your test
-playing with a friend
-being teased for the clothes you wear
-being picked last in the game
-picking the movie for family movie night
-not having any food in the refrigerator
-getting extra recess time
-your family car breaks down on the side of the road
Have some of those things every happened to you? What would you think if I said the ones you thought were woes were actually blessings and the ones you said were blessings were actually woes. This week we will read in Luke how Jesus said our woes are actually blessings. How can that be? Jesus wants us to enjoy the life we have here on earth but he wants us to remember to seek Him in all things. Let’s read or listen to our text for this week.
Read or listen to the scripture Luke 6:17-26
Why had a large crowd gathered from all of Judea? (To hear Jesus and be healed of their diseases)
What were those who were sick and possessed doing? (Touching Jesus and being healed because power was coming from him)
How did Jesus say those who were poor would be blessed? (theirs is the kingdom of God)
How would those who are hungry be blessed? (They will be satisfied)
How will those who weep now will be blessed? (They will laugh)
Who did Jesus say would rejoice and leap for great is their reward in heaven? ( those who have people hate them and exclude them and insult them and reject their name as evil because of the Son of Man)
Why did Jesus woe for those who are rich? (They have already received their comfort)
Why are those who are fed well to have woes? (They will go hungry)
Why did Jesus say woe to those who laugh now? (They will mourn and weep)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Jesus says to count our woes as blessings. That may seem backwards, but Jesus knows that when we have woes in life, we tend to lean on Him more. When we have hard times we call on Jesus and pray asking for his help, protection, and comfort. Sometimes when everything is going well, it is easy to forget our need for God. In that way, our woes become blessings because it helps us grow closer and more dependent on God.
Activity
During passover there is a time during the Seder when you have to eat bitter herbs that represent the woes we sometimes have in life. Then you are to eat the herbs with a mix of apples and sweet honey. When you eat these together, the apples and honey overpower the taste of the bitter herbs making it easier to eat the bitter herbs. This is done to show us that we can take the sweetness of Jesus with the bitter woes of life, and then our woes are bearable. Jesus wants to be our comforter, our sweetness in times of bitterness. Take time to discuss some bitter times or woes you have experienced in life. Then tell how Jesus was your sweetness and helped you bear your woes and see you through. Help your child think of a time they had woes and how Jesus was with them through it. Sharing our testimonies with our children is important to help them see that God has been with us in the past so we can trust Him to be with us in the present and future. If you have parsley, apples, honey and crackers, you can demonstrate how the herbs are bitter alone, but are easier to take when added with a mix of honey and apples. You can make a mini cracker sandwich with all of those ingredients.
Materials: Optional: parsley, apples, honey, crackers
Alternate
When we have a firm foundation in Jesus we will not waiver when things get tough and life is not easy. Using blocks, bricks, craft sticks or any other building material, create two towers. Place one tower on a pillow and the other tower on a small stack of books. Which tower has an easier time staying up? What if you created strong winds for your tower, which tower would still remain standing. Our relationship with Jesus is like this tower on a firm foundation. When our woes come, we will not be moved because we are standing on a firm foundation, Jesus! We can get to know Jesus in our blessings, and we can hold on closer to Him during our woes.
Materials: Building bricks, blocks, craft sticks, or other building materials, several books, a soft pillow
Independent activity:
Create a list of your blessings and woes. Divide a sheet of paper in half and label the halves blessings and woes. Write down all the things in your life right now that you consider blessings and woes. Choose a few to share with the others around you. Remember, even your woes can be considered blessings because you can grow closer to Jesus as you ask Him to help you through them.
Materials: Sheet of paper, pencil
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Draw an opposites weather picture. Draw a picture of something you would usually do during the summer, or winter but add the opposite weather. For example, in July you may usually have a picnic or go to the beach, draw a picture of the beach with weather from December.
Materials: sheet of paper, coloring utensils
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Read or listen to Jeremiah 17:5-10
These verses talk about what we should put our trust in. When we put our trust in man it is like a bush planted in the wasteland. There is not enough water to give the bush nutrients to survive. When we trust in the Lord we are like a tree planted by the water. A tree planted by the water has roots that are big and strong. They are able to hold the bush in place and provide it with nutrients. We can trust God and be like a tree planted by the water. We learn to trust God by praying and waiting on Him for the answers.
What would a bush planted in a wasteland look like?
How would a tree planted by water look?
How does trusting in God help us be strong and healthy?
Just like we can not see the roots of a tree, what does God see in us that no one else can?
How does our heart reflect how we really feel about God?
How does our trust in God help us during the woes in life?
What are some of the woes you have needed to trust God with?
What are some recent blessings you have thanked God for?
Practical Application at Home
Not every blessing is a woe and not every woe is a blessing. Not having enough food to eat is not always a blessing and having more than enough food to eat is not always a woe. God has given us what we need in His sovereign timing. The most important thing to remember is that we can trust God no matter what. We can also trust God whether we have blessings or woes. Let’s remember who God was speaking to in the scripture for today.
-Those who are poor-proverbs 19:17
-Those who are hungry- John 6:35
-Those who weep- Revelation 21:4
-Those who are hated- Isaiah 60:15
Look up the scriptures next to each statement about those who have blessings and woes to see what God says in the Bible about these people. God cares about each one of us no matter what our blessing or woe. When we lean on Him during our woes, He gives us strength to endure whatever may come.
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Enjoy the cool weather and take a nature walk. Observe the things God created and how they work together in His plan. What part do each of us play in God’s plan for us?