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
This week we will talk about our blessings and our woes. Blessings are 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. Let’s take a few minutes to think of some blessings and woes. Listen to these scenarios and decide if this is a blessing or if you think it is a woe. Hold up a smiling emoji if it is a blessing and a frown emoji if you think it is a woe.
-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 read our scripture today it seemed as though what Jesus said was a blessing would be a woe and what he said was a woe seems like it would be a blessing. It was an unlikely combination that seemed backwards. There are animal combinations that don’t seem like they should fit, but they do. The animals seem like exact opposites but they actually belong together and help each other. Listen to the combination of animals and decide if you believe they belong together or not.
Lion and lamb (not)
Whale and krill (not)
Nile Crocodile and Plover bird (YES)
Shark and Pilot fish (yes)
Coyote and Badger (yes)
Hermit crabs and sea anemones (yes)
Tarantula and dotted frog (yes)
Droning bird and meerkats (yes)
Materials:
Independent activity:
Our woes make us stronger in Jesus. Look at the pictures one the activity sheet and circle the things you know to be strong.
Materials: printed activity sheet
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, crayons, or other coloring utensils
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
How are our woes blessings?
What are some examples of woes you may have?
How can our trust in God help us through those woes?
What would it look like to be thankful in our woes?
What is something that tastes bitter?
What could you add to that bitter food to make it taste better?
How is Jesus like the sweetness we can add to our bitter woes?
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?