Ages 9-11 Reformation

Reformation Day (Yrs A, B, C) Reformation Day (Years A, B, C) On Reformation Day the church honours Martin Luther and other reformers of the six teenth century, and reformers of every age. Luther’s teachings focused on the promises of scripture, emphasizing that the Spirit works in our hearts to speak God’s word to us and that we receive God’s grace through our faith in Christ. This is the truth that makes Focus Scripture us free. Our life in the Body of Christ is shaped by this gift of freedom. John 8:31–36

Focus Scripture: John 8:31–36 Additional Scriptures Most scholars believe that the gospel of John Through Jesus, the Son, we are given a Jeremiah 31:31–34 was written around 85–90 CE. Jesus’ identity permanent place in the house of God. True Psalm 46 and teachings are the priorities in this gospel. freedom comes through Jesus the Christ, not Romans 3:19–28 John draws us into the new life and under any human ancestor. True freedom comes not standing of God’s purpose that Jesus makes from one’s heritage, but as a gift from God. possible. Truth for the Jews involved their identity in Reflected in the focus reading today Abraham; Jesus’ truth involves identity in God. Gracious God, is the struggle within the early church The leaders of the Reformation empha write your law on between Jews who accepted Jesus as Messiah sized the gospel teaching that true freedom our hearts and and those who did not. This division was is not related to ethnic distinctions or social let your word of probably not as sharp in Jesus’ time as the class. Only Jesus the Christ can free us from grace dwell in us words in John might lead us to believe. When slavery to sin, and does so through the truth so that no matter of the gospel. the gospel of John refers to “Jews,” it usually where we are, we Martin Luther felt that the heart of gospel is speaking of Jewish religious leaders. It may may know we are truth is summed up in Romans 3:19–28. All be helpful to think of the dialogue in John forgiven and free. between Jesus and the Jews as a challenging people fall short in their relationship with Amen. discussion among “family members” who are God, but God offers forgiveness of sins experiencing a strained relationship. through Christ. We are justified – put right Verse 30 is a springboard into the focus with God – by the gift of God’s grace, through verses. Jesus has been teaching, and verse 30 faith in Christ. reports: “As he was saying these things, many The Hebrew exiles in Babylon blamed the believed in him.” Jesus’ words to these new slavery of exile on their ancestors who had believers begin in verse 31. disregarded God’s law. In Jeremiah 31:31–34, Living in Jesus’ way leads to truth, which the prophet envisions a future time when the in turn leads to freedom. The Jews are puzzled ability to know God and God’s truth will be a by Jesus’ teaching and claim that because they gift from God, written on each heart. are descendants of Abraham, they are already Psalm 46 is the inspiration behind Luther’s free. They claim they have never been slaves, classic Reformation hymn, “A Mighty Fortress neglecting to recall the time of slavery in Is Our God.” The words of the psalmist, and Egypt or the Babylonian exile. the words of Luther, call disciples to place their In John, the writer uses the phrase “very hope in God alone. truly I tell you” (v. 34) to signal that a new • • • • • teaching is to follow. In verses 34–36, Jesus Scripture calls us to live with God’s law on addresses the group’s misunderstanding of our hearts, to let our faith determine how freedom with the new teaching that everyone we act. Jesus invites us to open our hearts to who sins is not free and is a slave to sin. receive God’s gifts of grace and salvation – Jesus teaches that slavery is not limited to an to claim our freedom in Christ. What in the economic reality, but also is an inward state of church today needs to be reformed by God’s being. Even those who claim freedom through grace? What might you and your church do Abraham are not as free as they think. differently through the reforming, restoring power of the Holy Spirit?

Seasons of the Spirit © 2012 Wood Lake Publishing Seasons of the Spirit™ Ages 9–11 Reformation Day (Years A, B, C) 1 www.seasonsonline.ca; www.woodlakebooks.com Reformation Day (Yrs A, B, C) The Focus for Ages 9–11

he children in your group will probably believers to have the freedom to do that. Just not see much difference between some as Jesus’ teachings challenged the religious Tone living 500 years ago and someone leaders, so did Martin Luther, who based his living 200 years ago or even 1000 years ago. ideas on what he read about Jesus in the Bible. For these children, such distant times blur Martin’s story might inspire the children in together and they may be more interested in their own journeys of faith. the actual stories than the historical setting. The freedom and grace that Luther found They are aware of family stories of relatives, in his studies is partly from the freedom that especially famous relatives. On Reformation Jesus talks about in the gospel of John in the Day they have a chance to hear the story of focus passage for this session. Children will Martin Luther, an important person in the have an opportunity to learn how Martin story of the Christian church family. It is one Luther, through his desire to know as much of the great stories of the Christian tradition. about God as he could discover through read Children in this age group are often quite ing and studying the Bible, made such a dif aware of what is true and untrue, and what ference to the Christian way. Pray that the is fair and unfair. They will hear, in Martin’s children will find a role model in this impor story, about someone who stood up for what tant figure in church history and be inspired he believed. Luther studied and thought hard in their own journeys of faith. over many parts of the Bible, and wanted all Prepare

Before the session Engage q Prayerfully reflect on the focus scripture, q Bring Bibles. John 8:31–36, and the biblical background q Bring copies of resource sheets “Martin material (p. 1). Luther” (p. 5) and “Luther’s Crest” (p. 6). q Prepare a worship table with red fabric, Respond white pillar candle, and Bible with a book Choose from the following suggested activi mark placed at John 8. ties. Prepare and bring the materials. q Bring candlesnuffer and matches. q Bookmarks: construction paper or card q Bring CD player, if possible. stock/heavy paper, art supplies, scissors q Decorate the room with red items (such as q Crest: construction paper (black, white, streamers, paper hearts, balloons). red, green, blue), gold paper, glue sticks, Gather markers or coloured pencils, scissors q Bring song “Teach Me Wisdom” (#24 on q Collage: sheet of poster board, used maga- Seasons Music CD, volume 7) or “We Thank zines, craft and collage supplies, glue sticks, You, God” (#22 on Seasons Music CD, scissors volume 9); both recordings also available Bless as Seasons mp3 downloads. q Bring song “Somlandela/We Will Follow” q Make two signs: one saying “No way!” (#22 on Seasons Music CD, volume 7; also and one saying “Yes!” available as a Seasons mp3 download).

2 Seasons of the Spirit™ Ages 9–11 Reformation Day (Years A, B, C) Seasons of the Spirit © 2012 Wood Lake Publishing www.seasonsonline.ca; www.woodlakebooks.com Reformation Day (Yrs A, B, C) Reformation Day (Years A, B, C)

Scripture FOCUS To understand how Jesus’ words set Martin Luther free to tell John 8:31–36 people about God’s truth in a new way.

Welcome the children and visitors and invite Connect with the focus them to notice all the red decorations. Explain On one side of your meeting space place the sign that red is a colour that is used for special, festi saying “Yes!” and on the opposite side place the val days in the church year. Mention that today sign saying “No way!” Invite the children to we are celebrating Reformation Day. It is the play a game where they will move to the signs day we remember Martin Luther, an important to indicate their agreement or disagreement with figure in the history of our church. statements such as “Team sports are fun to play; Opening ritual I love spicy food; Brushing teeth is important; People should always speak out against things Gather in the worship space and invite a child to that are unfair.” Talk together about how it is light the Christ candle. easier to share how we feel about some things Pray the following prayer, or one of your own: more than other things. Today we will hear the Loving God, accept our gifts story about Martin Luther who shared his feel and make us aware of your presence ings about some important issues in the church as we come to your church and stood up for what he believed in, helping to to learn how to be your people. Amen. make important changes in the church. Sing the song “Teach Me Wisdom” (#24 on Seasons Music CD, volume 7) or “We Thank You, God” (#22 on Seasons Music CD, volume 9).

Preparing for the Bible story Remind the children that we are still in the when books, even the Bible, were very scarce. Ask: Season after Pentecost, a part of the church year n How would life be different from what it is that is also known as Ordinary or Common today? Time. Today is a special day in this season. It is Ask for one or two volunteers to read the second called Reformation Day, and it is a time when we section of “Part 2.” Ask: celebrate changes that took place in the Christian church about 500 years ago. The person most n What ways did Martin Luther use to encour- closely connected with those changes is Martin age people to learn from the Bible? Luther. Read “Part 1” from the resource sheet n Why do you think it was so important to “Martin Luther” to the group. Ask: Martin that people know about God’s love? n What was Martin Luther’s worry? Following this conversation, read “Part 3” on the n What helped Martin Luther to feel better? resource sheet and invite any questions or comments. Distribute copies of the resource sheet “Martin The Bible story Luther” to the children. Ask for one or two vol Jesus’ teachings in the Bible were important to unteers to read the first section of “Part 2.” Talk Martin Luther in his studies to understand God together about what it might have been like to live in and God’s way. In one part of the gospel of John, the a time when most people couldn’t read books, and focus passage for this session, Jesus teaches about

freedom to follow God’s way. Invite children to find n What might Martin Luther have found encour- John 8:34–36 in their Bibles, asking one or more vol aging in these words of Jesus? unteers to read these verses aloud. Just as Martin n What did words like these in the Bible give him Luther helped people to study the Bible 500 years the courage to do? ago by translating it into a language they could understand, the verses of the Bible today are some The Bible in our lives times re-written in words that people can under Jesus’ message about God’s love was important for stand more easily. Distribute copies of the resource Martin Luther and is important for us today too. sheet “Luther’s Crest.” Read aloud the paraphrase n How might Jesus’ words, and the story of Martin of John 8:34–36 from the top of the page and then Luther, help you to live in God’s way? have the group read it in unison.

Select one or two of the following options. q Bookmarks Martin Luther wanted their own copies of the crest. Have them cut everyone to be able to read the shapes from construction paper: a circle of blue, Bible. Distribute supplies and invite green leaves, white rose, red heart, and black children make bookmarks for a Bible. cross, and glue these in layers onto a circle of Suggest that they put words or symbols gold paper. As they work, invite the children on their bookmarks that remind them of the to think of other things the different parts of freedom that we have as followers of Jesus to Luther’s crest might represent. live in God’s way. They might also like to add q Collage Martin Luther had a strong desire to an image of Luther’s crest as a reminder about explore God’s words and wisdom in the Bible. how important the Bible was for Martin Luther. Read again the paraphrase on the top of the q Crest The crest that we associate with Martin resource sheet “Luther’s Crest” and invite chil Luther is a reminder of the Bible messages that dren to name some ways we can follow in God’s were so important for him. Distribute supplies way today. Have them create a group collage, and refer to the information on the resource using the supplies provided, to illustrate what sheet “Luther’s Crest” to help children make it means to be one of Jesus’ disciples today.

Gather Bring the group together around the wor who have taught us how to follow your ship table. Light the Christ candle. way. Sing or listen to the song “Somlandela/We Will In Jesus’ name. Amen. Follow” (#22 on Seasons Music CD, volume 7). Blessing Offer a blessing to each child: “(Child’s Pray this prayer or one of your own: name), remember that Jesus has made you free to God of all people and times, follow God’s way.” we give thanks for all the people in history

How did the children show their interest in the desire to know more about Luther, or to study the story of Martin Luther and the time in which he Bible? lived? How did this session encourage your own

4 Seasons of the Spirit™ Ages 9–11 Reformation Day (Years A, B, C) Seasons of the Spirit © 2012 Wood Lake Publishing www.seasonsonline.ca; www.woodlakebooks.com Resource Sheet • Reformation Day (Yrs A, B, C) Martin Luther

PART 1 Martin Luther lived in Germany Luther believed that everyone deserved to be about 500 years ago. As a young man, Luther able to read it so each person would know the became a Roman Catholic monk. He was truth about God’s love. He translated the Bible devoted to God, but he was into German so all the people in also frightened of God’s Germany could read it. He put anger. Martin Luther knew the messages from the Bible to that he could not keep all of music, familiar German songs, so God’s commandments, and the people could learn it by sing he feared that God would ing. He wrote a catechism, a set punish him. of questions and answers, to help Luther was told that if he parents teach their children about gave money to the church God and Jesus. Fortunately, about when he sinned, God this time the mechanical print wouldn’t punish him. But ing press was invented so copies this didn’t stop him worry of books could be made without ing. Martin Luther prayed copying them by hand. This print and studied the Bible, search ing method made the production ing for some assurance that of books faster and cheaper. God would not punish him. He found it in the Bible, and PART 3 Luther continued to he no longer believed that read and study the Bible. He was paying money to the church now more certain than ever that was necessary for forgiveness. forgiveness could not be bought. According to the Bible, forgive PART 2 But not everyone ness is a free gift from God. could read the Bible and The more Luther studied the get the message that Martin Bible, the more teachings of the Luther did. In Luther’s time, church he decided were wrong. most people couldn’t read. Finally, Luther made a list of 95 Besides, the Bible was written in languages church teachings that he couldn’t agree with. that the people could not understand. And Luther nailed the list to the door of the castle even if they could, Bibles were so scarce that church in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31, in many places the only Bible in the commu 1517. That event marked the beginning of the nity was chained to the church pulpit. Reformation.

Seasons of the Spirit © 2012 Wood Lake Publishing Seasons of the Spirit™ Ages 9–11 Reformation Day (Years A, B, C) 5 www.seasonsonline.ca; www.woodlakebooks.com Resource Sheet • Reformation Day (Yrs A, B, C) Luther’s Crest

Seriously, I tell you, if you don’t follow God’s way you can become like a slave to other ways. But if you listen to me, I can bring you back to God’s way and you will be free from those other ways. When I make you free, you are really free.

– a paraphrase of Jesus’ words in John 8:34–36

n the middle of Martin Luther’s crest is a background behind the rose is blue like black cross. The cross reminds us of Jesus’ the sky. The sky reminds us of heavenly death and resurrection. The cross is on a red joy. Around all of this is a circle of gold. Iheart. The heart reminds us that our faith keeps The circle is a symbol of the endless joy of us alive. The heart is in the middle of a white belonging to God, which is more precious rose with green leaves. The rose and greenery than anything else. remind us of our joy in belonging to God. The