Stand up for justice sunday school lesson edit

STAND UP FOR JUSTICE. SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON Prepared by the Programme Resources Department, International Headquarters

Welcome Welcome the children as usual. Tell them that today the important truth we will explore is that: Powerful people cannot do whatever they please to others. If this happens it is an injustice, and God wants the Church to confront injustices – to Stand up for Justice.

Starter Activity – The Injustice Game Take an item that the children would like or that is valuable (this could be a piece of fruit, a book, a toy or something similar). Explain to the children that one of them can have the item, but you will give it to the oldest. Ask them if this seems fair? (Hopefully they will answer no. But if they say yes, ask them why.) Suggest instead giving it to the tallest.

Ask the children to organise themselves into a line with the tallest at one end. Does this seem fair? What about the fastest?

Organise a short race between the children to decide who is fastest. What about the child that can jump the highest?

Have a competition to see who can jump the highest. What about the child with the biggest hands? Get the children to compare hand sizes and stand in order.

Do any of these tests really seem a fair way to decide who should get the item?

Today we will look at a story where a king was able to take something because of his power, but God’s prophet confronted him because his actions were unjust.

Justice: Justice is an important idea in the Bible. It is the idea that we must behave fairly towards others and that we should not give an advantage to some people because of their power, wealth, strength or any other worldly consideration.

Bible Story Today’s story is found in 1 Kings – a book in the Bible that contains the stories of the kings of Israel.

Some of the kings were good characters who gave Israel examples that taught people how to be faithful. Other kings were not good characters, but still these examples taught how to be faithful because they showed what not to do.

Read: 1 Kings chapter 21

Alternatively, here is a simplified version of the story. You could ask the children to create their own dramatisation of it, or tell it using the paper figures included (see illustrations).

A man named Naboth had a vineyard in Jezreel. His family had looked after this vineyard for many years.

One day King Ahab saw Naboth’s vineyard and said to Naboth: ‘This vineyard is near my palace, give it to me so I can turn it into a vegetable patch. I can give you better land somewhere else, or as much money as you would like for it.’

But the vineyard was special to Naboth because he and his family had cared for it for so long, so he said, ‘This vineyard has always been in my family. I won’t sell it to you.’

King Ahab was angry and upset. He lay on his bed refusing to eat. He was so angry he just stared at the wall.

Jezebel, King Ahab’s wife, came to ask him what was wrong. King Ahab said to her, ‘I wanted Naboth’s vineyard but he wouldn’t give it to me.’ Jezebel was surprised. ‘But you’re the King of Israel!’ So Jezebel thought of a plan to get the vineyard for her husband.

Jezebel had Naboth accused of cursing God and Israel’s king. Jezebel persuaded two men to lie about hearing Naboth cursing. Because Jezebel was married to the king the two men were frightened of how powerful she was, so agreed to help her and accused Naboth. Cursing God and the king was a serious crime in Israel and Naboth lost his vineyard and was stoned to death.

When King Ahab heard that Naboth was dead he left his palace to go and take the vineyard for himself.

God sent Elijah, the prophet, to confront King Ahab.

Elijah went to the vineyard and said: ‘Ahab, you have done things the Lord hates. You will be punished.

Your whole family will experience terrible things. They will be wiped out.’

When King Ahab heard this he was frightened and sad. He refused to eat.

Sometime later God said to Elijah: ‘Do you see how sorry Ahab is for what he did? I won’t punish him yet.

I’ll wait until his son is king.’

Questions These suggested questions could be used in a group or individually. You may want to get the children to respond by suggesting the answers and discussing them as a group, or you may give each child time to consider them by themselves or in smaller groups. Most of the questions do not have a specific answer – instead they are designed to help create ideas and discussion amongst the children. You may like to rephrase the questions depending on the age/ability of your group.

Who are the three main characters in this story? Naboth/King Ahab/Elijah.

How would you describe each of the three characters?

It might help to draw pictures of the characters and write descriptive words about them around the pictures.

Even though Ahab was king, Naboth said no to selling or swapping his vineyard with him. Why do you think he said no?

Have you ever been given something as a gift that is special to you? Would you swap/sell it?

What if someone offered you a better version or a lot of money?

King Ahab wanted something that was not his. Even though he was king and had lots of land and palaces, he coveted Naboth’s vineyard. How did he feel when he could not have something he wanted? How would you describe his behaviour? (v4 – ‘He lay on his bed sulking and refusing to eat.’)

Perhaps look up the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy chapter 5) and look at number ten.

King Ahab and Jezebel used their power to get what they wanted, without caring about what happened to Naboth. This is an injustice. How did God respond? [look at 1 Kings:17-19] Who did he send?

Do you think Elijah was brave for confronting King Ahab? Describe how you would feel if you had to tell someone very powerful that they had done something unjust?

If you have time, look at 2 Samuel 12:1-7 where Nathan confronts David.

There are injustices that happen in our world – things that are not fair, times when people use the power they have wrongly. Can you think of any? (Make a list) Might we (the Church) be the people God wants to send to confront injustices?

How might we confront the injustices that we have listed?

Craft/Activity If you can, include one of these suggested crafts/activities in your lesson.

Suggestion 1: Naboth’s vineyard Collect a shoebox, tray or something similar. Fill it with soil and plant some seeds. Decorate it with the following verse connecting justice and gardens/plants: ‘They will be called the “Trees of Righteousness [Justice]”, planted by the Lord’ (Isaiah 61.3).

Suggestion 2: Colour in and cut out the story figures (see illustrations).

Suggestion 3: Create a drawing of yourself. In the same way as you described King Ahab, Elijah and Naboth, describe yourself around your picture.

Prayer Time One or more of the children may want to pray about the injustices you listed earlier. Give them opportunity to do this.

You could use this prayer, adapted from a prayer of St Patrick, and ask the children to join in with the responses.

I rise today Through the strength of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

A Three in One that is the Creator of creation.

Response: Give us the strength to stand up for justice.

I rise today Through the strength of God to uphold me, Through the wisdom of God to guide me, Through God’s ear to hear me, God’s hand to guide me, God’s shield to protect me from injustices.

Response: Give us the strength to stand up for justice.

I rise today With Christ all around me. Christ in the heart of all who think of me.

Christ in the mouth of all who speak of me.

Christ in me to give me the courage to seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God; The Three in One that is the Creator of creation.

Response: Give us the strength to stand up for justice.

Amen.