Worship Tools

Worship Outline

Additional Scriptures 

2 Kings 2:1-12; Psalm 50:1-6; Mark 9:2-9

Preparation

See Focus Moment for supplies needed. 

Prelude

Sharing and Caring 

Ask participants to share prayer requests, concerns, and needs that are present today. 

Welcome

Call to Worship 

Leader: The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the Earth,

People: from the rising of the sun to its setting. 

Leader: Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. 

People: Our God comes and does not keep silence. 

ALL: The heavens declare God’s righteousness. Let us worship our God. 

—based on Psalm 50:1-6

Hymn of Praise 

“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” CCS 99 

Translations into Spanish and French for this hymn can be found online.

OR “Now Sing to Our God” CCS 108 

Opening Prayer 

Response

Lectionary Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 

Ask a participant to read the lectionary scripture for today from somewhere other than the front of the worship space. 

Focus Moment 

Bring jars or mugs and something to put in the jars. This could be candy, coins, colorful pom poms, or anything that can be poured from one jar to another. Keep the pourable items separate from the jars/mugs until they are to be poured. 

Ask for several volunteers (the same number as you have jars) to come to the front. Give each volunteer an empty jar. 

Each of these jars represents you and me. We can hold so much inside of ourselves both what we learn and what we feel. 

Ask questions about what we learn at church or what we feel when we come together. Talk about how we learn about Jesus and feel the love of God. Compare this knowledge and feelings with being full of light that shines in the darkness. 

Now show the pourable items. 

When we learn about Jesus or feel the love of God we are filled and hold that knowledge and feeling inside of ourselves. We might keep that light to ourselves, but… 

Pour the items into your own jar, filling it. 

…when we share the light and love of God, what we know and feel shines into others’ lives. 

Start by pouring some of the contents of your jar into the first volunteer’s jar. Then go to the next volunteer, pouring the contents into those jars/mugs. At this point encourage the first two volunteers to follow your lead and share contents with all the others holding jars. 

When we share the love of God with others, our light is spread throughout our world.

Close by reading 2 Corinthians 4:5-6. Ask volunteers to place their jars/mugs in the worship setting for all to see. 

Hymn of Confession 

“Soften My Heart” sing twice CCS 187

OR “When We Are Called to Sing” CCS 229 

Confession

We will now enter a time of spiritual practice. Spend the next few moments contemplating when you have felt disconnected from God. Where were you on your journey? Where was God? Is there anything for which you might ask forgiveness? 

Consider playing music in the background or just sit in silence for a while. 

Pastoral Prayer 

Come back together. Ask an evangelist or pastor to offer a pastoral prayer over the confessions and needs of the group. 

The Spoken Word 

Based on 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 

Hymn of Reflection 

“Come and Bring Light” choose 2 or 3 stanzas that most apply to your group CCS 287

OR “Community of Christ” CCS 354

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper 

Communion Scripture: Mark 14:22-25 

Invitation to Communion

Blessing and Serving of the Bread and Wine 

Disciples’ Generous Response 

Scripture Reading: Doctrine and Covenants 162:7a 

Statement 

In our lectionary scripture today, we have been reminded of the need to share the light of the gospel by proclaiming Jesus Christ. We know from contemporary scripture that this calling is still with us today as it was with disciples in the past. As we take part in the Disciple’s Generous Response, let us think about how we can more fully share our time, talent, treasure, and testimony to make real the kingdom of God on Earth. 

Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes 

Hymn of Commitment 

“Arise, Your Light Is Come!” CCS 635 

OR “Send Forth Your Light, O Zion” CCS 622 

Sending Forth Prayer for Peace 

Light the peace candle, or if online, have someone light a candle at their home and hold it up to the computer camera. 

Prayer 

Dear God, the creator of light,

We light this candle as a symbol of hope. The world is in tumult. Your children have hardened their hearts to your call to peace. Conflict, indifference, and excessive skepticism have led many away from the call of your Spirit. We close our ears and harden our hearts until we no longer recognize your presence or your Spirit leading us in our lives. 

Lord, soften our hearts and the hearts of those around us, so that we can once again hear your voice calling us to a new way of life. A life lived in peace, right relationships, and pursuit of justice. Lives lived by sharing our light. May all conflicts and wars cease as your Spirit revives the hearts of all humankind. May this prayer turn into calling and then into action as we seek to bring the peaceable kingdom of God on Earth. 

In the name of the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Postlude

Sacred Space: Small-Group Worship Outline

Gathering

Welcome

On Transfiguration Sunday we remember that Jesus had a transformative experience through which his glory was revealed to the disciples. As we prepare to journey through the Lenten season with Jesus, we lay open our own lives to the transformative power of God’s presence, mercy, and grace.

Prayer for Peace

Ring a bell or chime three times slowly.
Light the peace candle.

Dear God, just as the disciples were speechless on the mountaintop while experiencing the transfiguration of your Son, Jesus, sometimes words fail to express the yearnings of our heart for peace. We see your brilliance and your peace that bring comfort for some. But where is this peace for the hungry, the refugee, the forgotten? We’ve woven complex systems that sometimes make peace seem impossible. Yet, the disciples experienced the impossible on that mountain. Revive us to become soothing balm for a world in pain, juicy fruit for the hungry, a comforting home for the homeless. Remind us that even when we cannot speak your peace, there is much we can do to foster peace in our neighborhoods and hearts. In the name of he who lights the way. Amen.

Spiritual Practice

Jesus Prayer

This prayer is an ancient spiritual practice from Orthodox Christianity. It is a way of connecting with the gracious spirit of Christ as we ask to receive his mercy.

The prayer comes from the scripture of the blind man calling Jesus to heal him.

Say: Let your breath become slow and even. I will speak the prayer aloud for the first few breaths, and then you will pray silently, repeating the phrases as you breathe:

As you breathe in pray, “Lord Jesus Christ.”

As you breathe out pray, “Have mercy on me.”

Say: We will prayerfully repeat these words for two or three minutes.

Close with an “Amen.”

Invite people to share about this experience.

—from Yearning for God Community of Christ

Sharing Around the Table

2 Corinthians 4:3-6 NRSVue

³ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.⁴ In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing clearly the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’s sake. ⁶ For it is the God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

—2 Corinthians 4:3-6 NRSVue

In these verses, Paul is addressing the impact to the Corinthians of deceitful teachers who claimed superior knowledge and spiritual authority (called super apostles later in the letter).  These “super apostles” promoted a self-focused message rather than the Christ-center message proclaimed by Paul. Those who wish to serve Jesus should do so in humility, not to promote themselves and seek human recognition.   

Paul highlights the contrast between those who are spiritually perishing and believers who receive the light of God’s truth. For those whose hearts and minds are closed to the truth and beauty of the gospel Paul taught, the gospel may appear veiled. Such individuals suffer from a spiritual blindness caused by the “the god of this world” (verse 4), which may refer to Satan or various worldly influences. This passage teaches that spiritual blindness is real. Sin and secular understandings of the world can cloud our vision and hinder us from recognizing the profound message and transformative power of the gospel.

Paul references the creation story in Genesis noting how God commanded light to shine out of darkness. The gospel illuminates the hearts of believers as it gives them “light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” in verse 6.  This light offers spiritual understanding, wisdom, and revelation to believers who come to see that Jesus is more than a teacher.  He is an expression of God’s glory. This passage makes clear that faith and spiritual insight are gifts from God and not achieved through human effort.

Questions:

1. Through what means and by whom might the gospel’s message be “veiled” today?
2. How might we need to be concerned about the influence of “super apostles” in our world?
3. How can believers reflect God’s light in their lives?

Sending

Generosity Statement

Beloved Community of Christ, do not just speak and sing of Zion. Live, love, and share as Zion: those who strive to be visibly one in Christ, among whom there are no poor or oppressed.

—Doctrine and Covenants 165:6a

The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing, small-group ministries as part of your generous response.

This offering prayer is adapted from A Disciple’s Generous Response:

Revealing God, may we always be generous. You have gifted each of us with boundless grace and unending love. May our response to that love and grace be humble service to others, and may generosity be part of our nature. Amen.

Invitation to Next Meeting

Closing Hymn

Community of Christ Sings 280, “Lord, Prepare Me”

Closing Prayer

---

Optional Additions Depending on Group

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

—1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NRSV

Communion Statement

All are welcome at Christ’s table. The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is a sacrament in which we remember the life, death, resurrection, and continuing presence of Jesus Christ. In Community of Christ, we also experience Communion as an opportunity to renew our baptismal covenant and to be formed as disciples who live Christ’s mission. Others may have different or added understandings within their faith traditions. We invite all who participate in the Lord’s Supper to do so in the love and peace of Jesus Christ.

We share in Communion as an expression of blessing, healing, peace, and community.

In preparation let’s sing from Community of Christ Sings (select one):

515 “In these Moments We Remember”

516 “Coming Together for Wine and for Bread”

521 “Let Us Break Bread Together”

525 “Small Is the Table”

528 “Eat This Bread”

Blessing and serving of bread and wine.

Thoughts for Children

Today is Transfiguration Sunday. On this day, we remember the transfiguration of Jesus. Jesus and two of his disciples went to a mountaintop. There, before their eyes, Jesus began to shine, and a voice said to them, “This is my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” The disciples were shocked, and they came to know Jesus in a new way.

Throughout our lives, we will come to know God and Jesus in different ways. This is because God is bigger and more than we ever can comprehend. Sometimes, the experiences that lead to these different perspectives can be surprising, scary, or confusing, leaving us unsure of what to do. In fact, we may be hesitant to learn new things about God because it might change how we see and interact with the world. However, it is really important that we remain open as God reveals God’s self to us.

To help us remember to remain open to the mystery of God, we are going to try a spiritual practice called a body prayer. For this prayer, we will pray with our bodies. As we move through the prayer, I will share various motions and explain what each means, we then will do that motion together while leaving a moment of silence to listen for God’s voice.

Please pray with me:

Mysterious God, we are grateful that you continue to show us new aspects of who you are. Help us remain open to learning more about you.

God, we place our hands atop our heads and ask that you open our minds to new understandings of you that are not limited by our expectations or zones of comfort.

(Pause)

God, we pat our hand on our beating heart and ask that you open our hearts to love the things you love and share compassion as you would share compassion.

(Pause)

God, we place our hands in circles around our eyes and ask that you open our eyes to see the world the way you do—full of possibility and beauty.

(Pause)

God, we move our hand outward from our lips and ask that you open our mouths so that we might speak your words of joy, hope, love, and peace.

(Pause)

God of mystery, we spread our arms wide and ask that you help us remain open to new understandings of who you are and that those understandings help us share your love with the world.

Amen.

Sermon Helps

Exploring the Scripture

Today’s passage suggests the uneasy relationship the Apostle Paul had with the people of Corinth. That association included arguments, corrective direction, and loving connection. In this letter, Paul is found in a defensive posture striving to garner support for his interpretation of the gospel in the face of challenges from so-called “super apostles.” These people promoted a self-focused message rather than the Christ-centered message Paul proclaimed.

Paul suggests the “super apostles” interpretation was from “the god of this world” (v. 4). Scholars and theologians disagree to whom or what the phrase “god of this world” refers. Possible definitions include another supernatural force, false loyalties to the present generation, or perhaps Satan. Theologian G. Oliver Wagner offers some others: love of success, hunger for power and privilege, seeking after wealth, blind nationalism, and church tradition.

However, there is agreement that no matter precisely what the phrase refers to, this “god” veiled or caused blindness in the minds of unbelievers and kept them from “seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (v. 4). Many people were focused on the things of the world rather than on the things of God.

Perhaps this is an application of one of Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:19–21, he is quoted as saying,

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

A second theme Paul lifts is that those promoting this self-focused interpretation of the gospel wanted to proclaim themselves—to place themselves in the spotlight. He then says, “For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake” (v. 5). This is a two-fold message. First, followers of Jesus should not proclaim or promote themselves because there is only one worthy of such worship: Jesus Christ.

Paul suggests light does not come from us, but that divine light can shine through us because God “has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (v. 6). Paul’s words suggest disciples of Christ should be slaves to people “for Jesus’ sake,” extending hospitality to all and not seeing themselves as somehow greater than others.

Central Ideas

1. We must be careful to proclaim Jesus Christ and not ourselves.
2. Human, worldly wisdom is nothing compared to the light of God.
3. One should be careful not to have the “god of this world” captivate them and, thus, blind them to the real message of the gospel.

Questions for the Speaker

1. Through what means and by whom might the gospel’s message be “veiled” in today’s world?
2. What can we do to make sure we are indeed listening to the wisdom of God and not applying that measurement to worldly wisdom?
3. Can you recall a time when you felt the presence of God’s wisdom rather than that of the world because of your spiritual preparation and formation?
4. What practices have you found to be helpful in your spiritual formation? What other practices could you use to go deeper?

Lessons

Adult Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

2 Corinthians 4:3–6

Lesson Focus

We do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ through whom God’s light is revealed.

Objectives

The learners will…

• consider what can stand between people and God’s light.
• ponder ways proclamation of Jesus Christ can be overshadowed by the messenger.
• contemplate ways to use God’s light within to proclaim Christ through servant ministry.

Supplies

• Bible
• Doctrine and Covenants
• Paper and pens or pencils
• Board or chart paper and markers, or projector
• Community of Christ Sings (CCS)

Note to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for 2 Corinthians 4:3–6 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B: New Testament (with focus on the Letters), pp. 48–49, available through Herald House.

Gather

Post the church’s Mission Statement in a visible location before participants arrive:

We proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace.

Ask participants to share recent examples of how they have seen the Mission Statement lived.

Engage

Second Corinthians was written by Paul late in the 50s from Macedonia. Most likely it is a combination of two to five letters Paul wrote after his first letter to the Corinthians. (Raymond E. Brown, An Introduction to the New Testament, [New Haven: Yale University Press, 1997], Loc 10903, Kindle Edition) Because it is a compilation, transitions are not always smooth, and topics are sometimes left to be picked up again later.

Paul’s relationship with the Christians in Corinth is not smooth either. In his absence, other preachers and teachers have challenged his message and his authority as an apostle. Paul is on the defensive. He is frustrated, because, once again, the focus has turned to the messengers rather than the message.

In 1 Corinthians 1:12–13 Paul admonished against aligning with teachers and preachers rather than aligning with Christ. Now they are at it again, preferring to hear from “peddlers of God’s word” rather than “persons of sincerity” (2 Corinthians 2:17).

Respond

Project 2 Corinthians 4:3–6 or have it written ahead of time on chart paper or a board.

Invite a participant to underline or highlight words and phrases related to darkness in response to suggestions from the group.

Invite another participant to use another color to underline or highlight words and phrases related to light in response to suggestions from the group.

Invite a participant to read aloud verses 3 and 4:

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing clearly the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

In chapter 3, Paul refers to the veil that Moses wore and how it is set aside through Christ who grants the freedom to see the full glory of God. (2 Corinthians 3:13–18)

As a participant reads aloud verse 6, notice how the gift of the full light of God’s creative power revealed through Christ triumphs over the veiled message:

For it is the God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Calvin Roetzel writes that Paul frequently spiritualizes a story from Hebrew scripture and connects it to the story of Jesus as he does in verse 6, when he connects to Genesis 1:3. (Calvin J. Roetzel, 2 Corinthians, Abingdon New Testament Commentaries, [Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2007], 69)

• Discuss, perhaps listing: What are some ways that “the god of this world” blinds people today?
• As you listed those ways, were you thinking of “those who are perishing” or “unbelievers” as the ones being blinded?
• In what ways are those who claim to live in the light of God’s glory susceptible to blindness?

Invite a participant to read verse 5:

For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’s sake.

Take a few minutes for participants to jot down their own paraphrase of this verse. Invite those who are comfortable to share what they have written.

Pose the following questions, allowing time for contemplation after each one. As appropriate, allow participants to share examples. Introduce the possibility of sharing with a warning to not reveal identities of people described negatively.

• In various letters Paul defends his authority as a true apostle. Does the point made in this verse render that argument irrelevant?
• Have you witnessed an attempt to share the gospel message in which the focus was more on the messenger(s) than the message?
• Have you witnessed individuals or groups becoming veiled or blinded by disciples promoting themselves rather than Jesus Christ?
• Have you ever caught yourself acting in a way that prioritized preservation of your own image or reputation over the message of Jesus Christ?
• In Romans 1:1 Paul declares himself to be a servant of Jesus Christ. In 2 Corinthians 4:5 and others (1Corinthians 9:19) Paul describes himself as a slave to the Corinthian Christians. Which is more challenging, to be a slave to Christ or to be a slave to your brothers and sisters in Christ?

Reread 2 Corinthians 4:5 followed by Doctrine and Covenants 156:7b–8a. Can you identify connections between these passages of scripture?

For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’s sake.

—2 Corinthians 4:5

There have been priesthood members over the years…who have misunderstood the purpose of their calling. Succumbing to pride, some have used it for personal aggrandizement.

Others, through disinterest or lack of diligence, have failed to magnify their calling or have become inactive.

When this has happened, the church has experienced a loss of spiritual power, and the entire priesthood structure has been diminished.

It is my will that my priesthood be made up of those who have an abiding faith and desire to serve me with all their hearts, in humility and with great devotion.

—Doctrine and Covenants 156:7b-8a

Invite a participant to record on screen, board, or chart paper a list brainstormed by the group of specific actions a disciple of Jesus could take to live the principles of 2 Corinthians 4:5.

Send

Read the final verse of today’s passage with the commentary that follows:

For it is the God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

The People’s New Testament Commentary contains these thoughts on this verse:

The one Creator God, who originally called light into being, has also acted to create light in the believers’ hearts. God the Creator continues to create. Just as resurrection is not an abstract idea of what happened in the past, but a reality in the believer’s life, so creation is not only an event in the past, but an experienced reality in the believer’s present. In biblical theology, the heart is the center of planning, willing, and acting, not merely of feelings. (M. Eugene Boring and Fred B. Craddock, The People’s New Testament Commentary, 1st ed., 2004, p. 555)

Discuss:

• How do we understand ourselves as part of the ongoing process of creation?
• How is God’s light in our hearts nudging us to plan, will, and act?

If the group is familiar with the tune, sing the refrain of “Come and Bring Light” CCS 287. If not, invite a reader to read the refrain. Speak the verses, each phrase in rotation through participants with the entire group speaking “open our eyes” and the concluding sentence, “Teach us compassion and love.”

Bless

Invite a participant to read the following prayer as benediction:

God of Light,

Thank you for shining in our hearts and for showing us your glory in the face of Christ.

Warm us to awareness of your light in our hearts as we plan and act each day.

Amen.

Youth Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

2 Corinthians 4:3–6

Lesson Focus

Focus on Jesus; Share God’s light.

Objectives

The learners will…

• learn about the meaning of the Community of Christ mission statement.
• explore how we let God’s light shine.
• brainstorm things that keep us from sharing God’s love, and things we can do to share God’s love.

Supplies

• Bible
• Community of Christ’s Mission Statement written on a paper everyone can read
• Candle, matches or lighter, something that is opaque (paper), something that is clear (glass), and a mirror
• Paper and pens or pencils for each student

Notes to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for 2 Corinthians 4:3–6 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B: New Testament (with focus on the Letters), pp. 48–49, available through Herald House.

Prepare for class by wearing apparel that represents a certain sports team or another club you support. You can wear a shirt or jersey, a hat, scarf, jewelry, or any other items. If applicable you could carry relevant signs or memorabilia such as a foam finger or stuffed mascot.

Gather

Begin by asking students about your outfit: Why might I like to dress this way? Where would I go dressed like this? What does what I’m wearing tell you about me? Sometimes what we wear shows people what is important to us. Today my outfit shows you that I like __________. You could say I am proclaiming that I like and support _______________. [Insert what your outfit supports or represents.]

What does “proclaim” mean? (to announce publicly) If you proclaim something, you are saying it publicly, to other people.

Community of Christ’s mission statement uses the word “proclaim.” Does anyone know the Community of Christ mission statement? (Listen to responses.) Let’s read it together:

We proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of Joy, hope, love, and peace.

Today we are going to talk about what we proclaim and how we proclaim it.

Engage

In today’s scripture passage, people were using the gospel to proclaim about themselves instead of about Jesus. Instead of focusing on God, some religious leaders and speakers were focused on worldly goals like power, success, fame, and wealth. In this letter, Paul directs the people of Corinth to turn their focus back to God and the light of the gospel.”

Read 2 Corinthians 4:3–6.

• Where does the scripture say light comes from? (Jesus, God, the gospel.)
• What do you think we are supposed to do with the light? (Let it shine; show it to others.)

Light a candle and ask the students to observe its brightness. Hold an opaque item like a piece of paper in front of the candle and ask the students to observe the brightness. Have them share their observations. Next hold a clear item like a piece of glass in front of the candle, repeating the observations and comments. Finally, hold a mirror behind the candle so that the light shines toward the students. Ask them what they notice about the light. Which item made the light easiest to see? (the glass or mirror) Which item made the light shine most brightly? (the mirror)

Jesus is like the candle in our lives; he brings us light that makes us feel God’s love. We have three choices about what we can do with that light.

1. Like the piece of paper, we can keep the light to ourselves and hide it so no one can see it.
2. Like the glass, we can let others see God’s light in us by telling people about Jesus’s love.
3. Like the mirror, we can reflect Jesus’s light into the lives of other people and let them feel God’s love through our actions. Reflecting the light is like making a proclamation.

Respond

Sometimes it’s difficult to focus on God. At times we get distracted and fail to be the best disciple we can be. Maybe you’re too busy with sports to help your elderly neighbor rake the leaves. Maybe you’re afraid to stand up to the bully at school. Maybe you are too embarrassed about what others might think if you invite them to church or camp. Maybe you really want a video game and don’t want to give any of your money to the tithing.

• Think about the distractions in your life that keep you from serving God. Write your distraction(s) on a piece of paper.

Allow time for the students to write, then invite them to share their distraction(s) with the class. As each person shares, invite them to place their papers in the center of the table (folded or face down).

It’s easy to focus on ourselves and our worldly desires, just like the leaders in Corinth did. But as disciples we are called to focus on Christ. You are living your discipleship when you treat others with kindness, tell others about God, invite people to know Christ, generously share your time and resources, or help people in need.

• Think about one thing you can do this week to be a good disciple. Allow time for the students to brainstorm an action. Invite them to share their plan.

It is impossible not to get distracted. It happens to all of us. God wants us to work to remove distractions, and to redirect our focus on Jesus.

Send

Gather the papers the students wrote naming their distractions. Ask the class to pray for one another during the coming week, so that we may be able to focus on God and overcome these distractions that keep us from fully serving God.

Bless

Invite a participant to read the following prayer as benediction:

God of Light,

Thank you for shining in our hearts and for showing us your glory in Christ, the one we follow.

Warm us to awareness of your light in our hearts as we plan and act each day.

Amen.

Children’s Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

2 Corinthians 4:3–6

Lesson Focus

God invites us to be good stewards of our life by focusing on and sharing Jesus’s light.

Objectives

The learners will…

• learn about the meaning of the Community of Christ mission statement.
• explore how we let God’s light shine.
• Identify what keep us from sharing God’s love, and brainstorm things we can do to share God’s love.

Supplies

• Community of Christ’s Mission Statement written on a paper everyone can read
• Bible
• Candle, matches or lighter, something that is opaque (paper), something that is clear (glass), and a mirror
• Clear glass jars and votive candles, one of each for each student
• Colored tissue paper, Mod Podge, paint brushes, cups of water
• Slips of paper, pens or pencils, picture of a candle (end of lesson, colored if desired)

Notes to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for 2 Corinthians 4:3–6 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B: New Testament (with focus on the Letters), pp. 48–49, available through Herald House.

Prepare for class by wearing apparel that represents a certain sports team or another club you support. You can wear a shirt, jersey, hat, scarf, jewelry, or any other items. If applicable you could carry relevant signs or memorabilia such as a foam finger or stuffed mascot.

Gather

Ask the children about your outfit: Why might I like to dress this way? Where do you think I would go dressed like this? What does my outfit tell you about me? Sometimes what we wear shows people what is important to us. Today my outfit shows you that I like __________. You could say I am proclaiming that I like and support _______________. [Insert what your outfit supports or represents.]

What does “proclaim” mean? (It means to announce publicly.) If you proclaim something, you are saying it publicly, to other people. Community of Christ’s mission statement—the sentence that best describes us as a church—uses the word “proclaim.” Does anyone know the Community of Christ mission statement? (Listen to responses.) Let’s read it together:

We proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of Joy, hope, love, and peace.

Today we are going to talk about what we proclaim and how we proclaim it. Tell me again what proclaim means? (to announce publicly) And what do we proclaim as a church? (Jesus Christ!)

Engage

Say: In today’s scripture passage, people were using the gospel to proclaim about themselves instead of about Jesus. Instead of focusing on God, some religious leaders and speakers were focused on worldly goals like power, success, fame, and wealth. In this letter, Paul directs the people of Corinth to turn their focus back to God and the light of the gospel.”

Read 2 Corinthians 4:3–6.

• Where does the scripture say light comes from? (Jesus, God, the gospel)
• What do you think we are supposed to do with the light? (Let it shine; show it to others.)

Light a candle and ask the students to observe its brightness. Hold an opaque item like a piece of paper in front of the candle and ask the students to observe the brightness. Have them share their observations.

Next hold a clear item like a piece of glass in front of the candle, repeating the observations and comments.

Finally, hold a mirror behind the candle so that the light shines toward the students. Ask them what they notice about the light.

• Which item made the light easiest to see? (the glass or mirror)
• Which item made the light shine most brightly? (the mirror)

Say: Jesus is like the candle in our lives; he brings us light that helps us feel God’s love. We have three choices about what we can do with that light:

1. Like the piece of paper, we can keep the light to ourselves and hide it so no one can see it.
2. Like the glass, we can let others see God’s light in us by telling people about Jesus’s love.
3. Like the mirror, we can reflect Jesus’s light into the lives of others and let them feel God’s love through our actions. Reflecting the light is like making a proclamation.

Candleholder Craft

Instruct the children to make a candle holder:

1. Tear or cut colored tissue paper into small 1- to 2-inch (2.5 to 5 cm) squares.
2. Paint a small amount of Mod Podge onto a clear jar.
3. Place tissue squares on the jar to cover the Mod Podge.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the entire jar is covered.
5. If desired as the Mod Podge dries, paint another coat over the entire jar.
6. Set aside and let the Mod Podge dry.
7. Wash the paintbrushes in a cup of water.

Note: Depending on time and the students’ ability and desires, you can add a cross to the jar. Use a distinct lighter color of tissue paper to first make a cross on the jar and then add darker colored tissue on the rest of the jar. Alternatively, you can use a precision knife to cut a cross shape out of the tissue paper after it dries. Students can then leave the cross-shaped hole blank or fill it in with a different color of paper. If these craft supplies are not available, you can provide the candle picture at the end of the lesson as a coloring page.

While the jars are drying, place a votive candle inside each one and light it. Invite the students to look at their jar and observe the light shining through the tissue paper and the cross, if they made one.

• What does “proclaim” mean? (to announce publicly)
• Who do we proclaim as a church? (Jesus Christ)
• What does that mean to you? (God’s light is within us. God wants us to share that light with others so that they may know and feel God’s love.)

Respond

It’s amazing how powerful our focus can be. We know God is wonderful, but sometimes it’s hard to remember that because we have so many other things to distract us like toys, games, sports, videos, music, friends.

• When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, where was the focus of some of the leaders? (themselves, power, wealth)
• Where did Paul tell them to focus instead? (God, Jesus’s light)

Display the picture of the candle.

Say: Sometimes it’s hard to focus on God. We all get distracted at times and fail to be the best disciple we can be. Maybe you’re too busy with sports to help your elderly neighbor rake the leaves. Maybe you’re afraid to stand up to the bully at school. Maybe you are too embarrassed about what others might think if you invite them to church or camp. Maybe you really want a video game and don’t want to give any of your money to the church. Think about the distractions in your life that keep you from serving God. Write your distraction(s) on a slip of paper. Allow time for the students to write.

Lay the picture of the candle on the table. Invite them each to share their distraction(s) with the class, then place the paper on top of the candle, eventually covering the flame.

Say: Unfortunately, it’s often challenging to be a good disciple. It’s easy to focus on what we want, like the leaders in Corinth did. But as disciples we need to focus on Christ.

Send

Think about one thing you can do this week to be a good disciple. (Offer suggestions or examples as needed.) Allow time for the students to brainstorm an action.

Invite them to share their plan, then remove someone else’s strip of paper from the candle. Once everyone has shared, the candle will once again be revealed.

Say: It is not bad to get distracted. It happens to all of us. God wants us to work hard to remove distractions, but also to redirect our focus on Jesus. We covered the light of Jesus with our distractions, but by focusing on our goals as disciples, we once again revealed God’s light.

Bless

In your hands, you each hold something that distracts a classmate from fully serving God. This week, please pray for that person that they may be able to focus on God and overcome their distraction to serve as God’s disciple.

Sing together: “This Little Light of Mine.”