Additional Scriptures 

Psalm 31:1–5, 15–16; Acts 7:55–60; 1 Peter 2:2–10

Preparation

As the worshipers enter the worship space, hand each person a paper cut out in the shape of a footprint.

Worship Center

Use varying lengths and colors of cloth to make paths leading from the altar into the worship space. Put various shoes on the cloths to represent different life journeys.

Prelude

Welcome and Sharing of P. I. E. S.

Invite participants to share with people around them or in small groups, how they are feeling (P) physically, (I) intellectually, (E) emotionally, and (S) spiritually.

Prayer for Peace 

Light the peace candle

Offer a prayer for peace over the feelings expressed above.

Hymn

“Who Is This Jesus” CCS 38

OR “Praise to the Living God” CCS 8

Invocation

Response

Scripture Reading

John 14:1–14

Focus Moment 

Ask participants to meditate on their lives and ministry. Tell them the fabric paths and shoes symbolize each unique story, how we are each at different points in our journey as disciples. At the end of their silent meditation invite participants to place their footprints on one of the paths leading to the altar.

Hymn of Calling 

“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” CCS 499

Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.

OR “The Summons” CCS 586

Sermon 

Based on John 14:1–14

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Invitation to Communion

Access the Invitation to Communion script

Blessings and Serving of the Bread and Wine

Disciples’ Generous Response 

Scripture Reading

…live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which God grants you.

–Alma 16:238, adapted

Video: “Pie Principles for Generosity” by Shane Adams on YouTube

Confession Prayer

Lord, we are thankful for our many blessings. We have been given the gift of love, acceptance, and sharing in our lives. We confess there are times when we do not share the wealth you have freely given us with those who need it most. We know your voice is calling, yet we do not listen. Give us the courage and strength to hear you, and to find ways to share your love and peace with others. Help us give freely of our finances, time, or loving support. We come today with a willingness to serve and follow you, as you are the way, the truth, and the life. Amen.

Receiving of Local and World Mission Tithes

Mission Prayer 

Read aloud in unison; print or project the text or provide Mission Prayer cards. These can be purchased from Herald House. Search “mission prayer.”

God, where will your Spirit lead today? 

Help me be fully awake and ready to respond.

Grant me courage to risk something new 

and become a blessing of your love and peace. 

Amen.

Hymn of Commitment 

“Christ, You Call Us All to Service” CCS 357

OR “Go, Make of All Disciples” CCS 363

Sending Forth

Doctrine and Covenants 163:1–2

Response

Postlude

Gathering

Welcome

Today is the fifth Sunday of the Easter season. The Easter season continues for 50 days and concludes with the Day of Pentecost.

Prayer for Peace 

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

Gracious God and precious Friend,

Extend your peace throughout creation in flowing ribbons of love. Let all who seek you know your presence and be moved to greater acts of peace in their communities. May they know your infinite tenderness and intimate friendship as they seek greater knowledge of you. Bring your presence to those struggling with loneliness and uncertainty, that they may understand your desire for their companionship and reach out to you in love. Be with those who feel weak and useless, that they would find strength in their trials and the confidence to share this strength with others.

Above all, we pray that your peace, love, and grace would impress upon our hearts the desire to serve you. As we go from this sacred place, may we carry your peace and love with us to all the corners of the world. In Jesus’s most precious name we pray. Amen.

–Molly Bagley

Spiritual Practice

Centering Prayer

Read the following to the group:

We continue with the season of Easter and the theme of resurrection. During Centering Prayer we choose a focus word. We sit in silence breathing the word in and out. For today’s prayer our word is Light.

Centering prayer is a meditation used by Christians to sit in silence with God. This prayer helps us experience God’s presence within us. This Easter Day we will focus on the word Light.

Slowly read the following instructions:

Sit with posture relaxed and eyes closed. We will spend three minutes in centering prayer. We will breathe in a regular, natural rhythm. As you breathe in and out, you will say the word Light in your mind. You will continue breathing in and out, focusing only on your prayer word.

At the end of the three minutes, I will ring a chime, and we will sit for two minutes in silence, eyes closed, listening to the silence.

Begin the practice together, modeling the centering prayer as instructed above.

Say: Become aware of your natural breathing in and out. (Breathe a few times in and out.)

Say: Now silently add your prayer word. (Model breathing in and quietly saying Light. Breathe out and say Light quietly. Continue the centering prayer in silence. Discontinue saying the prayer word out loud after you model it the first time.)

After three minutes, ring a chime.

Sit quietly for two minutes.

When time is up, share these closing instructions: Silently offer a brief word of thanks to God, take a deep breath, and open your eyes when ready.

When everyone’s eyes are open, share the following: I encourage you to use this spiritual practice at home during the week.

Sharing Around the Table

John 14:1–14 NRSVue

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

This scripture passage is part of what is known as the Farewell Speech. Jesus discusses his departure, consoles his followers, maps out their future, and promises to return. It takes place during the Last Supper. Jesus speaks encouragingly to them when he says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” (v. 1) and reminds them to believe in God and himself. He assures them that he is going to prepare a place for them in the Father’s house, a metaphorical abiding place for permanent, intimate presence with God. Though they cannot follow him now the disciples will have an ongoing relationship with Jesus. His departure is ultimately not to be a cause of sorrow. Rather, this is an occasion to receive comfort and trust, for where Jesus goes, we shall also go (v. 3).

The passage offers parting words of comfort and clarification for what is to come. Despite the time spent with Jesus, the disciples show a lack of mature understanding about Jesus’ message, vision, and mission. They have been taught that to know Jesus is to know the Father. Still, Philip asks Jesus to show him the Father, revealing a lack of faith and trust in Jesus’ teachings even after Jesus has just proclaimed that, “I am the way, and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me,” (v. 6) which clearly speaks to the oneness of God and Jesus.

“The way,” leads somewhere. Belief and trust in the message of Jesus leads to the Father. A central point of this passage is that Jesus is the earthly expression/revelation of God and that by knowing Jesus, we know God, giving us an opportunity to experience an intimate relationship with the Divine.

Disciples, Jesus’ contemporary and future successors, are commissioned to act in the name of Jesus and to carry on in faithful ministry, doing greater works than those done by Jesus. Jesus casts the vision of followers directed and inspired by the Holy Spirit throughout the ages to come. The ministry and message of Jesus shared by many will bring transformation far greater than what Jesus could do alone.

Questions

1. What is troubling the disciples’ hearts and how can they be freed from their grief?
2. How have you been unsure as a disciple or minister? In what ways did you receive comfort and encouragement?
3. What does it mean to you to live in relationship with the Divine?
4. Why do you think early Christians called themselves followers of “the Way”?

Sending

Generosity Statement

Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts; not by commandment or constraint.

–Doctrine and Covenants 163:9

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:

God of rejoicing, We share with joy-filled hearts in response to the presence of your Son. May the offerings we share bring joy, hope, love, and peace into the lives of others that they might experience your mercy and grace. Amen.

Invitation to Next Meeting

Closing Hymn

CCS 230, “Come to Me, O Weary Traveler”

Closing Prayer

Optional Additions Depending on Group

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Communion Scripture

Choose one scripture to read from this selection: 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; Matthew 26:17–30; Mark 14:12–26; Luke 22:7–39.

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.

This Easter season let us experience the resurrected Christ. May we receive Communion as an expression of blessing, healing, peace, and community. In preparation let’s sing from Community of Christ Sings (select one):

• CCS 515, “In These Moments We Remember”
• CCS 516, “Coming Together for Wine and for Bread”
• CCS 521, “Let Us Break Bread Together”
• CCS 525, “Small Is the Table”
• CCS 528, “Eat This Bread”

Blessing and serving bread and wine. 

Thoughts for Children

Materials: basket of medium-size rocks with joy, hope, love, or peace written on them in permanent marker

What are some things we can say about a rock? How would we describe it? (solid, hard to break, strong, you can carry it so it’s always with you)

The writer of Psalm 31 calls God “my rock.” How is God like a rock? (God is strong and always with us.)

What are some other things we can say God is like? God is like: light, love, friend, (encourage children to complete the sentence).

Today we have rocks with joy, hope, peace, and love written on them. You each may choose a rock. Pass the basket around the group so everyone receives a rock. The rocks are reminders that God is strong and always with us. God is our rock of joy, hope, love, and peace.

Have the children pass out rocks. Watch to ensure each person receives one.

Exploring the Scripture

This scripture passage is the beginning of what is known as the “farewell speech” in John’s Gospel. Here Jesus prepares and strengthens the disciples to carry on in faithful ministry when he is no longer physically present with them. Jesus offers assurance to the disciples and describes what will take place in a way that is meant to be comforting and encouraging. He commissions them to act in his name. Jesus speaks of his Father’s house and tells the disciples he will prepare a place for them there. This should be understood metaphorically, rather than literally. To speak of going to “my Father’s house” is a way of stating that Jesus is in close or intimate relationship with God. In preparing places for the disciples, Jesus is telling them they too are invited into intimate relationship with God and to take part in God’s unending hospitality.

When Jesus tells the disciples that they know the way to such a relationship, they have difficulty comprehending. In fact, like many disciples today, they take Jesus’ words literally instead of understanding that Jesus is speaking symbolically. To proclaim “I am the way” is to say, “I am what a life lived in close relationship with God looks like.” Jesus is talking about a way of life that brings fulfillment of God’s purposes and in this way glorifies God. The disciples are invited to this way of life.

A central point of John’s Gospel is that Jesus is the earthly expression of God. By knowing Jesus, we know God. In Jesus, we have opportunity to experience intimate divine relationship, even with those of other faith communities. God reconciles all people in God’s own way and according to God’s divine purposes. John is simply writing through his own lens, the lens of a Jesus follower. John is stating an understanding of divine relationship that is a unique truth for the early Christian community. John is not writing a commentary on other faith traditions. He is laying out central principles and understandings so Christians may lay claim to their new identity in Christ and better understand their relationship to God.

The closing verses of today’s text contain a promise from Jesus to those who follow. They are commissioned to do “even greater works” than Jesus has done. However, this does not mean disciples will perform better or more miraculous deeds than Jesus. An interpretation closer to the original text would be that the disciples would carry out many more works than Jesus alone could do. In other words, as more disciples offer the ministry and message of Jesus, the effect on the lives of others will be magnified (greater).

Disciples are reminded always to offer this ministry in Jesus’ name. To ask in the name of Jesus is more than ending a prayer “in Jesus’ name.” To ask in Jesus’ name is to offer prayer and ministry that is in alignment with the will and purposes of Jesus. In Community of Christ we might say it is to offer ministry aligned with Christ’s mission.

Life as a disciple is grounded in God through Jesus Christ. Through this relationship, Christians are strengthened to offer ministry in the name of Jesus. This ministry is inclusive of all people and fulfills divine purpose through Christ’s mission in the world.

Central Ideas

1. To live in God’s house is to receive God’s hospitality and be in relationship with God.
2. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” is about living in intimate relationship with the Divine through Jesus Christ rather than getting to a destination.
3. Disciples are prepared for a life of faithful, powerful ministry that embodies the mission of Christ.

Questions for the Speaker

1. Have you ever been unsure in your own life as a disciple or minister? In what ways did you receive comfort and encouragement?
2. What does it mean to you to live in relationship with the Divine?
3. In today’s world there is often a harmful divide between Christianity and other faith communities. How might this scripture passage be used to encourage bridge building, respectful conversation, and healthy relationships?
4. Believers are called to serve in ways that reflect the ministry of Jesus. How has this been lived out in your life?

Focus Scripture Passage

John 14:1–14

Lesson Focus

Jesus represents a way of life for disciples in relationship with God and with others in Christ’s mission.

Objectives

The learners will…

• discuss themes found in John 14:1–14.
• explore the whole mission of Jesus Christ.
• respond in new ways to Christ’s mission.

Supplies

• Bible
• Community of Christ Sings (CCS)

Note to Teachers

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for John 14:1–14 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year A: New Testament, pp. 69–70, available through Herald House.

Gather

Activates background knowledge, prepares, and motivates for lesson (15% of total lesson time)

Share in groups of two or three, or as a larger group, your response to the following questions.

• What do Jesus’s words “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” mean to you?
• What has shaped your understanding of these words?

Engage

Invites exploration and interaction (35% of lesson time)

Jesus’s words, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life,” are part of today’s passage, which is the beginning of what is known as the “farewell speech” in John’s Gospel (Sermon & Class Helps, Year A: New Testament, p. 69). In today’s passage, disciples then and today find words of comfort as well as words of commission.

Read John 14:1–14 and discuss the following themes. You may choose to form four smaller groups to discuss each theme and share insights, or discuss together as a larger group.

1. “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.”

The word for “house” is better translated as household or family, not building. “Many dwelling places” indicates room for all, Jews and Gentiles.

• How has this been represented literally in Christian beliefs?
• What is the meaning of God’s hospitality when this is understood as metaphor?
• What is the invitation for disciples and communities in this passage?

2. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

According to John’s theology, Jesus represents God. Jesus’s response to Thomas’s question is not to be understood as Christian exclusivism, where believers of other religions are doomed. Rather, it is the good news that all have access to the one and only God because of what God has done and revealed in Jesus Christ.

• How has this passage been misrepresented in Christian beliefs and practices?
• In what ways does this passage affirm or challenge your understanding of who Jesus is?
• What is the invitation for disciples and communities in this passage?

3. “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”

Philip’s request to Jesus indicates how the disciples continue to hear Jesus’s words with a literal, earthly understanding. Jesus’s response to Philip again affirms John’s theology of Jesus’s unity with God.

• What does this passage reveal about the nature of God?
• How does this affirm or challenge your understanding of who Jesus is?
• What is the invitation for disciples and communities in this passage?

4. “…[T]he one who believes in me…will do greater works than these…”

This is a message of hope to John’s audience of the early church. It is a prelude to the following passage which tells of the work of the Holy Spirit. It is both a statement of commission to the disciples while on earth, and an invitation to the promise of eternal life.

• What are some of the “greater works” of the church then and today?
• What does this passage reveal about Christ’s mission?
• What is the invitation for disciples and communities in this passage?

Respond

Takes the learners from hearing to doing (35% of lesson time)

Christ’s Mission Is Our Mission

The kingdom was present in Jesus’s ministry as described in John’s Gospel. The first believers continued Christ’s mission by proclaiming the Living Christ, inviting all people into community, valuing the worth of each person, generously and compassionately meeting their needs, and pursuing justice and peace for everyone.

Our call is to reclaim that same vision and passion for the whole mission of Jesus Christ today through five life-changing, church-changing, and world-changing Mission Initiatives:

• Invite People to Christ—Christ’s mission of evangelism
• Abolish Poverty, End Suffering—Christ’s mission of compassion
• Pursue Peace on Earth—Christ’s mission of justice and peace
• Develop Disciples to Serve—Equip individuals for Christ’s mission
• Experience Congregations in Mission—Equip congregations for Christ’s mission

We will be a prophetic people characterized by uncommon devotion to the compassion and peace of God revealed in Jesus Christ!

–“We Share a Mission,” Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, pp. 22-23

Discuss:

• How have the Mission Initiatives articulated a new way of being as disciples? As a congregation or community? As a church?
• What new congregational ministries have resulted from embracing the Mission Initiatives?
• How can you reimagine old ways of being (old habits or old ways of doing church) to increase your capacity, or your congregation’s capacity, to respond in Christ’s mission?

Send

Explores how the lesson might be lived (10% of lesson time)

Make the Mission Prayer a part of your personal spiritual practice throughout the coming week(s). Pay attention to how you respond in new ways to the following questions.

• How is the Holy Spirit calling you into new opportunities for Christ’s mission?
• With whom are you called to share Christ’s love and peace?
• What do you need to give up or take on to respond to the whole mission of Jesus Christ?

Bless

Time of prayer, praise, blessing, and hope (5% of lesson time)

Recite together the Mission Prayer:

God, where will your Spirit lead today?
Help me to be fully awake and ready to respond.
Grant me courage to risk something new
and become a blessing of your love and peace.
Amen.

Focus Scripture Passage

John 14:1–14

Lesson Focus

To live in God’s house is to receive God’s love and share God’s love with others.

Objectives 

The learners will…

• hear the story of Jesus talking to his disciples about preparing a place for them in God’s house.
• understand that Jesus asks us to do what he did.
• learn that we can do what Jesus did when we share our Disciple’s Generous Response.

Supplies 

• Bible
• Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, Herald House, 2018
• Home magazines (optional)
• Internet access (optional)
• Chart paper and markers
• Supplies for Manna Bags (See list in the Send section.)

Note to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for John 14:1–14 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B: New Testament (with focus on the Gospel according to Matthew), pp. 69–70, available through Herald House.

Gather

Activates background knowledge, prepares, and motivates for lesson (15% of total lesson time)

Have group members describe their “dream home” and search for pictures in magazines or on their phones for images that show what that house might look like. Share them with the class.

Next, ask them to consider and to search for what homes might look like in other places around the world. Have them share what they find or what they know about the standard of living in other countries.

Ask: What might people in other places consider a “dream home”?

Engage

Invites exploration and interaction (35% of lesson time)

Sometimes when we study scripture, we tend to give attention to the parts of the story that make tangible sense for us and only remember pieces of the full picture provided by the text. Today’s scripture is one to easily focus on the tangible. It contains references to “my Father’s house,” “many dwelling places” (translated in the King James Version as mansions), and the “place where I am going.” As we will read, these images confused the disciples.

Read aloud John 14:1–4.

The story opens with the use of the adjective “troubled.” This word is referring to Jesus’s agitation and disturbance in the face of death, not the personal sadness of the disciples at his execution. They are encouraged to stand firm after he is gone. Jesus encourages them to believe and promises them care.

• Ask the students to offer literal interpretations of verses 2–4, inserting images of mansions, golden gates, and other examples of great wealth and riches.

Review Community of Christ statement “Scripture in Community of Christ” (Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, pp. 63–67) focusing on Affirmations 5, 6, and 7.

Affirmation 5 

Scripture is vital and essential to the church, but not because it is inerrant (in the sense that every detail is historically or scientifically correct). Scripture makes no such claim for itself. Rather, generations of Christians have found scripture simply to be trustworthy in keeping them anchored in revelation, in promoting faith in Christ, and in nurturing the life of discipleship. For these purposes, scripture is unfailingly reliable (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

Affirmation 6 

Faith, experience, tradition, and scholarship each have something to contribute to our understanding of scripture. In wrestling to hear and respond to the witness of scripture, the church must value the light that each of these sources may offer.

Affirmation 7 

As the church tries to interpret scripture responsibly, it seeks the help of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that the Spirit would guide his disciples into new truth (John 16:12–15). By the Spirit, the ancient words of scripture can become revelatory, allowing us to grasp what may not have been seen or heard before.

Scholars tell us it is critical to the interpretation of Jesus’s words that “my Father’s house” should not be considered as a synonym for heaven. This instead should be read in the context of the mutual indwelling of God and Jesus. The Gospel of John talks repeatedly of God being in Jesus and Jesus being in God, residing in each other. This idea of location is a symbol for relationship.

• How does understanding “my Father’s house” as a relationship change your understanding of the scripture?

Have the students read aloud John 14:5–7.

Jesus’s response to Thomas, “No one comes to the Father except through me,” is sometimes used to exclude other world religions and appears narrow minded in our diverse world. In the context of the writer of John, this is a joyous affirmation of the Christian community about God whom they have come to know in the life and death of Jesus. The writer of John is not concerned with questions of who is right or wrong or the merits of different religious beliefs.

The writer is expressing the community’s particular understanding of themselves: “This is who we are. We are the people who believe in the God who has been revealed to us decisively in Jesus Christ.”

Have a student read aloud John 14:8–14.

• How might Jesus have been feeling about Philip’s response?
• Describe your understanding of Jesus’s response.

Respond

Takes the learners from hearing to doing (35% of lesson time)

Jesus says, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” What do we know about God from knowing Jesus? What actions did Jesus take that show us what God is like? What words did Jesus share that show us what God is like? On chart paper list the responses from the class.

• How can we do the same kinds of things that Jesus did?
• What specific actions can we take this week to be more like Jesus?
• As a class, what can we do together to be more like Jesus?

What we do to live like Jesus is a Disciple’s Generous Response. Discipleship is a whole-life commitment we willingly make in response to God’s wonderful generosity. Disciples place importance on generously sharing their time, talent, treasure, and testimony so others will know and be invited into relationship with Jesus. Living as Jesus and sharing the love of God with others challenge us to act on the ideas we listed on the chart.

Send

Explores how the lesson might be lived (10% of lesson time)

Manna Bags

Creast Manna Bags or copy instructions for students to prepare at home

Manna Bags (sometimes called Blessing Bags) are one way to respond with compassion to people you meet who ask for food or money. Prepare a bag (or several bags) to keep in your car, backpack, etc. Extend kindness by having a conversation with the person to whom you give the Manna Bag. Ask their name. Keep in mind counsel from Doctrine and Covenants 163:4a as you respond to requests for food or money with a Manna Bag:

God, the Eternal Creator, weeps for the poor, displaced, mistreated, and diseased of the world because of their unnecessary suffering. Such conditions are not God’s will…Do not turn away from them. For in their welfare resides your welfare.

Use gallon-size plastic bags or small reusable bags. Fill each bag with any of the items listed below:

• Socks
• Bottled water
• Canned tuna or chicken—pull top (include spoon or fork)
• Bags of peanuts, sunflower seeds, mixed nuts
• Small boxes of raisins
• Granola/cereal bars
• Wrapped packages of crackers
• Fruit cups—pull top (include spoon or fork)
• Hard candy or mints
• Travel-size package of wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Other travel-size toiletry items

Do not include homemade items, anything requiring refrigeration, unwrapped items, chocolate, fresh fruit, soft drinks, drinks in a bag, bottles with snap-off tops, glass bottles, money, cigarettes, or anything with a torn package or expired usage date.

Include a note of encouragement. Notes can include congregation contact information and a simple note of support and caring. Do not sign full name or include any personal information.

Bless

Time of prayer, praise, blessing, and hope (5% of lesson time)

Ask a student to close with a prayer remembering God loves all people and provides room for each of us.

Focus Scripture Passage

John 14:1–14

Lesson Focus

To live in God’s house is to receive God’s love and share God’s love with others.

Objectives

The learners will…

• hear the story of Jesus talking to his disciples about preparing a place for them in God’s house.
• understand that Jesus asks us to do what he did, including recognizing the Worth of All Persons.
• learn that we can do what Jesus did when we share our Disciple’s Generous Response.

Supplies

• Bible or Lectionary Story Bible, Year A, by Ralph Wilton, illustrated by Margaret Kyle (Wood Lake Publishing, 2007, ISBN 9781551455471)
• Sheet of paper for each child
• Crayons, markers, or pencils
• Offering envelope 
• Optional: sheets or blankets to drape to make a shelter or small tent
• Optional: Houses and Homes, by Ann Morris, ISBN 9780688135782, Harper Collins Publishers
• Optional: supplies for Manna Bags (See Manna Bag handout at end of lesson.)
• Optional: copy of Manna Bag handout for each child

Notes to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for John 14:1–14 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year A: New Testament, pp. 69–70, available through Herald House.

Gather

Activates background knowledge, prepares, and motivates for lesson (15% of total lesson time)

As children enter the classroom, ask them to draw a simple picture of the place where they live. How many rooms are in the dwelling? Ask children to label the rooms. If there is more than one room, ask them to write or draw who sleeps in each room. If the dwelling has one room, draw or write where each person sleeps.

Note

If this is a sensitive subject for some circumstances, bring different examples of dwellings from around the world and talk about where people might sleep.

Say: In our scripture passage today, we will talk about what it means to live in God’s house.

Engage

Invites exploration and interaction (35% of lesson time)

Optional

Drape sheets or blankets over chairs or shelves (or outside over tree branches) to make a shelter. Invite children to sit in the shelter to hear the story.

Read Lectionary Story Bible, Year A, pp. 110–111. (If Lectionary Story Bible not available, read the focus scripture passage: John 14:1–14.)

Note to teacher

Jesus speaks of his Father’s house and tells the disciples he will prepare a place for them there. This should be understood metaphorically, rather than literally. To speak of going to “my Father’s house” is a way of stating that Jesus is in close or intimate relationship with God. In preparing places for the disciples, Jesus is telling them they too are invited into intimate relationship with God and to take part in God’s unending hospitality. (Sermon & Class Helps, Year A: New Testament, p. 69)

Say: Jesus’s disciples were confused about what Jesus was trying to tell them. Jesus wasn’t talking about God’s house as a physical place he was going. He told the disciples he was talking about his relationship with God, and that God’s love includes all people. When we know Jesus, we know God. When we know Jesus, we will treat people the way Jesus treated people. When we know Jesus, we will do the same things Jesus did!

• What kinds of things can you think of that Jesus did? (fed people, loved people, stood up for people, healed people)

Respond

Takes the learners from hearing to doing (35% of lesson time)

Jesus said God’s house has many rooms. We are already living in God’s house of love. And God’s love includes everyone! Everyone has a right to love and a safe place to live. Jesus also said we will do the same kinds of things he did.

• How can we do the same kinds of things Jesus did?
• How can we treat people with love and respect?
• How can we help people who need love, food, or a safe place to live?

We also do what Jesus did when we share our Disciple’s Generous Response. When we give money to Local and World Mission Tithes, we support local ministries (mention any your congregation may support) and ministries around the world. Show children an offering envelope and point out the categories for local and world mission tithes. Ask children if they have offering envelopes. (If children do not have offering envelopes, ask the congregation financial officer to provide them for each child.)

You can also tell children about Community of Christ affiliates and associated organizations and ministries that are working in many places to “do what Jesus did,” such as Outreach International, HealthEd Connect, a congregational or mission center ministry.

Inform children if your congregation is sponsoring a project or regularly receives offerings for one of these ministries. If there is a place in the church where the offering is received or the project is documented with a photo or other information, take a walk to show the children what the congregation is doing.

Note to teacher: For more information about these organizations, visit their websites:

Outreach International

HealthEd Connect

Optional

Read Houses and Homes, by Ann Morris. Discuss with children how people all over the world live in different kinds of dwellings, but everyone needs a safe place to live.

Optional

Manna Bags

If you live in an area where you are approached by people without homes asking for money or food, help children assemble Manna Bags as one way to respond with love and compassion (with an adult). If gathering supplies for Manna Bags is not practical, send children with a bag with the directions inside as a project for families to do together at home. Copy the handout at the end of the lesson to send home with children.

Going Deeper: Explore the Enduring Principle Worth of All Persons

• God views all people as having inestimable and equal worth.
• God wants all people to experience wholeness of body, mind, spirit, and relationships.
• We seek to uphold and restore the worth of all people individually and in community, challenging unjust systems that diminish human worth.
• We join with Jesus Christ in bringing good news to the poor, sick, captive, and oppressed.

“Wholeness of body, mind, spirit, and relationships” includes the right of all people to have a safe place to live, enough food to eat, and people that love them.

Ask children if they can think of situations where people are not treated fairly or of worth (situations in their school, local or global issues they have heard about on the news). What might it mean for each of us to “join with Jesus Christ in bringing good news”?

Send

Explores how the lesson might be lived (10% of lesson time)

Same and Different Game

Play a game to help children think about how people are the same and different. Even though we have differences, we are all of worth to God and we can treat each other with love and respect.

Say a statement and then ask children to stand if the statement applies to them. After each set of statements, affirm: “We are the same and we are different. We are all of worth.”

Examples:

• Stand up if you are a person. 
• Stand up if you are tall. Stand up if you are short.
• Stand up if you have eyes. Stand up if your eyes are (name various colors).
• Stand up if you have skin. Stand up if your skin is (name variations—color, freckled, birthmarks, etc.).
• Stand up if you have ever had a birthday. Stand up if you are (age) years old.

After playing the game, ask children for ideas or help them think of ways people around the world are alike and have differences (live in different countries, practice different religions, eat different kinds of food, live in different kind of dwellings, wear different clothing).

Affirm again: All people are of worth. God’s love has room for everyone.

Bless

Time of prayer, praise, blessing, and hope (5% of lesson time)

Sing stanza 1 of “For Everyone Born” CCS 285. If children are not familiar with the hymn, teach as a call and response.

Close with a prayer affirming God’s love and care for all people, starting with each of the children in the class, and including family, friends, neighbors, strangers in our communities, and people around the world.

Manna Bags

Manna Bags are one way to respond with compassion to people you meet who ask for food or money. Prepare a bag (or several bags) to keep in your car, backpack, etc. Extend kindness by having a conversation with the person to whom you give the Manna Bag. Ask their name. Remember counsel from Doctrine and Covenants 163:4a as you respond:

“God, the Eternal Creator, weeps for the poor, displaced, mistreated, and diseased of the world because of their unnecessary suffering. Such conditions are not God’s will…Do not turn away from them. For in their welfare resides your welfare.”

Use gallon-size plastic bags or small reusable bags. Fill each bag with the items listed below:

• Socks
• Bottled water
• Canned tuna or chicken—pull top (include spoon or fork)
• Bags of peanuts, sunflower seeds, mixed nuts
• Small boxes of raisins
• Granola/cereal bars
• Wrapped packages of crackers
• Fruit cups—pull top (include spoon or fork)
• Hard candy or mints
• Travel-size package of wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Other travel-size toiletry items

Do not include homemade items, anything requiring refrigeration, unwrapped items, chocolate, fresh fruit, soft drinks, drinks in a bag, bottles with snap-off tops, glass bottles, money, cigarettes, or anything with a torn package or expired usage date.

Include a note of encouragement. Notes can include congregation contact information and a simple note of support and caring. Do not sign full name or include any personal information (first name only, maybe age if a child)