Additional Scriptures 

Psalm 16; John 20:19–31; Acts 2:14a, 22–32 

 Preparation  

Bring a white trash bag, enough small pieces of paper and pencils for everybody for the Call to Worship. Set up a small table at the front. Hand out the paper and pencils when people enter the worship space. For “Hear and Respond,” place a single chair by the podium, making sure the table does not block it.  

Prelude   

Welcoming Hymn  

“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” CCS 87  

OR “Come Away from Rush and Hurry” CCS 83  

Joys and Concerns  

Welcome 

Call to Worship  

Explain that everyone has things in life that are hard to carry; ask them to think about theirs and write them on their paper. The papers will be read aloud. Do not write names on the papers. Give them time to do this. Then direct them to crumple their papers when they’re ready and place them on the table. When all that will participate have done so, invite people to the table to choose a paper. Be sure to make provision for those who cannot come to the table.  

 We all have difficult experiences and concerns. Sometimes, to see our blessings we must release our concerns. But we can’t do it alone. We’re not supposed to do it alone. Please come and choose a paper other than yours. Come to the podium and read it aloud. Then crumple the paper again and put it in the trash bag. 

Hopefully, everyone will choose a paper and will read it aloud. This might get intense. Place the trash bag on the floor by the table for the rest of the service. When finished say:  

Christ is with you. We are with you. You are not alone. 

Hymn  

“We Are One in the Spirit” CCS 359  

Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.  

OR “Let Your Heart Be Broken” CCS 353  

Invocation  

Response  

Dwelling in the Word: 1 Peter 1:3–9  

First Reading: As you hear the scripture the first time, empty your mind and allow the words to wash over you.  

Second Reading: As you listen a second time, what word, phrase, or concept attracts your attention?  

Third Reading: During the final reading listen for the Spirit’s whisper. What insights for your life do you hear?  

Turn to a neighbor and share what you experienced with this text.  

Hymn 

“Seek Ye First” CCS 599  

The song is written in English, Spanish, and French. Develop a plan and direct the group when to sing in Spanish, when to sing in French, and when to sing in English.  

OR “Rejoice, Ye Saints of Latter Days” CCS 81  

Prayer for Peace  

Light the peace candle 

Prayer  

Loving Creator God,  

Living is difficult, but we sing our song to you. We know your love as we live within a world that seems to control who we are, what we do, and our perceptions. But as we hold up our experiences of your love, we know that we are not alone. Let our choices be responsible that promotes unity no matter how diverse we are. Guide us toward kindness and peace. Amen.  

Ministry of Music or Community Hymn  

“In Christ There Is No East or West” CCS 339  

OR “Give Thanks for Life” CCS 563  

Sharing in the Spoken Word  

Based on 1 Peter 1:3–9 

Disciples’ Generous Response  

Statement  

Part of being one with one another is recognizing our ability to give. Not only do we give our love and support to one another, but we also give our tithes so others can know God and feel our love and support. The need is great. All we need to do is to respond to the need that surrounds us as a global community.  

Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes  

Hymn to be sung as offering is received  

“Help Us Express Your Love” CCS 621  

OR “From You I Receive”   repeat several times  CCS 611  

Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.  

 Unison Reading: 1 Peter 1:3–9  

Project or print the text for all to be able to easily read aloud together.  

Drama: “Hear and Respond” see below 

Closing Hymn  

“I Have Called You by Your Name” CCS 636  

OR “Prophetic Church, the Future Waits” CCS 362  

OR “May the God of Hope/Dios de la esperanza” CCS 652  

Encourage participants to sing in a language other than their own.  

 Sending Forth: Doctrine and Covenants 164:9:d–f  

 Postlude 

Drama: “Hear and Respond”  

by Debra Bruch, Used with permission. 

Characters  

Emotion  

Mind  

Body  

Spirit  

Props

Each character has a piece of paper with their allegorical character name boldly printed on it and attached to their clothing (EMOTION, MIND, BODY, SPIRIT).  

Special Instructions

Age and gender are not specified and can be mixed. The drama is fast paced.  

Drama

BODY enters and sits down on a chair. EMOTION follows in step with BODY, nearly stepping on BODY’s heels and sits on top of BODY. Sitting on BODY, EMOTION lets out a long and loud sigh and collapses fully against BODY. MIND enters right behind. 

Mind: Can you possibly be any more dramatic?  

Body: muffled   Get off of me!  

Emotion: not moving I’m exhausted!  

SPIRIT enters animated and happy. SPIRIT gives a little dance while humming a short section of “The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning.”  

Mind: You’re happy.  

Body: Get off of me!!  

Spirit: We’re connected. We’re connected. We heard the word! … Emotion, what are you doing?  

Body: Help!  

Spirit: Emotion, get off of Body.  

Emotion: Who put you in charge?  

Spirit: Get … off!  

Emotion: getting off of Body All right. All right.  

Spirit: Uh-oh. I can’t hear as well as I could a moment ago. What’s going on?  

Body: Nothing.  

Emotion: Nothing.  

Mind: Nothing.  

Spirit: You know what? That just might be the problem.  

Emotion: Who cares?  

Spirit: What do you mean, who cares? Emotion, didn’t you have a good time? Mind, weren’t you enlightened? Body, didn’t you feel invigorated?  

Body: Yeah, but now it’s over and…  

Spirit: It’s not over. Nothing’s over. It’s just begun.  

Emotion: Oh please. You have it easy. You’re connected to God.  

Spirit: We’re connected to God. We’re all one person, you know.  

Emotion: One person?  

Spirit: Yes, one person! Emotion, Mind, Spirit, Body…all one person! 

Mind: My heavens, we have Dissociative Identity Disorder.  

Spirit: No. No.  

Body: Is that like multiple personalities?  

Mind: Yep.  

Emotion: Really? Cool!  

Spirit: Okay, you’ve got it all wrong. Together, we’re whole; we’re one.  

Emotion: Can we choose our own names?  

Spirit: We need to be healthy and that takes… 

Emotion: dramatic I’ll be Emotion, the Magnificent!  

Mind: You’ll be Emotion, the Insane.  

Body: I’ll be asleep.  

Spirit: You’re not listening. You’re not listening!  

Body: Okay, Spirit. Okay. I know what you want. You want us to stay connected to God. You want us to respond.  

Spirit: Yes, I do.  

Body: The thing is, I work for a living. I have a lot of stress in my life. I don’t always feel too good. I have enough to do without the added stress, without any more responsibility.  

Emotion: whining I’m so…so…overwhelmed!  

Mind: I get really energetic, but then there’s the low, you know? I don’t like it.  

Spirit: I know and that’s my point. If we work together and live a holistic life, you won’t experience the low and you won’t feel stressed.  

Mind: Doesn’t make sense.  

Emotion: Not the sharpest tack in the box today, are ya?  

Spirit: Look. All we have to do is focus outward. Not inward, but outward.  

Emotion: I can’t do that.  

Spirit: Sure you can, Emotion. I’ve seen you do it. You’ve felt compassion for other people. That’s focusing outward you know.  

Emotion: whining Let me put it another way. I don’t wanna.  

Mind: You’re whining, Emotion.  

Body: It IS pretty stressful.  

Spirit: Look around you. Everything’s here to help you.  

Mind: What do you mean?  

Spirit: The setting sun, the sky, the trees, the Earth itself will renew us. Fellowship renews us. Worship renews us. All we have to do is focus outward and the stress lowers.  

Body: That’s it?  

Spirit: You want energy? You want a way to connect to God without the low? Wake up in the morning and ask God, “What have you got going on today that I can be a part of?” Then focus outward and expect surprises.  

Emotion: Really? And what if we don’t LIKE surprises?  

Spirit: We focus outward, and we can really help people without feeling that we have more responsibility. A smile helps. Listening to somebody helps. Just caring helps. Stewardship helps.  

Emotion: Oh, that. 

Spirit: The more we focus outward and respond to whatever need we see, the better we can hear God. Get it? It’s a cycle. We hear, we respond; we hear, we respond; and hear again. And it’s the best high we can ever experience.  

Body: And we can hear God? Even at work?  

Spirit: Even at work. Even when things go wrong. We need to work together. We need to live a holistic life. We need to be healthy. Even you, Body!  

Mind: Okay. Fine. Let’s do it.  

Body: I’m game.  

Spirit: “What have you got going on today that I can be a part of?” It’s a big adventure!  

Emotion: as they exit Does this mean I can’t whine anymore?  

Spirit: Oh sure, you can whine.  

SPIRIT picks up the trash bag and carries it off.  

Mind: Hey, it’s what you do.  

Body: At least you’re good at something!  

Emotion: Nice. Thanks. Thanks a lot. Love you, too! 

Coming soon!

Exploring the Scripture

An old saying is, “The purpose of preaching is to comfort the distressed and distress the comfortable.” The First Letter of Peter provides inspiring advice for those in need of being comforted. Today’s passage begins a message of hope to people who are oppressed. Bible scholars propose the intended audiences are Gentile slaves and concubines in Asia Minor who had little power or possibility to free themselves from being dominated by those who “owned” them. These opening verses of the First Letter of Peter identify the type of enduring faith in Christ that provides hope, an eternal inheritance, joy, and salvation even when circumstances might otherwise lead to despair.

The counsel given to these distressed people is to persist in peaceful hope because the risen Christ creates a divine inheritance for the faithful that any earthly power cannot reduce. This counsel is given in contrast to the violent uprisings during the first century CE other distressed people chose to start. The inheritance described in the passage emerges through an enduring faith that does not rely on empirical evidence or physical experience with Jesus but a knowledge, belief, relationship, and trust in the resurrected Christ. This valuable inheritance promised by God is eternal and triumphs over the physical suffering of the faithful. This reality is the essence of having divine joy.

Underlying the entire First Letter of Peter is the paradoxical question about the nature of God. “How can an omnipotent, all-loving God allow great evils that create great suffering?” The question continues to be an essential question of theology; however, as the writer the letter proposes, the faith community’s suffering connects them to the cross. Christ’s suffering creates a background for our suffering, and the Christ-modeled response to oppression and domination is through nonviolence. Although some people reading the First Letter of Peter (such as pro-slavery and anti-women’s-rights advocates) decided passive acceptance of oppression was the will of God; God’s judgment referenced by the prophets and by Jesus denounces oppressors and dominators. The God’s judgment is righteousness resulting in humility, love, hospitality, health, and wholeness for all creation. The salvation of souls is less to do with a future event and more to do with how people receive and live in God’s righteousness in the present.

Living in response to the resurrection calls people to promote peace, well-being, and comfort for all suffering and struggling with life circumstances. Living in response to the resurrection also calls people to challenge those who create and perpetuate the means of oppression and suffering. When we genuinely pay attention to its message, resurrection, new life in Christ provides comfort to the distressed and disruption for the comfortable.

Central Ideas

1. The resurrected Christ shows God’s great love and provides hope to people in despair.
2. Through Christ, God provides a divine inheritance for the faithful who suffer.
3. Earthly powers cannot reduce the promise of God’s inheritance for people.

Questions for the Speaker

1. Who, today, are the oppressed people most in need of a message of hope and divine inheritance?
2. How do we experience the promise of God — as people who are distressed? As people who are comfortable?
3. How do we enliven genuine faith that places our trust more in Christ and less in life-ease and pleasures?

Focus Scripture Passage

1 Peter 1:3–9 

Lesson Focus

Living Hope 

Objectives 

The learners will… 

• reflect on the Mission Initiative, Develop Disciples to Serve. 
• examine the concept of living hope. 
• discuss how someone can maintain a healthy faith in times when they do not feel joyful. 
• consider the call to action within First Peter. 

Supplies 

• Bible  

Notes to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for 1 Peter 1:3–9 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year A: New Testament (with focus on the Letters), pp. 67–68, available through Herald House.

Gather

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

Develop Disciples to Serve is a Mission Initiative of Community of Christ. In Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, p. 23 we read: 

          Develop Disciples to Serve—Equip individuals for Christ’s mission 

          We are poised to equip men, women, and children to be true and living expressions of the life, ministry, and continuing presence of Christ in the world. 

In pairs or small groups discuss: 

• Which part of this Mission Initiative resonates with you? Why is it important? 
• How would you explain this initiative to someone beginning to learn about Community of Christ? 

Engage

Invites exploration and interaction (35% of lesson time)

Read the definitions of resurrection below: 

…open to the transformation and to the birth of unimaginable possibilities in our midst. 

Resurrection turns everything upside down. Resurrection challenges our images of the human adventure. Resurrection shows that life is more powerful than death and love victorious over hate. 

Read 1 Peter 1:3–9. 

This week’s scripture passage opens with praises of thanksgiving, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 3a). These words are a blessing addressed to God, not words of petition. Through his writing the author celebrates the acts of God, “…he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” (v. 3b). The intended audience, a congregation of Gentile Christian women and slaves, were people from the bottom of the social hierarchy. They would have faced regular challenges in their lives as they lived with non-Christian husbands and masters in neighborhoods that did not readily accept their Christianity. 

The main theme centers quickly on hope. Notice the biblical understanding of hope is not based on the circumstances of the people. The first hearers of this letter were the daily victims of discrimination. However, they were finding ways to celebrate their new living hope despite their trials. 

The hope into which we are born is a divine hope, that is, a hope which does not simply wait for the end time but is active and vigorous, fueling the life and activity of the believer. Hope is the very stuff of life; it keeps the farmer on the tractor, the prisoner alive, the student at the books, and the patient watching for the morning. Hope fills present sacrifices with joy and keeps us at worthy tasks even though rewards are small and those who say “thank you” are few. This hope is not whistling in the dark nor is it activated only by spring flowers. Rather it is grounded in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

—Fred B. Craddock, First and Second Peter and Jude,
Westminster John Knox Press, 1995, 24 

• In your experience, what has given you hope in times of doubt or pain? 
• What specific scripture passages are relevant to and for you as you develop your individual understanding for living in hope? 
• What stories or events in your life do you remember that give you strength and peace? 

The 1957 edition of The Interpreter’s Bible describes living hope as “living waters…that flow from a perennial spring, so a living hope is one which no trials and tribulations can ever quench.” 

The text goes on to say that Jesus’s resurrection provides each of us a re-birth, into the Kingdom of God. The Resurrection is the crowning achievement of life in our universe as Jesus genuinely showed God’s light and love during his ministry. Resurrection is the “headwater” for our living hope. 

• Where do you find hope in the life, ministry, and resurrection of Jesus? 

First Peter 1:6 calls the reader to rejoice in the promises of the previous verses and view current trials as temporary. In Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A, Vol. 2, p. 390, author Peter W. Marty writes, “Genuine faith will always possess the impetus to rejoice, regardless of circumstance…. We may profess joy with our lips, but when the chips of life are down, will we rejoice from the center of our being?” 

This can be a difficult concept for us to understand or even agree with. We have all experienced challenging times. We have also watched as friends, family, or neighbors were hurting and could not “profess joy” in the moment. Finding oneself in a time of grief or devastation and not having the energy to express joy does not negate one’s faith. 

• What does it mean to make space for both ideas simultaneously: not feeling joyful, but recognizing that this does not detract from your faith? 
• In what ways can we as individuals, or as a congregation, support someone who is experiencing a particularly trying time in their life? 

Respond

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

The scripture passage for this week draws to a close with a statement in verse 8 about the Christian life, “Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy.” Christians rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus even though no one alive today has seen him. In our connection with the unseen Christ, we claim to love, trust, and follow the teachings of a human that walked the Earth more than 2,000 years ago. Once again, the 1957 edition of The Interpreter’s Bible expands on verse 8 stating, “Our faith is not set on a vague series of propositions, but upon a person. The reason for the Christian’s joy, which defies words to express…is [their] warm relationship to the Christ, who though unseen is real…” (p. 97). We have faith. We believe in what we have not seen. The resurrection offers hope, sight beyond what we see. 

• Why is it important to reflect on the unseen aspects of our faith? What insights do we gain through this specific reflection? 
• Who or what has been instrumental in building your faith and trust in the unseen Christ? 
• What are the tangible manifestations of your faith that you feel called to pursue in your life and your community? 

Send

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

What is the call to action for you within 1 Peter 1:3–9? How will you go about implementing that call? 

Bless

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

Ask a volunteer to offer a prayer of gratitude and guidance based on the group’s conversation. 

Focus Scripture Passage

1 Peter 1:3–9 

Lesson Focus

Living Hope 

Objectives 

The learners will… 

• differentiate between two types of hope and identify what it’s like to have hope in God. 
• discuss how someone can maintain a healthy faith in times when they do not feel joyful. 
• learn Community of Christ’s Basic Belief of the End Time. 

Supplies 

• Bible 
• Coin, ball 
• Paper and pens or pencils 
• Optional: Play or watch a video of the song “Blessed Be Your Name” by Matt Redman and Beth Redman 

Note to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for 1 Peter 1:3–9 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B: New Testament (with focus on the Letters), pp. 67–68, available through Herald House. 

Gather

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

There are distinct types of hope. 

Take out the coin. Play a game by flipping the coin. Prior to flipping, have students predict if the coin will land with the heads side up (H) or the tails side up (T). Have students declare their “hope” by writing “H” or “T” on their paper. Once everyone has made their choice, flip the coin. Ask students who got it right to circle the H or T on their paper. Continue playing until someone gets 10 correct (go to five if you’re short on time). Next, ask: 

• How did you decide which side of the coin to choose? 
• How often were you right? 
• How did you feel when you picked the wrong side? 

Explain that one type of hope is like predicting the side on which the coin will land. It’s up to chance; you never really know for sure if what you’re hoping for will happen. It’s like hoping for a snow day off from school, hoping you get a new game for your birthday, hoping to do well on a test. However, you never know for certain if you’re going to get what you’re hoping for. 

Take out the ball. Explain that we will be playing a similar game, this time using a ball. Now they must predict whether the ball will come back down after you’ve tossed it in the air. Once everyone has made their choice, toss the ball in the air. As predicted the ball came back down. Repeat this a couple of times. 

• Will the ball ever NOT come back down? 
• Since you knew for certain that the ball would always come down, were you ever nervous or worried about your choice? Were you ever disappointed with the outcome? 
• How is this different than the coin toss? 

[Idea used with permission from YouTube] 

Begin by explaining that sometimes we must wait a long time for our hopes to come true. (waiting to get your driver’s license) Other times our hopes change over time. (what you want to be when you grow up) And still other times what we hope for doesn’t happen at all, but sometimes something improved happens instead. This is like what happened to Jesus’s mother Mary and Mary Magdalen when they discovered Jesus’s tomb was empty. 

Engage

Invites exploration and interaction (35% of lesson time)

Read 1 Peter 1: 3–9. 

This week’s scripture passage opens with praises of thanksgiving, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 3a). These words are a blessing addressed to God, not words of petition. Through his writing the author celebrates the acts of God, “…he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” (v. 3b). The intended audience, a congregation of Gentile Christian women and slaves, were people from the bottom of the social hierarchy. They faced regular challenges in their lives as they lived with non-Christian husbands and masters in neighborhoods that did not readily accept their Christianity. 

The main theme in today’s scripture passage is hope. The biblical understanding of hope is not based on the circumstances of the people. The first hearers of this letter were daily victims of discrimination. However, they were finding ways to celebrate their new living hope despite their trials. 

In a First Peter commentary, Fred B. Craddock writes, 

The hope into which we are born is a divine hope, that is, a hope which does not simply wait for the end time but is active and vigorous, fueling the life and activity of the believer. Hope is the very stuff of life; it keeps the farmer on the tractor, the prisoner alive, the student at the books, and the patient watching for the morning. Hope fills present sacrifices with joy and keeps us at worthy tasks even though rewards are small and those who say “thank you” are few. This hope is not whistling in the dark nor is it activated only by spring flowers. Rather it is grounded in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

—Fred B. Craddock, First and Second Peter and Jude, Westminster John Knox Press, 1995, 24 

 Discuss: 

• What has given you hope in times of doubt or pain? 
• Are there stories, scripture passages, or events in your life you remember that give you strength and peace? 

Resurrection is a core theme in Christianity. Jesus’s resurrection provides each of us a re-birth, into the Kingdom of God. The Resurrection is the crowning achievement of life in our universe as Jesus genuinely showed God’s light and love during his ministry. 

• Where do you find hope in the life, ministry, and resurrection of Jesus? 

First Peter 1:6 calls the reader to rejoice in the promises of the previous verses and view current trials as temporary. Author Peter W. Marty writes, “Genuine faith will always possess the impetus to rejoice, regardless of circumstance…. We may profess joy with our lips, but when the chips of life are down, will we rejoice from the center of our being?” (Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year A, Vol. 2, p. 390) 

We all experience challenging times. We also sometimes watch as friends, family, or neighbors are hurting and cannot “profess joy” in the moment. Finding oneself in a time of grief or devastation and not having the energy to express joy does not mean you don’t have faith. 

• What does it mean to make space for both ideas simultaneously: not feeling joyful, but recognizing that this does not detract from your faith? 
• In what ways can we as individuals (or as a congregation) support someone who is experiencing a particularly trying time in their life? 

Respond

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

The scripture passage for this week draws to a close with a statement in verse 8 about the Christian life, “Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy.” Christians rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus even though no one alive today has seen him. In our connection with the unseen Christ, we claim to love, trust, and follow the teachings of a human that walked the earth more than 2,000 years ago. Our faith is not set on a vague series of ideas, but on a person. We have faith. We believe in what we have not seen. The resurrection offers hope beyond what we see. 

• Why is it important to reflect on the unseen aspects of our faith? 
• Who or what has been instrumental in building your faith and trust in the unseen Christ? 

Send

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

Read the church’s Basic Belief statement about the End Time (below) from Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, p38). 

End Time 

We press forward together in service to God, knowing that our labor is not in vain. The future of the creation belongs to the Prince of Peace, not to those who oppress, dominate, or destroy. As we anticipate that future, we devote ourselves to seek Christ’s peace and pursue it. We do not know the day or hour of Christ’s coming but know only that God is faithful. With faith in God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, we face the future in hopeful longing, and with the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray: “They kingdom come! Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” 

Going Deeper

Ask the class to share their thoughts on what the statement means. Brainstorm as a class until you’ve developed one summarizing sentence. 

Bless

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

We Praise God 

Songwriters Matt Redman and Beth Redman created the song, “Blessed Be Your Name,” that describes times when disciples should praise God. Their song says we do it during times of abundance and plenty, when “the world’s as it should be.” And, during our difficult and dark times, when we are suffering. 

Optional: Read the lyrics or listen to “Blessed Be Your Name” by Matt Redman and Beth Redman, Where Angels Fear to Tread, Sonikwire Studios, 2002. 

End with a prayer that each one will experience God’s living hope. 

Focus Scripture Passage

1 Peter 1:3–9 

Lesson Focus

God’s promise gives us hope for the future. 

Objectives 

The learners will… 

• summarize and explain part of the letter in 1 Peter. 
• differentiate between two types of hope and identify what it’s like to have hope in God. 
• learn Community of Christ’s Basic Belief God’s Future. 

Supplies 

• Bible or Children’s Story Bible 
• Decorated box with the word “Prizes” across the top 
• Candy or small toys (one per child) to fit in the box 
• Poster paper or board, markers 
• Coin 
• Ball 
• Paper and pencils 
• Index cards (one per child) 

Notes to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for 1 Peter 1:3–9 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year A: New Testament (with focus on the Letters), pp. 67–68, available through Herald House. 

Community of Christ Basic Beliefs address complex theological concepts that can be challenging for young learners. They have been adapted and simplified for younger learners. In some cases, the titles have been changed to be more age appropriate. The book We Share, by Monica Bradford (Herald House, 2012, ISBN:9780830915224) is good to use with young children to introduce concepts of Mission Initiatives and Enduring Principles. 

Gather

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

Prior to class, fill the decorated prize box with candy or small toys. Place the box somewhere visible where everyone can see. Once everyone has arrived, explain that you have a special box with you today. Ask if they know what the box says. Then ask what they are hoping will be in the box. Explain that because I wrote the word “prizes” on the box, you are expecting something good inside. It’s as if I have made a promise that there will be prizes inside. Ask the following questions: 

• Do you know HOW you’ll get the prizes? 
• Do you know WHEN you’ll get the prizes? 
• Do you know for sure IF you’ll get the prizes? 

Reiterate that all they know is that there are prizes inside because that’s what I said. You hope that you will get one. Today’s lesson is about hope and God’s promise to us. Keep the lid on the box; Wait until later to open it. 

Explain that sometimes we must wait a long time for our hopes to come true. Other times our hopes change over time. And still other times what we hope for doesn’t happen at all. Sometimes something more meaningful happens instead. This is what happened to Jesus’s mother Mary and Mary Magdalene after Jesus had died. They went to Jesus’s tomb and discovered the tomb that held Jesus’s body was empty. 

Engage

Invites exploration and interaction (35% of lesson time)

Explain that aside from Apostle Paul’s writings, there were other people who wrote letters to spread the good news of Jesus. Back then they didn’t have texting, social media, or newspapers like we do. The only way to communicate with someone far away was through a letter. These letters were long and took a long time to be delivered. In this letter, someone was writing to a group of people who felt hopeless. This letter’s purpose was to help restore their hope. 

Designate a child to read 1 Peter 1:3–9 or read from a Children’s Story Bible. Afterwards, ask the following: 

• Because Jesus was crucified and then resurrected, we are promised a new life that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. What do the words “imperishable,” “undefiled,” and “unfading” mean? (imperishable=enduring forever; undefiled=pure, not corrupt or unclean; unfading=not losing brightness, vitality, or strength) 
• Even though we don’t know when, the writer encourages the people to rejoice in knowing that the future belongs to God and will eventually be revealed when Christ returns. 
• What’s the longest time you’ve ever had to wait for something you’d hoped for? 
• When have you endured something difficult? 
• How does having hope help you through difficult situations? 
• God does not want people to suffer or feel hopeless. We have hope that God is with us and loves us even when times are difficult. How does God bring you hope? 

This letter was written a long time ago in a language we don’t really use today, so sometimes it is difficult to read and understand. What is the overarching message of this portion of the letter? Let’s write a summary using our own words.  

Write the summary on the poster paper or dry erase board. 

Respond

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

There are different types of hope. 

Write the name of each child on a piece of paper to use to keep score. Take out the coin and tell the kids that you’re going to play a game by flipping a coin. Prior to flipping, the kids must predict if the coin will land with the heads side up or the tails side up. The kids who pick tails go to one side of the room and the kids who pick head go to the other side. Once everyone has made their choice, flip the coin. Put a tally next to the name of each child who picked correctly. Ask the children to pick again—heads stand on one side of the room, tails on the other. Flip the coin and again make a tally next to the name of each child who picked correctly. Continue playing until a child gets 10 tallies (use only five tallies if you’re running short on time). After the game is over, ask the following: 

• How did you decide which side of the coin to choose? 
• Were you always right? 
• What was it like to wait and hope for the coin to land on the side you picked? 
• How did you feel when you picked the wrong side? 

Explain that one type of hope is like predicting the side on which the coin will land. It’s up to chance; you never really know for sure if what you’re hoping for will ever happen. Some examples include hoping for a snow day, hoping you get a new game for your birthday, hoping to do well on a test. You can always do things to prepare (watch the weather channel, give your parents a list of presents you want, study for the test) but you never know for certain if you’re going to get what you’re hoping for. This type of hoping is more like wishing. 

Take out the ball. Explain that we will be playing another game, this time using a ball instead of a coin. Now they must predict whether the ball will come back down after you’ve tossed it in the air.

Note: When you toss the ball in the air, do it a different way each time, so the ball comes down a different way. God’s plan isn’t predictable, but the outcome of throwing the ball straight up is predictable. 

Children who believe the ball will come back down should stand on one side of the room and those who believe the ball will stay up in the air will stand on the other side. Once everyone has made their choice, toss the ball in the air. As predicted the ball came back down. Ask anyone if they want to change sides before tossing the ball in the air a second time. Once again, the ball came back down. Complete the process a third time, giving children a chance to pick a side to stand. Afterwards, have the children return to their seats for more discussion questions.  

• Will the ball ever not come back down? What if I throw it up high in the air or use a different ball? 
• Since you knew for certain that the ball would always come down, were you ever nervous or worried about your choice? Were you ever disappointed with the outcome? 
• How is this different than the coin toss game? 

As Christians, we have hope in God’s future. It is a hope that is based on God’s promise, a sure guarantee (like the ball). We may not know when, how, or what it will look like, but we can rejoice in knowing that our future is in God’s hands. That is the kind of hope that the writer of 1 Peter was trying to explain. 

[Idea used with permission from YouTube] 

Send

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

Community of Christ has many Basic Beliefs? This week, we’re going to talk about the End Time (the time God promised when Jesus would return to Earth, and we would live with God forever). 

Read the Basic Belief statement about God’s Future (The Reign of God) adapted from Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, p38). 

God’s Future 

God’s future is when love, justice, mercy, and peace will embrace all of creation. We help create God’s future by following Jesus, the peaceful One. 

Ask the children to share their thoughts on what the statement means. Brainstorm what this looks like in homes, neighborhoods, and for the Earth. 

Pass out an index card to each child. Tell the children to write the words “God’s Future” in big letters across the middle of the blank side of the card. Then flip the card over to the lined side. Tell the children to write the one summarizing sentence. If time allows, they can draw a picture on the blank side of the index card to help remind them of what God’s future looks like.  

Bless

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

Finish with a prayer in which everyone participates by adding one thing that they hope will make the world a better place. 

Begin the prayer with the following: 

Holy God, you are an awesome God!

We want to follow Jesus, the peaceful One, and help create your future of hope. I hope __ (fill in the blank).  

Indicate to the child on your right to state their hope beginning with “I hope” and then fill in the rest. Continue around the circle until everyone has shared their hope. Finish the prayer with the following: 

Thank you for giving us hope! In Jesus’s name, Amen. 

Pass out the candy and small toys from the Prize box to each child as they leave the learning space.