Biblestudies

Group, May/Jun 2003 by Schofield, Christina

Show the clip beginning at 01:49:30 as the King says, "Unlock the door." (Set VCR counter to 00:00:00 when studio logo appears.) Stop the tape at 01:52:09, just after the line, "The penalty under the law is death."

After you stop the tape, ask kids to come up with their own ending to the drama-what they think happened or should happen. While they share, have a helper quietly fast-forward the tape to the scene that begins at 02:03:04. When they finish sharing their endings, show the second clip, stopping the tape at 02:05:52.

Then ask: Did Lancelot and Guinevere get what they deserved? Did King Arthur get what he deserved? What character did you most relate to? How is King Arthur similar and different from Jesus or God?

Say something like: We were unfaithful to God. We sinned against him and awaited certain punishment. But something startling happened. Jesus received the death blow that we deserved. He willingly took the punishment for us so we could be acceptable to God. Justice demanded punishment for sin. But God loved us so much he found a way to make things right-and it cost him everything.

Ask a volunteer to read aloud Isaiah 53. Then ask kids to turn to a partner and talk about what the passage means in contemporary language.

Then ask: When people say, "Salvation is free but not cheap," what do they mean? God's gift to us is the most generous we'll ever receive-how do people typically respond to it? Why?

3. Praise-palooza-(You'll need a CD player and praise CDs.)

Ask your group's praise band to lead worship, or play some familiar praise songs on a CD player. After three or four songs, ask kids to sit quietly for a few minutes, praising God for his generosity.

repentance

1. Shabby apologies-(You'll need rubber bands.)

Ask a good-natured student in your study to come up front, then lightly snap a rubber band against his or her arm repeatedly, apologizing insincerely after each time. Then ask your kids to call out some of their own insincere apologies for you to use.

Then say something like: Today we'll be talking about repentance. Repentance is much more than saying, "I'm sorry." It involves a genuine change of heart and action.

2. Pentimento-(You'll need newsprint, paint, brushes, cups with water, and some cheap old paintings from a thrift store. A hair dryer is optional.)

Earlier in the week, visit a thrift store and buy a few big, old prints or paintings. Or ask your kids to bring in old paintings or prints their parents don't want anymore. Also, buy some inexpensive acrylic paints from a craft or large retail store.

Before the study, cover a table with newsprint and have brushes, paint and cups of water on standby. Divide the canvases among your students. Have several students work together on one canvas. Ask them to paint a picture right over the top of the existing one-one that looks nothing like the one underneath. Prompt them with a three-minute warning when their time to paint is almost up. Be sure to allow a few minutes for cleanup since it's bound to be a messy project. Acrylic paint dries within minutes, but it dries even more quickly if you use a hair dryer on it.