Lesson background
There are so many wonderful things about Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” including its soundtrack. Recently, Billie Eilish won a Grammy Award for her contribution to the film, the song “What Was I Made For?” In the song, the artist ponders her purpose noting how challenging it is to identify who and what she is meant to be. Every human goes through the process of discovering their call(s), so we understand this sort of individualized pondering. But we don’t often ask what the church is made for, and we rarely give children the opportunity to think about this topic. In this lesson, children will explore Mark 11:15-19 noticing what Jesus says the Temple is meant to be. Then, they will wonder about the relationship between Jesus’ words and the church of today.
What you will need
- A Bible
- Blank paper and pencils
- Our house of prayer: chart paper and markers (optional)
Starting out
Greet the children as they arrive. Give each child a piece of blank paper and a pencil. Ask them to draw “church.” If they ask for clarification, simply repeat that you want them to “draw church.”
After they have finished their drawings, have them share them with the group. Notice similarities and differences in the ways they define church. Note where they focus on buildings, activities, gatherings, and people.
Hearing and exploring the story
Prepare to read aloud Mark 11:15-19. (Note: The gospel lectionary reading for this week is John’s version of the story of Jesus cleansing the Temple — John 2:13-22. We’ve chosen to use Mark’s account instead because it is more accessible for children.)
Provide the children with context for the reading:
- This reading comes from the New Testament Gospel of Mark.
- The story takes place in the city of Jerusalem in the Temple. The Temple was the space where the Jewish people (people of God) believed they were closest to God. They came there to worship, to pray, and to bring gifts to God. Unlike churches today, there were not several temples where people could go to worship. There was only the Temple in Jerusalem. Many people would travel long distances to come to the Temple on important religious holidays.
- In the Temple, people of God would offer gifts to God. One of the gifts they offered were animals, which were sacrificed on their behalf. They believed offering animals to God showed respect and love for God. The animals would be killed by Temple leaders. They were often cooked providing food for the Temple leaders and workers. Animal sacrifices were not only offerings to God. They also helped feed the people working in the Temple.
- At the Temple, worshipers could purchase live animals. One of the least expensive animals a person could purchase for sacrifice was a dove or pigeon.
- People coming to the temple in Jerusalem often did not have the type of money that was accepted in the city. Different regions or cities had their own money. When people came to the Temple, they would exchange their money for local money with moneychangers. They would use the local money to purchase animals or to offer as gifts to the Temple. Some moneychangers would cheat those exchanging money. They wouldn’t give the worshipers their full value in local money. They would keep some of it for themselves.
Read aloud Mark 11:15-19.
After reading, ask:
- What does Jesus say the Temple was made for?
- How is that different than what Jesus sees happening in the Temple?
- How does Jesus react to this?
- How do you think you would react?
- Why do you think Jesus’ words and actions are scary to the Temple leaders?
- What is Jesus hoping will happen in the Temple in the future?
Connecting the story to our lives
To help the children connect Jesus’ call for the Temple to be “a house of prayer for all the nations” to their own lives and experiences, invite them to engage in one or more of the following activities:
- Our house of prayer: Gather the materials you’ll need for this activity: Chart paper and markers. At the top of a sheet of chart paper write “A House of Prayer for All the Nations.” Remind the children that Jesus says this is what the Temple is called to be by God. The church (all Christian worshiping communities) as we know it is Christ’s body and is called to continue Jesus’ work on earth. Write the name of your congregation under the heading. Ask the children to reflect on how the congregation acts as “a house of prayer for all the nations.” Encourage them to think broadly about how the congregation continues Christ’s work. Record their responses on the chart paper using the same color marker. Then, ask the children to reflect on how the congregation might deepen or expand its work so that it can more fully be “a house of prayer for all the nations.” Record their responses on the chart paper using a different color marker. Wonder how the children might share their ideas with the larger congregation.
- Building the “perfect” church: Gather the materials you’ll need for this activity: LEGO or DUPLO blocks. Have the children work together to build the “perfect” church. Encourage them to discuss what qualities are important to a church to make decisions. After they have completed their church, ask the children to describe it noting why each aspect is important. If they focus only on the building, ask questions about how the building ties into the mission of the church.
- Church tapestry: Gather the materials you’ll need for this activity: blank index cards, crayons or markers, glue sticks, and a large sheet of roll paper. Have the children wonder about who and what church is for. Then, ask them to use the crayons or markers and index cards to draw pictures or write about all of the people and work that the church can and should do. Glue their pictures on the roll paper so that they create a quilt or tapestry. Hang this collaborative art somewhere in the church where others can see it.
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