Throwback - Week 1
From retro toys to fashion trends, we all love a good throwback. (Especially for grown-ups because it reminds us of being young again.) There are things that remind us of a moment in time, but other things feel timeless and like they’re always in style. In this four-week series, our families will travel through the decades and see that the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels are always trending. As we hear from Jesus, we’ll see it’s always good to be humble, we can always forgive, Jesus is always fair, and love always needs action.
BIG IDEA: It’s always good to be humble.
BIBLE: Matthew 7:1–5; John 20:19–31
MEMORY VERSE
Elementary: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)
Toddler Twist: "Jesus stays the same." Hebrews 13:8
WATCH:
Preschool- teaching video
Elementary- teaching video
SONG: You Are Everything, and Jesus The Same
DISCIPLE:
Read John 20:19–31 aloud to your family.
Say: So in the 2000's, shades (sunglasses) were a big deal. Do you know what I'm talking about? I'm talking about sunglasses. Check out some of these shades that people used to wear! (show these pictures of different sunglasses from the 2000's)
In addition to wearing shades, people began "throwing shade." Now that definitely didn't mean throwing your super cool sunglasses! "Throwing shade" meant you would talk negatively about someone or something they did, right in front of them.
In the passage we just read, it's easy for us to throw at least a little shade at Thomas for not believing that Jesus was alive. Jesus was patient, however. Jesus helped Thomas see and believe.
It's easy to throw shade at other people. It's easy to see what they're doing wrong more than what we're doing wrong. But we're not better than anyone else, not in God's eyes. In God's eyes, in which there is neither speck nor plank, we are loved the same.
If we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, we can learn to be patient and understanding with others, just as Jesus was with Thomas and still is with us. We can admit we don't always have the answers, and that makes us humble. And it's always good to be humble!
Pray: Jesus, thank you for always being the same. You showed us how to be humble instead of judging others for their mistakes. Teach us how to encourage and lift others up instead of bringing them down. Amen.
DISCUSS:
What do you think it means to judge others? Why does Jesus tell us not to do this? Judging others means to make decisions about others without having all the information, to point out what others are doing wrong, or to assume the worst in people. Jesus tells us not to because we are all the same in God's eyes.
What example did Jesus use to explain how people judge others? He used pointing out a speck of sawdust in someone else's eye when you have a plank in your own eye.
What did Jesus mean when he said to take the plank out of your own eye? He meant that you should be aware of your own shortcomings and not point out other people's faults.
Read John 20:29. How do you think Thomas felt when he finally saw Jesus after doubting what his friends told him? Do you think he felt humble? How so?
What do you think it means to be humble?
Why is it hard to encourage others sometimes?
What are some ways you can lift others up, especially when you don’t feel like it?