Serve the Sick, the Suffering and the Oppressed
Those who teach
children should read study #73 for
children.
Why
are many people poor and have troubles? One reason is that evil spirits whisper
lies to people. If people want to sin, then they will believe these lies. Evil
spirits want us to be greedy, immoral and dishonest. But Jesus can free people
from these sins and lies. He can change our hearts and makes us into people who
have new desires and who do not want to sin.
1.
Prepare your heart and mind with GodÕs Word.
Our Purpose for this study is to serve the needy. Ask the Lord to give you and your flock real love for
the needy—love that yields good works
Find in
Luke 10:25-37 how the Caring
Samaritan showed practical love.
[Answers:
the Samaritan showed practical love by caring for the injured traveller. Jesus
promises eternal life to believers who practice their faith this way.]
What
did Jesus promise those who do the same?
[Answer: Compare Luke 10:25 with verse 47.]
Memorize 1 John
3:17-18.
2.
Plan with your co-workers activities that your people
will do next week.
Write your plan on paper, and announce it to the
congregation at the next worship meeting. Make your plan specific. Plan to find
the neediest people, then serve them as Galatians 6:10 says, ÒAs we
have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong
to the family of believers.Ó
3.
Plan with co-workers the upcoming worship time.
Pray during
worship for people in painful need in the community.
Praise God for spiritual victories. Ask for testimonies and
reports of work done last week.
Narrate Luke 10:25-37. Prepare a helper to relate JesusÕ account of the Good
Samaritan. First ask everyone to listen carefully to discover two things:
1)
How the Caring Samaritan showed practical love.
2)
What Jesus promised to those who do the same.
Afterwards,
ask different people what they discovered.
Invite everyone to examine their heart, to confess their
sins and celebrate the LordÕs Supper. To introduce
communion, you or a helper might read 1 Cor.10:16-17.
Then explain that we partake in
ChristÕs body. The Word of God became flesh and lived among us. He was born in
Bethlehem, where Boaz once cultivated barley. ÔBethlehemÕ means Ôhouse of
bread.Õ It was where Jesus became flesh and blood, so he could become the Bread
of Life for us.
Apply GodÕs Word. Options:
Option 1.
The Good Samaritan. Let adults and children act out together the story
from Luke 10:25-37. Younger ones can do the part of the thieves who attack the
traveller. Let an adult man be the donkey.
Option 2.
Mr. Tradition. Let
someone play the part of ÒMr. Tradition.Ó Ask him if he agrees with the
Samaritan. He argues that we ought to spend all our time winning souls for
Jesus, and not waste time doing social work. Ask the people to answer him. If
they are shy, then correct him yourself, in your own words, by explaining what
Jesus told us to do.
Option 3.
The sheep and the goats. Dramatize
the parable of the sheep and the goats, found in Matt. 25:31-46.
Narrator (adult): Read the parts that are not spoken by the
King, sheep or goats.
King (adult): Read, or say by memory, the words of the
King.
Sheep (children). One of them reads or speaks from memory the words of
the sheep.
Goats (children). One of them reads or speaks from memory the words of
the goats.
Option 4. Refute Satan's threats. You may choose two persons to read or recite this
poem. (Translate this poem or replace it with another.)
Speaker
# 1, with jeering voice:
The
demons like to stir up envy.
Such bitterness! How men complain!
They
grasp with greedy hands for money.
And sell their souls for selfish gain.
Speaker
# 2, with joyful, determined voice:
Let demons fit their flaming arrow,
Of ÔjealousyÕ upon the bow.
Our
armourÕs firm and will not crack.
Our faith withstands the harshest blow!
Announce the activity that you planned to do during the week, to help the needy. Let your
people mention neighbours and friends who need help, and say what they would
like to do. Then help them decide who will work together and when. Make
definite plans.
Help one another in groups of 2 or 3. Pray, confirm the plans and encourage one another.