Teacher`s Guide - Shine Curriculum

AMOS 5:14– 2 4 ; M I C A H 6: 1–8
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Middler
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Session 4
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Fall 2016
The prophets
call for justice
prepare
PR AYER
God, whether I’m going from room to room in my house, into my workplace, down the street,
or through the door of my church, I want to walk in your ways. Amen.
PUR POSE STAT E M E N T
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To hear the importance of walking in God’s ways
STORY SUMMA RY
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Amos and Micah were prophets sent to help people understand how to follow God’s
ways. Amos warned against ignoring the needs of the poor and against the outward show
of religious rituals. Amos yearned for a time when justice and righteousness would be
like the waters of an ever-flowing stream. Micah said that God does not want extravagant
sacrifices and instead calls people to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.
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teaching tips for middler
Children are attuned to issues of fairness. Researchers have found that even
toddlers can engage in acts of altruism. By the elementary years, capacity
for kindness and desire for equal treatment are well developed. Today, draw
on this desire to help children connect with the message of the prophets.
Children may want to share examples of “unfair” things that have happened to them. Encourage them to instead talk about times they were
treated fairly and times they treated others fairly.
For Build community, bring items that convey messages or ideas, such as a
cell phone, microphone, notepad, laptop or tablet, newspaper, and/or book.
Decide which Explore activities you will do, and check Supplies and To do
throughout the session to see what needs to be prepared.
24 / 4 The prophets call for justice
September 25, 2016
dig deeper
by Steven Schweitzer
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During the eighth century BCE, the two
by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his 1963
AMOS 5:14–24;
states of Israel and Judah are experienc“I Have a Dream” speech in Washington,
MICAH 6:1–8
ing a period of economic prosperity—at
D.C. He desired to see this hope become
least for the elite of society—benefiting
reality—one that is still a struggle today.
from the exploitation of others socially,
economically, and politically. During
Micah: Love kindness
the reign of Jeroboam II in the Northern
Micah shares Amos’ perspective on
Kingdom of Israel (about 760 BCE),
religious practices and actions of justice.
God calls an individual named Amos, a
The rhetorical questions that he asks
nonprofessional prophet (Amos 7:14–15)
about coming to worship God with an
from the southern state of Judah, to
abundance of animals or rivers of oil or
proclaim a message against the unjust
even to sacrifice his firstborn son are all
practices in the north. A few years later
answered with a resounding “No!” God
(between 750 and 720 BCE), God sends
is not pleased with such excessive worthe prophet Micah to speak a similar
ship. God does not want endless sacrimessage to the Southern Kingdom. Both
fices and certainly cannot be appeased
words from God focus on the necessity
by killing one’s own child. Micah states
of justice for all peoples as a key part of what it means to
simply that God has told us what is “good” and what is
worship and follow God faithfully.
required: “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk
humbly with your God” (6:8). The Israelites are called to
act rightly toward others, to show the same kind of love
to one another that God has shown them, and to live a
life out of humility before God. When they trust in their
own power, ability, or proper piety, they may be prideful
and treat God and others inappropriately. Working for
justice, showing mercy, and living humbly changes the
way they relate to one another and to God. The same is
absolutely true for us.
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Amos: Let justice roll down
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Amos brings an unpopular word to his audience. The
rich and powerful had gotten to their position by
oppressing the poor and powerless (Amos 2:6–8; 4:1;
5:11). They likely interpret their success as a sign of God’s
blessing, in line with the blessings delineated in the book
of Deuteronomy (28:1–14). However, Amos names their
sin and instructs them to “establish justice in the gate” so
that God will be gracious to them (5:15–17).
Amos continues with harsh words for those who “wait
for the day of the Lord.” The idea that God would one
day set the world right was part of the prophetic hope.
However, Amos tells his audience that for those who
have acted unjustly toward others, the day of the Lord
will bring a reckoning rather than deliverance. There is
no escape, not without acting differently. Proper religious
practice, worship, and prayer will not save them. Amos
offers strong words against religious practices that are
not accompanied by justice and righteousness (5:21–23).
Worshiping God without concern for people, especially
for those without justice, is not acceptable to God. God
is not pleased with worship from those who do not also
do justice. The statement about justice rolling down and
righteousness flowing like a stream was quoted famously
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A message for today
The words of Amos and Micah challenge us today, bringing together worship of God with love of neighbor and
working on behalf of those who need justice. We cannot
hide behind our religious rituals and spirituality while
ignoring the clear command of God to work on behalf of
others who do not have justice.
This prophetic word from these two Old Testament
prophets is consistent with the message of Jesus and the
New Testament, which proclaims, “Religion that is pure
and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for
orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself
unstained by the world” (James 1:27). Holiness and justice. May we do both as our worship to God.
Amos 5:14–24; Micah 6:1–8 / 25
gather
B UILD C OMM UN I T Y
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• Glow magazines
• Shine Songbook and
CD
• Annual Shine
Songbooks
• CD player
• Items that convey
messages
• Tray
• Flowing water sounds
Play a collaborative memory game. Show the group a tray of items used to convey
messages, such as an envelope, cell phone, microphone, notepad, laptop/tablet, newspaper, and/or book. Give the group one minute to look at the objects. Then take away the
tray and see how many items the children can remember together.
Tell children that we have many ways to convey messages today. In Bible times, the
best way to communicate a message was to say it in person, which they will hear in
today’s story.
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supplies
WOR SHIP TOG E T HE R
• Bible memory poster
(Micah 6)
Softly play “As I Went Down to the River” (track 3). Have someone read the information about the song from page 10 of Glow. Then sing a few verses together (page 8 in the
Annual Shine Songbook).
Lead a prayer asking for God to “show you the way” today.
SPIR IT UAL P R A C T I C E
Tell the group that it is sometimes easier to pray when we are surrounded by God’s
creation. We can see how wonderful God’s world is and think about how we are called to
care for it. If we can’t go outdoors to pray, we can imagine we are there. Play sounds of a
flowing river. Say softly:
Close your eyes and imagine you are sitting by a river under a big tree. Now silently
talk to God. Thank God for loving the whole world. Ask God to show you what you
can do to make the world even better.
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• Gather items that convey messages or ideas,
such as a cell phone,
microphone, notepad,
laptop or tablet, newspaper, and/or book.
• Locate a sound
of flowing water.
Download to a device
if needed.
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to do
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After a few minutes, turn off the sounds and say “Amen.”
Bible memory
Have children clap their hands on
each syllable of the three instructions (do justice, love kindness,
walk humbly) as you say the passage. Try it again, stomping feet
on each syllable, and a third time
try snapping fingers.
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media
connections
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• “What Does the Lord
Require of You?” song
by Jim Strathdee
• Frieze of Prophets art
by John Sargent Singer
on WikiArt website
• Martin Luther King Jr.’s
“I Have a Dream”
speech (reference
to Amos 5:24 comes
about halfway
through)
• If the World Were a
Village by David J.
Smith
26 / 4 The prophets call for justice
He has told you, O mortal, what
is good; and what does the Lord
require of you but to do justice,
and to love kindness, and to
walk humbly with your God?
—Micah 6:8
teaching tip
A simple Internet search for
“flowing water sound” will provide many options to play during
Spiritual practice. If you do not
have Internet access in your space,
download an MP3 to play on a
phone or other device. Or, bring a
pitcher of water and slowly pour it
into a bowl.
September 25, 2016
experience
SHA RE THE ST ORY
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teaching tip
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To connect with last week’s
Hold up a Bible and page through the books from
Isaiah to Malachi. Say that each are named for differ- session, mention that Elijah
was also prophet, though he
ent prophets, or messengers from God. Today we
doesn’t have his own book
will hear from the prophets Amos and Micah.
of the Bible. He prophesied
Open Shine On to page 152. Tell children to try
about one hundred years
to remember at least one of the nine questions they
before Amos and Micah.
will hear in the story. They should also listen for the
Bible memory verse. Read the story from Shine On.
When you reach the portion of the Bible memory verse in the last paragraph, repeat the
three instructions several times so children can clap, stomp, or snap along.
The prophets call
for justice
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Amos 5:14–24;
Micah 6:1–8
supplies
W O ND ER AND R EF L EC T
First, invite children to share any questions from the story that they remember. Then
invite them to study the illustration on page 152 of Shine On while you read the following
questions. (If you have a large group, display a second copy of Shine On.)
• I wonder why only some of the people in the picture are listening to the prophet.
• Bible
• Shine On: A Story Bible
• “Feeding the homeless
in Philadelphia” (from
Additional resources)
• Tape/removable
adhesive putty
• I wonder if there are ever times when we are too busy to listen.
poster pack
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• I wonder what the woman in the white dress is saying to the woman with the basket
of bread.
• “Caring about our
neighbors” poster
• “Caring about our
neighbors” cards
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• I wonder if the people know that the man on the box is a prophet. I wonder how you
would recognize a prophet.
PEACE N OTE S
to do
• Cut apart the “Caring
about our neighbors”
cards from the back
of the poster pack
cover. Keep the session
4 cards out for use in
today’s session; set
aside the rest for use in
later sessions.
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Amos and Micah remind us there is nothing peaceful or right about worshiping God
without helping those in need. Some of the people who need help the most in North
America are those who are homeless. Gather around the “Caring about our neighbors”
poster from the poster pack. Have children read the “Caring about our neighbors” cards
for session 4 on the back of the poster pack cover. They can post the cards near pictures on
the poster that relate to homelessness.
Then read “Feeding the homeless in Philadelphia” aloud from page 87 of this guide.
Talk together about how Shane Claiborne and his friends lived out the message of Amos
and Micah.
www.ShineCurriculum.com
Amos 5:14–24; Micah 6:1–8 / 27
explore
GLOW
CONNECT
The prophets encourage us to walk in
God’s ways. Have children select one
of the Ways to walk cards cut from
page 87 of this guide and demonstrate walking that way. The rest of
the group should imitate the action.
Modification: If anyone in your group
has limited mobility, have everyone
demonstrate the walks by moving
their fingers or hands instead of
their feet.
Say that just like there are many
different ways to walk, there are
many different ways to follow God.
Invite children to share examples of
how they see people around them
walking in God’s ways.
Tell the group that one part of “walking humbly” with God is knowing
our place in God’s world. We can
move through the world with humble
respect for the other living things
God created. Quietly play “Let Us
Love” (track 11) as children explore
the “Missing monarchs” photo essay
on page 12 in Glow. Ask children if
they have ever seen a monarch butterfly. What other parts of the natural
world do we need to be especially
careful to treat with respect?
Have the children find Micah and
Amos on the “Quite the character”
poster from the poster pack. Amos
was outspoken about injustice, and
Micah reminded the people what
God wanted from them. On page
10 of Glow, read about Howard
Thurman, a modern-day person
who spoke important messages. Talk
together about the quote and questions on the page.
• Glow magazines
• Shine Songbook and CD
• CD player
RETELL
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• Glow magazines
• “Quite the character” poster (from
poster pack)
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Divide children into three groups (or
choose three individuals) to perform
the readings on page 11 of Glow.
Encourage children to try the readings several times and develop a fast,
rhythmic style.
Decide together where to put a
small sticker for today’s story on the
colored story block of the “Rise and
fall” poster from the poster pack.
supplies
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supplies
• Ways to walk cards (from Additional
resources)
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supplies
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• Glow magazines
• “Rise and fall” poster (from poster
pack)
• Small sticker
28 / 4 The prophets call for justice
other ideas
• Micah said that Israel had forgotten how God
had been with them in the past. Share photos
and stories about important times in your past
when you felt God’s presence.
• Dip hands and feet in paint and make a poster
illustrating doing justice, loving kindness, and
walking humbly with God.
September 25, 2016
bless
supplies
Ask the children to think of places
they will be going this coming week,
such as school, clubs, sports practices,
piano lessons, or visiting friends.
Invite them to each name a place
when you pause in the prayer.
Pray:
Play flowing water sounds in the
background (or pour water into
a bowl) as you give each child a
special blessing:
______ (name), walk humbly
with all of creation now and in
the future.
looking ahead
One Explore option in
session 5 has children
experience a few elements of a Passover
celebration. You will
need sprigs of parsley,
a bowl of salt water,
and crackers.
I want the children
to know they can ask
me anything, so I try
very hard to respond
to their questions with
acceptance, love, and
understanding.
—Meena Stephen
Hong Kong
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God, help us remember that
you are with us as we go to
_________. (Pause for responses.)
Help us to walk in your ways
wherever we are. Amen.
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• Flowing water sounds
PRAY
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leader’s closing prayer
What might “doing justice” look like for you this coming
week? Letting a parent with a crying baby go ahead of you
in line, writing a letter to the editor, praying for an unjust
community situation?
God, inspire me to “do justice” in both big and small ways.
Help me never to lose hope that your kingdom of justice and
peace can indeed come to this earth. Amen.
Amos 5:14–24; Micah 6:1–8 / 29