Bible Study – For All Saints
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
All Saints’ Day invites us to look way back to the very early days of the Church and at people whose lives are an inspiration for us. It also invites us to remember those whom we love that have gone on through the gates of larger life. It calls us to notice those in our midst who show us a brighter way to live. In some mysterious way we are gathered, now, with all those who have gone before, with those we love who live in different parts of the world, as well as with those in the room with us. From the earliest days, the church has taken this opportunity to celebrate and we are invited to join in the celebration.
Quoting from Holy Women, Holy Men, “From its earliest days the Church has rejoiced to recognize and commemorate those faithful departed who were extraordinary or even heroic servants of God and of God’s people for the sake and after the example of their Savior Jesus Christ. By this recognition and commemoration, their devoted service endures in the Spirit, even as their example and fellowship continue to nurture the pilgrim Church on its way.”
Saints come in at least three varieties: those our church has recognized as special, like St. Mark, St. Francis, or St. Mary; those who have gone before us, like our great grandparents; and those around us who God loves – which means all of us.
Opening Prayer: For all the saints – those who have gone on and those right here in our lives, we thank you, God. Help us to celebrate those who show us the way and help us to choose to be the saints you call us to be. Amen.
Please open your Bibles to Luke: 6:20-31 and read or read the scriptures below.
Luke 6:20-31
20 Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.
23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.
24 “But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
Love for Enemies
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Today we have Jesus’ crash course for his disciples: how are they to live as the saints God has called them to be? These ways to be are sometimes called the Beatitudes – which we could call: the Be Attitudes or Ways to Be. It’s not about clutching what you have, holding it tight in your hands. It is about holding your hands, palms up, expecting good things. It’s not about stuffing yourself with empty calories, but waiting for the food that really satisfies. And the bottom line? Do to others what you would want them to do to you.
Bible Memory Verse: Luke 6:31- “Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Click here for the young learner’s lesson.
Videos (Click on url)
Stories:
A Brief Look at Luke 6:20-31 with Pastor Nanette Christofferson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aas9baWbMAE
Gospel of Luke Summary: A Complete Animated Overview (Part 1) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIb_dCIxzr0
Song: Love One Another: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JysQNwalyIQ&list=RDJysQNwalyIQ&start_radio=1 or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYlkcoAfLU4&list=RDLYlkcoAfLU4&start_radio=1
Activities:
Journal: Identify people you know who sound like the people Jesus is describing. Examples: the school-crossing guard, the person who cooks lunches in the school cafeteria, the nurse at the clinic, fire fighters, etc. Then write their names in the book and write about them. Also write the names of people you know who have gone on to be with God: for example, a grandparent, a soldier who fought for our country.
“For All the Saints” Banner: Ovals cut from dark construction paper + colored chalk. Or ovals cut from white paper + crayons or markers. Click on the following url for the Oval pattern. Take the oval and add features to create a simple portrait of at least one of the saints you have identified. The name of the saint may be written on the oval. You could add their biographies on the back of the oval picture.
The Golden Rule - Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/golden-rule-1
The Golden Rule – Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/golden-rule-2
The Golden Rule - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/golden-rule-3
The Golden Rule – Fill in the Blank: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/golden-rule-fill-in-the
Closure: You will need a tea light battery candle that will represent: a saint past or present. Turn it on and sit in silence for a moment then – sing or read hymn #422 (Evangelical Lutheran Worship – Red Book), one verse of For All the Saints. “For all the saints who from their labors rest, who thee by faith before the world confessed thy name O Jesus be forever blest. Alleluia! Alleluia! Then say a pray of thanksgiving for what the saints have given you.
Prayer: Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servants, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last we may with him attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
