Bible Study – Reformation Sunday & The Greatest Commandment
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.
In this season after Pentecost, we hear stories of Jesus’ ministry in the world and our call to engage in that mission. This season is also known as Ordinary Time coming from the word “ordinal” which means counted time. This time is not ordinary as in common or regular, but it is the time of counted weeks between Pentecost and Advent. The color for this season is green and it is often referred to as the green growing time as we hear stories of what God is calling us to do in the world, we join in that call, and we grow in our faith
The Lutheran churches are celebrating Reformation Sunday on October 29, 2023.
Today’s lesson is found near the end of Matthew as conflict between Jesus and the people around him reaches its height. Those that oppose his ministry are still trying to get him to trip up – to go against the religious or secular laws and Jesus will not fall into that trap. The question Jesus asks them about whose son the Messiah is a way of engaging them in further conversation about God and God’s expansiveness. Jesus wants them to think bigger, wants them to understand that God is more than they can imagine, that the Messiah surpasses the lineage as they know it.
Opening Prayer: Loving God, be with us today as we hear your word. Let your love be engraved in our hearts that we may always love you and love others as you have taught us to do. Help us to experience and feel your love, help us to give and share your love in the world. Amen.
Reformation Sunday: Our story begins in the 16th century – 1517. This was a time of complex theological, political and economic events.
Across Europe, the Roman Catholic Church was engaged in one of the greatest fundraisers in all of history. If a person – out of contrition for their sins and as a sign of repentance – made a financial gift to help with the building Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, then the church would furnish that person with a certificate acknowledging that gift and promising that they or their loved ones would be freed from a portion of the misery expected in the afterlife. In short, the church at that time taught that even those bound for heaven had to be cleansed of their earthly sins and this cleansing (purging) in the afterlife took place called Purgatory. The certificates offered by church (called “Indulgences”) promised to lessen this time of cleansing for oneself or others who have already died.
On October 31, 1517, a German Monk named Martin Luther posted a list of 95 Theses – 95 reasons that he objected to this practice of selling indulgences – on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. Luther insisted that we are not forgiven because of anything we do – including the buying of Indulgences or doing enough good works. Instead, we are forgiven because of who God is. We are loved and forgiven because God is full of grace and mercy. This is from his studies of Paul’s writings in the Bible and Jesus teachings.
Martin Luther’s teachings and writings got him kicked out of the church. But he didn’t go alone. Others agreed with him and after his death those who agreed with Luther became known as Lutherans and also as Protestants.
Please open your Bibles to Matthew 22:34-46 and read or read the scriptures below.
Matthew 22:34-46
The Greatest Commandment
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Whose Son Is the Messiah?
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”
“The son of David,” they replied.
43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,
44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’[c]
45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Questions:
- What do you remember most about this story?
- The Pharisees asked Jesus what is the greatest commandment. What do you think a commandment is?
- Do you remember the commandments that Jesus told them?
- Why do you think Jesus said that those were the greatest?
- How do you think we can live out these commandments?
Click here for the young learner’s lesson
Videos (Click on url)
Reformation Sunday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=estrvc7D8H0
What is Reformation Day? (The Protestant Reformation) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4e5nQANQ7U
Matthew 22:34-46 The Most Important Commandment – Lectionary bible reading - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh8FPCYLgJM
Gospel of Matthew Summary: A complete Animated Overview (Part 2) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGCF3OPWN14
Song: Love One Another - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JysQNwalyIQ or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYlkcoAfLU4
Activities:
Martin Luther Seal: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/150589181269613698/ or https://www.pinterest.com/pin/549439223295603317/
God Stones with Symbols of God: In today’s lesson, Jesus gave us the foundational commandments, the greatest commandments that are the foundation of all other commandments. These are the rules given to us by God to lead a life centered in love of God and love of each other. Because these are foundational, we are going to create foundations rocks to help us remember these rules that were given to us by God.
You will need the scripture. God Stones: two medium size rocks, paint, paint brushes, permanent markers, cups of water
God Stones: Wash the rocks so there isn’t any dirty on them. You can use a paper plate to create a paint tray. You will also need a cup of water to rinse your brush out once you are done with a color.
How do you see a loving God with heart, soul, and mind and loving your neighbors? Paint and write something on your first rock so that it will remind you to love God with heart, soul and mind and the other rock to remind you to love others as they love themselves.
The Greatest Commandment - Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/greatest-commandment-08
The Greatest Commandment - Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/greatest-commandment-08-1
The Greatest Commandment - Multiple Choice: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/greatest-commandment-08-2
Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for our time together today. Help us to love you with our mind, heart and soul and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Amen.
