1
Jesus' Lifestyle
Aim
To help children understand that a job is an important part of an
adult's lifestyle.
To consider the contrasting lifestyles of Jesus.
Preparation
Before the lesson obtain resources to help explain about the contrasting lifestyles of Jesus.
Lesson
Begin lesson by playing a guessing game akin to "What's My Line". Involve children in a number of different role plays, in which you are carrying out an easily-recognisable occupation, for example, doctor, sales person, police officer, news reader. Following each scene ask children to guess the role you were playing.
Allow the game to lead into a discussion about jobs. What jobs do members of their families do? (Perhaps they could mime these jobs for the other children to guess.) Why do they do these jobs? What jobs do the children want to do when they grow up? Why?
The discussion will naturally turn to money. Ask the children to consider why some jobs pay more money than others. Does that mean they are more important? What about jobs which pay no money? Do people only work to earn money, or for other reasons?
Following discussion, mime out Jesus' occupation prior to the start of His mission. Can any of the children guess it?
Inform them about Jesus' lifestyle as a carpenter in Nazareth.
When He was about thirty, Jesus gave up his job to teach people about God. Ask the children to consider the dramatic effect this would have had upon his lifestyle?
Why did He do it?
Activity
Invite the children to draw/write about Jesus' two contrasting lifestyles using the worksheet. Or alternatively, ask them to include on their Lifestyle Charts, images of family members at work, or images of themselves as adults following their chosen careers.
Notes
The Gentle Carpenter by Lois Rock (ISBN 0 7459 3636 9) published by Lion at £6.99 is the best resource which I have encountered for explaining the lifestyle change which Jesus underwent when he began his mission.
