F
Criticizing You
Aim
To develop better listening skills. To begin to realize that Jesus wasn't always 'nice'.
Lesson
Begin by reviewing what was taught during the previous week. Discuss which words or phrases give other people a 'cold prickly'. Talk about children's experiences of giving or receiving such a 'cold prickly'.
Explain that sometimes it is necessary to give someone a polite 'cold prickly' when they are doing wrong. Explore examples through role play - e.g. someone is playing too roughly for your liking, someone is trying to distract you, someone is using your possessions without first asking permission.
Inform the children that Jesus had to give cold pricklies to some people who were doing wrong. They were very important people. But this is what He said to them.
You make rules for people to keep,
but you don't keep them yourselves!
You show off when you pray!
You always take the best seats in church!
You never listen!
Activity
In a very controlled manner, allow individual children to tell others about aspects of their behaviour which they don't like. For example one child might say to another, 'I don't like it when you play too roughly.'
