NT BX Lesson 3 Low Furness School

On Thursday afternoon I was once again at Low Furness School doing two lessons of New Testament Bible Explorer.  The stories covered included more of Jesus' teachings such as the lost parables, we heard how Jesus brought Lazarus back from death and how he transformed Zacchaeus's life.  Then into the final week of Jesus' life from the entrance he made into Jerusalem and cleared the temple, the last supper and onto be betrayed, denied, beaten and crucified.  Then resurrected on what we know today as Easter Sunday.  Next week we look at the day of Pentecost and the spread of the gospel to other parts.

Coniston Primary School

On Thursday I went to do our first assembly of the new school year at Coniston Primary School.  I started by asking if anyone had done anything or been away anywhere new, then asked who had new uniform, new shoes, if they were in a new classroom with a new teacher finally asked about a new headteacher various children put up their hands to the questions and everyone did for the last question.  I pointed out that there was a key word I kept on mentioning what was it? New! came the response.  I then went on to tell the story of Zacchaeus and how he was a liar, a thief and a cheat and worked for the Romans collecting tax's.  I did explain why he worked for the Romans and what paying tax's is for.  When a crowd gathered to see Jesus as he walked through their town Zacchaeus wanted to see him but because of what he was and what he had done in over charging on the tax plus he was a very short man the crowd pushed him away.  So running on a head he climbed a tree, thinking no-one will see me - but they did - Jesus stopped at the tree and asked him to come down as he wanted to visit him and eat some food.  The gathered crowd thought this was not fair after all Zacchaeus was a liar, a thief and a cheat who worked for the Romans collecting tax's.  With Jesus now in Zacchaeus's house the crowd wanted to know what was going on they didn't need to wait long as Jesus and Zacchaeus came out and spoke to the crowd, Zacchaeus told them he would give away half of his wealth and pay back 4 times the amount he had stolen off people.  Jesus said that Zacchaeus had made a new start.  Following the story I encouraged the children to think about making a new start whenever they make a mistake, unset someone, do something wrong.  To finish with we sang So May Ways to Praise the Lord then said a prayer. 

St Pauls

This afternoon Sarah and I went to Barrow to do an assembly at St Pauls Junior School.  Sarah started by talking about new things and listed a few things that she likes that are new and asked if anyone had new school shoes for the start of the new term.  The talk about new things linked in with the story we had decided to do which was the Zacchaeus story.  So as I started I didn't at first tell the children who the man was in the story I simply introduced him as a liar, a thief and a cheat as well as someone who worked for the Romans - I did explain about the Romans in the time of Jesus and that Zacchaeus was a collector of tax's which I said was not a bad thing as it helps to pay for things but Zacchaeus over charged people and pocketed the rest.  So one day Jesus comes in to town and Zacchaeus wants to see him and so does the rest of the town but because of who he was and what he did and the fact that he was a very short man the crowd pushed him away.  So he ran on ahead to climb a tree, saying to himself no-one will see me up here - well he was wrong Jesus did who asked him to get down as he wanted to visit him for some food.  The crowd complained saying why does he want to eat with that man he's a liar, a thief and a cheat.  As the crowd gathered round the house Jesus came out with Zacchaeus who said sorry to them and that he was going to give away half his wealth and return money to people he had cheated.  Jesus said that this day Zacchaeus had decided to start a new.  Sarah concluded by talking about ways we can start a new when we make a mistake no matter how big or small it is.  We finished with So Many Ways to Praise the Lord before Sarah closed with a prayer. 

Lindale School

This morning Sarah and I went down to Lindale School for the assembly.  Sarah started by talking about new things such as new school shoes and uniform, new books new classroom etc.  This was linked to the story I was going to tell about a man who made a new start.  I started by saying he was a liar, a thief and a cheat and he also worked for the Romans -although I did explain that was because at the time of Jesus they were in the country, as well as all those things he was also a tax collector - again I explained about tax's and that they pay for our education, healthcare and things so paying them is good.  But this man was a liar, a thief and a cheat and he collected too much tax therefore he was a liar, a thief and a cheat (this phase came up several times).  One day Jesus was on his way into the town where Zacchaeus lived (that was his name by the way) and he wanted to see Jesus but couldn't as he was pushed away as he tried to get to the front of the crowd -oh didn't tell you he was a short man.  But Zacchaeus ran on ahead and climbed a tree thinking no-one would see him and he could see everything including Jesus but he was wrong Jesus stopped at the very tree and asked him to come down as he wanted to go to his house for some food.  This did not go down very well at all with the crowd as they didn't think that a liar, a thief and a cheat should share food with Jesus.  They all crowded round the house in hope they could hear what was being said.  Then the doors flew open there stood Jesus with Zacchaeus who announced to the waiting crowd that he was sorry and as a result was giving half his wealth away and giving back 7 times the amount of money he had stolen.  Jesus told the crowd that Zacchaeus had made a new start.  Sarah then talked to the children about how they can make a new start each day as what happened yesterday is over and we can move on.  To finish off we sang So Many Ways to Praise the Lord then Sarah finished with a prayer. 

Newton Primary School

Today I went to Newton Primary School for the assembly.  It was the first visit of the new school year, the children gave me such a warm welcome it was lovely.  As it was the first visit I asked the children about summer holidays and if they had done anything or been away somewhere new.  Lots of hands went up so I picked a few out.  I then asked about who had new school uniform and shoes and who was in a new class with a new teacher.  The point was I explained was because the story I had was about a man who had a fresh new start.  I started by saying he was a liar, a thief and a cheat a phase I as to repeat several times during the story. He also worked for the Romans - I explained why and was a tax collector - I did point out that is a good thing as today for example it helps pay for education, healthcare etc.  Anyway back to the story, Zacchaeus that was his name I said was also a very short man and went Jesus came into town people gathered to see him but because he was short and also a liar, a thief, a cheat, worked for the Romans and collected tax's he was pushed away.  So he ran on ahead and climbed a tree thinking no-one would see him in the tree - wrong Jesus saw him and asked him to come down as he wanted to eat a meal with him.  Well the crowd went mad What! they said Jesus is going to eat a meal with a liar, a cheat, a thief and someone who works for the Romans and a tax collector.  Jesus and Zacchaeus went off together into the house.  The crowd stood around perhaps wanting to see and hear what was going on in the house.  Then suddenly the doors flew open and there was Jesus with Zacchaeus who spoke and said he was sorry for what he had done and that he was going to give half of his money away to the poor and give back 7 times that which he had stolen.  Jesus told the waiting crowd that today Zacchaeus had started a new life with a fresh start.  I finished the story and explained that we can do the same as today is a new day at the start of a new week at the start of a new term of a new school year and whatever has happened before is in the past.  So to finish we sang So Many Ways to Praise the Lord before I said a short prayer.

NT BX Lesson 2 Low Furness School

This afternoon I had the great privilege of working with the year 5 and 6 children at Low Furness school doing New Testament Bible Explorer.  I had two mixed classes during the afternoon and we started to look at the early ministry of Jesus after his baptism in the Jordan and 40 day and night in the wilderness Jesus was tempted by Satan - that was where we left off last week.  This week Jesus talks at night with Nicodemus about heaven as well as a woman from Samaria, was rejected by the people of his own town.  He then selected his 12 disciples and started to teach the people.  We saw him calm a storm, fill a crowd and get transfigured showing his glory to Peter, James and John.  That's was where we finished this week - next week Jesus heads south... to Jerusalem...

Flookburgh School

This morning I went to do the assembly down at Flookburgh School, it was the first visit of the new school year and it was great to see all the children and staff again.  I started by talking about new things and asked if anyone had done anything new over the summer - I got a few answers about places people had visited.  I then continued to ask about new things such as who had new shoes, new uniform, a new classroom and teacher as well as new exercise books.  This was leading up to me talking about a man who had a new start.  I didn't at first tell the children his name instead I introduced him as a thief, a lier and a cheat as well as someone who worked for the Romans and collected tax's - I did point out that the Romans occupied the land at that time like they did our country and that paying tax is a good thing as for example today it pays for education, healthcare etc.  Anyway back to the story Zacchaeus was the mans name I told the children.  One day Jesus was passing through the town where he lived and Zacchaeus really wanted to see him except the crowd wouldn't let him through as he was a thief, a lier and a cheat who worked for the Romans as a tax collector - he needed to be a the front as he was also a short man.  Zacchaeus ran ahead to climb a tree thinking from the tree I and see Jesus and no-one will see me - wrong Jesus could who asked him to come down as he wanted to eat with him at his house.  Well the crowd complained about this they didn't like the idea of Jesus eating at the house of a thief, a lier and a cheat who worked for the Romans collecting tax.  Later on at the house Zacchaeus came out with Jesus and announced that he was sorry for what he had done and was giving half his wealth away and repaying 7 times the amount he had cheated from people.  Jesus said that today Zacchaeus had made a fresh new start.  After the story I pointed out that we can all make a fresh new start in life at anytime, and at the start of a new day, new term, new year in school all that has gone before is in the past and we can do like Zacchaeus and start again.  We sang So Many Ways to Praise the Lord to finish with then I closed with a prayer.