Christ Integration Camp

Gentleness

Read Titus 3:2

  • To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

Do:

  • Set out the jar full of scenarios. Split your children into two or three groups, depending on your class size. Have each group pull out a scenario.

SAY:

  • Each group has pulled out a description of a situation you might find yourself in one day. Your job is to act out this situation two times.
  • The first time, you will show us how to handle it without gentleness. The second time you will show us how you could handle it with gentleness based on the verses we just talked about. If you need any help, let us know! You have 5-7 minutes to plan your skits! Ready…set…go!

Read 1 Kings 12:12-17, Zechariah 9:9 and Matthew 11:28-30

  • 1 King12:12-17 – Rehoboam had told the people, “Come back to me in three days.” So after three days all the people returned to Rehoboam. 13 At that time King Rehoboam spoke cruel words to them. He did not listen to the advice that the elders had given him. 14 He did what the young men had told him to do. Rehoboam said, “My father forced you to work hard. So I will give you even more work. My father beat you with whips. But I will beat you with whips that have sharp points.” 15 So the king did not do what the people wanted. The Lord caused this to happen. He did this to keep the promise he had made to Jeroboam son of Nebat. He had made this promise through Ahijah, the prophet from Shiloh.  All the people of Israel saw that the new king refused to listen to them. So they said to the king, “We have no share in David! We have no part in the son of Jesse. People of Israel, let’s go to our own homes! Let David’s son rule his own people!” So the Israelites went home. 17 But Rehoboam still ruled over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah.
  • Zechariah 9:9 – Rejoice, people of Jerusalem. Shout for joy, people of Jerusalem. Your king is coming to you. He does what is right, and he saves. He is gentle and riding on a donkey. He is on the colt of a donkey.
  • Matthew 11:28-30 – Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads. I will give you rest. Accept my work and learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will find rest for your souls. The work that I ask you to accept is easy. The load I give you to carry is not heavy.”

Say:

  • Rehoboam was a harsh and cruel king. The Israelites, also known as Jews, had become used to living under the authority of harsh kings or rulers. In fact, at the time that Zechariah lived, the Jewish people had just been released from living in slavery in Babylon and had been allowed to go back to Jerusalem. Zechariah encouraged the people by telling them that they could look forward to the coming of another king. He told them the coming king would bring salvation, and righteousness. He also said the new king would be gentle and come to them riding on a donkey. He was talking about Jesus. When Jesus did come, the Jews were still waiting for their “Messiah” or “Savior.” They were expecting an earthly king, but God sent a heavenly king. Jesus told the people He was gentle and humble and that He would carry their burdens and give them a light “yoke.” He was reminding them that He would not be a harsh and cruel ruler, but a kind and gentle leader. Jesus came to save the Jewish people from their sins and He came to do that for us, too.

Ask:

  1. Did Rehoboam sound like nice king?
  2. Did the people want to serve him?
  3. What kind of a king is Jesus?
  4. What do you think Jesus was like when He lived on earth in a human body? Do you think He would have had a mean voice or a gentle voice? Do you think that He would have had kind and gentle hands?
  5. Do you think that He would have liked kids or do you think that He disliked being around kids?
  6. When Jesus lived on earth He told the people He was gentle and humble. Why do you think Jesus said this?

Ask:

  • Is gentleness a part of who you are right now? Do your words show gentleness or are they harsh and mean?
  • Do you show gentleness with your actions? Are you a protector, a listener, a comforter to your friends and your family?

Scenarios for activity: (print these into strips)

Melissa, Joe and Christina don’t like to do chores at home. When their parents ask them to take out the trash and take the dog for a walk, they complain and don’t want to help

Alicia is really excited about a new skirt. When she wears it to school the next day, the popular girls make fun of it. Monique is Alicia’s best friend, and sees the girls making fun of Alicia.

Gwen’s younger sister, Isabel, wants to play with Gwen all the time. When Gwen’s friends come over, Isabel won’t leave them alone, and Gwen gets very annoyed.

Mrs. Martinez is always doing kind things for the kids in the neighborhood; especially for Josie and her friends. She bakes cookies for them, picks them up after school when their parents are working, and listens when they have a problem.

Michael is in 4th grade at your school. He constantly pokes and bothers other kids in class, is disrespectful to the teacher, and is a class clown. The students are having a hard time concentrating and want Michael to stop but are afraid of him. Antonio is his best friend and decides to talk to him about the problems.

Eric plays on a Little League baseball team and doesn’t like all the trash that people leave at the baseball field after the games

A grouchy neighbor who sometimes yells at your kids to get off the grass

A bully who breaks a sandcastle

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