Beyond Belief! The Universe of God

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2 Copyright Beyond Belief! The Universe of God License, Copyright and Online Permission Statement Copyright 2017 by Chalice Press. This version has been edited for Moon Beach Camp. Please note that some parts of this curriculum are specific to Summer Family Camp. For other camps, please edit daily theme offerings, etc. to best fit your camp s needs! Contents 3 Welcome to InsideOut 7 Daily Overview for Beyond Belief More Support Online Biblical and Theological Overview 14 Staff Devotions 18 Daily Guides for Younger Children 39 Daily Guides for Older Children 61 Daily Guides for Younger Youth 81 Daily Guides for Older Youth 102 Daily Guides for Intergenerational or Family Groups 116 Adult Program Session Planning 126 Extras 126 Daily Worship Plans 130 Dramatic Readings 132 Arts and Crafts 133 Week-Long Projects 134 Games 136 Challenge Course Activities 138 Science and Nature 140 Table Talk 142 Beyond Belief! Journal Prompts 145 Snack Ideas for the Week 147 Song Ideas for the Week

3 Welcome to InsideOut! When you are a leader at church camp, you are an educator, guidance counselor, maintenance person, crisis manager, and song leader. You are also a pastor and a friend, and have the highest honor and responsibility of being the embodiment of Christ Jesus to many people who are longing to know God s tender love. It is a hard job, but a worthy one. Probably the best news is that Christ dwells in you, and you can listen to that still-small voice and the communion of all the saints who support you, bless you, and cheer you on. All the same, you need to have the skills of a teacher, the comfort of a parent, and the wisdom of an elder to do the work of camp ministry. This curriculum is here to support you in that work. You will find in the pages ahead biblical theology done by scholars (who are also camp leaders) activities designed to help you share the Bible stories, games and projects that reinforce ideas and skills, and a whole lot of camping fun! How to use InsideOut Beyond Belief: The Universe of God! In this document, you will find a Biblical and Theological Overview for each of seven days, Daily Guides for seven days of materials for younger children, for older children, younger youth, older youth, and seven days for intergenerational or family camp. Following the daily guides are extra resources for arts, games, science and nature, challenge course activities, multi-day projects, Table Talk prompts, journaling prompts for older campers, snack and song idea lists. You will see Hashtags (#ThisIsaHashtag) listed beside each activity. They are there to help you categorize the types of activities you do with your campers, to ensure that you engage in many forms of Christian community. Really, they are just notating contemporary words for ancient Christian practices or spiritual disciplines. You could call them, things Christians do in community. For each day s activities, you will see things that fall under five categories or disciplines: #learn, #play, #create, #pray, and #serve. They help you to provide a balanced day, appealing to differing needs of the campers and of the community. As you shape each day, try to include at least one activity from each of the five #disciplines. There are many things that Christian communities do together (it might be fun for you and your staff to make your own list), but these are some essential things that will help your community at camp gel. It may help you to think the phrase Christians #learn together, or Together we #serve. We also worship together. Worship at camp offers the unique chance to experiment to try things that your campers might never have experienced in a traditional congregation. Each day you are offered two idea starters for worship experiences. You will see them listed as #celebrate and #centering. Your camp may be the kind that loves to use morning worship to get the juices flowing and the energy going and end the day with a gentle vesper service. Therefore, you might want to use #celebrate for your morning time together and #centering in the evening. Or your camp may be more designed to have a quiet morning watch and end the day with a campfire celebration. You can see how you might flip the activities to reflect those moods. This is your camp, and you know what s best for it. InsideOut is here to provide you with ideas and resources to choose from. Daily Guide Each Daily Guide begins with a Title. The reference Scripture Story is given. The Scripture Focus is one or two verses from a key moment in the story. It may be used as a memory verse. If not indicated otherwise, the Scripture and Scripture Focus are taken from the New Revised Standard Version. The Scripture Focus is followed by a Daily Prophet. This is a secondary scriptural reference featuring a prophetic Biblical character. The prophet s story or theme ties in with the daily scripture, as explained in the Biblical and Theological Background section. Next, a Theological Summary is provided in a sentence that demonstrates how the scripture is related to the theme of Christian community. Today, campers will offers several bullet points that will be the aim of the activities of that day. Next, the Daily Activities are listed with one or more #hashtags. Finally, Leader Notes call attention to special details that counselors and other staff may want to be aware of. Daily Guide Day 1: theme and scripture for the day Scripture Focus: Quoted from the NRSV. If another translation or paraphrase is recommended for your age group, it will be listed here. Theological Summary: This is a sentence that relates the scripture to the theme of the day. Today, campers will These will list some goals for your campers today. You may have one or two to whom you want to give special attention. You will also find one acknowledging a legitimate fear. Daily Activities: This is a list of the activities that will be featured this day. Instructions and information will be found on following pages #HASHTAGS Beside each activity is one or two #hashtags. These correspond to five categories that the activities fall into. As you plan your day, you will want to have at least one activity from each category. The categories are things Christian communities do together. They are: #play includes games, sensory experiments, physical challenges #pray includes prayer or reflection #create includes creative writing, arts, music, crafts, design, drama #serve includes outreach projects, consideration of others #learn includes Bible reflection, life application, understanding theme Leader Notes: This section lists theological road bumps to be aware of, special notes of main theme, or important reminders about the nature of camp. Worship Activities Page The tools to design your daily worship can be found on the Worship Activities page. These can be used for devotional Cabin Time, smallgroup worship, or large-group worship. You will find suggested Song Ideas either to sing or to play for your campers. A Prayer that relates to

4 the day s theme is suggested and can be used in a variety of settings. Because camps daily routines vary, you may need energetic worship experiences as well as more contemplative ones. Each Worship Activities page offers you two suggestions. One, #celebrate will work for eye-openers, campfire, or other enthusiastic, high-energy settings. The other, #centering, offers a more calming and contemplative suggestion. Additional worship resources will be found in the Extras section. Worship Activities Cabin Time: This is a guide for cabin counselors to incorporate into their morning or evening routine. These are ways that you can connect with your campers and help them know they are in a safe and secure environment. Song Ideas: Some suggested songs to either sing or listen to that support the theme Prayer: You can use this prayer during worship time, as a meal blessing, etc. Worship Ideas: #centering, #celebrate Here you will find two different activities to make worship meaningful. Because different camps have different types of worship (Eye-Openers or Morning Watch, Vespers or Campfire) you will find one worship type that has an enthusiastic and energetic mood #celebrate. The other worship idea, #centering, will be more contemplative or inward focused. Story Resources Following the Worship Activities page, you will find Story Resources: either a list of storybooks that are faithful to the biblical text, or sometimes a script for a play, a video that can be found online, or a contemporary film. You will want to check this section before camp to see if there are books or DVDs you want to borrow from your library or purchase. Daily Activities The bulk of the pages in each Daily Guide are the Daily Activities. These are the step-by-step instructions for the activities. Each practice will be titled and #tagged so that you can quickly find the one you re looking for. The descriptions of the activities include four sections: Supplies, Why, How, and BTW. Supplies lists the items or resources you will need to complete the activity. How many of each item you will need will vary depending upon your group size. Why gives your leaders a rationale for the activity. This will explain how the activity will function in your group. Sometimes the purpose of an activity isn t clear, but this section will tell your leaders how it relates to the Today, campers will goals for the day. It also lets them know if the activity helps to burn off steam, calm and center, or reinforce learning the Bible story. How gives step-by-step instructions to the activity whether those are game rules, recipes, discussion questions, or other pointers. BTW (By The Way): We know that camp is not just a series of programmed activities. This section calls attention to all the teachable moments that happen between programmed events. It helps your leaders find times and places to reinforce the biblical message, opportunities for pastoral response, and sometimes just other supplies or resources you could consider. It will offer you modifications that you can make on-the-fly. Since InsideOut is so customizable to your camp s needs, you will have your unique ways of doing things. This section helps you to change it up to fit your camp. The Five Disciplines Camp is a unique setting for community-building to take place. The go-go-go atmosphere at camp wakes campers from their typical school or work schedule of sit, sit, sit. Scientists keep finding more ways in which physical activity is good for us. We know that learning takes place better when bodies are moving. Brains in motion create stronger memories. It is also true that the more human senses that are engaged in an event, the more opportunities brains have to practice empathy, compassion, justice and relationships. Camp engages the senses. Even if your facility isn t the typical outdoor summer camp, you have the opportunity to engage body, mind and spirit to engage the whole person. In order to provide resources for a wide variety of experiences for your campers, each Daily Activity in Beyond Belief! falls into one or more of five disciplines. These categories will help you to determine what sort of activity it is. As you plan you will want to be sure to include at least one of each of the five disciplines every day. The disciplines are: #play #pray includes games, sensory experiments, physical challenges includes prayer or reflection #create includes creative writing, arts, music, crafts, design, drama #serve #learn includes outreach projects, consideration of others includes Bible reflection, life application, understanding the theme About Your Campers Learning and Development In addition to being familiar and comfortable with the content of the resource and the scripture, counselors need to understand the campers with whom they will be working. You don t need to be a certified teacher or neuroscientist to understand and respond to the needs of your campers. In the past decade, significant discoveries about human learning and development have been made. While it is important to understand some general physical and social milestones your campers display, it is equally important to learn to assess and meet the needs of your

5 individual campers. Children and adults within specific age ranges have multiple factors that determine the kind of input they require to learn and grow. As you get to know your campers, learn some of the facts about how brains work and how to maximize their potential. Safety First: In order for a human to learn, the environment he or she is in must feel safe. Because the human brain developed as a tool to ensure safety, it functions best when it is safe. Safety is physical, emotional, and rational, and as a leader you need to consider how safe you are making your campers feel. Affirmation of behaviors that are safe will inspire confidence and your campers will be more willing to take risks, a necessary element in learning. Learning Is Physical: Healthy, moving bodies make for active brains. Even emotional and spiritual development depend upon physical health. Be sure to provide your campers with lots of physical activity, healthy foods, and plenty of rest. Camp can be a demanding physical endeavor, but science is showing that this is part of what makes it so transformative. Also, healthy habits formed at camp can make it home with your campers. Every Body Is Different: Each individual s needs are unique to him or her. Life experience, gender, physical development, and chemistry shape not only desires but also needs. Remember that not all of your campers will benefit from all activities. It is important to get to know your campers physical limitations and interpersonal abilities. Learn about each of your campers special needs and be sure to communicate your findings with other leaders. General Developmental Characteristics Some developmental characteristics identified through years of research provide insight into the needs and capabilities of campers. This knowledge can serve the goals of Christian camping, enabling resource designers, camp leaders, and counselors to create experiences with campers that challenge them to grow individually as persons of faith and to discover the value of group interaction and Christian community. As staff members prepare to lead children and youth, they need to know what is appropriate for each age group. In training, your goals are for staff to: Become familiar with the various age-level characteristics, especially for the group(s) they will be with the most; Identify ways in which those developmental characteristics affect day-to-day interactions with campers; Understand camp policies and procedures in light of age-appropriateness. Here is a suggested plan for reaching your training goals; modify it as needed: Divide into small groups, giving the Developmental Characteristics page to each person to put in his or her staff manual or simply to keep. Depending upon your camp set-up, the number of staff, and the time allotted for training, you may choose to assign persons to their small group by a particular age focus or go broadly across age-levels. Groups are to: 1. Read through the information, stopping to clarify descriptors that any staff have questions about. 2. Choose a descriptor and discuss it, using prompts such as, What would that look like? How would that show up? How should we handle that? What might we need to avoid? Consider roleplaying some situations. 3. Make connections, where appropriate, to sample learning activities and to specific camp policies and procedures. For example, seeing that younger children (7 9 years old) have minimal upper body strength, a group assigned to this age group could note how that relates to the camp policy about not having young campers paddle a canoe by themselves or the expectation that counselors will be the ones to pour the campers drinks from the large pitchers. 4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 as time allows. Having the small groups report highlights from their discussion may also be helpful.

6 Younger Children (7 9 Years Old ) Developmental Characteristics Physical Characteristics Mental Characteristics Social Characteristics Spiritual Characteristics minimal upper body strength mastering bowel control energetic, but tire easily developing body coordination concrete, literal thinkers rule-based morals short attention spans learn best through senses and activity easily frightened learning to live apart from family and friends outgoing and loving prone to hero worship mirror the behavior and actions they see in adults concrete understanding of God varying degrees of biblical knowledge may ask a lot of questions may only remember the highlights Older Children (10 12 Years Old) Physical Characteristics Mental Characteristics Social Characteristics Spiritual Characteristics girls maturing faster than boys greater self-control when performing motor activities beginning to develop sexually high energy, but may complain of being tired beginning stages of abstract thinking beginning to challenge the answers adults give strong sense of right and wrong strive to complete projects and to do them well learning to live apart from family and friends boys often relate to others in contests of strength girls will often develop crushes boys beginning to relate to girls developing a more personal faith begin to grasp bigger issues strong memorizing skills may start to rebel from what they were first taught Younger Youth (12 14 Years Old) Physical Characteristics Mental Characteristics Social Characteristics Spiritual Characteristics deepening of male voices concerned with personal appearance females begin to menstruate awkward due to incredible growth spurts idealistic may come across as negativity starting to be able to put themselves in another person s shoes decision-making process focuses on the present competitive fear of embarrassment urgent need to belong dealing with strong sexual feelings desire and respect strong adult leadership making their own faith decisions prefer to discuss issues may tie their faith into social issues may question the content of the Bible study Older Youth (15 18 Years Old) Physical Characteristics Mental Characteristics Social Characteristics Spiritual Characteristics largest and strongest campers at camp physical appearance and attributes are a major concern need privacy need more sleep abstract thinkers specialization in selected skills experience strong feelings and emotions critical of self urgent need for acceptance or attention increasing peer pressure to engage in drinking, smoking, drugs, and sex question authority able to take on responsibility begin questioning their own salvation making their own decisions about church attendance able to carry the whole discussion on their own struggling with social pressures in light of their faith Outdoor Ministries Program Leadership Manual (Committee on Outdoor Ministries of the National Council of Churches, 2000) Used by permission.

7 Day 1: What If We Belong to God? Psalm 139 Day 2: What If Hope Is Real? Mark 2:1 5 Day 3: What If We Speak Up? Mark 7:24 30 Day 4: What If God Is Bigger? Luke 1: 35 55 Day 5: What If We Change the World? Matthew 5: 13 16 Day 6: What If We Go Beyond? Luke 10: 1 9 Themes for Each Day More Support Online With helpful tips, free downloads, thought-provoking articles and more, you are not alone in your outdoor ministry. Connect with the camping community. Check us out and join in: Facebook.com/insideOutChurchCampResources Twitter.com/InsideOutCamps InsideOutCurriculum.com Look for InsideOut on Pinterest soon. Biblical and Theological Overview Day 1: What If We Belong to God? (Psalm 139) Theological Summary God created us so that God can love us and know us intimately. Nothing we can do can change God s intimate love for us. Introduction This is a psalm of David, meaning authorship is attributed to King David. The psalms are poetry, filled with metaphor and figurative language. This particular psalm is one of praise to God and thanksgiving for God s abiding presence. The Text This psalm is full of imagery that helps us understand the true omnipotence of God. According to the psalmist, God knows our every thought and deed before they even happen. There is nowhere we can go away from God. The author even references Sheol, which was the Jewish understanding of what happened after death. It wasn t a heaven or a hell, in the way we understand it; it was just the place of the dead. The psalmist is saying even death cannot separate us from God. After describing that there is nowhere we can go where God is not with us, the psalmist also describes being created by God. The psalmist describes being fearfully and wonderfully made. This doesn t mean that God was fearful when we were created, but rather that the human body is so complex and intricate that if we really thought about it, it might frighten us a little bit but overall, it is an amazing and wonderful thing. The rest of the psalm may seem out of place with the first part, as this is where the psalmist starts to talk about God killing the wicked, and hating those whom the Lord hates. The psalm ends with the psalmist asking God to look at all the psalmist s thoughts, and lead them in the right way. The Context Very little is known about the context of this psalm, which is why generations of worshipers have been able to pray these words and feel as though they resonate as their own. One can imagine many characters from the stories of our faith praying these words, and they still hold true with us today, speaking to us about what it means to truly belong to God. The end of the psalm may seem to be out of place with the rest of it, but it speaks to a part of the human experience. Righteous anger at injustice and evil (the things that God hates) are part of what we go through. We see evil around us and we hate it, and we wish God would do something about it, much like the psalmist does; this just isn t the language we use now. Our modern sensibilities often make us want to edit these few verses out. However, it is worth consideration to leave room for anger at injustice, even if we don t agree with the proposed resolution. What s Next? Too often, campers are being taught to hide pieces of themselves from others. They use social media to only show the best sides of themselves, or they show one personality at home and another in public, and maybe a totally different one at camp. If they are going to start to expand their understanding of God this week, it starts with knowing that God has been with them forever, and will never leave.

8 The exciting thing about this psalm for this week of camp is that no question anyone has about God can separate that person from the love of God. Sometimes we hold back the questions and doubts we might have out of shame or fear that we might disappoint God, but this psalm reminds us that nothing we can do no questions, doubts, or sins can keep God from knowing us, inside and out, and loving us. Consider the Following: What does it mean to be known by God before you were born? When have you tried to hide from God? What questions have you not allowed yourself to ask God? What does it mean to you to be fearfully and wonderfully made? When have you felt as if God was actively seeking you out, even when you might have been trying to run away or hide? Daily Prophet: Jeremiah (Part 1) Who: Jeremiah, a descendent of one of the two chief priests of King David Historical Context: During Jeremiah s lifetime, Babylon conquers Judah and Jerusalem and the Israelites go into exile. Jeremiah ultimately stays in Jerusalem to help those who stay to rebuild, and offers hope in a time of exile. Prophet s Concerns: Pre-exile, that the Israelites had become more concerned with following religious practices than the commandments handed down by Moses. Post-exile, he offered hope to a people who had been taken from their land and wanted to return home. Best Known For: Being called as a young man, and not feeling qualified to answer his calling. Thoughts on Jeremiah 1 Jeremiah is an interesting prophet, especially if looked at from the point of view of a young person. Unlike other prophets, who had to interpret signs or symbols, Jeremiah heard the voice of the one who created him and knew him before he was born. Not only did he hear this voice, that voice told him what he had been called to be a prophet to the nations. It is important to understand that when God said I knew you to Jeremiah there was an understanding that to know and to create are linked. People must encounter something to know it, but God knows what God creates. God did not choose Jeremiah from an existing pool of young men, but knew (or created) Jeremiah to be the prophet to the nations. One might think that if we heard God s voice telling us we were created to do something, we would just jump at the chance to complete our task. However, in Jeremiah s case, he was not so keen on the idea. He began with, Ah, Lord God, which leads into a complaint against God. He claimed that he wouldn t be able to speak for God because he was too young. However, God promised to be with him and give him God s own words. While this might seem encouraging, God continued with, See, today I appoint you over the nations and over kingdoms, / to pluck up and to pull down, / to destroy and to overthrow, / to build and to plant (1:10). So, while God would be with Jeremiah and give him words, those words were going to destroy the people and the systems around him before Jeremiah would help build them back up. Not a very pleasant task for the young prophet. Jeremiah reminds us that God is the author and creator of all things, even when we don t understand what God is doing. Like Jeremiah, we will see how God s plan works out in time. Consider the Following: When have you felt unqualified to do something? Have you ever felt God calling you to do something you were unqualified for? When are we called to do things that might not be popular with the people around us? What does it mean for us that, if we truly belong to God, God will be with us even when our call is unpopular? Day 2: What If Hope Is Real? (Mark 2:1 5) Theological Summary Jesus affirms that trusting in and acting on behalf of hopeful instincts is a powerful way to embody faith. Introduction Here Jesus was teaching a crowd, as he often would. Because of the crowd of people, a sick paralyzed man couldn t get to Jesus to be healed. His friends decided to take matters into their own hands, right through the roof. The Text The writings in Mark are thought to be the earliest writings of the gospels, and are written almost like short vignettes to tell about the life and ministry of Jesus. This story follows another story of Jesus healing: that time, a leper. Here he was preaching in a house, and it was so crowded there wasn t even room by the front door. Since people knew Jesus was in town, some of them carried a paralyzed man to Jesus believing that he could heal him. When they found that there was no way to get to Jesus through the door, they decided that they would just go through the roof. Jesus saw the faith not only the man s faith, but the faith of his friends, and declared the man s sins forgiven. The Context

9 We need to remember when we read scripture that we enter into stories of a culture that is different from our own. Earlier cultures did not have the same medical understanding of sickness as we do. The Jewish culture the culture in which Jesus lived had an understanding that if people were good, they would be blessed by God, but if they were sinful, they would be punished, often in the form of sickness. There was also an understanding that sick people were unclean. Many religious people wouldn t touch someone who was sick or injured at the risk of becoming unclean themselves. Clean and pure were two ideals that were upheld in the early world. Because of all of this, the fact that these four friends disregarded all the cultural norms and brought their friend demonstrates just how much faith they all had in Jesus. Also, in first century Palestine, the roof of a home would have consisted of cross beams covered in thatch and hardened mud, so when his friends lowered him through the roof, they would have literally had to dig their way through the roof to get him through. Jesus was moved by the faith of the friends, as he often is in the gospels, and declared the man s sins forgiven. It may seem strange to us that he just offered forgiveness, but when we know the cultural connection between sin and sickness, we see that Jesus is offering true healing from everything that held the man in bondage, including his paralysis. What s Next? In this gospel, we get the first glimpse into the divinity of Jesus. We believe Jesus to be both fully human and fully divine, a paradox that may be hard for campers to understand. The operating belief at the time was that only God could forgive sins, so Jesus declaring that the man s sins were forgiven was a bold move. It showed that he was more than just a great teacher, but in fact the Son of God, with God s authority to forgive sins. Sometimes in our lives we associate sin with people choosing to do bad things, instead of the brokenness that exists within our world. When we recognize that our hope is in Christ to forgive our sins and brokenness, we know that hope is very real. Consider the Following: What is it about Jesus that fills you with hope? What is it about your faith community that offers hope? In what ways might your campers find hope in Jesus, or in each other? While we might not see the same relationship between sin and sickness as first-century people did, what stigmas do we place on sin? How do we offer hope to each other and the world through Jesus? Daily Prophet: Isaiah Who: Isaiah, son of Amoz, who has an incredible vision (Isaiah 6) leading him to speak for God to Judah and Jerusalem Historical Context: The book of Isaiah is divided into three parts, with chapter 40 beginning the second part of the book. This part is written to the Israelites in exile in Babylon. Specifically, it is written near the end of the exile, when the Israelites are about to be able to return to their homeland. Prophet s Concerns: Unlike the first part of the book of Isaiah, the second section is a message of consolation and hope for those who are strangers in a strange land. The prophet offered hope that God still controlled the fate of the Israelites. Best Known For: The fact that his words are quoted throughout the New Testament in regards to Jesus fulfilling the prophecy of the Messiah Thoughts on Isaiah 40 Isaiah 40 refers to Jerusalem having served her term and her penalty being paid (v. 2). This is reminiscent of when the Hebrew people were slaves in Egypt. The prophet is telling the people that, just like their ancestors, they have hope in God to deliver them from exile. In verse 3, prepare the way of the Lord brings up imagery of the royal festivals that Babylon would have used for their own gods, but now the Israelites are to prepare the way for the Lord, not some Babylonian idol. All of this offered hope to a people who had been gone from their homes almost 70 years (the length of the Babylonian exile). These people would have needed hope at this point, since returning to their homes may have seemed a hopeless venture after all that time. In verses 6 11, the prophet upholds the consistency and faithfulness of God. We can still have hope today that the word of our God will stand forever (v. 8) Consider the Following: When was a time you felt lost, as the Israelites did? When have you needed hope in your life? Has anyone ever spoken words that filled you with hope? Day 3: What If We Speak Up? (Mark 7:24 30) Theological Summary If even Jesus can have his mind opened by fearlessness in the face of injustice, just imagine how big God s grace must be! Introduction In this story, we find a woman who desperately wants Jesus to cast a demon out of her daughter, and this is one of those times in scripture when we get a very unexpected response from Jesus.

10 The Text This is a hard one for us to read sometimes because Jesus response to the woman is completely unexpected. Jesus had gone to the region of Tyre, where Gentiles lived, and tried to stay in a house where people wouldn t notice him. This never worked well for Jesus. In this case a woman heard Jesus was in the house and came to him to ask him to heal her daughter. The woman was identified as a Syrophoenician, which may identify where she was from, and that she was a Gentile. She bowed at Jesus feet and begged him to take the demon out of her daughter. Instead of healing her daughter, Jesus told her that the children should be fed first, not the dogs. She promptly replied that even the dogs get the crumbs. Her reply moved Jesus to remove the demon from her daughter. The Context Jews and Gentiles did not associate with each other. A Gentile was the term that Jewish people used to describe anyone who was not Jewish. The religious beliefs of the Jewish people were that they were the chosen of God, remembering God s promise to Abraham that God would make Abraham s descendants as numerous as the stars. This belief led to cultural practices that caused distrust between outsiders and those who were Jewish. Jewish travelers would go out of their way to avoid Gentile areas, and here Jesus has gone to Tyre, a place of Gentiles, but is trying not to be noticed. We don t know why he was trying not to be noticed, but for whatever reason it doesn t work. The Syrophoenician woman breaks all kinds of cultural rules in this story because she loves her daughter. Culturally, daughters were not valued as much as sons to families because sons would grow up to take care of their parents, while daughters would need to be married, which for poor families wasn t always an option. However, this woman loved her daughter so much she broke even more rules. She goes to see Jesus alone. Women at this time were not supposed to travel alone and were not to speak to men alone either. She might have also risked being shamed for arguing with a man who was in a position of a teacher, like Jesus. But she obviously believed that Jesus could cast the demon out of her daughter. And what did she receive from Jesus? A racial slur. Calling the Gentiles dogs was a way to shame them, and remind them they were not on the same social level as the Jews. This would have been a perfectly normal thing for a man to do in this time, but not what we expect from Jesus. We don t know if he is testing the woman or not but if he was, she certainly passed. She refused to be shamed and leave while her daughter was sick. She simply reminded Jesus that even house dogs get the scraps the children drop on the floor. She accepted that he might see her as a dog, but her daughter still deserved mercy and healing. What s Next? It can be terrifying for young people to speak out when they see things around them that they know are wrong. Campers can find strength in this story, in which a woman who was the lowest of the low stood up to the Son of God. Part of learning how to speak out is first learning how to listen. What might God be trying to tell campers this week? What injustices do they see around them that they feel called to do something about? Consider the Following: When have you felt a call to do something, but stayed quiet out of fear? Has there been a time when you stood up for something you believe, even if it was scary? Sometimes we have to humble ourselves, as the woman did, in order to speak out and be heard; have you experienced this? Daily Prophet: Samuel Who: Samuel, son of Hannah and Elkanah, raised in the temple by Eli Historical Context: Samuel will grow up to be the prophet at the time when Israel switches from having judges who guide and govern the people to having kings. He is the prophet during the reign of King Saul, and anoints David as the new king toward the end of his life. Prophet s Concerns: Samuel knows that the people really should recognize God as their King, and that they don t need earthly kings. However, the people are unsatisfied with this and demand a king. Because of this, Samuel is at odds with King Saul often, because Samuel knows God is the true King, and that if Saul doesn t follow the will of God, he isn t doing his job. Best Known For: Call story, and anointing both Saul and David Thoughts on 1 Samuel 3:1 21 In this passage, we get to read about Samuel s call story. He was being raised by the prophet Eli in the temple. As a young boy, he heard the voice of God calling to him while he slept in the temple. When he heard the voice, he assumed it was Eli and he went to Eli three times before Eli realized that it was probably the voice of God that was speaking, and that Samuel should simply reply with, Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. What is intriguing about this passage is that Samuel was just a boy when all of this happened, and his first message from God was that Eli s family was about to be punished. So, Samuel is tasked by God to deliver a message of punishment to the man who has been caring for him. We also learn here that God was with Samuel as he grew and that he grew to be a trusted prophet among his people. This is a powerful message for campers because Samuel was just a boy and God asked him to do something really uncomfortable. He had to speak out against Eli s family, and even though Eli already knew that his family had done wrong, it probably wasn t any easier for Samuel to have to share God s words of punishment to a person in authority. Consider the Following: How do you think Samuel felt to hear God s voice calling his name? What is something you think God is calling you to speak up about?

11 How can you help young people discern when and how to stand up and speak out to people who may have authority over them? Day 4: What If God Is Bigger? (Luke 1:35 55) Theological Summary God chooses each of us to make God s love bigger, and today is a day to invite campers to celebrate the ways God s love can be made bigger by each of them. Introduction While campers may be very familiar with the advent story, they probably haven t spent much time thinking about what it meant for Mary to be part of God s love for the world. Today, we see that not only did Mary say yes to making God s love bigger, but we get to be part of making that love bigger too. The Text In this passage, we step into the middle of a conversation between a young woman and an angel of the Lord. Angels are not the Precious Moments figurines we place on our mantles; almost every time an angel appears to someone in scripture, it begins with, Do not be afraid, which would imply they are frightening. Mary listened to the angel tell her that she would give birth to a holy child who would be the Son of God, a terrifying message from a terrifying messenger. Mary didn t offer excuses or try to run from the angel; she simply said, Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word (Lk. 1:38). However, once the angel left, she immediately departed to see her cousin Elizabeth. No reason is given for her journey to see Elizabeth, but when she got there the angel s message was confirmed by Elizabeth s prophetic response to Mary s greeting. Mary then began a hymn of praise we call the Magnificat (1:47 55). It is here she realized that not only had God become so much bigger than what she d known, but that she was now part of God s plan, which was also much bigger than she had previously known. The Context Culturally speaking, in the time scripture was written, women were treated like property. They were treated like property who belonged to either a father, husband, or other male relative. They were not seen as assets to their families, because sons were to take care of their parents and daughters just needed to be married off. Mary discovers through this encounter with the angel that she is truly blessed by God, no matter what the culture around her might say. We can speculate that she may have made the journey to see Elizabeth for two reasons: to see if what the angel said about Elizabeth being pregnant was true, or possibly to leave her community before people found out she was pregnant and not married. It is important to understand that people in this time did not travel the way we do; it was dangerous and hard, so there needed to be a good reason, and, obviously, Mary had one for journeying alone to see Elizabeth. Whatever her reasons for going to see Elizabeth, once she arrived her calling to be a part of God s big plan for humanity was confirmed by her relative, giving Mary the strength to praise God in a time when it would have been easier to try to hide from all that was happening. What s Next? Dealing with this story with campers is going to bring up different themes and questions depending on the ages of your groups. Let s consider some themes that might come up in each age group. Children: Children still maintain a sense of wonder, allowing them to believe this story without question. They can know God loves them just like God loved Mary and Elizabeth. They are part of bringing God s love into the world by loving others the way God loves them. Talking to God can be a surprise. Younger Youth: Their brains are caught between abstract and concrete thought, leading them to question stories they have always been told. They may question why God would have made things so hard for Mary, if God loved her so much. They may start to question the historical truth of the story. It is important to differentiate between truth and fact: Fact: Jesus existed, we have historical data, his birth story is historically unknown outside of scripture. Truth: We know God is so much bigger than what we can imagine, so God is capable of all that is in this story. If God loved Mary and Elizabeth this much, then God s love is also big enough for us, just how we are. We are called to love like God loves us. Nothing is impossible with God. Older Youth: See younger youth note about truth and fact. Campers may have more questions about the actual pregnancy, as they may know teenagers who have been pregnant, and the social stigma that comes with it. High school can be a time when love is very much connected with romantic relationships, or the lack thereof, and campers need to be reminded that God s love is bigger than those relationships.

12 Daily Prophet: Elizabeth Who: Elizabeth, wife of the priest Zechariah, mother of John the Baptist, cousin of Mary Historical Context: First century Palestine, right around the time of the birth of Jesus. She is childless, which would have been perceived and punishment from God for some sins, although both she and her husband were righteous before God, living blamelessly (Luke 1:6). Her story echoes the Old Testament stories of Sarah and Hannah (older women who are childless). Prophet s Concerns: Elizabeth wants Mary to know that she is blessed among women (Lk. 1:42) and that the child she will have is also blessed. Best Known For: Her relationships to Mary and John the Baptist Thoughts on Elizabeth As a prophet, Elizabeth was an interesting character, with a relatively short story. Her prophetic words only spanned a few verses, unlike the many chapters of the prophets in the Old Testament. However, she spoke the word of God, no matter how briefly. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit when she was greeted by Mary and confirmed what Mary had been told by the angel. God communicated through Elizabeth that what was happening to Mary was out of God s love not only for Mary, but for the world. She also confirmed that Mary was blessed because she trusted what was spoken to her by the Lord through the angel. We also see in this story that both women were more than their reputations. They were more than just daughters, or wives, or second-class citizens. God s purpose for them was so much bigger, just like God s love for the world is so much bigger than we can imagine. Elizabeth helps us understand that part of the way we are to participate in God s big love for the world is to affirm those around us. We are to help others know they are blessed and loved by God. When they believe that, they can then also become messengers of God s love, and that love continues to grow bigger and bigger. Elizabeth and Mary understood one key point for us to take away: that God is bigger than anything we can imagine, and we get to be part of God s big love in the world right now. Consider the Following: What has happened in your life to make you realize God might be bigger than you thought? Have you ever been filled with the Holy Spirit? What was that like? When have you felt God calling you to encourage someone else? Day 5: What If We Change the World? (Matthew 5:13 16) Theological Summary Jesus encourages us to embrace the ways that God wants to use us to make the world a better place. Introduction In this passage, Jesus tells us who we are. We are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. But each of these comes with cautions as well. The Text This is probably one of the simplest passages this week from a textual standpoint. Jesus told the disciples they were called to be the salt of the earth. He also cautioned that salt can lose its taste, and can never get it back, so they need to be careful to stay true. He then told them they were the light of the world. Like a city on a hill, how could they hide that light? He also cautioned that they should let their light shine so others can see the good works they do and give glory to God. The Context Jesus is telling this to many of his followers, not just the 12 apostles. Sometimes, when we say disciples, campers think we just mean the 12 apostles, but a disciple was anyone who followed Jesus. While he is telling them these things, he reveals something about the very nature of Christ as well. First, we need to understand the use of salt in the early world. In the first century, Pliny the Elder wrote, There is nothing more useful than salt and sunshine. Salt was used not only to flavor food, the way we do now, but also to preserve it in a time with no refrigeration. So, Jesus is issuing a calling not just to flavor but to preserve the world. Jesus is the Son of God, but also very much a man. Oftentimes we refer to Jesus as the Light of the world, but here Jesus turns it back on us and says, You are the light of the world. Jesus was created by God, just as we were, and some of that divine light of Christ can shine through us as well, which is what Jesus is telling the disciples to do here. It is helpful to remember that the light of Christ was present in the beginning with God, and through Jesus, God sent the light to become flesh and dwell among us. What s Next? We use these phrases in the church world a lot, about salt and light. We put them on T-shirts and we make them logos for our new outreach campaigns, but we don t often stop to think about what it means to be salt and light. Some of your campers may already think they are God s gift to the world, and the funny part is. they are! But in our culture, where we exist in a non-stop look at me, look at me world, it can be hard to get them to understand who they want people to look at. To be salt and light means to tap into that divine spark we all have within us. We were created by God for a purpose. That s amazing! However, people don t need to see how amazing we are; they need to see how amazing God is.

13 Consider the Following: How are you showing others the light of Christ through your works? How have you seen Christ shine through your campers this week? When you feel as if you might be losing some of that saltiness, how do you get it back? Daily Prophet: Micah Who: Micah, a member of the working class who came from a rural area Historical Context: Micah is one of the four eighth-century b.c.e. prophets He writes before the Babylonian exile, and has messages of both destruction and hope for the Israelite people. Prophet s Concerns: Micah is very attuned to the social ills that are going on in his world, especially those that affect people in the countryside and small towns, such as the one he is from. Unlike other prophets who may have been concerned with what was happening within the temple, or in the political structure itself, Micah is upset about what happens to the actual people of Israel. Best Known For: This simple text that summarizes God s requirements Thoughts on Micah 6:6 8 In this part of Micah s writings, he is presenting a lawsuit against Israel not from a neighboring country or other political group, but from God. God is suing the people of Israel for breaking the covenant (contract, promise) between God and God s people. In this particular section, the people are shown as saying to God, basically, What can we bring you to make this right? What sacrifices can we offer to fix this? (6:6, paraphrased). In the Jewish faith, sacrifices were offered as atonement for sins committed by individuals or groups. In this case, Micah reminds them that they already know what they need to do: to do justice, and to love kindness, / and to walk humbly with your God. So, what does that mean for us now? Let s look at each category. Do Justice: Micah doesn t say sit around and talk about justice, but do justice. What does that look like? How do we do justice in a way that seeks justice and reconciliation with the poor, the oppressed, the hungry, and the prisoner? Love Mercy: The word kindness in this passage is better understood as mercy. Loving mercy is hard, especially in the context of our society, which seems to believe people should be punished for anything they do wrong. But most campers will understand loving mercy in this way. When you do something wrong, do you want what you deserve (punishment), or do you want mercy and forgiveness? Most will say they want mercy for themselves, but it is hard to love mercy for others who we may think deserve punishment. Now, put that on a broader scale: what does that mean for our prison system, for the death penalty, for war? What does it mean for Christians to love mercy? Walk Humbly with God: This is the part that make the first two possible. When you walk with humility with God, you are putting aside all your own selfish thoughts, ambitions, pride, and prejudices, and you are open to the actual will of God. Consider the Following: How are you walking with God? Are you doing all the talking, or are you listening for God s will? How are you doing justice in your life? Where do you need God s help loving mercy? Day 6: What If We Go Beyond? (Luke 10:1 9) Theological Summary As you send your campers out into the world, remind them that they do not go alone; there is nowhere they can go that God doesn t go with them. Introduction Jesus sends 70 people to preach the good news in the towns and cities nearby. Through this we learn some of what it means to continue the work of Jesus, together. The Text Jesus has just finished telling people what it means to be a true follower of him, and presumably there must have been plenty of true followers because Jesus sends 70 of them out into the towns where he himself intended to go (10:1). He lets them know that the work is going to be hard. They are to carry no money, bag, or shoes, and are not to talk to anyone on the road. When they enter a house and offer peace to those inside, if hospitality is extended they are to stay. Then they are to cure the sick and declare, The kingdom of God has come near to you (10:9). The Context Traveling alone would have been very dangerous in this time, so Jesus sends each person with a companion. Also, hospitality would have been an expectation in Jewish homes, so each pair could hope that the peace they extended to a house would be shared with them as well. While Jesus followers may have been excited to begin a mission set forth by Jesus, they may have had no idea what to expect when they reached these towns; however, later we find out that, by working in Jesus name, even the demons submit to [them] (10:17).