Let's read this teaching together. It can be found in Matthew 5:38-48, or in SPARK on p. 274. Here is a quote from the SPARK story:

Jesus said, "If someone hurts you, don't hurt them back." Wow, that was different!... Then Jesus said a very important thing. "Everyone says 'Love your friends and hate your enemies." I say love your enemies and pray for people who are mean to you. This is what really makes God happy!" The things Jesus said changed the way people thought about treating others. 

• Do you ever follow what Jesus commands in this story? Is it easy or hard to do?
• Tell a story about a time someone was mean to you. How did you respond? 
• I wonder why it makes God happy when we love our enemies. What do you think?
• Read the quote by Dr. King in the photo above. How does this connect to what Jesus taught?

Let's pray together.

• Start with a few deep breaths. Fill your belly with air, and then let it out. Imagine all of the meanness coming out of you. As you breathe in again, imagine God's love is filling you up. 
• Dear God, just as Jesus did, help us to love and forgive others who hurt us. Take away the mean words in our mouths and in our hearts.  Bless the people I don't like (can name them here). Help us to share your love with everyone. Amen. 

Tell a New Kind of Story
Write and/or draw a story or comic strip based on Jesus' teaching. Start with someone hurting another person (someone budges in front of you in line, calls you a mean name, etc.). What happens next? What would Jesus do?  (Another option: Talk together as a family about common scenarios you may encounter and how you might respond). 

Body Memory Verse
​Spend some time learning Matthew 5:43-44 (regular Bible or SPARK). It's important to know verses well, so that when you are in a tough situation you can remember what Jesus said! Moving your body can help you learn. You can either write out the verse several times, or do some actions. Make up your own actions or try the following (using the SPARK verse):

Everyone says (put your hands to your ears, like you're listening closely)
"Love your friends (cross your hands over your chest, like a hug for a friend)
and hate your enemies." (fling your arms wide, like you're pushing people away)
I say (lift your hands high in the air, to welcome words coming from Jesus!)
love your enemies (cross your hands over your chest again. Love an enemy like a friend!)
and pray for people who are mean to you. (put your hands together like you're praying)

Happy Easter! Last week we heard the story of Jesus' friends finding the empty tomb. Jesus is alive! Have you ever wondered what happened afterward?

Today we hear a story about two men walking to a town called Emmaus three days after Jesus died. They are joined by a mysterious stranger... read the story to find out what happens next! The story can be found in Luke 24:13-35 or in SPARK on p. 488.  Then talk about these questions:

• How do you think the disciples felt on the road to Emmaus?
• How do you think they felt when they realized Jesus had been with them?
• I wonder, has Jesus ever been with me and I didn't know it?
• What rituals or practices help you experience Jesus?

Prayer of the Day (Be The Story Curriculum)
Jesus, you walk beside us every day, but we can’t see you. Sometimes you are with us through a mom or dad, grandparent, teacher, of friend. We know that you love us. Amen.

This is it -- the most challenging and celebratory week of the church year. We follow Jesus into the final days of his life on earth. We bear witness to the depth of grief and the joy of new life. Where does this story find you this year?

Holy Week Nature Walk
Take advantage of the warmer weather! Go outside and go for a walk. Use all your senses to find the items listed on this handout. Once you get home, look up the verses that go with each thing you found! 

Make Your Own Palm
Get a piece of green construction paper (or a white paper you can color green!). Fold it in half. Starting at the folded edge, cut out a half football shape. When you open it up, it will look like a palm! Cut fringes into the edge. Then you can act out the story! Wave your palm during Palm Sunday Worship.

• Before they eat, Jesus washes the disciples' dirty feet! Imagine Jesus doing this for you. How would you respond? 
• Why do you think Jesus wants us to love and serve one another?
• Jesus says that he is in the bread and the wine we eat and drink in communion, and that our sins are forgiven. What do you think about that? How does forgiveness feel?

​Foot-washing
Act out this part of the story by washing your family members' feet. Kind of weird, right? Back then, this was the servant's job! Even though Jesus was their teacher, he was making himself a servant by washing his disciples' feet! As you practice foot washing, think of other ways you can serve members of your family today. Jesus says that the greatest among us are the servants! 

On Good Friday, we remember with heavy hearts the trials Jesus endured at the end of his life. You can read this story in Luke 23:32-47 or in SPARK on page 476. Depending on the age of your children, you may choose to omit parts of the story. Use this document to help you navigate this difficult conversation.

• What is something tough or sad going on in your life right now? Jesus understands. Jesus also had to face tough and sad things in his life.  Pray together to ask God for help with what you're facing. 
• Has anyone ever been mean to you? Talk about how you felt. What did you do next?

• As Holy Week comes to an end, reflect on Jesus' journey and what you learned. What is the most important thing you learned this Holy Week?

Share the Good News
JESUS IS RISEN! God wins over death! Share the good news with someone you know, whether your family, friends, or church community, by making an Easter card for them.  Share about God's love, your favorite part of the story, or a bit about your favorite family tradition. Then mail or deliver your card! 

Easter Activities
A craft, a coloring sheet, mazes, a crossword puzzle, and a word find-- all fun things to remind you that JESUS IS RISEN! Click here to download and print. 

Musical Chairs
​Place chairs in a circle, with one fewer than the number of people playing. Turn on music (potentially the song above), and walk around the chairs. When the music stops, everyone has to find a place to sit! Whoever doesn't get a spot is out. Remove a chair and continue until there is a winner!

• What was it like to be out? What was it like to be the winner?
• What does it mean to leave someone out?
• Have you ever been the one excluded?
• How does Jesus want us to treat each other? Who was Jesus especially good at including?​

Today’s story is not an easy one! Jesus reminds us that its important to help people. He tells a story about a rich man who refused to help a poor man, named Lazarus. Both men die, and the rich man finds himself far from God. He then asks Lazarus to help him! Jesus shows that no one is better than anyone else; we all need help sometimes.

Sometimes we are in a position to help someone else. Sometimes we are the ones who need help. Just as we would appreciate it if someone reached out to help us, we need to reach out to help others. This is how community works! We are all members of God’s family and we all take care of each other. 

Read today’s story in Luke 16:19-32 or in your SPARK Bible on p. 386. Talk about it using these prompts:

• I wonder how Lazarus felt when no one helped him
• I wonder why the rich man didn’t want to help
• I wonder if I ever feel better than someone else
• I wonder if other people ever feel better than me
• I wonder what Jesus wants me to learn from this story

Living the Story
With your family, act out the story. Take turns being the rich man and the poor man, Lazarus. How does acting it out change how you understand the story? Let this story affect your actions in the future: today, try to ask three people “How can I help?”

Blessing Bags
​​It is important that we be mindful of other people, especially those whom we easily forget! Think about people who don’t have a place to live. You might see them on street corners asking for help, or they may seek help at a local shelter. We can help them by donating items to shelters, or handing them out directly. To assemble your own “blessing bags” to keep in your cars, buy small personal hygiene items, non-perishable snacks, gift cards, etc. that can fit in a gallon zip-lock bag (see here for more info). Keep it in your car for an opportunity to hand it out! You can also check in at a local shelter to figure out what donations would be helpful. Click here to visit the website for Hope4Youth in Anoka! 

Morning Stretch Prayer
(See images below for help!)

Good morning, God!
(Start with hands over your heart in prayer, then reach up to the sky)
Help me to serve you today.
(Fold forward and touch your toes)
Whether I feel as strong as a mountain
(walk hands forward to downward dog)
Or as small as a seed
(sit back into child’s pose)
Help me to keep my eyes on You.
(Laying flat on your belly, push your arms up and your head back: cobra pose)
You make me strong.
(back up to downward dog, then to standing)
Help me to love others
(right arm overhead, bend to the left)
As I love myself
(left arm overhead, bend to the right)
Because you so love the whole world
(arms spread open wide).
Amen. (Hands return to prayer over your heart).

The Bible says that Jesus is like a shepherd and we are like his sheep (e.g. John 10, Psalm 23). He takes care of us, feeds us, and protects us from threats. When one of us is lost, he will search and search until we are found, safe and sound. 

Read the Parable of the Lost Sheep, found in Luke 15:1-10, or in your SPARK Storybook Bible on page 374. 

• I wonder if it would be hard for a shepherd to keep track of 100 sheep! Would you want that job? How do you think God can take care of every person and animal in the world?
• What sort of trouble do you think the lost sheep got into? 
• What do you think the 99 sheep did while the shepherd was out searching for the one lost sheep?

Let's pray together:
Dear God, sometimes we feel lost and afraid (name examples, other needs). Come find us and keep us safe. Thank you for being a good shepherd to us. Amen. 

Sheep Coloring (Preschool and up)
Everyone's Sunday School experience must include a sheep craft! Download and print this sheep coloring page. You can make it's fluffy wool by gluing on cotton balls. Remember that Jesus is a good shepherd, and you are his sheep. Jesus loves you!

Heavy, Lost Feelings (Older kids and adults)
Download and print this worksheet. Each corner describes a heavy feelings a lost sheep might feel-- feelings you might have experienced in your life, in the past or present: scared, lonely, helpless (weak, needing others for care), in need (hungry, thirsty, etc.). Think about a time you have felt this way. Write or color about that feeling in each corner. Then, cut out and paste the picture of "the good shepherd" in the middle of these heavy feelings. Know that in everything you feel or experience, Jesus is with you. Jesus helps us feel safe and at peace even when things are hard.

Finding the Lost (Service Project)
Think of people in your community who may be "lost" right now-- someone who is lonely or struggling. Brainstorm a way you can reach out to them and "find them" with love. Whether sending a card, baking something, or making a phone call, we can share Jesus' love with all who are lost. 

Jesus tells us a story, or a parable, about a fig tree that didn't grow any figs. The owner was so frustrated that he wanted to chop the tree down, but the gardener said to wait and give the tree another chance.

Read the story in Luke 13:1-9, or in your SPARK Storybook Bible on p. 372.

• Do you think you would have given the fig tree another chance? 
• When the Bible talks about growing good fruit, it means growing good things in our lives such as faith and loving action. What are some ways you can grow in faith?
• Sometimes, our lives don't "grow fruit." We make hurt people and make mistakes. What do you do when you make a mistake? How do you feel? 
• When have you given someone another chance?

Let's pray together.
Dear God, thank you for giving us new chances to love you and other people. Thank you for forgiving us when we make mistakes. Help us to follow you everyday. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

Confession and Forgiveness
We are in a season in the church year called Lent. In Lent, in the weeks leading up to Easter, we are invited to think about our mistakes and ask God for forgiveness. Like the gardener in the story, God always gives us more chances.

Take some time to think about mistakes you've made this week. As you think, write down notes or doodles. When you are done, either tear up the paper (or, with a parent's help, you can light them on fire outside). Know that God has forgiven your sins: we no longer have to feel sad or guilty about them. We have another chance to make good choices!

Fruit of the Spirit
In Galatians 5, Paul writes that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Take some time as a family to talk about what each word means.  This is the fruit that God wants to grow in your life!

• Which fruit do you think you are the best at? Which one do you struggle with the most?
• Are there any other important traits that you would add to this definition? 
• Click here for some coloring sheets that give examples of each trait.

Story "Yoga"
Learn today's Bible story by moving your body. As you read each part, do the action!

1. Once there was a man who had a vineyard. He decided to plant a fruit tree. You can choose which fruit it is!  (Start standing tall, with your hands by your sides. Take a deep breath. We are ready to learn the story!)
2. The man started by digging a hole in the dirt. (Reach down and touch the ground. Stretch!)
3. Then he added a seed, which he buried in the dirt. (Kneel on the ground and fold forward into child's pose. Pretend to be a seed!)
4. The man had to take good care of the seed so it would grow. He watered the seed (sit up on your knees, stretch your left arm overhead to the right). He made sure the seed got lots of sunlight (stretch your right arm overhead to the left.
5. Soon, the plant started to grow. (On hands and knees, arc your back into cat pose. Stretch as high as you can!). But the first year, there was no fruit! (Slump your back down into cow pose, like a wilting plant).
6. The man waited another year. The plant continued to grow (arc your back into cat). But the second year, there was no fruit! (Slump your back into cow).
7. The man waited another year. The plant grew some more (arc your back into cat) but the third year, there was still no fruit! (Slump your back into cow).
8. Finally, the man was tired of waiting. He wanted to cut the tree down! (Sink down into child's pose). 
9. But a wise gardener told him to give the tree another chance. Then the tree grew and grew and grew (slowly move to your feet, roll back up to standing).
10. The tree grew tall and strong (reach your arms to the sky like a big tree!) Can you balance on one foot? In yoga that is called tree pose (Put one foot on the other ankle and balance).
    
11. And the tree grew good fruit! (Make your body into the shape of your favorite fruit!)

 Yet, Jesus made a Samaritan man a hero in the story. He tried to show his Jewish listeners that even people we don't like can do good things and follow God!  Sometimes we need help to see people in a new way.

We know that Jesus commands us to love our neighbors. With this story, Jesus teaches us to love and help even people we don't like. We can start by trying to see the good in them.

Read the story in Luke 10:25-37 or in your SPARK Storybook Bible on page 360. 

• How would you feel if you were hurt and no one stopped to help you?
• Why do you think the Samaritan stopped to help the hurt man? Why do you think the other people didn't stop to help him?
• Do you think the hurt man was surprised that a Samaritan came to help? Have you ever been surprised that someone helped you?
• Are you ever afraid to help?
• What do you think the innkeeper thought of the Samaritan's generosity?

Prayer of the Day:
Dear Jesus, you ask us to help other people, even people we don’t like. That can be hard. Help us to learn to see everyone as your precious child.  Amen.

Helping Hands
Trace your hand on a piece of paper (or, if you want a messy option, paint your hand and then stamp it on a paper!). Around your handprint, write the ways you help others (e.g. "I help ____ by doing ____."-- "I help my parents by taking out the garbage.") Can you think of any new things you can do to help?

Acting out the Story
Have each person in your family pick out a character to be in this story (priest, Levite, hurt man, Samaritan, innkeeper). As you read it, act out your role (costumes, optional!).  Once you're done reading, think about what your character said and did. What did you learn about your character? What do you think your character was feeling and thinking?

Seeing in a New Way (older kids, adults)
Pick an object and place it on a table. From where you are sitting, note what it looks like. Then, go sit somewhere else-- on the other side of the room, farther away, or even hanging upside down! How does your view change? What does the object look like now?

Just as objects look different depending on where we're sitting, so do people. We are going to use our imaginations to try and see in a new way. Think of someone you struggle to like. How can you see this person in a new way?

• Imagine  how their family sees them, how their friends see them, and how God see them.  
• Imagine what this person cares about or likes to do for fun. 
• Imagine how this person might be like you.

How do you see them differently after this exercise?

Play-doh Confession and Forgiveness
Get some play-doh or other molding clay. As you mold it, talk to God about something you've done wrong or something that is bothering you. When you are done praying, smash it! Form it into a heart shape. God forgives you and gives you a new heart that loves others. Say it to yourself, "I am forgiven and given a new heart. Amen!"

Today's Bible story is from Luke 9:28-45 and can be found in your SPARK Storybook Bible on p. 358. It's called "The Transfiguration." Jesus' appearance is "transfigured," or changed, on top of the mountain. He was bright and shining like the sun! Although Jesus is their human friend, the disciples see that Jesus is also divine-- God with us in a human body. God tells us to listen to Jesus!

Talk about these questions:

• I wonder what it would be like to see God. How do you think the disciples felt in this story?
• I wonder what it was like to return to normal life after what happened on the mountain
• Look at the image above depicting the Transfiguration and/or the illustration in the SPARK Bible. Compare and contrast them with how you pictured the story in your head! What is the same? What is different or surprising?
• What does God say in the story? I wonder what God is saying to us today.

Let's pray together.
Dear God, thank you for showing us who you are by showing us Jesus. Help us to hear your voice this week in every time and place. We also pray for... (add people and your needs here!). In Jesus' name, Amen. 

Worship Time
When we consider who God is and what God has done for us, we can't help but worship. How do you worship? Is it with singing, instruments, prayer, or movement? Do you worship by reading, drawing, writing, or serving others? Coming to worship or participating in worship videos? Or, all of the above?! Take some time to worship today. Here are some worship songs your family can sing and dance to!

• ​Lord, I Lift Your Name on High
• Every Move I Make
• Peace Like a River
• This Little Light of Mine

Jesus Journal (Older Kids and Adults)
The Transfiguration story is half-way through the Gospel of Luke. We've heard so many stories about Jesus, and now we are transitioning to hear about the events of the end of his life. Think about all of the stories you know about Jesus: his birth, healings, miracles, his death, and resurrection-- any stories that come to mind. Maybe flip through your Bible to find your favorite story of Jesus. Pick one you want to focus on.

We know from today's story that Jesus shows us who God is. Re-read the story you chose and journal about it. What does this story about Jesus tell you about who God is? What does this story mean to you? 

(Example: Jesus heals the centurion-- last week's story. Jesus heals a man who his culture tells him not to like. It shows that God loves all people, not just people we love. This story reminds me to include other people and makes me think about a classmate that I don't get alone with. Etc.)

​Valentine's Day Crafts
On Valentine's Day our culture celebrates love. We get to remember that God first loved us so we can love others. All love comes from God! God is love (1 John 4). Click here to download some Valentine's coloring sheets, activities, and crafts. These can make great gifts for grandparents, friends, etc. to remind them that God loves them! 

Are there groups of people you don't like very much? Fans of a different football team, maybe? (After all, it is Super Bowl weekend). People who dress a certain way or worship a certain way? People who live in a certain place? Think about these relationships and rivalries. Why do you feel the way you do?

In Jesus' time, the people of the Jewish faith did not get along with the Romans. The Romans were often mean to them. But today we read a story of a Roman soldier (called a centurion) who had faith that Jesus could heal one of his servants. What do you think Jesus did? We might want to refuse help to people we don't like, but Jesus helped him anyway. 

You can find this story in Luke 7:1-17 or in your SPARK Storybook Bible on p. 290. Consider these questions:

• I wonder if Jesus was surprised by the Roman centurion's faith.
• I wonder if people can believe differently than me and still have strong faith.
• I wonder if people I don't like can do nice things. Have you ever been surprised by someone doing something nice for you?
• How can I show that kind of faith in Jesus?
• What does this story mean for you today? What did you learn?

Pray together! Ask each other what you want to pray about today and include it in your prayer.
Dear God, be with us this week. Help us to see good in people we don't like and to treat them with kindness. Help us to grow in our faith in Jesus. We also pray for.... in Jesus' name. Amen. 

• When the mixture bubbles up, ask if they were surprised. What were they expecting? Will it happen again? Repeat if you want :)
• Now make regular hot chocolate to enjoy together.
• REFLECT: Water and hot chocolate mix go together well! What other things go well together? Some mixtures, like the baking soda and vinegar, were more surprising, just like Jesus and the centurion. What sort of things are surprisingly good together? (Like science experiments and Sunday School together!).

Learning About Different People
God made all sorts of different people. God made Jews and Romans, like we read about today! God made people from all different countries, of all different sizes and colors. Does your family often encounter people who are different from you? It is easy to dislike people who are different, but once we get to know them we might be surprised. Here are some challenges this week to learn about different people.

• Go to a restaurant that serves a different type of food than you are used to. (Have you ever been to Pho Viet 126 in Blaine? They serve Vietnamese food!) While you taste test, do some research on the place the food is from. What surprises you?
• Read a book by someone of a different race or nationality. Check out the library! How is the person's experience like yours? How is it different?
• Watch a movie about a different culture (e.g. Coco from Disney).  What did you learn from the movie?​