Shannon Kelly

Proper 17, Year A

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28

“From that time on…” this phrase signifies a shift in the Gospel of Matthew. After last week’s lesson where Peter professes that Jesus is the Messiah, we turn this week to Jesus getting down to business telling them what that means. Being the Messiah doesn’t mean that he is above anyone, but rather that he is one who is living out what he has been professing in his teachings, miracles, and parables. Peter does not want to believe that this is possible and wants to save him from this. Jesus reprimands him, saying that even though he had professed him as Messiah, he clearly doesn’t understand what that will mean.

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LPTW Proper 17, Year A, Younger Children
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Proper 16, Year A

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

After much instruction, story-telling, miracles, encounters, and prayer, Jesus finally asks two big questions to his disciples – Who do people say the Son of Man is? And Who do you say that I  am. Whenever Jesus asks questions in the Gospels, it often has a way of marking an important teaching or an important moment, so we better pay attention. Questions are how Jesus can gauge how his mission in the world is going. Are the disciples and the people understanding who he is? What do they say about him and what he is doing? Who do they say he is?

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Proper 15, Year A

Scripture: Matthew 15:10-28

As we continue the journey with Jesus and the disciples, we first get a lesson about what is clean and unclean. Jesus’ words are important for us all to remember – that our words come from our heart and what comes from our mouths speaks of who we are and our intentions. Following this parable, Jesus encounters a woman from Tyre and Sidon who had somehow heard of his teaching and healing. She comes to him, speaking words from her heart, showing Jesus that she truly believes even though she is not from Israel. He heals her because of her deep faith.

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Proper 17, Year A, Old Testament Lesson

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-15

This may be one of the best known stories in the Bible. The story of Moses and the burning bush is not only a great story, but the first story we hear of someone being called to be a prophet. The first story of God calling someone to speak on God’s behalf, to do the work of God, to be the voice of God in the world. How is it that we are now answering God’s call and coming off the mountaintop to do God’s work?

Download the Old Testament Lesson Plan for Proper 17

LPTW Proper 17, Year A, Younger Children, Old Testament
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Proper 16, Year A, Old Testament Lesson

Scripture: Exodus 1:8-2:10

This is the opening chapter of Exodus in which we see the Pharaoh’s jealousy of the people of Israel and their numbers. He tries to control the world around him by enslaving people, ordering babies to be killed, and killing the first born sons in each family. The women in Egypt play an important role in subverting his orders. Today we hear of Miriam saving Moses, reuniting him with his mother who becomes hired as his nursemaid, and Miriam raising Moses as her own.

Download the Old Testament Lesson for Proper 16

LPTW Proper 16, Year A, Younger Children, Old Testament
LPTW Proper 16, Year A, Older Children, Old Testament

Proper 14, Year A

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Today’s Gospel lesson comes on the tails of the feeding of the 5,000. Imagine being a disciple and having fed that many people, having seen the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and now being in a boat going to the other side of the lake. Jesus stayed behind to dismiss the crowds and then went up the mountain to pray. This story has may important things for us to take away as we grow in becoming disciples.

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LPTW Proper 14, Year A, Younger Children
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LPTW Proper 14, Year A, Adult
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Proper 15, Year A, Old Testament Lesson

Scripture: Genesis 45:1-15

The story of Joseph and his brothers continues this week as it culminates in forgiveness. Joseph forgives his brothers for selling him into slavery and sees it as a gift from God that he is there to help them in their time of need. After all he has been through and all that he has overcome, he is still a member of the family and is overwhelmed by seeing them again.

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LPTW Proper 15, Year A, Younger Children, Old Testament
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Proper 14, Year A, Old Testament Lesson

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28

We continue the saga of Jacob’s family today with the story of Joseph and his brothers. There was much jealousy among the brothers because of who their mothers were and their place in the family. Joseph’s brothers were very jealous of him did not approve of his dreams that tell of his greatness (which we don’t read today, but you could paraphrase for the children.) Joseph’s brothers decide to sell him rather than kill him to get rid of him.

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LPTW Proper 14, Year A, Younger Children, Old Testament
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Proper 13, Year A

Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21

Today’s Gospel lesson is one version of the well-known story about the feeding of the 5,000. It is so well known, we may not pay attention to it, but we have much to learn from it. The feeding of the 5,000 is more than a story about fishes and loaves. It is about Jesus’ compassion. It is about Jesus teaching the disciples how to feed people. It is about the generosity sharing what was there and being overwhelmed with the abundance. It is a foreshadowing of the last supper where Jesus also takes bread, breaks it, and shares it.  What can we learn anew from this well-known story? Where can we feed others and where are we being fed?

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LPTW Proper 13, Year A, Younger Children
LPTW Proper 13, Year A, Older Children
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LPTW Proper 13, Year A, All

Proper 13, Year A, Old Testament Lesson

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31

The Book of Genesis provides the foundational stories of our faith, God’s calling of a people, their often failed responses to God, and God’s steadfast love throughout. The Abraham Saga tells of the formation of Israel, beginning with the faithfulness of its patriarch Abraham. Although disillusioned with the wickedness of men, God separates out one family line to bring divine blessing to all subsequent families of the world. Abraham, the model of absolute faithfulness, trust, and obedience is symbolic of Israel’s idealized self. At the request of God, Abraham has left his homeland to travel to a promised land. God promises an heir even though Abraham and his wife Sarah are long past childbearing age. Sarah gives birth to Isaac. Isaac marries Rebekah who gives birth to twins, Esau and Jacob. Jacob has tricked his brother Esau out of his birthright, and blessing. Jacob left home to escape his bother and to find a wife. After working for his uncle Laban for twenty years, Jacob, all his livestock and property, his two wives and 11 children set out to return to his homeland. On the way, Jacob would like to make peace with Esau. Hoping to appease his brother, Jacob sends servants ahead with large gifts of herds. A messenger returns with the news that Esau, accompanied by four hundred men, is coming to meet Jacob. Fearing the worst, Jacob divides his flocks and people into two companies, so that if harm comes to the first, he will at least still have the second. That night Jacob sends his two wives, their maids, all the children and everything he owns across a stream for safety. Jacob waits alone through the night. The place name of Peniel is explained. The injury to Jacob is the reason certain cuts of meat are not eaten. Jacob’s new name signifies a new self. Jacob the supplanter becomes Israel, which probably means God rules. (According to the Oxford Annotated Bible, 1977.)

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LPTW Proper 13, Year A, Younger Children, Old Testament
LPTW Proper 13, Year A, Older Children, Old Testament