- The Testimonial Dinner. This parabolic lesson centers on the communion service in the format of a testimonial dinner. Alternating songs, readings, and comments by the minister honor Jesus as the Son of God. Readings might include such scriptures as Hebrews 8:1, 2; Matthew 5:1-12; John 21:35; John 3:16; etc. Songs might include "Christ We All Adore Thee," "Fairest Lord Jesus," "Joy to the World," etc. I often include tributes from contemporary authors, including A. B. Bruce, Bernard Ramm, and Philip Schaf.
- A Text Without a Context is a Pretext. In this lesson I begin by asking members to stand when I name a person they know. My list includes people I have known over my lifetime. I start with names one or two people might know and move up the list until everyone has stood. I then have them sit down according to what year they met me. Once a visitor did not sit down. I thought he must have misunderstood the directions. It turns out he had known me the longest. We went to church together when he was in elementary school and I was in junior high, and I did not recognize him.
- Tales Oft Told. I am concerned we lose the impact of Bible stories because they become smooth to our ears from having heard them the same way for so long. This lesson takes a popular Bible story and reads it in numerous versions and translations. To add some spice to the readings, I include the renditions in The Golden Book of Bible Stories; God is Cool, Man; The Cotton Patch edition of the Bible; and The Good News for Modern Man as well as other more scholarly translations.
- The Trial of Paul. After I did this lesson my wife told me it was the worst I had ever done. The next morning a member looked me up to tell me it was the best. I try Paul and call witnesses. Different members testify as:
Festus: Acts 25:1, 6, 9, 12, 14-27
Felix: Acts 23:26-34, 24:24-27
Son of Paul's Sister: Acts 23:12-22
A Pharisee: Acts 23:9
Tertullus: Acts 24:1-9
Trophimus: Acts 21:29
Jew I: Acts 21:28a
Lysias: Acts 21:31-40, 22:24-29, and 23:10, 16-30
Drusilla: Acts 24:24, 25
Asian Jew: Acts 24:19
Jew II: Acts 21:28b
The minister acts as judge as to any malfeasance by Paul.
- Lies, Lies. Without telling anyone who the Biblical prototypes are, I ask eight people to stand one at a time. I ask them each a question. The congregation must guess which one is telling the truth.
1) Were you the person I was supposed to give five dollars to? Yes. (But it is a lie, just like Jacob lied about being Esau.)
2) Did you give your whole check today? Yes. (But it is a lie, like Ananias and Sapphira lied.)
3) Did you eat the apple (which I had given a man and his wife)? No---she did. (A half lie--they both had, like Adam and Eve.)
4) Is this your wife? (asked of a husband and wife) She's my friend. (Misrepresentation of truth, as Abraham misrepresented Sarah to the King.)
5) Has the treasurer been skimming funds? I've heard so. Rumor and prejudice, as with the accusations against Zaccheus.)
6) Are you religious? Yes. (Self-righteous, as with the Pharisees.)
7) Is Jesus Lord? No. (As with Peter denying Christ.) (This one got a gasp when one of our most respected members said, "No.")
8) What must I do to receive eternal live? Keep Jesus' commandments. (As Jesus told the Rich Young Man.) (This is the one answer that is not one of the forms of lying.)
You may end here with "for those with ears let them hear." Or, you can explain about "lies."
- Our Setting. So much of what we do is based on our conditioned responses to our environment and is determined by circumstances such that choosing our settings becomes some of our most important choices. Church is one of those settings we have chosen as conducive to improving Christian living. I like to call attention to attributes of the building in which we worship. Scratched pews, colorful song books, stained glass, murals or paintings, a cross, scriptures mounted on the walls, and a baptistry all deserve special attention as elements of our religious setting. But I conclude this at- tention calling to the building by reading I Cor. 3:16 and 6:19 about our bodies being the true temples of God.
- The Natural Man, Conscience, Scriptures. This lesson requires three per- sons. One of the most popular members should portray the natural man; the minister the conscience; and someone respectable to read scripture. The parable is the realization of the appropriate interworkings of our thinking, conscience, and reading of scripture for Christian living. I use five dilemmas:
1) The natural man says, "I think I'll skip church today." The conscience agrees, "Yes, we are tired and haven't missed in a long time." But then the third person reads Hebrews 10:25 which says not to forsake the assembly. The conscience readvises the natural man to get up and go to church.
2) The natural man gets a call for help. He decides to refer the call to the church phone number. The conscience agrees we've done our share, and besides, it's no one very important who needs help. The scripture, Matthew 10:40-42, reminds him of Jesus' words: "Whoever does for the least, does for me." He reconsiders.
3) The natural man thinks about holding both from the contribution he intended to make. The conscience agrees he has unforeseen bills. The scripture, Acts 5:1-11, reminds him what happened to Ananias. He reconsiders.
4) The natural man has been requested to help at a handicap center. He says he is busy. The conscience tells him he does need to spend more time in study. The scripture, Luke 10:30-37, reminds him of the good samaritan story. He reconsiders.
5) The natural man sees a lovely young woman and thinks about having an affair. The conscience argues weakly the need for love in the world. The scripture, Matthew 5:27-30, speaks against adultery. The conscience and natural man admit they really knew better.
This interplay among the natural man, conscience, and scriptures re-solves the issue between Romans 2:15 and Acts 23:1. In Romans, Paul says the Gentiles' consciences prove the truth of the Jewish law. But in Acts 23:1 Paul persecuted the Christians in good conscience. The con-science can prove the law correct, but it needs to be educated by God's Word.
- The Separation of Sheep and Goats. This lesson is about separation and reunion. I ask everyone to go back out into the lobby and return. As they re-enter I sort them, goats to one side, sheep to the other. Because people are generally with family or best friends, the chasm between sides of the auditorium is psychologically real. I read Matthew 25:31-33 about Jesus' separation of sheep and goats. This is a harsh lesson. I remind everyone I expect to be reunited in heaven so they better make plans. I also read Genesis 46:29, 30; John 20:20b; and John 14:1-4 about reunions.
- Little, Big Things. I read the parable of the mustard seed, Mark 4:30-32. I discuss seemingly minor events that ended up making a big difference in my life. I review the Ray Bradbury short story, "Sound of Thunder," whose theme is that little things make a big difference. I read the parable of the sower, Mark 4:3-9, and encourage each person to be a seed sower of good. I give each person a mustard seed and encourage them to let their faith so grow.
- Diet Pepsi or Water. What do we give people in need? One person comes to the front expressing genuine need. Two people offer to help: a secular man and a Christian. The secular man has a pretty, but flimsy, bag; the Christian has a backpack. The man says he is hungry. The secular man offers m & ms; the Christian offers a more substantial granola bar. The man says he is thirsty. The secular man offers a Diet Pepsi; the Christian offers water. The man says he needs a place to stay. The secular man gives him a discount coupon to the Holiday Inn; the Christian gives him a key to his house. The man says he is cold. The secular man offers him a flimsy designer shirt; the Christian offers him a sweatshirt. The man says he is sick. The secular man says take two aspirin and go to bed; the Christian has a first aid book, which, if insufficient, is to be followed by a call to a doctor. The man says he is in jail. The secular man says, "I'll see you when you get out"; the Christian has an identification card which will allow him to visit in jail. The man says he seeks knowledge. The secular man offers a transistor radio; the Christian man offers a Bible.
We have the man choose the Christian's offers and the secular man complains each time disbelievingly that his offers aren't better.
The organization of this parable, of course, is based on Matthew 25:31-- 46, with the addition of I Peter 1:5.