Mary & Martha

Computer Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Uses the Let's Talk.

Scripture Reference:

Luke 10:38-42

Leader Preparations:

• Read the scripture ahead of time.
• Gather the materials.
• Preview the software.

Supplies List:

• Let's Talk This software is FREE to supporting members! Check it out.

Presentation

Opening - Welcome and Lesson Introduction:

Greet the children and introduce yourself.

Open with a prayer.

Dig - Main Content and Reflection:

The story of Mary and Martha is rich in DIALOG -both recorded by Luke, and what you can IMAGINE was probably said AND unsaid by both sisters.  Whenever I encounter a story with so much interesting dialog possibilities, I immediately think of having my students RE-WRITE and ADD dialog to flesh out the story and its meaning.

I do this by posing questions. For example:

• "What kinds of things was Martha thinking as she saw her sister Mary sitting with Jesus?"
• "What do you think Mary would have said to Martha if Jesus had not intervened?"
• "What could Jesus have said differently to console Martha and bring her into the conversation?"

Software Technique:

There's a neat little program called "Let's Talk" (Sunday Software) that allows your students to create an onscreen animated character who will speak aloud whatever the kids type. After my Bible study with the kids, I would have them go to Let's Talk screen, create their character, and then POSE QUESTIONS to them, either one at a time, or a different question to a different computer group, then give them 3 minutes to answer the question. We'd go to each computer to hear each group's response. Kids' like that.  Then I'd pose another question...and so on.

You can also pose reflection questions, such as:

• "What would you tell a friend who tried to get you to stop going to church?" (a.k.a. spending time with Jesus)
• "What can you tell your parents when you want to go to fellowship group, but they want you to finish your homework?"

Practically speaking, I don't think Martha was trying to be rude, or Mary was trying to shirk her work. Instead, Mary and Martha had time-management issues, as do all of us. BOTH of them should  have had time to spend with Jesus AND offer hospitality to him and his disciples. So I might have one of my workstations re-write the story describing how Mary and Martha prepared in ADVANCE to have plenty of time to learn from Jesus.

I've also had my students answer this question: "What could one of the disciples have said or done to help Martha?"

Then.... in my final 'act' with Let's Talk, I'd have the kids re-write the story as if Martha and Mary had prepared in advance and BOTH were able to spend time with Jesus. I'd include the question: "How would Jesus praise the sisters for making time to learn from him?"  (See my "new proverb" idea below.)

Closing:

End with a prayer.

Additional Software Suggestions

1) You can do the "talking text" lesson idea above with Kid Pix 4 (or 3-D).

2) You can finish up the lesson by having the kids create a "NEW PROVERB" memory verse that maybe Jesus SHOULD have invented to end this story on a positive note !!  

Use Cal and Marty's Scripture Memory Game to create this new proverb. This software is FREE to supporting members! Check it out.

3) Younger children can use Kid Pix 4 (or 3-D) to illustrate two ideas:  

(1) The things that make people think they are "Too Busy" to pray, worship, do good.

(2) Two Faces:  Martha worried about cooking vs. Mary enjoying listening to Jesus

Note: Mary and Martha's story is NOT found in Life of Christ.  BUT it is found in Play and Learn Bible (out of print), but left here as many rotation churches have it.

A lesson written by Neil Macqueen

Disclaimer: I sell some of the software mentioned. Rotation.org's Board has encouraged me to post my software lessons. You are welcome to post yours!  My software ministry grew out of my work in the Rotation Model.

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.