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One day the disciples came to Jesus. They were worried they might not have enough faith to follow him. They demanded, “Increase our faith.” Jesus listened to them and told them that the amount of their faith wasn’t the problem. “If you had trust in God the size of a tiny mustard seed, that would be enough. It’s not how much trust you have, but how you live with that trust. Your faith will show through in how you live. (Luke 17:5-6) WONDER: I wonder why the disciples thought they didn’t have enough faith? I wonder what it feels like to trust someone? I wonder what it feels like to have trust in God? I wonder how much faith is enough? PRAY: Dear God, help us to see you in our world. Give us hearts big enough to love the world. Give us words to share your love with the world. And help us trust that what we can do will change the world. Amen. EXTEND
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 Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1633, Gardner Museum READ: The friends of Jesus told many stories about Jesus saying and doing amazing things. One story tells of a time when Jesus and some of his friends were in a boat heading across to the other side of a lake. Once they were sailing, Jesus lays down and falls asleep in the boat. Suddenly a big wind began to blow, and the waves grew large, and they were in the middle of a great storm. The waves were spilling over into their little boat.
His friends were frightened. But despite the storm, Jesus was still sound asleep. They woke him up, telling him about the storm and their fears. When he woke up, Jesus stood up, and told the winds and waves to stop. And just like that, there was calm on the waters, and the winds were still. Then Jesus looked at his friends and asked, “Why didn’t you trust me?” His friends didn’t know what to think, they were amazed and wondered among themselves, “Who is Jesus? Only God can command the winds and the water.” Jesus’s friends told this story as a reminder that Jesus is always with them. WONDER: I wonder why the friends of Jesus were afraid when the storm began? I wonder if you’ve ever felt afraid like Jesus’s friends? I wonder how Jesus’s friends felt after Jesus calmed the storm? I wonder which part of this story you like best? I wonder what part of this story is most important? PRAY: Dear God, thank you for being a safe place for us when we have difficult times. Help us to remember you are with us when we are afraid. Amen. EXTEND
 READ: Once when Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath, Jesus saw a woman who was bent over, unable to stand up straight. She had lived with this condition for 18 years. When Jesus saw her, he wanted to help, and he asked her to come to him. He smiled at her and said, “Woman, you’re free!” Then placed his hands on her back gently and prayed for her. And with that she was able to stand up straight and tall, giving thanks to God for being made well.
Some folks there were upset with Jesus, thinking that he was breaking the rules for the Sabbath, the day of rest. Jesus stopped them, and told them, “You make exceptions to the rules when it benefits you. I’ve done the same for this woman, who has suffered long enough.” They didn’t have an answer to Jesus, so his critics kept their mouths shut. But the rest of the people who were gathered there to hear Jesus joined with the woman to give thanks to God. WONDER: I wonder what it feels like to be bent over? I wonder what you can see when you’re bent over? I wonder what you miss seeing when you are bent over? I wonder how it felt to have Jesus place his hands on your shoulder and pray for you? I wonder what part of this story you like best? I wonder if there is any part of the story we could leave out and still have all we need? PRAY: Loving God, thank you for seeing us, when others may overlook us. Help us to be welcoming friends to others, just as Jesus is a friend to us. Amen. EXTEND
 READ: Sometimes Jesus said things are difficult to understand and make us ask questions. One time when he was teaching his disciples, he told them that people will hear what he says and they will disagree about what he means or how to respond. He said, “Do you think I came to smooth things over and make everything nice? Not so. I’ve come to disrupt and confront! From now on when you find five in a house, they will be divided.”
What’s important, Jesus went on to say, is how we respond to the times of dispute. He reminded his followers that they knew how to look at the clouds in the sky and tell if there was a storm coming. In the same way, they could look at what was happening in the world around them and see that God was bringing about changes. The divisions in the world that they could see were a sign for them to pay attention to what God was doing, and to do their best to follow Jesus’s teachings to love God and to love their neighbor. (Luke 12:49-56) WONDER: I wonder how the disciples felt when they heard Jesus say that he came to disrupt and confront? I wonder what kind of disruptions Jesus brings? I wonder how you would have responded if you were one of Jesus’s followers? I wonder if you’ve ever had a disagreement with someone close to you? I wonder how Jesus felt when he saw divisions among his disciples? PRAY: Dear God, thank you for the signs of you in our world: in the rainbow after the rain, our reflections in puddles, a kind word from a friend, a smile from a loved one, a helping hand in tough times. Help us to see each day that you are always near to us, in the world and in every living thing. And help us to respond in love--for others, for the world, and for ourselves. Amen. EXTEND
 READ: Jesus told many stories encouraging his followers to consider what was most important in their lives. After he told the story of the rich man who tore down all of his barns, he went on to teach them more about what was most important in life. He reminded them that each one of them was loved completely by God, who cares for them as a loving shepherd cares for every one of their sheep and knows each sheep’s name. Every sheep, no matter how big or small, is loved totally by God, without exception. One time Jesus told his friends, “Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” He explained, saying “What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving.” Jesus knew that when we learn to trust in God’s love for us, what’s most important to us shifts, and we are free to be generous to others. “Where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and the place you end up being,” Jesus told them. (Luke 12:22-40)
WONDER: I wonder how the sheep feel when the shepherd calls them by name? I wonder what things are most important for the sheep? I wonder what things they could do without? I wonder if the sheep have things they could share? I wonder what things you have that you think are really important? I wonder what things you have you think are not necessary? PRAY: Good Shepherd, thank you for knowing us by name and for your tender care for us. Help us to learn to share what we have with others who need our help. Amen. EXTEND
 "The Parable of the Rich Fool" artist: James B. Janknegt See this painting and more at www.bcartfarm.com/newparables/richfool2.html READ: Once someone asked Jesus to intervene in a family dispute over money and property. Jesus listened and then gently told them, “Friend, be careful. The desire for money and possessions is dangerous. You’ll never find what is most important in life if you’re consumed with acquiring things.”
And then Jesus went on to tell a parable about a rich man who owned much farmland. The land was good and produced many crops. The rich man was so impressed with his great harvest he decided to tear down all his old barns and to build newer and larger ones to hold all of his crops for himself. That very night the rich man went to sleep dreaming of his great bounty and all of his plans for keeping his crops for himself. He never built those barns, and he never enjoyed his crops, though. For the rich man died that night, and everything he had, he left behind. (Luke 12:13-21) WONDER: I wonder why the person asked Jesus to step in and fix their family argument over money? I wonder why Jesus told this parable? I wonder what the rich man thought he would do with all of his crops? I wonder how the rich man’s neighbors thought about his plans to tear down his barns and build new ones? I wonder why Jesus warned about the desire for money and possessions? SAY: When someone asked Jesus to help them gain possessions from a family dispute, Jesus tells a story about a man who has many things, but has no concern for others. Jesus points out for us that when we focus on gaining possessions without thinking about others and how what we have can help others, we are missing out on what is most important in our lives. PRAY: Dear God, thank you for providing us with what we need in our lives. Help us to share what we have with others. Amen. EXTEND
 Christ at the Home of Martha and Mary, Johannes Vermeer, 1654-56 Scottish National Gallery READ: Once when Jesus was traveling with his disciples they stayed in the home of Martha and Mary. As the two sisters welcomed Jesus and his friends in their home, Martha was busy making things ready for their guests. There was so much to do. Mary, on the other hand, sat down next to Jesus, listening to him teach. Martha was distracted by everything on her to-do list, and she came to Jesus and asked him, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me.”
Jesus smiled at Martha and said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, when there is only one thing which matters. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42) WONDER: I wonder how Martha felt when she welcomed Jesus and all his disciples into their home? I wonder how Mary felt as she sat with Jesus and listened to him teach? I wonder why Martha was distracted? Jesus told Martha that there was only one thing that really matters. I wonder what that one thing is? I wonder which part of this story you like the best? PRAY: Loving God, thank you for this story of Jesus. Help us make good choices, and to find what is most important in our lives. Amen. EXTEND
 The Good Samaritan, 1633 Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) The Metropolitan Museum of Art READ: One day a person asked Jesus what the most important thing in life was. Jesus said, “You already know.” The person replied, “I do. It is to love God and to love people just like they are your neighbors.” Not finished, the person then asked Jesus, “But who is my neighbor?”
Jesus then told him this parable. There was once someone who went from Jerusalem down to Jericho. As he went on his way, he was attacked by robbers. They hurt him, took everything he had, and left him half dead along the side of the road. There was also a priest of the temple in Jerusalem who was traveling the same road. He came upon the poor traveler lying hurt on the side of the road, with all his belongings taken from him, left half dead. When the priest saw him, he went to the other side of the road and went on his way. Another person who worked at the temple helping the priests who was called a Levite came upon the poor man, still left on the side of the road half dead, with everything taken from him. The Levite, too, crossed over to the other side of the road and went on his way. There was also another person on the road, who lived not in Jerusalem, but in a country called Samaria. The people of Samaria did not like the people of Jerusalem, and the people of Jerusalem did not like people from Samaria. When the stranger saw the traveler who had been hurt, lying on the side of the road with everything taken from him, the stranger went over to him. He treated the traveler’s wounds with medicine, gave him his own coat to wear, put him on his donkey, and took him to a place to spend the night. In the morning, the stranger gave the innkeeper enough money so that the traveler could stay there until he was healthy again. After telling the story, Jesus asked the person, “I wonder who is the neighbor to the person who was hurt, had everything taken from him, and was left by the side of the road? WONDER: I wonder who is the neighbor to the person who was hurt, with all his belongings taken away, left by the side of the road? I wonder what would happen if the person finding the injured traveler were a child? I wonder what it means to be a neighbor? I wonder who is the neighbor to the priest? to the Levite? to the Samaritan? I wonder if we can leave out any of the story and still have all the story we need? PRAY: Loving God, thank you for the stories Jesus told, stories which make us think, stories which show us what it means to live out your love in our world. Amen. EXTEND
 Conversion on the Way to Damascus, Caravaggio, 1601 Cerasi Chapel, Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome READ: Once a man named Saul was going from Jerusalem to Damascus to find Christians he could bring back to punish. In those days Christians were known as “Followers of the Way.” On the way to Damascus a dazzling light flashed around Saul, blinding his eyes. As he fell to the ground, he heard a voice say, “Saul, why are you trying to hurt me?” Confused and blinded, Saul asked, “Who are you?”
The voice responded, “I’m Jesus, the one you’re trying so hard to hurt. Get up and go into the city. Once you’re there, you’ll be told what to do next.” Saul got up, but still couldn’t see. The people with him took his hand and led him into Damascus. He stayed in a home on Straight Street. He didn’t eat or drink anything. On the third day a man came to him, Ananias, a Follower of the Way in Damascus. God had sent him to meet Saul. Ananias had come, even though he knew Saul intended to hurt people like him. Ananias said, “Brother Saul, you saw the Lord on the road and that same Lord Jesus came to me too, so that you could see again and receive the Holy Spirit.” Saul heard him, and it was like fish scales fell from his eyes. He could see, and he understood what Ananias meant. Saul was baptized by Ananias, he ate a meal, and felt restored. Saul was changed. Like Ananias he became a Follower of the Way. To mark this moment, Saul changed his name to Paul. (Acts 9:1-20) WONDER: I wonder how it felt when the light was flashing on the road to Damascus? I wonder how Saul felt when he couldn’t see? I wonder how Ananias felt when God told him to go find Saul? I wonder how Saul felt when he had a change of heart? I wonder what part of this story you like the best? I wonder what part of this story is the most important? SAY: In this story Saul has a change of heart and becomes one of the first Followers of the Way to know Jesus in this “new way.” He joins the other disciples who have met Jesus since he was raised. And that is how we meet him today, too. PRAY: Let’s pray. Dear God, thank you for loving us just as we are. Help us to be sharers of your love with others. Amen. EXTEND
 "The Three Marys at the Sepulchre," Giovanni Battista Gaulli (1639–1709), The Fitzwilliam Museum READ: Early on Sunday morning, a group of women, all friends of Jesus, came to the tomb where he had been buried in a hurry. They brought spices and scented oils with them to properly finish his burial. But when they got to the tomb, the stone at the opening was rolled away and his body was gone. As they wondered about what had happened, two men in bright shining clothes appeared, saying “Why are you looking for the living in a cemetery? Jesus isn’t dead. Remember he told you that after his death he would rise again?
They did remember, and they went back to the other disciples and told them what they had found in the graveyard. No one believed them. Peter wanted to check for himself, so he ran to the tomb and saw that it was empty. He went back to the others amazed at what he had heard and seen. (Luke 24:1-12) WONDER: I wonder what it was like going to the tomb that morning? I wonder how the women felt when Jesus died? I wonder how they felt when they saw the tomb was empty? I wonder what it was like to hear that Jesus was alive, that he had risen? I wonder what it felt like to tell others that Jesus had risen? I wonder what it felt like when the other disciples didn’t believe the women? SAY: In this story we hear the good news that Jesus is alive, that the love of God is stronger than the forces of hatred and fear in our world. PRAY: Let’s pray. Dear God, thank you for Jesus, for the ways in which he shows us your love. Thank you for the hope you give us, that goodness is stronger than evil and love is stronger than hate. Help us to love as Jesus loved. Amen. EXTEND
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Weekly Faith ConversationsUse these guides as conversation starters with your family. A short retelling of the scripture passage is offered or you may want to look the story up in your own bible or in a children's bible. The wondering questions are written to open up faith exploration with children and adults. Archives
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