First Thoughts: In this passage we see lots of names and titles being handed out. John calls Jesus "Lamb of God," and the disciples call him "Rabbi" and "Messiah." Jesus even calls Simon "Cephas" or "Peter." Names are very important. They give us a sense of meaning and understanding about who we are and what our role is in life. Think about the names you've been given in your life from your supporters and detractors. How many names have supported your role in the world (teacher, parent, Christian)? How many have opposed who you wanted to be in the world (weirdo, lazy, dummy)? What about those names that fit at one point in your life, but you've since had to shed (class clown, sports star, straight-A student)? Our understanding of who we are as people and what we are called to be is a fluid truth, always in motion. The names we choose for ourselves as well as the names others give us either create a supportive structure for our called lives or they present challenges we must overcome. See if you can identify your current "names" in the world, those given to you by others and those given to you in your own inner dialogue, and make a list of them. Discern which ones are meaningful and helpful to you, asking God to inscribe these names on your heart for deeper reflection. Discern which ones are untrue or obsolete, asking God to help you shed these names in your daily walk.
Teaching On Your Own: (has name tag on already, pulls off name tags and sticks to each child's shirt) Hey everybody! Know what today is? It's Name Switcheroo Day. Can anyone guess what that means? It's when everybody gets a new name. It's lots of fun! So today you're (fill in the blank as while assigning new name). I love these names, but you know what? I think things could get a little confusing. I mean, names are pretty important, aren't they? Most of us have had the same name since we were born, and we recognize it as our name. I mean, if I was a block away and you wanted to get my attention, if you yelled (reads name) "Hercules!" at me, I probably wouldn't respond. Names are important in the Bible too like in our lesson today, because they were used to tell you something about a person.
For example, today the disciples called Jesus "rabbi." That means teacher. Then they called Jesus "messiah," which means anointed. Anointed means blessed or chosen by God. So Jesus was a teacher who was chosen and blessed by God. See how important those names are? And you know what? Jesus did it too. He called a disciple named Simon the new name, "Peter." Peter means "the rock," which reminds us of something solid and strong. Jesus wanted Simon, or Peter, to have a strong, solid faith. That's a pretty great name, isn't it? And you know what? Our names mean something important too. In fact in Isaiah 49:16, God tells us that our names are so important to God that they are written on God's own hands. Can you imagine that God has written our names on God's hands? I guess our names really are important. (pulls off own name tag) Maybe we'd better stick with the names we've already got. What do you think?
Teaching As A Team:
(Leader 2 has a name tag on and pulls name tags off and sticks them on each child's shirt)
Leader 1: Um, (name), what are you doing?
Leader 2: It's Name Switcheroo Day!
Leader 1: What is that?
Leader 2: It's when everybody gets a new name. It's lots of fun! Here's one for you. (puts a name tag on Leader 1)
Leader 1: Yeah, I can see how it might be fun to use different names for a day. But it might also get pretty confusing.
Leader 2: What do you mean?
Leader 1: Well, names are pretty important for us. Most of us have had the same name since we were born, and we recognize it as our name. I mean, if I was a block away and you wanted to get my attention, if you yelled (reads name) "Hercules!" at me, I probably wouldn't respond.
Leader 2: I guess that's true.
Leader 1: Names are important in the Bible too, like in our lesson today, because they were used to tell you something about a person. For example, today the disciples called Jesus "rabbi," which means teacher. Then they called Jesus "messiah," which means anointed.
Leader 2: Okay, but what does anointed mean?
Leader 1: It means blessed or chosen by God.
Leader 2: So Jesus was a teacher who was chosen and blessed by God. Wow, those names are important.
Leader 1: Jesus did it too. He called a disciple named Simon the new name, "Peter."
Leader 2: What was wrong with Simon?
Leader 1: Nothing was wrong with it, but Jesus wanted him to have a name with a different meaning. Peter means "the rock," which reminds us of something solid and strong. Jesus wanted Simon, or Peter, to have a strong, solid faith.
Leader 2: I see! So these names weren't just chosen because they were fun but because they really meant something.
Leader 1: That's right. And you know what? Our names mean something important too. In fact in Isaiah 49:16, God tells us that our names are so important to God that they are written on God's own hands.
Leader 2: God has written our names on God's hands? Wow, they are really important. (pulls off own name tag) Then we'd better stick with the names we've already got.
Leader 1: Makes sense to me.
Closing Prayer: Thank you, God, for calling each of us by name and writing our names on your own hands. Help us to realize how important we are to you and to use your names to do good things in the world. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: To reinforce this lesson in a home or classroom environment, talk about the different names we hear in the world. Invite the children to think beyond our given names, to think of things we are called or call each other. You might help them get started by suggesting things like "Hard worker" or "Bratty brother/sister" or "Good friend" or "Messy Room-Keeper" or "Non-Vegetable Eater." Keep a list of these names either on an erasable board or by writing each one on an index card. When you have several names, go through them one by one and ask whether this name is helpful in our pursuing a happy life. (Some names might be neutral.) Ask the children to think through what kind of life serves God best: being kind, forgiving, thoughtful, helpful, or caring for those who are sad or lonely. As Christians, we want to use names in our lives with this vision of life. But it's not enough for us to just use the helpful names ourselves. If we're going to help bring God's love to the world, we have to make sure and only use good names for others as well. Now go through your list and figure out which names need to be erased or torn up, and which need to be kept. (If you've used index cards, give each child an opportunity to tear up a "bad" name).
For a craft idea, give each child some air-drying clay. (You can buy some at a craft store or find a recipe online.) Give each child a piece of wax paper to work on, as well as a toothpick. Encourage the children to roll the clay in a ball, then flatten it to create a flat surface for writing. Then invite the children to choose one of the "good" names you've got left and inscribe it in the clay. (They can also use their own names if they'd rather.) They can add other decorative elements if they want. Remind them of the verse in Isaiah that our names are written on God's hands. But it's not like God has just scribbled our name in ink that can rub away. The literal word used in scripture means "carved" into God's hands, so it's something permanent -- like the clay will be once it dries. Encourage them to allow the clay to dry at home, perhaps coloring or painting it when it's solid, and then using it as a reminder both of who we want to be in the world, and that we are permanently on God's mind and in God's heart. Close in prayer.
