Overview Jesus the Word An Angel Visits Mary Simeon and Anna Flight to Egypt Boy in the Temple Jesus the Word Epiphany John the Baptist The Baptism of Jesus The Lamb of God Tempted Calling the Disciples Wedding at Cana Woman at the Well The Beatitudes Love Your Enemies Do Not Worry Build Your House on the Rock The Man with a Shriveled Hand The Widow of Nain Jesus Calms a Storm The Mustard Seed The Man in the Caves The Man Born Blind Four Friends Mary and Martha The Lord's Prayer Jesus and the Children Transfiguration The Good Samaritan The Parable of the Fig Tree The Danger of Riches The Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin The Lost Son The Pharisee and the Tax Collector Ten Men Healed Man Born Blind Lazarus Jesus Talks about God's House Promise of the Holy Spirit The Rich Young Man The Woman Who Touched Jesus' Cloak Jairus' Daughter The Parable of Talents Sending the Twelve Peter's Faith Feeding the 5000 Share God's Love The Ten Bridesmaids The Wrong People Heal in Jesus' Name James and John Ask for Seats of Honour Sheep and Goats Christ the King Zacchaeus A Woman Washes Jesus' Feet Palm Sunday Jesus Cleanses the Temple Parable of the Vineyard The Wedding Banquet Paying Taxes The Greatest Commandment Be Humble The Sadducees’ Question Jesus the Vine The Empty Tomb Thomas and Jesus The Road to Emmaus The Disciples Fish Again The Great Commission Jesus' Ascension

Bible Texts:

 Matthew 21:12-17, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-48, John 2:13-22

 

Children's Bible Story sources:

"Jesus and the Temple Traders," DK Children's Illustrated Bible, p.258

"Jesus and he Temple Traders,” DK Children's Everyday Bible, p.296

 

Children's Story Resources

It Could Always Be Worse by Margot Zemach 

A man talks with his rabbi because he is upset over the noise and busyness of his household. The rabbi offers him some advice that makes things a lot worse before they get better.

 

How these stories are connected:  There are people in both of these stories who are upset. Their expectations of how things should be are not met and they want things to be different. A change of viewpoint can make our upset vanish in a moment. These stories help us consider why people (and why we) get upset and help us think about what we might do in those cases.

 

Questions about It Could Always Be Worse:

     Why was the unfortunate man upset?

     What did the Rabbi tell him to do?

     What happened when all of the animals were in the house too?

     What happened when they left?

 

Questions about the Bible story:

     Why was Jesus upset?

     What did he do to stop people from buying and selling in the temple?

     What did the children do?

     What did the priests think of everything that Jesus was doing?

 

Questions about our lives:

     What do you do when people are really upset?

     What can we do to keep Jesus from being upset?

     What can we do to keep our church holy?

 

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank you for wanting the Temple and our church to be holy places. Help us to treat the church as a holy place. Amen.