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Mark 1:1-8

2/22/2018

1 Comment

 
Picture
Introductory Picture Discussion
Have you ever hiked a trail or driven on a road you wished were straighter? What happened?
In what ways may a trail or road be prepared for travelers?
​
​Mark 1:1-8
神的儿子,耶稣基督福音的起头。正如先知以赛亚书上记着说“看哪,我要差遣我的使者在你的前面预备道路。在旷野有人声喊着说:‘预备主的道,修直他的路。’”

照这话,约翰来了,在旷野施洗,传悔改的洗礼,使罪得赦。犹太全地和耶路撒冷的人都出去到约翰那里,承认他们的罪,在约旦河里受他的洗。约翰穿骆驼毛的衣服,腰束皮带,吃的是蝗虫,野蜜。他传到说:“有一位在我以后来的,能力比我更大,我就是弯腰给他解鞋带也是不配的。我是用水给你们施洗,她却要用圣灵给你们施洗。”

My Translation of the Chinese
The Son of God, Jesus Christ, the beginning of the Gospel. As the prophet Isaiah said: "Look, I dispatch my messenger before your face to prepare the way. In the wilderness is a voice crying: 'Prepare the Lord's way, straighten his path.'"

When this word appeared, John had come, in the wilderness baptizing and spreading a baptism of repentance, for the forgiveness of sins.'",All the people of Judah and Jerusalem came out to where John was, confessing their sins, in the Jordan receiving his baptism. John wore camel hair clothing, a leather belt, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He preached saying: "There is one who comes after me, greater than I. I am unworthy to stoop down and untie his shoelaces. I baptize you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Introductory Discussion Questions
What kinds of people send out messengers?
Have you known someone who predicted the future? Were they correct? Why or why not?
Have you ever seen or heard of a street being prepared for someone's coming? Describe what happened. 
What is baptism?
Have you ever felt unworthy to do something? What happened?


Antonym Matching
beginning                                                                crooked
prepare                                                                   stand
straight                                                                     ending
after                                                                          tie
unworthy                                                                 oasis
stoop                                                                       destroy
untie                                                                        before
wilderness                                                              worthy

Synonym Matching
Gospel                                                                      saying
God                                                                           getting 
wilderness                                                                way
crying                                                                        lean over
path                                                                           good news
receiving                                                                  desert
stoop                                                                        Jesus Christ
dispatch                                                                   send


Listening Blank Fill
The Son of God, Jesus Christ, the beginning _______ the Gospel. As the prophet Isaiah said: "Look, I ______________ my messenger before your face to prepare the _____________. In the wilderness is a voice crying: 'Prepare ____________ Lord's way, straighten his path.'"

When this word ________________, John had come, in the wilderness baptizing and ______________ a baptism of repentance, for the forgiveness of _____________.'",All the people of Judah and Jerusalem came ____________ to where John was, confessing their sins, in __________ Jordan receiving his baptism. John wore camel hair ______________, a leather belt, and he ate locusts and __________ honey. He preached saying: "There is one who comes _____________ me, greater than I. I am unworthy to stoop ___________ and untie his shoelaces. I baptize you with ______________; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 

Pair Work Discussion Questions

A 
Was Isaiah's prophecy true? Why?
Why do you think Mark begins his Gospel with an old prophecy?
Have you ever eaten locusts or grasshoppers? Describe the experience. 
B 
Why do you think people came out to hear John?
What do you think was the purpose of baptism?
How did John prepare the way for Jesus' coming? 


Exercise Answers
Antonym matching: beginning-->ending, prepare-->destroy, straight-->crooked, after-->before, unworthy-->worthy, stoop-->stand, untie-->tie, wilderness-->oasis. 
Synonym Matching: Gospel-->good news, God-->Jesus Christ, wilderness-->desert, crying-->saying, path-->way, receiving-->getting, stoop-->lean down, dispatch-->send. 
Listening Blank Fill: of, dispatch, way, the, appeared, spreading, sins, out, the, clothing, wild, after, down, water. 
1 Comment

Parable of the Sower

12/31/2017

2 Comments

 
Picture
Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: and it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: but when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.  

The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

Introductory Discussion Questions
Have you ever sown seed? What kinds of seed have you sown?
What kinds of soil are good for sowing?
What kinds of ground are not good for sowing


Introductory Pictures for discussion
Over the years, many artists have been fascinated by the picture of the sower. Below are some of those pictures.

Why do you think these artists liked to paint the sower? 
Which of the three pictures do you like best? Explain.
What kinds of symbolic meanings can the sower, seed, and earth have? Discuss.

Synonym Matching
gladness                                                           wealth
immediately                                                    birds
riches                                                                soil
receive                                                             jumped up
hearken                                                           gave
fowls                                                                burned
devoured it                                                     quickly
earth                                                                happiness
sprang up                                                       get
scorched                                                           listen
yielded                                                             ate it

​
Antonym Matching
sower                                                                                   delayed
came                                                                                    give up
immediately                                                                        reaper
increased                                                                             unfruitful
gladness                                                                              good ground
endure                                                                                 truthfulness
deceitfulness                                                                      sadness
fruitful                                                                                 went
stony ground                                                                     decreased


Listening Blank Fill
Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: _________ it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell ________ the way side, and the fowls of the _______ came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony __________, where it had not much earth; and immediately _______ sprang up, because it had no depth of __________: but when the sun was up, it was ____________; and because it had no root, it withered _________. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew _______, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. __________ other fell on good ground, and did yield _________ that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, _________ thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.  

Word Bank Fill in the Blank

The sower soweth the __________. And these are they by the way side, where the word is __________; but when they have heard, Satan cometh ___________________, and taketh away the word that was sown in their _____________. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ____________; who, when they have heard the ____________, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in _________________, and so endure but for a time: _______________, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown ____________ thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, _____________ the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on ____________ ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an _______________.

sown
hearts
word
themselves
among
good
word
immediately
ground
afterwards
choke
hundred

Pair Work Discussion Questions
A

Why do you think Jesus taught in parables like these?
What happened to the seed that fell on the wayside?
To what was Jesus referring when he used the term 'word'?
What can we do to be good soil for hearing truth?
Is it possible to live life without sowing any seed (influencing people)?

B
Which would you rather do, sow or reap? Why?
What happened to the seed that fell on good soil?
What do you think Jesus meant by using the word 'fruit'?
What do people do to make themselves bad soil for hearing truth?
Is it possible to live life without reaping (receiving the results of our actions)?

Research and Writing
A: Using the internet, look up the sower in art. Try to discover who painted these pictures and what their motives were. Prepare to share your findings with the class.
B: Using the internet and a Bible program like biblegateway.com, look for other times in the New Testament when 'the word' is referred to. Be prepared to share your findings.

Chinese Version

3 他 用 比 喻 对 他 们 讲 许 多 道 理 , 说 : 有 一 个 撒 种 的 出 去 撒 种 ;
4 撒 的 时 候 , 有 落 在 路 旁 的 , 飞 鸟 来 吃 尽 了 ;
5 有 落 在 土 浅 石 头 地 上 的 , 土 既 不 深 , 发 苗 最 快 ,

6 日 头 出 来 一 晒 , 因 为 没 有 根 , 就 枯 乾 了 ;
7 有 落 在 荆 棘 里 的 , 荆 棘 长 起 来 , 把 他 挤 住 了 ;
8 又 有 落 在 好 土 里 的 , 就 结 实 , 有 一 百 倍 的 , 有 六 十 倍 的 , 有 三 十 倍 的 。

18 所 以 , 你 们 当 听 这 撒 种 的 比 喻 。
19 凡 听 见 天 国 道 理 不 明 白 的 , 那 恶 者 就 来 , 把 所 撒 在 他 心 里 的 夺 了 去 ; 这 就 是 撒 在 路 旁 的 了 。
20 撒 在 石 头 地 上 的 , 就 是 人 听 了 道 , 当 下 欢 喜 领 受 ,
21 只 因 心 里 没 有 根 , 不 过 是 暂 时 的 , 及 至 为 道 遭 了 患 难 , 或 是 受 了 逼 迫 , 立 刻 就 跌 倒 了 。
22 撒 在 荆 棘 里 的 , 就 是 人 听 了 道 , 後 来 有 世 上 的 思 虑 、 钱 财 的 迷 惑 把 道 挤 住 了 , 不 能 结 实 。
23 撒 在 好 地 上 的 , 就 是 人 听 道 明 白 了 , 後 来 结 实 , 有 一 百 倍 的 , 有 六 十 倍 的 , 有 三 十 倍 的 。

Exercise Answers:
Synonym Matching: gladness-->happiness, immediately-->quickly, riches-->wealth, receive-->get, hearken-->listen, fowls--> birds, devoured it-->ate it, earth-->soil, sprang up-->jumped up, scorched-->burned, yielded--> gave. 
Antonym Matching: sower-->reaper, came-->went, immediately-->delayed, increased-->decreased, gladness-->sadness, endure-->give up, deceitfulness-->truthfulness, fruitful-->unfruitful, stony ground-->good ground 
Listening Blank Fill: and, along, air, ground, it, earth, scorched, away, up, and, fruit, some.
Word Bank Fill in the Blank: word, sown, immediately, hearts, ground, word, themselves, afterwards, among, choke, good, hundred. 
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A Good Person (Galatians)

7/6/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ...

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.


If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another (ESV).

Matching Fruit of the Spirit with Pictures
​Discuss which picture represents the following words: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, sefl-control. 

Introductory Discussion Questions
What is your favorite fruit?
What are the fruits of a good person, or what characteristics make a person good? 
What can help a person become good? 
What good characteristic do you wish you had more of? 
What things keep a person from being good? 

Synonym Matching

gratify                                                                   commandment
desires                                                                 against
law                                                                        satisfy
conceited                                                            wants
provoking                                                           jealous 
envying                                                               irritating 
opposed                                                              proud 

Antonym Matching 
love                                                                      unkind
joy                                                                        evil
peace                                                                   war
patience                                                             hate
kindness                                                             unfaithful 
goodness                                                           rough
faithfulness                                                       despair
gentleness                                                         impatience 
self-control                                                        indulgence 

Word Bank Fill in the Blank
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the ________ are against the Spirit, and the desires of the _________ are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to _____. ...

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, ______________, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no ______.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and ___________.

_____ we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one _________, envying one another (ESV).

If
flesh
goodness
Spirit
do
law
desires
another

Listening Blank Fill
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and _______ will not gratify the desires of the flesh. _______ the desires of the flesh are against the __________, and the desires of the Spirit are against _______ flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to ________ you from doing the things you want to do. ...

_______ the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, _________, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things _________ is no law.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus _______ crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.


_____ we live by the Spirit, let us also keep _____ step with the Spirit. Let us not become _____________, provoking one another, envying one another (ESV).

Pair Work Discussion Questions
A
What are the desires of the flesh?
Which fruit is the most important? Why?
Why is there no law against these fruits?
According to these words, who or what makes people good? 
Do you agree with the author? Why or why not? 
B
What is meant by the Spirit?
Which fruit is the least important? Why? 
What behaviors are there laws against?
According to the author, what is the chief danger to these fruits? 

Do you agree with the author? Who or what do you think makes people evil?

Fruits Ordering
In pairs or groups, discuss and order the fruits of the Spirit from most important to least important. 


Representing the Fruits with Pictures
Can you think of any other pictures or stories from your culture that may represent the fruits? 

Homework
Take one fruit of the Spirit and write a story demonstrating that fruit. It can be either true or from your imagination. In the next class, you can read the story, and other students can guess the fruit being demonstrated. 
​
Chinese Translation
我 说 , 你 们 当 顺 着 圣 灵 而 行 , 就 不 放 纵 肉 体 的 情 欲 了 。
因 为 情 欲 和 圣 灵 相 争 , 圣 灵 和 情 欲 相 争 , 这 两 个 是 彼 此 相 敌 , 使 你 们 不 能 做 所 愿 意 做 的 。

圣 灵 所 结 的 果 子 , 就 是 仁 爱 、 喜 乐 、 和 平 、 忍 耐 、 恩 慈 、 良 善 、 信 实 、
温 柔 、 节 制 。 这 样 的 事 没 有 律 法 禁 止 。
凡 属 基 督 耶 稣 的 人 , 是 已 经 把 肉 体 连 肉 体 的 邪 情 私 欲 同 钉 在 十 字 架 上 了 。

我 们 若 是 靠 圣 灵 得 生 , 就 当 靠 圣 灵 行 事 。

不 要 贪 图 虚 名 , 彼 此 惹 气 , 互 相 嫉 妒 (CUV)。

Exercise Answers: 

Picture Matching: love-->pic. 1, patience-->pic. 2, kindness-->pic. 3, self-control-->pic. 4, faithfulness-->pic. 5, joy-->pic. 6, gentleness-->pic. 7, peace-->pic. 8, goodness-->pic. 9. 
Synonym Matching: gratify-->satisfy, desires-->wants, law-->commandment, conceited-->proud, provoking-->irritating, envying-->jealous, opposed-->against. 
Antonym Matching: love-->hate, joy-->despair, peace-->war, patience-->impatience, kindness-->unkind, goodness-->evil, faithfulness-->unfaithful, gentleness-->rough, selfcontrol-->indulgence.
Word Bank Fill in the Blank: flesh, Spirit, do, goodness, law, desires, If, another. 
Listening Blank Fill: you, For, Spirit, the, keep, But, peace, there, have, If, in, conceited. 
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A Trap (Continued)

4/9/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
But Jesus, with his head bent down, made letters on the floor with his finger.

But when they went on with their questions, he got up and said to them, Let him among you who is without sin be the first to send (throw) a stone at her.

And again, with bent head, he made letters on the floor.

And when his words came to their ears, they went out one by one, starting with the oldest even to the last, because they were conscious of what was in their hearts: and Jesus was there by himself with the woman before him. Then Jesus got up, and seeing nobody but the woman, he said to her, Where are the men who said things against you? did no one give a decision against you?

​And she said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said, And I do not give a decision against you: go, and never do wrong again (BBE).

Introductory Discussion Questions:
Have you ever written in the sand? What did you write?
Have you ever felt guilty for something you did? Is guilt a good or bad thing? Why?
In your country, how many witnesses are needed to convict someone?
Do you like second chances (discuss)?
Do you think a second chance should not be given sometimes? When? 

Introductory Single and Pair Work Activity
Men tried to trap Jesus with difficult questions.
Think of three very difficult questions, and then in pairs ask your questions!
Whose question was the most difficult? 

Synonym Matching
Starting                                                                                                 in front of him
Before him                                                                                           left
Decision                                                                                               knowing
Alone                                                                                                    beginning
Went out                                                                                              sin
Wrong                                                                                                  verdict
Conscious                                                                                            no one
Nobody                                                                                                by himself

Antonym Matching
bent                                                                                                      straight
get (receive)                                                                                       down
without                                                                                                made
went to bed                                                                                        letters
answers                                                                                               floor
up                                                                                                          questions
evolve                                                                                                  send
scribbling                                                                                             got up
ceiling                                                                                                   with


Listening Blank Fill
 
But Jesus, with his head bent down, _________ letters on the floor with his finger.

But _________ they went on with their questions, he got _______ and said to them, Let him among you ________ is without sin be the first to send _______ stone at her.

And again, with bent head, ________ made letters on the floor.

And when his _______ came to their ears, they went out one ________ one, starting with the oldest even to the _________, because they were conscious of what was in __________ hearts: and Jesus was there by himself with ________ woman before him. Then Jesus got up, and ___________ nobody but the woman, he said to her, Where ________ the men who said things against you? did ____ one give a decision against you?

And she _________, No man, Lord. And Jesus said, And I_______ not give a decision against you: go, and __________ do wrong again.

 
Word Bank Fill in the Blank
 
But Jesus, with his head bent down, made letters 1(    ) the floor with his 2(    ).

But when they went on with their questions, he got up and said to them, Let him 3(    ) you who is without sin be the 4(    ) to send a stone at her.

And again, with 5(    ) head, he made letters on the floor.

And when his words came to their ears, they went out one by 6(    ), starting with the oldest even to the 7(    ), because they were conscious of what was in their 8(    ): and Jesus was there by 9(    ) with the woman before him. Then Jesus got up, and seeing nobody but the woman, he said to her, Where10(    ) the men who said things 11(    ) you? did no one give a decision against you?

And she 12(    ), No man, Lord. And Jesus said, And I do not give a 13(    ) against you: go, and never do wrong again.
a.)hearts
b.) last
c.)one
d.)bent
e.)finger
f.)said
g.)decision
h.)against
i.)are
j.)on
k.)among
l.)first
m.)
himself

Pair Work Discussion Questions
A:

What do you think Jesus may have written in the sand (Hint: no one knows.)?
Why do you think the oldest left first?
In what ways are older people different from younger people?
Do you think these men cared about justice? Why or why not?  
What does Jesus' last command in the story teach us about him?  

B:

Why did no one throw stones at the woman?
Why do you think the youngest left last?
In what ways are younger people different from older people?
Why do you think the woman was only brought to Jesus and not the guilty man as well?
Jesus could have condemned her but chose not to. What does this teach us about Jesus?

Research
Research a criminal case. What happened? Was the person allowed to go free? Why or why not? Be prepared to share your case with the class.


Key Vocabulary:
Bent      wanyao11 
Throw  reng1                                                                         
Letters       zimu43                                                                            
Floor     dimian44                             
Finger    shouzhi33                                                                          
Sin            exing42  zui4                           
Stone     shitou20                                            
Words      danci12                                                                            
Oldest      lao3                                                    
Last               zuihou44 
Conscious     zhidao14
Nobody      meiren22
Decision     panduan44
Wrong     fanzui44
Never      yongbu34
 
Exercise Answers
Antonym Matching: bent-->straight / get-->send / without-->with / went to bed-->got up / answers-->questions / up-->down / evolve-->made / scribbling-->letters / ceiling-->floor
Synonym Matching: starting-->beginning / before him-->in front of him / decision-->verdict / alone-->by himself / went out-->left/ wrong-->sin / conscious-->knowing / nobody-->no one
Listening Blank Fill: made, when, up, who, a, he, words, by, last, their, the, seeing, are, no, said, do, never
Word Bank Fill in the Blank: 1(j)on, 2(e)finger, 3(k)among, 4(l)first, 5(d)bent, 6(c)one, 7(b)last, 8(a)hearts, 9(m)himself, 10(i)are, 11(h)against, 12(f)said, 13(g)decision 

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A Trap (New Testament)

3/12/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
And early in the morning he (Jesus) came again into the Temple and all the people came to him and he was seated teaching them. Now the scribes and Pharisees came, with a woman who had been taken in the act of sinning against the married relation; And putting her forward, they said to him, Master, this woman has been taken in the very act of sinning against the married relation. Now in the law Moses gave directions that such women were to be stoned; what do you say about it? They said this, testing him, so that they might have something against him. 
​
Introductory Discussion Questions:
At work, have you ever been asked to do something that was not your job? What did you do?
Have you ever had your words used against you?
Did you ever use someone’s words against them?
If you were caught doing wrong, would you want it to be brought out in the public? Why or why not?
Do you think a husband and wife should be faithful to each other?
If a husband or wife is not faithful, what should be done?

Antonym Matching
Early                                                                                                      went
Sinning                                                                                                 late
Testing                                                                                                 nothing
Married                                                                                                evening
Master                                                                                                 being good
Seated                                                                                                  practicing
Morning                                                                                               unmarried
Came                                                                                                    servant
Something                                                                                           standing

Synonym Matching
Temple                                                                                                 lord
Early                                                                                                      chair
Seat                                                                                                       explain
Teach                                                                                                    challenging
Master                                                                                                  evil
Scribes                                                                                                  church
Sin                                                                                                          first
Testing                                                                                                  copyists

Listening Blank Fill
            And _______ in the morning he came again into the __________ and all the people came to him and ______ was seated teaching them. Now the scribes and Pharisees ________, with a woman who had been taken in _______ act of sinning against the married relation; And ___________ her forward, they said to him, Master, this _________ has been taken in the very act of sinning ___________ the married relation. Now in the law Moses ________ directions that such women were to be stoned; ________ do you say about it? They said this, ___________ him, so that they might have something against him.
 
Fill in the blank with a, b, c, or d.
And early 1(   ) the morning he came again into the Temple and all 2(   ) people came to him and he was seated 3(   ) them. Now the scribes and Pharisees came, with a woman who had been 4(   ) in the act of sinning against the married relation; And putting 5(   ) forward, they said to him, Master, this woman has been taken in the very act of sinning 6(   ) the married relation. Now in the law Moses gave directions that such women were to be 7(   ); what do you say about it? They said this, testing him, so that they might have 8(   ) against him.

1. a. on b. in c. over d. under                                      2. a. that b. those c. a d. the       
3. a. teached b. teaching c. taught d. teach          4. a. tooked b. take c. taken d. took
5. a. it b. him c. she d. her                                            6. a. against b. beside c. with d. for
7. a. stunned b. stoned c. stone d. stoning           8. a. nothing b. some c. something d. somebody

Pair Work Discussion Questions
A:
  1. Does Jesus coming early tell us anything about him? What?
  2. Jesus taught sitting. Is it customary for teachers to sit in your country? Is it ever ok?
  3. Is sinning against the married relation (adultery) common in your country?
  4. How were these men trying to trap Jesus?
  5. How do you think Jesus answered their question?
B:
  1. Do you like to be disturbed when you are talking or teaching? Why?
  2. Was Jesus popular or unpopular? Explain.
  3. How is sinning against the married relation (adultery) punished in your country?
  4. What did they want Jesus to say in order to trap him?
  5. Did the scribes and Pharisees like Jesus? Why?  
 
Key Vocabulary:
Trap     xiangjing43
Early      qingcang11                                                                                        
Sinning    fanzui 44                                                                                          
Testing     ceyan44                                                                           
Married    jiehunde210                                                                                 
Master    fuzi13                                                
Seated   zuoxia44                                                                            
Morning     zaoshang30                                                                                
Came           laile20                                                                  
Something    dongshi10   
                           
Exercise Answers
Antonym Matching: early-->late / sinning-->being good / testing-->practicing /
married-->unmarried / master-->servant / seated-->standing / morning-->evening / came-->went / something-->nothing
Synonym Matching: temple-->church / early-->first / seat-->chair / teach-->explain / master-->lord/ scribes-->copyists / sin-->evil / testing-->challenging
Listening Blank Fill: early, temple, he, came, the, putting, woman, against, gave, what, testing
Fill in the Blank: 1. b. in / 2. d. the / 3. b. teaching / 4. c. taken / 5. d. her / 6. a. against / 7. b. stoned / 8. c. something
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A Ruler and Teacher Talk (Conclusion)

12/5/2015

 
Picture
​And no one has ever gone up to heaven but he who came down from heaven, the Son of man.
As the snake was lifted up by Moses in the waste land, even so it is necessary for the Son of man to be lifted up:

Note: When wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites complained about lack of water and poor bread. God became angry at them and sent poisonous snakes among them. The people cried out for mercy. Moses (their leader) prayed to God for help. God instructed Moses to set up a bronze snake on a pole. If the people looked with belief upon the snake, they would be healed.
 So that whoever has faith may have in him eternal life.
For God had such love for the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to destruction but have eternal life (BBE).


Introductory Brainstorm: Heaven
Give all students 2 minutes to write words that they associate with the word ‘heaven.’ In pairs, have students share their words and make categories for the words.
 
Introductory Group Activity: Complaints
  1. In groups, have students choose and discuss a service they have complaints about. Examples: restaurants, hotel, Wifi service, etc.
  2. Have groups write five complaints against the service.
  3. Have groups write a short dialog with the complaint and response.
  4. Lastly, have each group choose two people to roleplay the dialog and share with the class.

Introductory Discussion Questions
What does the word ‘heaven’ make you think of?
What does snake symbolize in your culture?
Do you ever complain? What do you complain about?
What things do people need to be saved from?
How can salvation or eternal life be obtained (gotten)?

Synonym Matching
Eternal                                                                                  faith
Leader                                                                                  earth
Instructed                                                                           everlasting
Belief                                                                                    death
World                                                                                    president
Destruction                                                                        taught
Wasteland                                                                          wilderness

Antonym Matching
Down                                                                                    made sick
Lifted up                                                                              up
Poor                                                                                      good
Healed                                                                                  death
Life                                                                                         hate
Love                                                                                      taken down

Listening Blank Fill
And no one has ever gone up to _________ but he who came down from heaven, the ______ of man.
 As the snake was lifted up _____ Moses in the waste land, even so it is ____________ for the Son of man to be lifted up:
Note: _______ wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites complained about _______ of water and poor bread. God became angry at _______ and sent poisonous snakes among them. The people ________ out for mercy. Moses (their leader) prayed to ______ for help. God instructed Moses to set up a _________ snake on a tree. If the people looked _______ belief upon the snake, they would be healed.
 _____ that whoever has faith may have in him eternal _______.
For God had such love for the world _______ he gave his only Son, so that whoever ______ faith in him may not come to destruction ______ have eternal life.

Word Bank Fill in the Blank
And no one has ever gone up to heaven but he who came down from 1. _________, the Son of man.
 As the snake was lifted up by Moses in the waste land, even so it is necessary for the Son of man to be 2._________ up:
Note: When wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites complained about lack of 3._______ and poor bread. God became 4.________ at them and sent poisonous snakes among them. The people cried out for mercy. Moses (their leader) prayed to God for 5. _______. God instructed Moses to set up a bronze snake on a tree. If the people looked with belief upon the 6. ________, they would be healed.
 So that whoever has faith may have in him eternal 7._______.
For God had such love for the world that he gave his only 8.______, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to destruction but have 9.__________ life.
Life
Heaven
Lifted
Water
Help
Angry
Eternal
snake
Son

Pair Work Discussion Questions
A.
Why does the Son of Man (Jesus) claim to have authority to talk about spiritual things?
Do you think complaining is a bad thing to do? Why is it good or bad?
What kind of life did people get, when they looked with faith upon the snake?
What do you believe about salvation? Needed? Saved from what and for what?
What was God’s reason for sending Jesus to the world?  
B.
Have you ever told others about something you saw while alone? What happened?
What kinds of complaining make you the most angry?
What kind of life do people receive when they look with faith upon Jesus?
What did Jesus teach about salvation? Needed? Saved from what for what?
What kinds of gifts do people give to show their love for others? 
​
Compare and Contrast
In groups, have students compare and contrast the two pictures using the questions as a guide.

How are the pictures the same? How are they different? Word hints are at the bottom of the exercise.

Picture
Picture
                                                                                       

The snake may symbolizes what?                                                                      Jesus takes what upon
                                                                                                                                Himself?


Looking upon the snake saves from what?                                           Looking upon Jesus saves from what?


What is gained from looking upon the snake?                                     What is gained from looking upon Jesus?


The bronze snake was not a real snake                                                  Jesus was not what for real?


With both, what is required for salvation?


Who brought salvation with both?


Word Bank: Satan, evil, sin, physical death, spiritual death, physical life, eternal life, sinful, evil,
faith, belief, God

Writing: Write about a true or fictional story in which one person dies in order to save the lives
of others. Be prepared to share your story in the next class. Feel free to use the internet to find
stories.
​
Key Vocabulary
Gone up 上升
Heaven 天
Came down  下去 
Son of man  人子
Snake   蛇
Lifted up 被 举 起 来
Waste land 旷野
Necessary 必
Wandering  飘零   
Wilderness  旷野
Complained  抱怨
Lack of water 缺乏水
Poor bread 不好的面包
God  上帝
Became angry  发火
Poisonous snakes    蝮
Cried out  喊叫
Mercy  怜悯
Leader 领导
Prayed 祈祷
Help 帮
Instructed 指识
Bronze snake 一 条 铜 蛇
On a pole  杆 子 上
With belief/faith 信仰
Healed  痊
Eternal life 永生
Love 爱
Love the world  爱世人
Only son  独 生 子
Whoever  任何人
Destruction 灭亡

Exercise Answers
Synonym Matching: eternal-->everlasting, leader-->president, instructed-->taught, belief-->faith, world-->earth, destruction-->death, wasteland-->wilderness.
Antonym Matching: down-->up, lifted up-->taken down, poor-->good, healed-->made sick, life-->death, love-->hate.
Listening Blank Fill: heaven, Son, by, necessary, When, lack, them, cried, God, bronze, with.
Word Bank Fill in the Blank: 1. Heaven 2. Lifted 3. Water 4. Angry 5. Help 6. Snake 7. Life 8. Son 9. Eternal.
Compare/Contrast                                                                                                         
Both were raised up upon a pole or cross.
Both were the only way to be saved.
The snake may symbolize sin and evil.                                                           Jesus took people’s sin and evil
                                                                                                                                upon himself.
Looking upon the snake saves from physical death.                         Looking upon Jesus saves from spiritual death.
Physical life is gained from looking upon the snake.                         Eternal life is gained from looking upon Jesus.
The bronze snake was not a real snake.                                                 Jesus was not sinful or evil for real.
With both, faith/belief is required for salvation.
God brought salvation with both.

A Ruler and Teacher Talk (Part 2)

11/22/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Do not be surprised that I say to you, It is necessary for you to have a second birth. The wind goes where its pleasure takes it, and the sound of it comes to your ears, but you are unable to say where it comes from and where it goes: so it is with everyone whose birth is from the Spirit.

And Nicodemus said to him, How is it possible for these things to be? And Jesus, answering, said, Are you the teacher of Israel and have no knowledge of these things? Truly, I say to you, we say that of which we have knowledge; we give witness of what we have seen; and you do not take our witness to be true. If you have no belief when my words are about the things of earth, how will you have belief if my words are about the things of heaven (BBE)?  
Synonym Matching
surprised                                                                                  exist
earth                                                                                         tell about
necessary                                                                                 amazed
to be                                                                                         world
give witness                                                                             needed

                                    
Antonym Matching
true                                                                                          able
knowledge                                                                              pain
unable                                                                                     false
pleasure                                                                                  ignorance
necessary                                                                               unnecessary 

 
​Introductory Activity 
What are the five senses? ​
With each photograph, ask which sense is represented.
Also, ask what their favorite and least favorite taste is, etc. 
Introductory Discussion Questions
Which of the five senses is the most important? Why? 
What makes things real?
Can we hear, smell, see, taste, touch, the wind? How do we know wind is real?
What subjects did you struggle with in school? 
Can you think of some things that are difficult to understand?
 

Ranking
In groups, have students rank the five senses from most important to least important.
​When they have finished, have each group present their ranking choices and their rational behind it. 


Listening Blank Fill
Do not be surprised that I say to ______, It is necessary for you to have a second ________. The wind goes where its pleasure takes it, ______ the sound of it comes to your ears, but you are _________ to say where it comes from and where ____ goes: so it is with everyone whose birth is _______ the Spirit.
 And Nicodemus said to him, How is it ____________ for these things to be? And Jesus, answering, _______, Are you the teacher of Israel and have no ____________ of these things? Truly, I say to you, ____ say that of which we have knowledge; we _______ witness of what we have seen; and you ____ not take our witness to be true. If you _______ no belief when my words are about the _________ of earth, how will you have belief if my ________ are about the things of heaven?

Multiple Choice
Do 1. (     ) be surprised that I say to you, It is necessary for 2. (     ) to have a second birth. The wind goes where 3. (     ) pleasure takes it, and the sound of it comes to your 4. (     ), but you are unable to say where it comes from and where it 5. (     ): so it is with everyone whose birth is from the Spirit.
 And Nicodemus said to him, 6. (     ) is it possible for these things to be? And Jesus, answering, said, Are you the teacher of Israel and have no 7. (     ) of these things? Truly, I say to you, we say that of 8. (     ) we have knowledge; we give witness of what we have 9. (     ); and you do not take our witness to be true. If you have no belief when my words are about the things of 10. (    ), how will you have belief if my words are about the things of 11. (     )?
  1. a. but b. not c. yet d. no
  2. a. you b. she c. he d. it
  3. a. her b. his d. their e. its
  4. a. ears b. eyes c. hands d. nose
  5. a. go b. goes c. goed d. gos
  6. a. what b. where c. when d. how
  7. a. knowledge b. know c. knowing d. knows
  8. a. that b. why c. which d. this
  9. a. smelled b. seen c. felt d. listened
  10. a. world b. cosmos c. earth d. dirt
  11. a. heaven b. world c. earth d. clouds

Pair Work Discussion Questions
A:
What effects may be seen from the wind?
What is the strongest wind you have seen?
What do you think these two men believed about the nature of reality? Did they believe things are real?
Why was Jesus frustrated that Nicodemus didn’t understand?
What knowledge could Nicodemus not understand so that Jesus could move on to the next thing?
B:
What effects may be seen from a spiritual second birth?
What sounds of the wind do you like or not like?
Why do you think Nicodemus struggled to understand?
Can you think of a story in which someone shared a true story, but they were not believed?
What information did Jesus want to share about next?


Add Punctuation
In groups, have students add punctuation to the story. After a while, allow them to look at the original story and see how close they were. 

Do not be surprised that I say to you It is necessary for you to have a second birth The wind goes where its pleasure takes it and the sound of it comes to your ears but you are unable to say where it comes from and where it goes so it is with everyone whose birth is from the Spirit


And Nicodemus said to him How is it possible for these things to be And Jesus answering said Are you the teacher of Israel and have no knowledge of these things Truly I say to you we say that of which we have knowledge we give witness of what we have seen and you do not take our witness to be true If you have no belief when my words are about the things of earth how will you have belief if my words are about the things of heaven (BBE)  

Key Vocabulary
surprised  惊
necessary  必要
birth    分 娩
wind  风
pleasure    乐趣  
sound  声音
ears  耳
unable   无法
everyone   大家
Spirit   圣 灵 
possible  可能
teacher  老师
Israel    以 色 列
knowledge  知识
Truly 实在
give witness   见证
have seen   见过
belief  信仰
words  话
earth  地球
heaven  天

​
Exercise Answers
Synonym Matching: surprised-->amazed, earth-->world, necessary-->needed, to be-->exist, give witness-->tell about     
​Antonym Matching: true-->false, knowledge-->ignorance, unable-->able, pleasure-->pain, necessary-->unnecessary
Listening Blank Fill: You, birth, and, unable, it, from, possible, said, knowledge, we, give, do, have, things, words.
Multiple Choice: 1. b. not, 2. a. you, 3. e. its, 4. a. ears, 5. b. goes, 6. d. how, 7. a. knowledge, 8. c. which, 9. b. seen 10. c. earth, 11. a. heaven
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A Ruler and Teacher Talk (New Testament)

10/2/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture

​Now there was among the Pharisees a man named Nicodemus, who was one of the rulers of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we are certain that you have come from God as a teacher, because no man would be able to do these signs which you do if God was not with him. Jesus said to him, Truly, I say to you, Without a new birth no man is able to see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, How is it possible for a man to be given birth when he is old? Is he able to go into his mother's body a second time and come to birth again?

Jesus said in answer, Truly, I say to you, If a man's birth is not from water and from the Spirit, it is not possible for him to go into the kingdom of God. That which has birth from the flesh is flesh, and that which has birth from the Spirit is spirit (BBE).


​Introductory Activity
Tough Conversations: marriage, sex, politics, religion (spiritual), drugs and alcohol 
Each picture represents a difficult but important conversation. Discuss vocabulary and picture matches in groups or as a class. 

​Ranking: In groups or pairs, have students discuss and rank these conversations in two ways.
Which conversations are the most difficult (least to greatest)? 
Which conversations are most important (least to greatest)? 

Role Play: In groups, have students discuss their role and present to the others.
Role A: You think that spiritual conversations are the most important. Tell the others two reasons why. Tell the others why their conversations are not as important. Tell the others which of their conversations is least important and why (political talk, marriage talk, or drugs and alcohol talk).  
Role B: You think that talking about marriage is the most important. Tell the others two reasons why. Tell the others why their conversations are not as important. Tell the others which of their conversations is least important and why (political talk, spiritual talk, or drugs and alcohol talk).  
Role C: You think that talking to children about alcohol and drugs is the most important. Tell the others two reasons why. Tell the others why their conversations are not as important. Tell the others which of their conversations is least important and why (political talk, marriage talk, or spiritual talk).  
Role D: You think that political conversations are the most important. Tell the others two reasons why. Tell the others why their conversations are not as important. Tell the others which of their conversations is least important and why (spiritual talk, marriage talk, or drugs and alcohol talk).  

Introductory Discussion Questions
What do you think about religious and spiritual conversations?
What can make religious and spiritual conversations difficult? 
If you could ask a deeply spiritual man anything, what question would you ask?
What would a teacher have to do in order to make you think he was from God? 
Which is more important, the spirit or flesh? Why do you think so? 

Synonym Matching
body                                                                                         leader
not possible                                                                            ancient
Rabbi                                                                                        ghost 
among                                                                                     flesh
ruler                                                                                         within
because                                                                                   teacher
very old                                                                                   response
spirit                                                                                        God
answer                                                                                    impossible
Spirit                                                                                        since
​
Listening Blank Fill
Now there was among the Pharisees a man ________ Nicodemus, who was one of the rulers of ______ Jews.
He came to Jesus by night and said to ______, Rabbi, we are certain that you have come _______ God as a teacher, because no man would _____ able to do these signs which you do if ______ was not with him. Jesus said to him, ________, I say to you, Without a new birth _____ man is able to see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus _______ to him, How is it possible for a ______ to be given birth when he is old? _____ he able to go into his mother's body ____ second time and come to birth again?

Jesus said _____ answer, Truly, I say to you, If a _______ birth is not from water and from the _________, it is not possible for him to go into ______ kingdom of God. That which has birth from the ________ is flesh, and that which has birth from the _________ is spirit (BBE).

​Multiple Choice
Now 1. (    ) was 2. (    ) the Pharisees a man named Nicodemus, who was 3. (    ) of the rulers of the Jews.
He came to Jesus 4. (    ) night and said to him, Rabbi, we are certain that you have 5. (    ) from God as a teacher, because no man would be able to do 6. (    ) signs which you do if God was not with him. Jesus said 7. (    ) him, Truly, I say to you, Without a new birth no man is able to see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, 8. (    ) is it possible for a man to be given birth when he is old? Is he able to 9. (    ) into his mother's body a second time and come to birth again?

Jesus said in answer, Truly, I say to you, If a man's birth is not from water and from the Spirit, 10. (    ) is not possible for him to go into the kingdom of God. That which has birth from the flesh is flesh, and that which has birth from the Spirit is spirit (BBE).

1. a. their b. they're c. there d. their
2. a. in b. among c. between d. beside
3. a. one b. a c. two d. the
4. a. in b. on c. beside d. by
5. a. left b. leave c. come d. came
6. a. those b. these c. this d. that
7. a. to b. at c. too d. two
8. a. why, b. what c. when d. how
9. a. be b. go c. come d. exist
10. a. it b. he c. she d. they

Role Play: Divide the class into groups of three. Each group role plays the story (one narrator, Jesus and Nicodemas).
First, demonstrate the role play yourself with two other confident students. 
​
Pair Work Discussion Questions
A
Why do you think Nicodemas went to Jesus by night?
Why did Nicodemas think new birth was impossible?
Jesus believed in a flesh world and a spiritual world? Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
What does the word 'kingdom' make you think of?
Do you think people can be born of the spirit today? How?
B
What did you think of this conversation? How does it make you feel?
Why did Nicodemas think Jesus came from God?
Was Jesus talking about going back inside mother and becoming a baby again? 
What kind of birth was Jesus talking about? 
What do you think Jesus means by 'kingdom of God?' Where is it?

Find and Make a Sentence 
In groups, pairs or individuals, have students find the following words in the text: rulers, night, certain, teacher, because, signs, born, not possible, and spirit. They are to find them, observe their use, and create their own sentence using them.
You could place the words in a cup to make it more exciting. 
​

Writing: Continue the Conversation
In groups or pairs, have students continue the conversation between Nicodemas and Jesus. They must add at least two questions from Nicodemas and two answers from Jesus. Have representatives share their continued conversations with the class. 

​Key Vocabulary
Pharisees  法 利 赛 人
named  名 叫
rulers  官
Jews  犹 太 人
Jesus  耶 稣
night  夜 里
Rabbi  拉 比 (老师)
are certain  知道
have come   来
teacher  老师
because  因 为
be able 能
these signs 这些迹
if  如果
kingdom of God 伸的国
how  怎么
old  老
mother's body 母亲的身体
born (again) a second time 重生
truly truly 实实在在
answer   回 答

not possible 不能
flesh  肉 身
Spirit 圣 灵 
​spirit 灵

Exercise Answers:
Picture Matching:
1-->politics, 2-->drugs and alcohol, 3-->religion (spiritual), 4-->marriage, 5-->sex 
Synonym Matching: body-->flesh, not possible-->impossible, Rabbi-->teacher, among-->within, ruler-->leader,     because-->since, very old-->ancient, spirit-->ghost, answer-->response, Spirit-->God.
Listening Blank Fill: named, the, him, from, be, God, Truly, no, said, man, Is, a, in, man's, Spirit, the, flesh, Spirit.
Multiple Choice: 1. c. there, 2. b. among, 3. a. one, 4. d. by, 5. c. come, 6. b. these, 7. a. to, 8. d. how, 9. b. go, 10. a. it
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    My name is Paul. I am from Michigan, USA. I am a perpetual language learner and teacher, trading my time between two continents. I obtained my MA in TESOL from Cornerstone University. 

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