Christian Beliefs Humility

Today’s Learning Intentions I can describe Christian beliefs about humility I can reflect on my own views about humility What are our success criteria?

Class Discussion Can you think of a time when you knew you were right about something and someone else was wrong? Did you tell them, or did you keep quiet? Why?

Fact Finding Before we read today’s story, we need to know who the people in the story are: Pharisees Tax Collectors Each group will be given a fact sheet about one of these things. Task: 1)Read the fact sheet 2)Discuss the questions in your group 3)Write down your answers individually 4)Pick one person to present your findings to the rest of the class Group Work

Listen and read along to the story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. Vocabulary you will need for the story: Parable Pharisee Tax Collector Sinner Humility / Humble Listen Read

“Once there were two men who went up the Temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood apart by himself and prayed, ‘I thank you, God, that I am not greedy, dishonest, or an adulterer, like everybody else. I thank you that I am not like that tax collector over there. I fast two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all my income.’

But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even raise his face to heaven, but beat on his chest and said, ‘God, have pity on me, a sinner!’”

STOP! We have stopped before the end of the story. When Jesus told stories like this, it was to make a point about something. Questions to think about: 1)What sort of person does the Pharisee sound like? 2)What sort of person does the tax collector sound like? 3)What do you Jesus’ opinion would be about these two people? 4)What do you think the point of this story is going to be? Class Discussion

“I tell you,” said Jesus, “the tax collector, and not the Pharisee, was in the right with God when he went home. Those who make themselves great will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be made great.”

Class Discussion Are you surprised by the end of the story? Is this what you expected?

Write down your response to this story. Suggested sentence starters: I was surprised by the ending because… I agree with the point of the story because… I disagree with the point of the story because… If I were telling the story, I would end it differently by saying… Write

Reflection The people listening to this story originally were probably surprised by the ending. They thought the Pharisee was a good man, and the Tax Collector was bad. For Jesus, what was the most important thing about the two characters? Answer these questions: 1)Are you a humble person? 2)Do you think it is important to be humble? Why? 3)Is it ok to ‘show off’ sometimes? Why? Write

Did we achieve our learning intentions? I can describe Christian beliefs about humility I can reflect on my own views about humility

Read Class Discussion Write Video Listen Think Discuss in PairsDiscuss in Groups Group Work

OPTIONAL: video resources Please check these before your lesson in case the video is no longer available or has been moved! (up to 1:20) This is a short version that clearly tells the story. This version is free to use and download, but has no dialogue so it would need to be used alongside the text.