Before class, print off enough copies of the “Scripture Prescription” sheets (template found here) so that each student has a full sheet (6 cards per sheet). (If your class is meeting online, email the template for families to print ahead of time. Invite them to bring printouts, scissors, and pens/pencils to class.) Print on heavy paper or card stock if possible. Have your students cut them apart as part of the activity, or, if time is an issue, you can cut the cards out ahead.
As students are finishing their activities from the last step, bring them back to discussion of the lesson focus. Today’s lesson was all about the consequences of jealousy. Nothing will ruin a friendship as fast as jealousy.
- Have you ever had a friendship or relationship end because one of you had something the other didn’t? (Allow students to share, being sensitive to the personal nature of some stories.)
We know from our lesson today that God wants us to be very, very careful whenever we feel jealous…but that’s not always easy to do! It’s natural to want what other people have and feel angry or upset if someone else has a privilege that you don’t get. Thankfully, we don’t have to handle jealousy alone. God has given us a lot of tools to help.
Hand out a sheet of prescription cards and scissors to each student (or six pre-cut cards if you opted to cut them apart before class). Also, hand out writing instruments. Jealousy can be like a poison; it ruined Joseph’s relationship with his brothers and it can even make us feel sick. The best thing to do when you’re sick, of course, is to go to the doctor…and that’s what we’re going to do here. Each of you have a sheet of “Scripture Prescriptions” to help you the next time you feel jealous.
Navigate to the following website:
27 Top Bible Verses to Overcome Jealousy
Display the list of Scripture references on an overhead display or write them on the whiteboard. For the rest of the class time today, choose passages to act as your Scripture prescriptions for the next time you feel jealous. Write a different Scripture reference on each prescription card so that you can use it when you feel sick with jealousy.
If you have a particular situation in your life that you know is making you jealous now, you can also write that down on the back of one of your cards. Allow students time to select passages that are meaningful to them and write down the references.
- What passages did you pick? (Give several students the chance to share.)
- How do you think these Scriptures might help you when you feel jealous? (Answers will vary.)
This week, keep your Scripture prescriptions somewhere you can see them readily, and be careful to remember what God has to say any time you feel jealous.
Close in prayer.
