Note to the Teacher

Christ the King Sunday invites the church to reaffirm its highest allegiance—not to nation, leader, or ideology, but to Christ, who reigns in justice and love. The icebreaker, “Name that Bible Character,” invites students to team up to figure out which Bible character is described by the clue. The discussion explores why people might be leaving the church. The activity builds on the discussion and invites students to brainstorm how to respond and help people who have left the church.

Times are based on a fifty-minute lesson period but may be adjusted.

Icebreaker: Name that Bible Character (10 minutes)

Divide the group into two teams. Explain to students that they are going to play a game where they guess the Bible character based on a description that requires a little bit of thinking. Then, give them the first one on the list as an example. Tell them you will read another description, and the first team to raise their hands will get the chance to answer first. If they answer wrong, the second team can try. Each correct answer will give them a million points.

This dreamer’s fashion sense got him in trouble; his jacket was just too loud. (Joseph)
This guy had lion-level courage and the prayer life to back it up. (Daniel)
He had a thing for giants... and slingshots. (David)
She once turned a red rope into a rescue mission. (Rahab)
He still holds the world’s record for the dirtiest boat. (Noah)
God made this guy smell like fish. (Jonah)
She thought being a mother was hilarious. (Sarah)
This guy made the best wine ever. (Jesus)
This guy was super short and super curious. (Zachaeus)
He was the most famous father we know almost nothing about. (Joseph)
This guy loved writing letters. (Paul)

Bible Reading (5 minutes)

Read Jeremiah 23:1-6.

Discussion Questions (10 minutes)

Themes: The church’s highest allegiance is to Christ, who reigns in justice and love; reasons people might leave the church; making people feel comfortable returning to church.

What stood out to you in this text?
What didn’t make sense?
What do you understand a shepherd’s job to be? What makes someone a good shepherd or a bad shepherd?
If we consider these shepherds to be the spiritual leaders of Israel at the time, what might some of them have done wrong?
Why do you think some people leave a church? Why do you think some people never join a church?
Is leaving a church (or the church) different from leaving faith? Why or why not?
What could make people who have left the church consider returning?
How can you (or we) as shepherds help people feel comfortable trying church again or for the first time?

Active Learning Activity (20 minutes)

Give students two colors of sticky notes. Invite them to write reasons that people don’t go to church or leave churches on one color of the sticky notes. (They may use answers from the questions above.) Once they have had some time to do that, have them stick the notes to a whiteboard or wall. Read each response out loud and have students decide which ones are similar. Move the similar ones together. Then, have students take the other color of sticky notes and write ways they could help people who have left the church. Invite students to place these notes around the ones already on the wall. Once they have finished, discuss each of the new notes.