Sunday School Dale

Title:  Gilligan’s Island Lesson plans Week Five Greed and Gluttony: “The Big Gold Strike”

Note: this lesson is inspired by Season 1, Episode 9 of GILLIGAN’S ISLAND. “The Big Gold Strike”

Prayer: Heavenly Father,

So often we think that if we could only posses some object or if we could only have one more of something, then we would be happy. However, Father, we know deep down that only You and a relationship with you will satisfy our real and deepest desires. The STUFF of our lives serves only stand in the way of this relationship, which is what we truly hunger for. Father, teach us to come to you with an attitude of gratitude to replace our greed.
Amen.

Bible Texts:

#1
Mark 7:21-23 (New International Version)  21 For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ ”
Mark 7:21-23 (The Message)  20-23 He went on: “It’s what comes out of a person that pollutes: obscenities, lusts, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, depravity, deceptive dealings, carousing, mean looks, slander, arrogance, foolishness—all these are vomit from the heart. There is the source of your pollution
#2
Colossians 3:12-14 (New International Version) 12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:12-14 (The Message)  So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Key Scripture Verses for Today’s Lesson (week 5)
#1  From the Book of Luke, chapter 12:
A. Parable of the Rich Fool: 13 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” 16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ 21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
B. Teaching about Money and Possessions  22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. 24 Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! 25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?
27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
33 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

#2  From the book of Matthew, Chapter 6
21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

#3  From the book of Luke, chapter 16
Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
19 Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. 22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham.[e] The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and his soul went to the place of the dead.[f] There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. 24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’ 25 “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’ 27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’ 29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’ 30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’ 31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’”

#4  From the book of Proverbs, chapter 29 (NIV)

4 By justice a king gives a country stability,
but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.

From the book of Ephesians, chapter 5
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for the Lord’s people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Questions:

1.    Reread the first 2 scripture passages for today. One of our key themes in this class is that God’s desire is a relationship with us. Keeping that in mind, How do these scripture passages relate to the Howells’ actions in today’s episode?

2.    Reread scripture passages #3 and #4. Another theme in our class is that God’s will for us is to live in community with one another. This lesson series illustrates this concept quite clearly at times. Keeping this in mind, what is the Howells’ role in this island community? (Think of Mr Howell’s talk with Gilligan in the mine.)

3.    Do the Howells live up to the responsibilities of their role in this society? Be able to cite examples from the episodes we’ve seen so far.

4.    Do the Howells’ greed and gluttony influence the rest of the community? If so, How?

5. Today’s scripture pages contain two parables. Parable comes from a Greek word meaning  comparison. It refers to a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson or a statement. Parable can also mean a comment that conveys a meaning indirectly by the use of comparison, analogy, etc. Gilligan’s island can be seen as an allegorical story that works on multiple levels (Individual episodes can frequently be understood as parables.). In the weeks that we have been working on this study, how have you come to see Gilligan’s Island as allegory?
Think:

A. individually
B. Sociatally
C. Generationally
D. Globally (especially important with the Howells)
E. Other?

6 How do greed and gluttony influence our lives? (Remember to consider the personal and societal consequences of anger in your answers.)

A.    Physically
B.    Mentally
C.    Emotionally
D.    Spiritually

7.  Why are Gluttony and Greed “deadly” sins?

8.    How else do we see sin influencing our castaways today? (Do we see sin begetting sin?)

Note: For this week’s activity, we made SIMPLE bags from cloth and put 7 “gold” nuggets or coins (golden foiled chocolets) in the bags. We attatched the following note: Activity: Snack=Gold nuggets in a bag. Simply put 7 gold nuggets (coins) in a bag. Place the bag in a place that you will easily see it this week. Each day take a nugget and say a prayer of thanksgiving without asking for anything.

Post a comment

Name: (required)

Email Address: (will not be published) (required)

URL:

Comments: