Title: Gilligan’s Island Lesson plans Week Eight Envy: “The Second Ginger Grant” (Season 3, Episode 24)

Note: This lesson is inspired by Season 3, Episode 2 of Gilligan’s Island. “The Second Ginger Grant.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father,
Help us to see the envy in our lives—both the easily spotted and the well-disguised—and help us to remove these heavy burdens from our lives. God, help us to truly believe in your promises and trust that all we need, you provide. Help us to be happy for our neighbors in their triumphs and successes. God, we thank you for the abundance that you have given each of us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen

Bible Texts:
Key Scripture Verses for the Gilligan’s Island Bible Study
(Note: these will be the same for each week during this study)
#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 Luke 15:11-32 (ESV)
The Parable of the Prodigal Son 11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

1 Corinthians 13:1-8 ESV
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; …

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 ESV
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

Questions:
Prior to today’s video
A. Activities:
(1) Have a piece of pie (Mary Ann’s specialty)
As you enjoy your pie, discuss the poem “The Color of Envy” in groups
of 2 or 3
B. Review our Key Verses for this Bible study (purple sheet)
C. Read today’s texts (purple Sheet)
D. Preview the questions for today’s study (you may wish to take notes during today’s video)

Questions
We’ve discussed that each member of this society fulfills an important role. How is Mary Ann important to the island society?

Does Mary Ann live up to the responsibilities of her role in this society? Be able to cite examples from the episodes we’ve seen so far.

How does Mary Ann represent envy in this series in general and in this episode specifically?

What do today’s Bible texts mean and how do they relate to today’s video lesson.

Remembering that Gilligan’s Island is an allegory or parable that works on multiple levels, What do you think the writer (Ron Friedman) might be saying about our society in general through Mary Ann’s attitudes and actions?

How does envy influence our lives? (Remember to consider the personal and societal consequences of envy in your answers.)

Physically

Mentally

Emotionally

Spiritually

Why is pride a “deadly” sin?

Do you have any further thoughts or observations about today’s lesson or our series so far?

Activity: Have a piece of Banana Cream Pie, Mary Ann’s specialty! Do you think Mary Ann’s envy might stem from the fact that she does not value her own talents as others value them?

Poem “The color of envy” see http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewPoetry.asp?id=81953