Lesson No. ( 34 ) Saint Mark and the Lion

References

Sinaxarium 30 Barmudah

El karaza Magazine  August 1965

Notes for Servants

«         By watching Jesus, St. Mark learned the power of prayer and used it in his ministry to preach Christianity in different places.  Have we learnt to use the same power in dealing with the difficulties we are facing every week in our service?

«         St. Mark preached by prayer and trusting in the power of God.  Can we follow his example  with our children and those whom you find it difficult to convince?

Objectives

General: God's love.

Specific:

The children will be able to...

1. Learn that the power of God is able to do anything.
2. See St. Mark's example in imitating Christ and following him.
3. Know that we should be thankful to St. Mark who guided us to the light of knowing Jesus Christ.

Bible Verse

      " The Lord is my light and my salvation;  Whom shall I fear? "

( Psalm 27:1 )

Teaching Aids

1. Felt figure and flannel board.
2. Video.
3. The pictures of the Saint Mark.

Instructions

(1) Review last week's lesson.

(2) Who remembers the verse?

(3) Remind the children about the church occasions for the coming week.

(4) The servant should show the children St. Mark's picture and ask them the following questions:

+ What is the name of that man?

+ What is the name of the animal beside his feet?

+ What do you know about the lion?

+ Why did the lion listen to the saint?

(5) Teacher should prepare the appropriate questions to emphasize the objectives during the lesson.

Story Time

St. Mark was born in Libya.  When he was a young boy, his family travelled back to Jerusalem to live there.  At this time Jesus had started His ministry and St. Mark used to go with the children to see Jesus.  They loved to see Him and to listen to His sweet words.  He had seen the sick whom Jesus healed, and the miracles that Jesus had performed everyday.  Jesus was calm and gentle, He used to spend the whole night praying.

One day, St. Mark was travelling with his father and after they left the city, two lions appeared before them roaring and running towards them with their mouths open, ready to devour both of them.  The father was afraid, he wept and said to his son: "Leave me here for the lions to eat me and get back home."  But St. Mark said, "Do not be afraid, my father.  Jesus is able to do anything.  I saw Him performing miracles."

St. Mark knelt down, closed his eyes and prayed:  "Jesus rescue us, keep us safe and protect us.  Protect my father.  Rescue us from the lions."  When he ended his prayer, he opened his eyes and saw the two lions fall on the ground suffering from severe pain and they could not move.  His father was amazed and said, "Christ is the Lord."  He kissed his son because his prayer rescued them.  He said to his son, "From now on, I am a Christian."

St. Mark loved Jesus very much and later became His disciple.  A few years later St. Mark came to Egypt and preached Christianity.  St. Mark became the first Pope for our church.  We love St. Mark and we ask him to intercede for us.

Discussion

1 - Follow up the story by talking about it with the children.

2 - Continue the discussion while they do the activity.

Learning Activities

Activity Sheet.