Rejected Sunday School Lessons

Steve Case is one of the funniest people I know. He's written a lot of brilliant, cutting-edge youth ministry books for Youth Specialties.

Apparently he has some kind of pent-up angst and wrote the book most youth and children's ministers have wanted to write at one time or another - Rejected Sunday School Lessons: Totally Inappropriate Ideas For Working With Children.

You can see a couple of the chapters on that site, with gems like this (for a lesson on David & Goliath):

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY

Here’s a little game to show the children how well God listens. You’ll need a dodge ball or other playground ball. (Don’t use stones for this game.) Have one of the children be Goliath; you get to be David. Have the student stand near the wall; you stand about 10 to 15 feet away. Tell the student she’s allowed to hurl insults at you for 60 seconds. She can say anything she wants—except profanity. When she’s finished insulting you, bow your head in silent prayer, then throw the ball at her as hard as you can. (Remember: David aimed for Goliath’s head.) Have extra balls on hand in case she’s a quick ducker.

TEACHER HELPS

• Remind the children that they shouldn’t throw rocks at people who pick on them, especially at school. They’re supposed to do what Jesus did—not what David did. If they argue about this, read the passage about David dancing in his ephod (2 Samuel 6:12-15). Then ask, You wouldn’t want to dance in an ephod, would you, Jimmy?

CLOSING PRAYER

God, help us open a can of you-know-what on all of your enemies.

Amen.

 

While satire has grown as a much more accepted form of comedy over the years, I'm not sure it has much in the church. So I really doubt a lot of people will enjoy or get this. Oh well...

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Comments (8)

I am a youth pastor in the greater Chicago area and I own this book. It has to be one of the best written christian satire writings I have ever come across and I really love it! Its a blast to pull out at the beginning of a sunday school class and read from it what we are going to do today! The kids love it and there are still great principals that are "miss-taught" that you can turn around and use for good!
I think this is funny. One thing though with your site is that you many times will not post my comments. Maybe it is because I don't come from the mainstream, the right side as some might say being a Christian gay man. But biblically I think I'm in good company
Jeff, as long as you follow the guidelines from http://www.goodcomment.com/ we will approve your comments. Also, we're still trying to work out the kinks in our new commenting system, so it's possible we have a problem there. We'll look into it. Thanks for chiming in!
You say you doubt a lot of people will ehjoy or get this - how about the Sunday school teacher or youth worker who is just plain tired of the little stinkers poushing their buttons. Thank goodness God is a forgiving God.

Those of us who work with kids love them and often want to give them a good boot in the behind when they do the exact opposite of what we're trying to teach them. I'm currently teaching a small class of 4th-6th grade boys....Humor like that is perfect for getting you through what may feel like a totally failed lesson.



Enjoyed it! You know I never really thought about the literal aspects of the David-Goliath story and throwing stones and all.

Very funny-- and I usually do not see the humor in Christian humor ;-)
LOL this is great. Its a great release of frustration. Helps you laugh at things that usually are just *UGH* Its a little edgy but I find it totally funny. Just don't let any kids get a hold of this (like the website says). Definitely good fun for those who've worked in children's ministry...just remember none of its like serious or anything...laugh...don't chuck rocks at Jimmy...
Steve gave me a copy of this last week.. Great book and I think some of the other commenters are right on, you could use some of these in the right setting.
Ha! Very funny. Reminds me of a conversation I overheard at a Boy Scout campout. They were brainstorming about merit badges that didn't make it in the Boy Scouts of America: the vandalism badge, the gun-runner badge, dictatorship in the nation, dictatorship in the world, etc.

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