Accomplishments
Developing our personal qualities
by Janice Ross
Suitable for Key Stage 3
Aims
To consider the importance of personal qualities, which are called fruits of the Spirit in the Bible.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (Accomplishments) and the means to display them.
Assembly
- Ask the students, ‘What do you think of when you hear the word “qualifications”?’
Encourage discussion in pairs or small groups, and then listen to a range of responses. - Identify that exams were probably our first thought. We might have thought of the passes that we need to go to our chosen university, or which A-levels or Highers we might need to take for a certain job.
When we think of qualifications, we tend to think of our ability in academic subject areas. - Point out that there are many careers and jobs where having academic qualifications is not the most important factor.
Tell the students that you are going to show them a job advert. A couple of A-levels or Highers may be advantageous for this job, but there are other factors to take into consideration. - Show Slide 1 and read out the job criteria shown.
- Remains calm and composed in stressful situations.
- Able to work well in a team.
- Has good manual dexterity.
- Can demonstrate emotional intelligence.
- Communicates well in supporting and educating others.
- Able to handle squeamish situations.
- Possesses physical stamina.
- Adapts quickly to different situations.
- Is positive and enthusiastic. - Ask the students to guess the job from the criteria. You may wish to encourage discussion in small groups.
Listen to a range of responses. - Click to reveal the final bullet point on Slide 1: has a passion for animals.
Ask the students whether this final point has made them change their answer.
Tell the students that the advert is for the job of veterinary nurse.
- Point out that personal qualities are very important in many areas of work. Just like academic subjects, these qualities have to be taught and practised.
For example, many of us will find that we are more interested in ourselves than in others. Or perhaps we tend to want things now and are impatient. - The Bible tells us that, when Jesus called the disciples to follow him, he wasn’t very interested in the jobs that they had. In fact, the early disciples had various jobs: some were fishermen, one was in finance, one was a doctor and one was a religious leader.
Jesus asked each of them to give up their jobs to follow him. He wanted to show them a different way to live, a way that would please his Father. This different way of life was the way of love, of giving and caring for others.
By following Jesus’ way, the disciples’ hearts would change. Their lives would begin to show what the Bible calls the ‘fruit of the Spirit’. When they returned to their jobs, it would be with changed hearts.
Time for reflection
Galatians 5.22-23 lists all nine fruits of the Spirit: ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.’
Point out that we will find it easier to show some of these fruits in our lives than others. Some of us are naturally more patient or naturally gentler. However, we can all practise developing these fruits in our lives.
Encourage the students to think of one fruit that they would like to develop.
Show Slide 2.
Read Galatians 5.22-23 again: ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.’
Pause to allow time for thought.
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for all that we are learning at home and at school.
Thank you for our academic abilities and for the good fruits that are growing in our lives.
Please help us to grow in the qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Help us to use these qualities to help others.
Amen.
