This kneading caught the attention of the Pharisees, for it seemed to them to be akin to the making of bread, a labour not permitted on the Sabbath day. They were forced to agree that the offending treatment had worked: the blind man could see; nevertheless they scented an opportunity to bring Jesus before the courts, and began making enquiries. They interviewed the man’s parents, who confirmed that he really had been blind from birth; but when asked about the part played by Jesus, they referred the Pharisees back to their son. “He is of age” they said, “ask him.” The man himself was no help. “Why do you want to keep hearing the story?” he broke in; “do you too want to be his disciples?” This enraged them, but they could find no witnesses for their charge of Sabbath-breaking. So they contented themselves with barring the man from the synagogue.
For a moment it seemed as if this story would have a lonely and unhappy ending. But John tells us that Jesus went to find this lost lamb, and took him into his sheepfold; because as he told his disciples, the good shepherd cares for his sheep, and will lay down his life for them.
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Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 How. Lamb. Wait.
2 God. Refer. Uproar.
3 Argument. Await. Theological.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Adjectives Find in Think and Speak
For each word below, compose sentences to show that it may be used as an adjective. Adjectives provide extra information about a noun, e.g. a black cat, a round table, the early bird etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Careful. 2 Lifeless. 3 Serious. 4 Latest. 5 Even. 6 Content. 7 Lonely. 8 Known. 9 Helpless.
Variations: 1.show whether your adjective can also be used as e.g. a noun, verb or adverb. 2.show whether your adjective can be used in comparisons (e.g. good/better/best). 3.show whether your adjective can be used in attributive position (e.g. a dangerous corner) and also in predicate position (this corner is dangerous).
Confusables Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that are similar to one another, but not exactly the same. Compose your own sentences to bring out the similarities and differences between them, whether in meaning, grammar or use.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
prtn (6+2)
operation. pertain. portion. protein. proton. puritan.
preteen. protean.
