Epiphany 3 A (January 27): Discipleship 101/Abandoning the Boats

There is an 2023 updated version of this post - see archive at left.

Bible Readings: Isaiah 9:1-4, Psalm 27:1,4-9, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-23
Theme: Discipleship 101/Abandoning the Boats

About the Image:
Abandoned whaler on Norfolk Island - it's my photo so feel free to use it.
Discussion:
Was there a definable moment when you became a Christian?
What changed most for you if you did have a definable moment?
Is conversion the end of the story?
Film Clip: Meet the Parents
Show the clip where Kevin shows off his carpentry skills and says he does it because he wants to follow in Jesus' footsteps. (about 55 minutes from the start)
Discussion: On Meet the Parents
What does it mean to be one of Jesus' disciples? WEill being a good carpenter do it?
2. What sshould we do to be good disciples?
Story: If Jesus Showed Up at Your School
Found in Could Someone Wake Me Up Before I Drool On The Desk by Kevin Johnson, Bethany House Publishers, 1995, ISBN 1556614160, pp11 (pictured at right)
Story: Soren Kierkegaard's Train Passengers
I don't know which book of his this is in but I found reference to this illustration in Rivers in the Desert edited by Rowland Croucher, Albatross books, 1991, ISBN 086760137X, page 253.
Story: To Have It Within
Found in Speakers Source Book of New Illustrations by Virgil Hurley, Word Publishing,1995, ISBN 0849936756, page 40
Story: Fishers of Men Part 2
In When You Walk by Adrian Plass, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 1997, ISBN 0745935524, page 130-1.
Listening Song: Jesus Freak
By dc Talk on their album, Jesus Freak (pictured at left).
Listening Song: In the Light
By dc Talk on their album Jesus Freak (pictured at left).
Meditation: We Did Not Want to Go
In He Was in the World: Meditations for Public Worship by John Bell, Wild Goose, 1995, ISBN 094798870X, pp 87 (pictured in an earlier blog).
Mediation/Poem: Unnamed
By Philip Andrews and found in Imaging the Word Volume 2 by Susan A. Blain, Sharon Iverson Glouwens, Catherine O'Callaghan, Grant Spradling (Eds.), United Church Press, 1995, ISBN 0829810331, page 125. (pictured in an ealier blog). I put images with this and used Look Back In by Moby from his album, 18, as backing.
Response Activity:
Display heaps of printed images and words around the worship space and ask people to choose a couple which most explain how they feel about or what they think in response to the Bible reading. Ask people to share why they chose the cards and or words which they did.
NB. www.innovativeresources.org make an amazing set of cards called Signposts which work really well with this activity.