Proper 9 B (06 July): Travelling Light/Grace and Weakness/ A Job Description for a Disciple

Bible Readings: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, Psalm 48, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 6:1-13

About the Image:

Upper Left: This is a free microsoft clipart image with my text. The spelling of "travelling", although correct for those of us down under and in the UK, may be incorrect for American readers - please feel free to change the text as you need to.

Upper Right: This my photo of a young friend looking out an on a burnt out area of the Victorian (Australian) High country near a beautiful place called Seldom Seen. If you want to see this place in more detail try Google Earth and follow the links. Please feel free to use this image for worship and related activities.

Middle Left: This is a free image from the Herman Leon site - see my link column at left.

Middle Right: This is a free Microsoft clipart image with text from the Sixpence None the Richer song below. 
Lower Left:  This is a free Heartlight image - see my link column at left.

Lower Right: My photo of a statue of King David on Mt Zion in the Holy Land.  Please feel free to use this image for worship and related activities. 

Interesting Thought:

Disciples travel light, are not wet blankets and never wait until they have it "all together".

Listening Song: You're Here

By Sixpence None the Richer on the CD, City on a Hill: Songs of Praise and Worship (pictured at left). This song goes well with the gospel and the Corinthians reading.

Kid's Talk:

Have someone come in dragging the biggest suitcase you can find, packed absolutely bursting to the brim with all kinds of things one may take for a trip away - make sure there is some improbable stuff such as a toaster, or a beach ball, or curtains, or a tool box or whatever. Ask the person what they are doing. They tell you that they want to go out into the world to share the good news about Jesus and so they have packed a bag ready to go. Have a conversation, with help from the kids, on what we really need and don't need in order to share the good news.

Film Clip: Simon Birch

Start the film , Simon Birch (pictured at right), about 28 minutes in when Joe's Mum gives Simon a new jacket. Stop the film about five minutes later as they walk out of the church.

Discussion Questions: Simon Birch

1. Why did Simon Birch's Sunday School teacher say what she did?

2. Why do you think that Simon was so convinced that he could be a disciple?

3. What kind of people does God use?

Film Clip: The Incredibles

(pictured at left) Show the clip where Mr Incredible is called by Mirage because he has unique skills and abilities. I got this clip from www.wingclips.com - a site which makes using film clips so very easy.

Discussion: The Incredibles

1. Why did Mirage think Mr Incredible was the one for the job?

2. Do we all have unique skills?

3. What kind of people does God use?

Introductory Activity: For Mark 6:1-6

Have paper and pencils or pens for everybody. Ask people to write, draw or doodle their reactions as you read Mark 6:1-6 from your usual church translation and then from the Message. Then either in pairs or small groups discuss the following questions:

1. What does it feel like to be rejected?

2. Why did the Nazareth people reject Jesus?

3. How, even as Christians, do we sometimes reject Jesus?

As an alternative way of tackling the last question you might like to project a number of example answers such "We've never done it that way before" or I'm going to shop around to see what each church has to offer me" or "We don't have the money to do that" or "If we try that, people might leave" - have about ten to fifteen pertinent to your church members - and encourage people to 

a) choose one that stands out to them, 

b) share why they think it "wet blankets" God's work in the world, and 

c) invite them to suggest how the statement they chose could be turned into a positive statement.

Meditation: Behold the Lamb of God

Based on the gospel reading, this meditation is found in Present on Earth by The Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, page 21 (pictured at right).

Story: The Bumblebee

Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to Hang Your Message On by Jim Burns and Greg Mackinnon, Gospel Light, 1997, page 43 (pictured at left). This story matches in well with the Corinthians reading and the gospel reading.

Story: The Epitaph

This story links in well with the gospel reading and is the illustration for the third section at http://www.preachhim.org/sevensay-3.htm .

Story: Making the Church Together

Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to Hang Your Message On by Jim Burns and Greg McKinnon, Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 0830718834, page 171 (pictured above left).  This story goes well with the 2 Corinthians reading. 

Interesting quote:

"We don't need self confidence; we need God-confidence", found in How To Succeed At Being Yourself : Finding The Confidence To Fulfill Your Destiny by Joyce Meyer, Harrison House.

Adult Response: Based on the Bumble bee story and the interesting thought.

Have small pictures of a bumble bee for everyone with enough space for people to write a few words.

Ask: what is God saying to you today:

1. Is it to travel lightly and to trust God more?

2. Is it to stop being a wet blanket and to start being a possibility person?

3. Is it to get going right now as a disciple of Jesus trusting in God’s strength instead of your own?

4. Is it a reassurance that God is giving you or is it a challenge?
Write down beside the bee what you see to be your personal message from God this morning. Place it in your wallet/handbag/ purse/Bible/whatever as a reminder which you can carry with you.

Also:

Complete Service based on all the readings: Among us, even us, new things will be found.

Found in In this Hour by Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Desbooks, 2001, ISBN 094982433X, page 72ff (pictured at left). 

Drama: Super Christian to the Rescue

Found in Mega Drama 4 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109186, page 30. This drama is based on the Corinthians reading.

Sermon ideas: The Work isn't Easy

Found in Life on the Road by Athol Gill, Herald Press, 1992, page 161.  This is based on the Gospel reading. 

Meditation: Behold, the Lamb of God

Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 21ff.  This is based on the Mark reading.

Drama: Home Town Sermon

Found in Present on Earth by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 2002, ISBN 0 901557 64 2, page 189ff.  This is based on the Mark reading.

Drama: How Clean is Your Mind?

Found in All Age Sketches for The Christian Year by Peter Shaw, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 10 1 984101 458 3, page 58ff.  This is based on the 2 Corinthians reading.