Epiphany 4 A (29th January 2023): Paradox/Turning the World Upside Down

 

There is an updated 2026 version of this post with more stuff. See my archives column at left. 

Bible Readings: Micah 6:1-8, Psalm 15, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 5:1-12

About the Images:

Upper Left: This is a microsoft free clipart image with my text.

Upper Right: This is a free Heartlight image. To visit the Heartlight site, please go to my Links column below left.

Middle left: This is a Microsoft free image with text from the song "God's Own Fool" (below).

Middle Right: This is another free Heartlight image. To visit the Heartlight site, please go to my Links column below left.

Lower Left: And another free Heartlight image! To visit the Heartlight site, please go to my Links column below left.

Lower Right: A creative commons image to which I added BE :) Gives a bit of room to preach around the beatitudes.

Listening Song: God's Own Fool
By Michael Card on his album, Joy in the Journey (pictured at left). This goes well with the gospel reading and with the 1 Corinthians reading.

Listening Song: Psalm 15

By Sons of Korah on their album Light of Life, Wordsong, 1999

Call to Worship:

heaps of good ones on Thom Shuman's site (with a handy archive) at Thom Shuman in http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.com/

Kid's Story: The Lion and the Mouse
This is an Aesop fable and can be found almost anywhere on or off line.  It goes really well with the gospel reading and the Corinthians reading.

Film Clip: The Beatitudes

This clip is found on the Work of the People site (see my links column at left).

http://www.theworkofthepeople.com/the-beatitudes

Drama: I Believe Congratulations Are In Order
By Tick Brereton and found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.) Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916X, page 17 (pictured at left). This is a dramatic reading that looks at the Beatitudes and different approaches to what they really mean. I made this the basis of my sermon and added a couple more voices to each section who related directly to the struggles in our own community and lives and added prayers of reflection after each section as well.

Response Activity:
I gave everyone a copy of the Mega Drama (above) version of the Beatitudes and gave them a space to read them over and then underline the one that they do best in one colour and the one that they need most help with in another colour. We then prayed together and for each other.

Also:

Taize Service: Beatitudes

Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 38 (pictured at left). This is based on the Matthew reading.

Drama: World Wise
Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 0859109151v1, page 9 (pictured at right). This has been written for the 1 Corinthians reading.

Brilliant Comments on the Gospel

Found in Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey, SPCK, 2008, ISBN 9780281059751, pages 65-90 (pictured at left).

Drama: Blessed are the Poor

Found in Let's Make Another Scene 3 by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 41 (pictured at right). This drama is based on the gospel reading. 

Poem: O That Land

Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page 44 (pictured at left).  This poem is based on the Micah reading.  

Blessings  

Found in Messy Church 2 by Lucy Moore, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008, ISBN 978 1 84101 602 3, page 149 -150 (pictured at right). This is based on the Matthew reading.

Drama: Fair's Fair

Found in All Age Sketches for The Christian Year by Peter Shaw, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 10 1 984101 458 3, page 84ff.  This is based on the Matthew reading.

Worship Activities: God Blesses Those People

Found in Welcome by Beth Barnett and Keith Dyer, Scripture Union, 2011, ISBN 978 0 9871500 2 8, page 45. These are based on the Matthew reading.