Proper 20 A: The Generosity of God/Focus and Purpose

 


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

Bible Readings: Exodus 16:2-15, Psalm 105:1-6,37-45, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16

About the Images:
Upper Left: This is a microsoft free clipart with my text. This image matches the Philippians reading.
Upper Right: This is my image with text as acknowledged. I took this image in central Australia and you can see what a battle this tree has had to survive by the way it has grown. It seemed to illustrate Pauk Harvey's quote very well. Please feel free to use this image for worship and related activities. This images match the Philippians reading.
Lower left and right: Free images from the excellent Heartlight site - see my link column at left.

For Kids: Fair Wages
Found in Saving the Ants by Ruth Gilmore, Augsburg, 2001, ISBN 0806640804, page 106. This is based on the gospel reading (pictured at right).

Discussion questions:
How does God help us cope with the uncomfortable things in our lives?
How does God give us hope and strength?

Story: The Greyhound Races
Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties Inc, 1994, ISBN 031040261, page 106 (pictured at left). This story illustrates the Philippian words about purpose.

Story: Last Supper Story 2
Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties Inc, 1994, ISBN 031040261, page 162 (pictured at left). This story illustrates the Philippian words about focus.

Story: Bad Tyre, Good Business
In Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks Book 4 by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 2001, ISBN 0310236193, page 33 (pictured at right). This story goes well with the  gospel reading.

Reading: Letter From A Communist
Found in Illustrations, Stories and Quotes to Hang Your Message On by Jim Burns and Greg McKinnon, Gospel Light, 1997, ISBN 0830718834, page 105 (pictured at left). This reading challenges our commitment - when you read it, don't tell the congregation who wrote it - let them try to guess.

Poem/Prayer: Realigned Again
A revelation, poem and prayer by Kelly Hall. Music by Tracy Howe Wispelwey/The Restoration Project. This comes from The Work of the People (see my link at left) . This poem prayer is about renewal, surrender, transformation, rethinking and realigning one's life.


Response Activity:
Ask or project: What would you have to change in your lifestyle and in the way you deal with the harder parts of your life in order to live the life God has called you to?
Give out business cards with the words from Psalm 105:3-4: Be glad that we belong to God. Go to God for help. Seek God's presence continually.

Heaps of Service Ideas: All Worked Up

Found in Multi-Sensory Parables by Ian Birkinshaw, Scripture Union, 2006, ISBN 9781844272310, page 50ff (pictured at right). Lots of good stuff here relevant to the gospel reading.

Also:

Poem and prayer: working to rule.
Found in Dad and Daughter by Ron Gordon and Jennie Gordon, 2012, ISBN 9780646586601, page 52(pictured at left). These are based on the gospel reading.

Response Activity: The Generosity of God
Found in Bringing the Word To Life Together: Year A by Andrew Collis and Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Mediacom, Adelaide, 2010, ISBN 9780949656919, page 139ff (pictured at right). This is based on the Gospel reading .

Lots of Useful Stuff
Found in The Abingdon Creative Preaching Annual by Jenee Woodard (Ed.), Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2013, page 198ff.

Story Plus Other Stuff: Lennie's Fair Deal

Found in Wally the Dodgy Trolley and other Stories of Faith and Humour by Ian Johnson, Scripture Union Australia, Lidcombe, 2000, ISBN 0949720984, page 61.

All Sorts of Useful Stuff: Pass it On

By Ian Birkinshaw in Multi-Sensory Parables, Scripture Union, 2006, ISBN 9781844272310, page 50.  This is based on the Gospel. 

Worship Resources: Are we nearly There Yet?

Found in Multi-Sensory World by Craig Borlase, Scripture Union/Tear Fund, 2008, ISBN 9781844272662, page 42. This goes with the Exodusl reading.

Proper 19 A (September 17): Coping with Difference/Forgiveness/Rescue

NB: There is a new updated 2023 version of this blog with heaps more resources

Bible Readings: Exodus 14:19-31, Psalm 114, Exodus 15: 1b-11,20-21, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35.
  
About the Images:
Upper Left: Sign seen in a Lygon Street coffee house in Melbourne, Australia. It says to me that it is not so hard to work with differences - everybody just needs to have a bit of a go.
Upper Right: This is a mediacom free clipart with text from the Matthew West song below.
Lower Left: This is a Bing image - see the copyright details lower left in the image - with my text.
Lower Right: This is a free Microsoft image with a line from the song Only Grace (see below).

Listening Song: What If I Stumble
By dc Talk on their album, Jesus Freak (pictured at left) This song goes well with the Romans reading and to a lesser extent with the Exodus reading.

Listening Song: Only Grace
By Matthew West on his album, History or on WOW 2007 (pictured at right). This goes very well with the Gospel reading.

Kid's Story; Soundscape
This can be done with a heap of Bible stories but it works very well with this one. It is an old , old idea that has been about in Sunday school and beach mission resources for years and years but it is an oldie that's a goodie! Tell the story of the Exodus using a bucket of water and a wooden spoon or hands to make the sound of the sea, a saucepan and a wooden spoon or a drum or banging feet for the Egyptians, the congregation or a group of children for the crowd and complaining voices, sand in a large flat tin dish and a pair of hands in sneakers or hands patting thighs for marching feet, and a tin whistle or flute played softly or any sort of God noise you can think of for God. Give out the sound effects to a few kids and tell them to use their sound effect every time they hear their key word eg sea, Egyptian, marching, complaining, God. Then tell the story! Make sure you emphasis the key word so that you give the sound effects kids a good warning as to when they are to employ their particular sound effect. It's great fun. Adults like it too!

Kid's Story: Rescue
Found in The Lion's Book of Bible Stories and Prayers by Mary Batchelor, Lion, 1980, ISBN 0867602058, page 8 (pictured at left). This is a lovely kid's version of the Exodus story and it has two prayers for kids as well. I used it with the above soundscape.

Film Clip: Changing Lanes
(pictured at right). This clip fits in nicely with the gospel reading. You will have to give a quick summary of this film because the clip comes from quite near the end when Gavin's boss explains how he has justified an injustice and Gavin then finds Doyle waiting for him in his office. The two men discuss what the day has taught them.

Discussion: Changing LanesGavin and Doyle tell each other that they are sorry for their actions that day.
1. Why can we say sorry for the little things but find it really difficult to say sorry for the things which effect us and others deeply? 2. What is the relationship between our experiences of being forgiven by God and our ability to let go of what others owe us? 
 
Film Clip: End of the Spear
If you are able to remember the 60's and 70's (all power to you if you can!) you will remember the book and film Through the Gates of Splendour about the five American missionaries who were killed in South America by the indigenous inhabitants. This film (pictured at left) is about the wives and children of the missionaries. They return to evangelise these same indians. I found the clip at www.wingclips.com (a brilliant site - see my links column at left) under the heading forgiveness. 

Drama ; You Call That Prayer?
Leader: Thank you for all coming today. We welcome you (looks at 2) to your first meeting with us today. We will now close in prayer. Just jump in if you feel like it and I’ll close at the end.
1: Dear God, thanks for bringing us here today and learning more about you.
2. Yes, Lord!
3: Help us to spread the Good News in Bairnsdale (or wherever you live). Help us to know what to say and do.
2; Oh Yes Lord. Be with us Lord!
4: Help us to grow closer to you. ….
2: Hallelujah!! Yes, Lord.
4. AND (slightly frustrated) to grow closer to one another.
2: Yes Lord, Yes Lord, Amen, Thank you Lord for this group. Thank you Lord that I am able to worship in your holy name. Father, here in this place. Lord, send your Spirit to be with us and guide us. Open our hearts to the leading of your Spirit as we share together. Father, in Jesus wonderful name we praise you. Thank you Lord, Amen.
Leader: (after awkward pause) Um, hear all our prayers spoken and unspoken. Amen . Thanks everyone. Before we go any further (looks at 2) I think you should know a few things about our group
1: We don’t go in for all that weird superspiritual stuff.
3: If you are going to fit in with us you’d better learn a few things.
As each person disagrees in the following dialogue have them step away from the group – by the end they should be against the walls and shouting at each other.
4: Yeah, and we don’t believe in dancing! It leads to all kinds of sinful thoughts and lewd behaviour.
1: That’s funny! I don’t have a problem with dancing. Its R rated movies we don’t agree with.
3: Excuse me? R rated movies? There’s some great R rated’s around at the moment. The censors are just a little over careful. What we really don’t like is people who believe in all that healing miracle stuff.
4: Of course we believe in miracles. My Nana was healed by a miracle. She’s a living, breathing example! But if you speak in tongues – now that’s another story.
1: Hang on a minute. I speak in tongues. (Sharp intake of breath from other two) You know, you are most likely not going to fit in with us unless you like pop music. We do not believe in COUNTRY music!!!!!
3: He means techno.
4. No… dubstep!
1: The main thing is opposition to R Rated movies.
4: No!!!! It’s the tongues thing
3: It’s the healing miracle stuff
4: Dancing!
1: R Rated movies!
4: Tongues!
Leader: Welcome to our church!
Copyright Rosemary Broadstock and Ann Scull ( I am pretty sure this is ours :-) Somebody let me know if you have seen something like it somewhere else).

Drama: The Unforgiving Servant

Found in Lets Make a Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, page 27 (pictured at right). This is a sort of mine/dramatic reading of the gospel with a chorus. I am going to make the whole congregation the chorus because I think it will be more fun that way and easier to organise.

Drama: What Seems to Be the Problem?
Found in Lets Make Another Scene by Verena Johnson, Open Book Publishers, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 19 (pictured at left). This is a funny modern-day take on the gospel.

Discussion Questions:
1. Why is it important to concentrate on the basics of faith rather than on those things which separate us?
2. What are some practical ways we can reach out to people who express themselves differently than we do? 
  
Quote: Meister Eckhardt
"God does not ask anything of you other than for you to let yourself go and let God be God in you".

Response Activity: Pass It On

Found in Multi-Sensory Parables by Ian Birkinshaw, Scripture Union, 2006, ISBN 9781844272310, page 20. This book is really written for small groups but plenty of the activities translate well into worship services. Under this heading there is a brilliant introduction to the gospel and a response that could be used after watching either of the above film clips or after a sermon.

Also:

Multi Age Resources: Take a Load Off
Found in Welcome Mat by Beth Barnett, Scripture Union (pictured at left). The whole of session 3 - teaching, activities for children, discussion questions, drama and photocopyable resources - is devoted to the gospel reading. Each session is easily adaptable to worship. Welcome Mat is available from www.suvic.org.au and is worth buying as the other eight sessions are also based on Matthew readings.

Proper 17 A (3rd September 2017): Living God's Call

There is an 2026 updated version of this post - see archive at left.

N.B.  You will find a search engine to the left if you do not follow the Revised Common Lectionary. Just pop in a Bible reference or a topic and it will take you to a relevant post.  

Bible readings; Exodus 3:1-5, Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 16:21-28

About the Images:
Upper Left: This is made up of two free microsoft clip art images with my text.
Upper right: This is a free microsoft clip art image with my text.
Lower left: This is a fee image from the Heartlight collection - see my links at left.
Lower Right: My image - feel free to use it for worship and related activities.

Film Clip: The Prince of Egypt
Show the burning bush scene from the film The Prince of Egypt (pictured at left)

Discussion: The Prince of Egypt
Where are some places we may meet God?
What do you think God might say to us as a church?

Quiz: Who Am I?
In line with the Exodus reading which points to God using ordinary people to achieve great things, choose a well known ordinary (and lay) person in your congregation who has a significant ministry, and, with their permission, turn their life and ministry into a game of Who Am I?

Discussion: In pairs or fours
1. How does our relationship with God show up in our relationships
a. with outsiders
b. with those we don't get on with, and
c. with those who suffer?
2. Talk together about dreams for our congregation and how we could put our dreams into practice.

Drama: The Sheep
Bartholomew (dressed very simply as a sheep eg. woolly ears wanders up the centre aisle of the church calling out): Hey, where is everybody? Is this Mt Horeb?
Barbara (dressed similarly, at lectern): Yeah, here we are, Bartholomew. Come over here. Did you get lost coming over the desert again?
Bartholomew: Yeah, I stopped too long at that first rest area. I'll never be anything but a straggler. (sighs)
Barbara: My word, you certainly missed out on all the excitement today anyway.
Bartholomew: Why, what ever happened?
Barbara: Well, just as Moses was about to have a bit of a smoko after getting us all here he stopped dead in his tracks because right in front of him was this great big humungous burning bush.
Bartholomew: A bush fire - out here?
Barbara: No, no…. not a bush fire just a bush on fire and it didn't burn away like you'd expect it too and .......(whispered loudly) it had an angel of the Lord in it!
Bartholomew: Fair dinkum - you must have all been scared out of your wits.
Barbara: We all scattered like sheep - but I didn't go too far because I wanted to see what happened.
Bartholomew: What did Moses do?
Barbara: Well, you could see he was interested. He went over to have a closer look and God's voice came out of the bush saying "Moses, Moses.
Bartholomew: Wow (breathed) And then?
Barbara: Moses said "H..h..here I am..m…m…m
Bartholomew: Huh, he'd be stuttering worse than usual, I bet. I can just imagine!
Barbara: God said " Don’t come any closer. Take off you sandals because the place where you are standing is holy ground." Well, by this stage Moses had both his sandals off and he was face down on the ground. He was just too scared to look at God. Mind you, none of us were looking either but I kept my ears open.
Bartholomew: I dunno if I'd have had the guts to hang around.
Barbara: Well, God spoke again. He said "I‘ve seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I’ve heard them crying out because of their slave drivers and I am very concerned about their suffering. So I’ve come down to rescue them from the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land flowing with milk and honey - So now, go, I am sending you to lead my people out of Egypt."
Bartholomew: Well, that's a bit of a promotion for Moses - from a leader of sheep to a leader of a whole nation of people! (Looks around) Is he still here? Did he go?
Barbara: Well, actually he had a bit of crisis in confidence. His actual words were "W..w..who am I, that I should g..g..go to Pharaoh and b..b..bring the Israelites out of Egypt."
Bartholomew: Wow, that's almost like giving cheek. What happened to him? Did God give him a bit of a zap or something?
Barbara: Nuh. Nothing. God understood and said " I’ll be with you and when you bring the people out of Egypt you will worship me right here. That’ll be the proof that I have sent you."
Bartholomew: So... then what.
Barbara: Well then Moses got a little cheeky. He said, Ok then, who will I say sent me. In other words “what’s ya name?”
Bartholomew: Ooooh. God must’ve got mad then?
Barbara: No, not really. He just told him “I AM” ….but in a pretty big voice as you can well imagine. Now look! Its time we stopped talking and got in to a bit of serious grass eating. I think Moses is starting to keep a journal – he’s calling it Exodus or something. You’ll find the rest of the story there.
Copyright Ann Scull 1999 - please feel free to adapt - it has Australian figures of speech that may not translate well into other cultures.

Story: Unbaptised Arms
Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties Inc, 1994, ISBN 031040261, page 169 (pictured at right). This story is matched with the Romans reading.

Quote: Brother Roger
In the silence of the heart,
tirelessly God whispers to each of us:
"Do not be afraid. I am here".

Response Activity:
Give everyone a small journal (you can sometimes buy tiny little ones in discount shops very cheaply) and ask them to write a few words to God in the silence (or with quiet music playing) about what they think God has been speaking to them about recently.
 
Also:
Father's Day (Australia - and maybe some other places?) Resources:
Listening song; Butterfly kisses By Bob Carlisle on his album of the same name (pictured at right) 

Meditation: God's Call

Found in Meditations from the Iona Community by Ian Reid, Wild Goose Publications, Trowbridge, 1998, ISBN 1901557022, page 15.

Trinity Sunday A (11th June 2017): Revenge versus Forgiveness/ Three in One

There is a 2026 version of this blog with lots more resources - see my archive at left

Bible readings: Genesis 1 1-2:4a, Psalm 8, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20

About the images:
Upper Left: From http://www.sacredise.com/files/images/free/Trinity2.jpg.
Upper Right: Trinity found at http://www.servicioskoinonia.org/cerezo/indexAgraf.html
Lower Left: This is an Imagebank free image - see my link column at left.
Lower Right: This is a free Heartlight image - see my link column at left.

Call to Worship:
Ask everyone to go outside or bring something in which reminds them of God's creation to place on the communion table.


Listening Song: Creation Calls
By Brian Doerksen on the album, Light the Fire (pictured at right). Illustrate this song with images from your own local area for greatest impact.

Film Clip: Antz
Show the clip at the very beginning straight after the credits and finish when Z says "I'm insignificant with attitude". (see below).  This clip includes the credits and a minute or so after Z's statement but it work best if you edit it to stop at his statement.



Discussion: on the film clip of Antz.
1. Why does Z feel insignificant?
2. In what sort of situations can we feel like this?
3. Matthew 28:19 says: "Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples". What do you think of this verse? How does it make you feel?
4. What reassures you that this is not too big an ask of us ...or is it?

Kids story: The Blind Men and the Elephant
This old, old story makes a good lead in to a discussion on God, three in one, not only for children but for adults as well.

Drama: In the Beginning
Found in Let's Make a Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, Page 7 (pictured at right). This is based on the Genesis reading.

Trinity Illustration: Threesome
Found in When You Walk by Adrian Plass, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 1997, ISBN 0745935524, page 321 (pictured at left). This is a lovely analogy of the Trinity and I once used it as the basis of my service and sermon.  

Story: The Life Saving Station
Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties Inc, 1994, ISBN 031040261, page 140 (pictured at right. This story is based on the gospel reading.

Story: The Skier
Story 155 in 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching by Michael P Green, Baker Books, 1989, ISBN 0801063302 (pictured at left). This illustration shows us the different ways the Holy Spirit can act in our lives.

Story: Through Thick and Thin

Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks Book 4 by Wayne Rice, Zondervan, 2001, ISBN 0310236193, page 39 (pictured at right).

Story: Rivalry
Found as story No 226 in Your Point Being? by Graham H. Twelftree, Monarch, 2003, ISBN 1854245929. This story matches up well with the 2 Corinthians reading.

Prayer For Others: Circles
Found in Multi-sensory Prayer by Sue Wallace, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994652, page 33. This goes quite well with the 1 Corinthians reading.


Response Activity:
I gave people a choice of three responses (see below). I used the words of 2 Corinthians 13:13, Matthew 28:19 and "Our God is complex, dynamic, relational, ever-reaching, ever seeking, ever creating, ever loving, and ever speaking" (William Willamon: Preaching Resources, Trinity Sunday, 2005) as the basis for all three responses. The choices were
1. Meditation: I used the words as a visual meditation with a powerpoint presentation and music by Moby from his album, Play. I used two tracks: "Inside" and "Guitar, Flute and String".
2. Discussion: I gave people the words on a handout and asked them to discuss the words.
3. Modelling: I gave people the words on a handout together with a small piece of self hardening clay and asked them to model a response to the words.

Response Activity: Relationships
Found in Bringing the Word to Life Together by Andrew Collis and Dorothy McRae-McMahon, MediaCom, 2010, ISBN 9780949656919, page 94. This response is based on the Corinthians reading. There are also some great sermon notes to be found here as well.


Also:


Poem/Meditation: The Cheerful Unrepentant Weeds

By Ruth Burgess in Dandelions and Thistles: Biblical Meditations from the Iona Community by Jan Sutch Pickard (ed.) Wild Goose Publications, 1999, ISBN 1901557146, page 13 (pictured at left).

Worship Activity: Prayer Lights

By Jim Burns and Robin Dugall in Worship Experiences, Gospel Light, 1999, ISBN, 0830724044, page 43.  This is based on the Matthew reading.

Prayer Exercise: The Psalms Teach Us to Pray

Found in Prayer: Heart of the Pilgrimage by Jenny Youngman, Upper Room Books, Nashville, 2007, ISBN 0835898369, page 42.  This is based on the Psalm reading.

Also:

Kids: Cecil and Psalm 8

This is another brilliant book  by Andrew McDonough, Lost Sheep Resources, 2017.  This goes with the Psalm.  The great thing about these books is that they only around $A7 and for a further $A10 (or instead of) you can buy on line the story in any format you need to project the pictures in church.  There are also free activity sheets and for a cost activity books for both teachers and children.  Visit www.lostsheep.com.au to check out all the excellent resources.

Kids: The Image of God

And another another brilliant book by Andrew McDonough, Lost Sheep Resources, 2017. This goes with the Genesis reading. 

A chapters of resources for Trinity Sunday:

By Ruth Burgess in Fire and Bread, Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 9781905010301, pages 199ff. 

Various Ideas: Te Great Commission: Getting the Message Out

Found in Multi-Sensory Message by Dave Maclure, Scripture Union, 2008, ISBN 9781844272730, page 30. Connected with the Gospel reading. 

Various Ideas: Creation - the Message of Love

Found in Multi-Sensory Message by Dave Maclure, Scripture Union, 2008, ISBN 9781844272730, page 7. Connected with the Genesis reading.

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