Proper 24 A (22nd October 2017): On Being the Message

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. 

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

Bible Readings: Exodus 33, 12-23, Psalm 99, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22

About the Images:
Upper Left: A copyright free wikimedia commons image on to which I put the text.
Upper Right: My photo, so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.
Lower Left: A Microsoft free clipart image with words from Bill Easum's book, Leadership on the Other Side (see Adult Response below).
Lower Right: A Microsoft free clipart with my text

Listening Song: The Message
By 4 Him on their album, The Message (pictured at left) or on WOW 1997 or on Nothing But Pop. This song is a great introduction for the Thessalonians reading.

Kid's Story: An Important Message
Tell the kids about Paul - about how he left the Thessalonians an important message. Have 1 Thessalonians 1:4 printed out on a large sheet of cardboard and then cut it up as a jigsaw puzzle and have the kids help you put the message back together again.

Psalm 99
Divide it up to be read in four or five sections and sing the Taize response: The Lord is my Song in between as a response.

Discussion: Matthew reading
What are some of the things which can make us afraid?

Drama: Church? What Church?
Interviewer: Tell me what you think of the church?
1: I think it's just a money making concern.
2: People who go are just hypocrites. They should practice what they preach.
3: Teaches you good morals, I suppose, but I've got a business to run.
4: It helps us Christians look after each other.
Interviewer: What sort of Christian do you think you are?
1: I've got a Bible at home and I'll use it if I have to!
3: Pretty good actually - I never miss going to church at Christmas and Easter.
2: I think it's fun to go to church but don't tell my friends that. They'll think I am a loser.
4: I'm the sort of Christian who is sure that God loves me.
Interviewer: Why do you go to church?
3; Oh, that's easy....to check out the girls/boys.
2: My family make me!
1: To pick up the latest gossip around town.
4; To tell God he's terrific.
Interviewer: What do you do in church?
1: Count the bricks.
2: Read who wrote the hymns and work out how old they are.
3: Check out what everyone's wearing.
4; Get involved!
Interviewer: Why do you belong to church?
Copyright: Ann Scull

Discussion: For the drama: Church? What Church?
1. Why do you belong to a church?
2. Why do you belong to this church?
3. The Thessalonians reading tells us that faith, loving work and hope are all gifts from God. Which gift do you want most at the moment?
4. What is it about our relationship with Jesus that the world cannot live without knowing.

Drama: Caesar

A; Did you see the paper today?

B: (hopelessly) I know, Jesus on the front page again

A: Did you read what he said?

B: Some rubbish about how you shouldn’t worry about what anybody thinks of you! What kind of person says that!

A: Someone stuck in the 70’s man!

B: Well we know he doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him – you can tell that by his fashion sense…… and his friends.

A: Hippy fishermen!

B: and how only what God wants, counts!

A: What sort of citizen says that? What about what the Prime minister wants!

B; What about what the Queen wants!

A: What about what the taxman wants!

B: He’s a traitor!

A: He should be arrested

B: Yes! I tried to make him admit that he’s a traitor

A: DID you!

B: I got a HUGE crowd together and I said “OK Jesus, should we use everything we have for God, or should we pay it all in taxes to the government?

A: I thought - If he says “give everything to God” we can arrest him for telling people to be naughty to the government. If he says “we should pay our taxes” then all his followers will see that he doesn’t give everything to God at all!

B: Brilliant! What did he say?

A: Well, first I THINK he called me an idiot, and then he asked me for a coin. Then he said “whose face is on it? I said “The King’s! Then he said Well, it must belong to him then – give him what belongs to him, but give God what belongs to God…you know the difference don’t you? He said.

B: That was a good answer – a very good answer.

Copyright: Rosie Broadstock (free use for worship and related activities).

Story: Sermons versus Witness
Index 4173 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990. Based on 1 Thessalonians 1:8. This story can also be found at
http://www.stjohnskirkland.org/clergy.html

Story: Tested by the Lord.
Index 2149 from Bible Illustrator for Windows Version 1.0d, Parsons Technology Inc., 1990. Based on 1 Thessalonians 1:8. This story can also be found at
http://www.thecorner-stone.org/zLf-Li.aspx. Scroll down or search the site for the author: G. Campbell Morgan

 Story: Belonging
Found in Stories From the Heart by Alice Gray (compiler), Vision House, 1996, ISBN 1885305419, page 25 (pictured at right).This story fits in really well with gospel reading.

Quote: Jim Elliot (one of the five missionaries killed in south America in the 1950's)
God is on his throne and man is on his footstool. But there is only a knee's distance between.

Adult Response: Handout
Give everyone a business card ((pictured at top) with the question "What is it about my relationship with Jesus that the world cannot live without knowing?" This is a Bill Easum question found in his book Leadership On The Other Side, Abingdon Press 2000, ISBN  0687085888.  Encourage people to take the card home and think about their answer and how they could share their answer with others. 

Also:

Prayer Exercise: Singing our Prayers

Found in Prayer: Heart of the Pilgrimage by Jenny Youngman, Upper Room Books, Nashville, 2007, ISBN 0835898369, page 68.  This is based on the Psalm reading.

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Proper 23 A (15th October 2017): Invitation/True Worship

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 32:1-14, Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23, Philippians 4:1-9, Matthew 22:1-14

About the Images:
Upper Left: This is a free Imagebank image with a quote from William H. Willimon. You can find more great images from the Imagebank site by visiting them through my links column at left.
Upper Right: This is a free Microsoft clipart image with my text.
Lower Left: This is a free clipart from Cerezo Barredo - see my link Column at left.
Lower Right: This is a free Microsoft clipart image with my text

Listening Song: Douchas (Hope)
By The Crossing on their album, Douchas (pictured at left)



Kids' Story: The Golden CalfTell the story in your own words and illustrate it with images from the Brick Testament - http://www.thebricktestament.com/exodus/the_golden_calf.html. You have no idea how much enjoyment the adults derive from this as well!!

Film Clip: Meet the Parents
Show the clip (below) where Jack (father) asks Greg to say grace.



Discussion: Meet the Parents
1. Why do you think that Greg is uncomfortable praying?
2. What does it mean to be religious?
3. What does it mean to have a relationship with God?
4. What is the difference between the two?

Film Clip: The Almighty Exodus
Found at Max 7 website, this is a great short summary of the Exodus which can be used for any part of the story as an overview or as an introduction for either children or adults. Go to
http://www.max7.org/resource.aspx?id=3cebfde1-6458-4ed6-807c-446671dc63ef

Film Clip: The Parable of the Great Banquet

Also found at the brilliant Max 7 site: A Bollywood version of the Parable.  The congregation - not just the kids - loved it. http://www.max7.org/en/resource/ParableGreatBanquet

Drama: The Mystery of the Missing Athletes
Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 58 (pictured at left). This is the gospel story with athletes replacing the wedding guests.

Drama: The Feast
Found in Let's Make a Scene Too by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing House, 1991, ISBN 085910608X, page 20 (pictured at right). This is a conversation between two of the King's servants.


Story: Choosing Mary
Found in Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties Inc, 1994, ISBN 031040261, page 64 (pictured at left). This story is based on the idea that God chooses/invites us.

Group Activity: Matthew 22:1-14
Give everyone a copy of the gospel reading. Divide the congregation into six groups. Give each of the groups a character or a group of characters out of the Matthew story: the king, the son, the servants, the first guests, the second guests, the people who were not dressed properly. Give each group the same questions to discuss:
1. Who are you? (just to make sure everybody in the group is on the same page)
2. What part do you play in the story?
3. Who do you think you might represent?
4. Why do you do what you do in the story?
5. How do you think you might feel about what happens in the story?
N.B. If you have heaps of people you may have to have multiples of each group.

Prayer for Others:
Ask everyone to think of a person or a place that God wants to invite to his party. Then have a time of silence when people can pray for that person or place.

Adult Response: Change

Screen the words of the poem Change by Charles Singer. I found it in in Imaging the Word Volume 3 by Susan A Blain, Sharon Iverson Gouwens, Catherine O'Callagan and Grant Spradling, (Eds.), United Church Press, 1996, ISBN 0829801862, page 49 (pictured at right). I put images with each line and played reflective music in the background. I used Missing by Vangelis on his album, Odyssey for the music (pictured at left). Towards the end, I projected the following words: "Which piece of clothing do you have in short supply?" and passed around cards with the various lines from the poem printed on them. People were asked to take the card they needed the most. This was followed by a time of silent prayer.

Also:

Story Plus Other Stuff: Big Al's Banquet

Found in Wally the Dodgy Trolley and other Stories of Faith and Humour by Ian Johnson, Scripture Union Australia, Lidcombe, 2000, ISBN 0949720984, page 85.

Kids: Let the Celebrations Begin

By Margaret Wild and Julie Vivas, Box Press,  with lots of ideas for a whole worship service found in Worship is For Everyone by Julie Pinazza, Openbook Publishers, 2000, ISBN 0859109259, page 55. This goes well with the Philipians reading.

Taize Service: Don't Worry, Have Peace

Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 12. This is based on the Philippians reading.

Proper 20 A (September 2017): The Generosity of God/Focus and Purpose

 


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.  

There is an 2026 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 (17th September 2017): Coping with Difference/Forgiveness/Rescue

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.  

NB: There is a new updated 2026 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.