Proper 18 A (10th September 2023): Extravagant Love, Our God of Second Chances, New Beginnings

There is an updated 2026 version of this post with more resources - see my 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 12:1-14, Psalm 149, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20

About the Image: 
Upper Left: This is a free image from the Hermano Leon site - see my links column at left. 
Upper Right: This is a free Imagebank image from their excellent, although slightly disorganised, site. See my link column at left. 
Middle Left and Right: This is a free Heartlight image from their site which you can access through my links column at left.

Lower Left: The Palestinian side of the 8 metre high Separation Wall. This is my image so please feel free to use for worship and related activities. 

Lower Right: This is a free Heartlight image - see my link column on the left.

Listening Song: Just Like You 
By Keb Mo on his album, Just Like You (pictured at left).This goes well with the gospel reading. 

Call to Worship: All God's People 
Found in Crafts For Creative Worship by Jan Brind and Tessa Wilkinson, Canturbury Press, 2009, page 205 (pictured at right). This goes well with the Romans reading.  

Drama: No Thumping Whatsoever 
Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 085910916Xv2, page 21 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the gospel reading. 

Film Clip: The Day is Near 
This goes really well with the Romans reading - it's from the Work of the People (see more excellent clips from their site which you can find via my links column - the clips cost but they are well worth it) 

Story: Don't Hire a Hit Man 
Found in Could Someone Wake Me up Before I Drool on the Desk by Kevin Johnson, Bethany House Publishers, 1995, ISBN 1556614160, page 49 (pictured at right). This is based on the gospel reading. 

Discussion: 
After reading the Romans reading and the gospel reading, divide into groups to discuss together and make a list together of the means by which a Christian community can live in harmony. 

Quote: Do It Anyway 
Probably written originally by Dr Kent M. Keith and adapted by Mother Teresa. Find the original and the adapted words at http://prayerfoundation.org/mother_teresa_do_it_anyway.htm 

Adult Response: 
Give everybody a piece of spring blossom. Tell everyone that the blossom is a sign of spring, new life and new growth. In the silence, encourage people to think of a broken relationship in their lives and encourage them to ask God to show them how to repair it. 

Adult Response: 
Give everyone a small piece of self hardening modelling clay (1cm cube is big enough for this) and 
1. Ask people to mould their feelings about someone they disagree with in their faith community. 
2. Ask them to mould the clay back into a ball 
3. Ask them to mould the clay into a symbol of Jesus' love for them. 
4. Encourage them to take home their symbol as an example of relationship. 

Response Activity: Love Your Neighbour  Found in Bringing the Word To Life Together: Year A by Andrew Collis and Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Mediacom, Adelaide, 2010, ISBN 9780949656919, page 134ff (pictured at left). This is based on the Gospel reading. 

Also:

Poem and prayer: wherever two.
Found in Dad and Daughter by Ron Gordon and Jennie Gordon, 2012, ISBN 9780646586601, page 52 (pictured at right). These are 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 188ff (pictured at left).

Lots of Useful Stuff: The Great Escape

Found in Multi-Sensory Together by Ian Birkinshaw, Scripture Union,2005, ISBN 1844271641, page 7 (pictured at right).  Based on the Exodus reading.

Proper 17 A (3rd September 2023): Living God's Call

 

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 3:1-15, 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. 
Middle left: This is a fee image from the Heartlight collection - see my links at left. 
Middle Right: My image - feel free to use it for worship and related activities.

Lower Left: Mt Horeb and Mt Sinai are most likely the same place.  Here is the view from the top.  This is my image so feel free to use it for worship or related activities. 

Lower Right: This is a free Heartlight image - see my link column at left.

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:

Meditation: God's Call

Found in Meditations from the Iona Community by Ian Reid, Wild Goose Publications, Trowbridge, 1998, ISBN 1901557022, page 15 (pictured at left) . This is based on the Exodus reading. 

Drama: The Fight

Found in Mega Drama 2 by Verena Johnson (editor), Open Book Publishers, 2001 ISBN 085910916X, page 19 (pictured at right).  Based on the Romans reading. 

Poem: Middle Aged Moses

Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page 34 (pictured at left).  This poem is based on the Exodus reading.  

Poem: Burning Bush

Found in The Electric Bible by Peter Dainty, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2003, ISBN 1 84417 041 1, page 35 (pictured at left).  This poem is based on the Exodus reading. 

AND

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) 

Ascension Day ABC (18th May 2023):

There is an 2026 updated version of this post with more stuff  - see my archive at left.

Bible Readings: Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 47, Psalm 93, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53

Top Left and Right: Free clipart from the Hermano Leon site.                                                   

Middle Left and Right: Free clipart from the Sundaygraphx site.                                                

Lower Left and Right: Free clipart from the Heartlight site.

Drama: Deconstruction Inc                                                                                                                                          Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson (Ed.), Open Book Publishers, 2001, ISBN 0859109151, page 100 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the Acts reading.

Beautiful Illustrations of John's Gospel  connected to the Australian Outback

Found in The Gospel According to John Illuminated by Fiona Pfennigwerth, Tien Wah Press, Singapore, 2013, ISBN 9780646912462, page 36-37 (pictured at right).

Discussion Questions: Knowing God and Becoming Part of a Community

Found in Chapter 10 of The Gospel According to the Simpsons Leaders Guide for Group Study by Mark I Pinsky and Samuel F Parvin, Westminster John Knox Press, 2002, ISBN 0 664 22590 X (pictured at left).  These questions are based on the Acts reading.

Drama: Up, Up and Away

Found in All Age Sketches for The Christian Year by Peter Shaw, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 2006, ISBN 10 1 984101 458 3, page 113ff (pictured at right).  This is based on the Luke reading or the Acts reading.

Drama: They Can Find Their Own Chairs 

Found in Mega Drama 5 by Verena Johnson (Ed), Open Book, 2002, ISBN 0859109194, page 24 (pictured at right). This drama is based on the reading.

Lent 2 A (5th March 2023): Watching Over Us/ Going Places

 

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

Bible Readings: Genesis 12:1-4a, Psalm 121, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17

About the Images:
Upper Left: This is a little bloke who looks as if he is well cared for in the safety department and who knows where he is going. Sort of like the Psalmist :) This is my photo so please feel free to use it in the context of worship.
Upper Right: This is a microsoft free clipart image with my text.
Middle Left: This is a free image from the excellent Church Galleries site (see my link column at left) - this site is not functioning at present..
Middle Right: This sculpture, found on Mt Nebo in Jordan, by Italian artist Giovanni Fantoni, symbolizes the bronze serpent created by Moses in the wilderness and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified (Numbers 21:4-9 and John 3:14). This is my image so please feel free to use it for worship and related activities.
Lower Left:  This is a free Heartlight image - see my link column at left. 

Lower Right: A free image from the now defunct Scripturepics site. 

Kid's Story:
Found in Picture Strip Bible by Felecity Henderson and Chris Saunderson, Scripture Union, 2001, ISBN 1859994970, page 10 (pictured at left). This obviously fits in with the Genesis reading.

Drama: Eternal Life And All That

Found in Lets Make Another Scene by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 12 (pictured at right). This drama is based on verses from the gospel reading.

Story or Film Clip: Jim Elliot
The story of Jim Elliot and his four missionary colleagues has some great parallels with the readings. You can find the full story in the book Through the Gates of Splendour by Elisabeth Elliot, ISBN 185078034X, or on the film Beyond the Gates of Splendour (pictured at left).  

Story: Worry or Life
Found in When You Walk by Adrian Plass, The Bible Reading Fellowship, 1997, ISBN 0745935524, page 99 (pictured at right). This story is based on the gospel reading.

Story: Anxiety
You can find this story at http://www.christiancrusaders.org/details_web.asp?ID=454. Scroll right down to the end of the page to find this story which goes very nicely with the Psalm.

Quote: Alice in Wonderland
"Cheshire Puss", Alice began rather timidly, "Would you tell me please which way I ought to go from here?" "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat. "I don't much care where....," said Alice. "Then it doesn't matter which way you go", said the Cat.
From Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

Quote: Lewis Smedes
"God is there, ahead of time, before you get there, waiting, hands open, to hold you when you are sure you are sinking. You will feel his presence, feel his strength, feel the courage that comes from his support, if you just let him hold you. And when you do feel him, you will know that it will be all right with you at that moment, later, or any time....". By Lewis Smedes in How Can It Be Right When Everything Is All Wrong? and found in High Mountains, Deep Valleys edited by Rowland Croucher and Grace Tomlinson, Albatross, 1990, ISBN 086760090X, page 58. (pictured at left)

Poem/Meditation: The Love of God
This is a take on John 3:16 and I found two versions of it on the net:
1. Go to http://www.pastornet.net.au/gac/sermons/greatest-gift.php and scroll to the end of the page.
2. Go to http://webpages.marshall.edu/~cole8/sermons/SEPARATE.HTM and look in section III.

Adult Response:
Have a variety of art materials on hand as well as paper and pens. As a congregation, make a list of all the symbols found in the John reading eg., light, wind, bronze snake etc. Ask people to choose one symbol and group together with others who have chosen the same symbol. Ask each group to
1. Create a group representation of the symbol they have chosen , and
2. Write a prayer together which incorporates the symbol.
Some can compose while others create.

Also:

Poem and prayer: love saves.
Found in Dad and Daughter by Ron Gordon and Jennie Gordon, 2012, ISBN 9780646586601, page 21 (pictured at left).  These are based on the gospel reading.

Response Activity: Seeing the Face 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 55ff (pictured at right). This is based on the Gospel reading and the old Testament reading.

Lots of Useful Stuff
Found in The Abingdon Creative Preaching Annual by Jenee Woodard (Ed.), Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2013, page 65ff (pictured at left).

Taize Service: A Great Help

Found in Worship Feast by Taize, Abingdon Press, 2004, page 44 (pictured at right). This is based on the Psalm reading.

Opening and Closing Responses for Lent

By Ruth Burgess and Chris Polhill in Eggs and Ashes, Wild Goose Publications, 2004, page 76-77 (pictured at left) - two to choose from. 

For Children and Families: God is Wise

Found in Rewind by Beth Barnett, SU Victoria, 2011, ISBN987098710035, navigate from page 5 (pictured at right). This is based on 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.