Wardie Family Resource Pack

Transcription

1 Wardie Family Resource Pack Jesus is the one who calls us to follow him 26 th Jan 2014 Matthew 4:12-23

2 Follow Wardie Parish Church on Church This pack will is available online: Future copies (from the 9 February) will be available online unless a hardcopy is requested. 26 January: Messy Church 9 February: Holiday Club Launch 23 March: Messy Church Dates for the Diary

3 Beginners Jesus told his friends that he wanted them to follow him. He said this because he wanted his friends to learn from him. He wanted them to do the right things and make God happy. You are Jesus friend and he asks you to follow him. When we read the Bible we hear stories about the way that Jesus lived. Jesus wants us to be good people, to love God and to listen to what God wants us to do. Do you want to follow Jesus? SOLVE THE MAZE

4 Primary Last week we spoke about Jesus wanting to be our friend. This week our focus is on Jesus asking us to follow him. When we decide to become friends with Jesus things change. We cannot do the same things we used to do. We want to do the things that make Jesus happy. The disciples went on an amazing adventure with Jesus but, it all started with them saying yes to following him. If they had said no, their lives would have been far less exciting. Jesus wants to be part of your life and when we say yes we need to also follow Jesus example. TRY TO COPY THE TEXT BELOW

5 MegaKids Last week we spoke about the type of things that make a good friend. When we decide to allow Jesus to be our friend, we allow ourselves to go on an amazing adventure. As a good friend we always want to do things that make the other person happy. In the Bible there are many beautiful stories. In one of the section, we read about Jesus from the perspective of four of his friends. The way that Jesus lived is an example to all of us about how we can live our lives. We start to talk to people who we might not like. We think of other peoples feelings. We start to become just like Jesus. The name for people who follow Jesus is Christians. The word Christian means Christ like. Maybe we try everyday to be more Christ like

6 J2s I love twitter. It s a minefield of information and gossip all in one place. Unlike facebook s friend button, twitter has a follow button. Any person can follow somebody s tweets. It s fascinating who is on twitter and what they are saying. Jesus asks his disciples to follow him. This is a difficult choice for them as they have the stability of a job versus the uncertainty of following Jesus. But they decide that they want to accept Jesus request. Do you think you would be able to drop everything you had a follow someone you had never met? Little did the disciples know what impact their decision would have on not only them but the world. We might not recognise it but we are all following someone. The way we think, or what we believe comes from someone else. All around us we have people that are telling us what is cool or what it means to be successful. Advertising is the attempt to entice us into a certain way of thinking. We live in a world that is constantly telling us what to do. The fact is many people choose not to follow Jesus, but there are many people around us that do. They find Jesus way brings helpful traits such as truth, life, wholeness, friendship and meaning. For them following Jesus is a life long activity. They are constantly learning more about God and what it means to follow Jesus. How about taking the plunge by trying to let Jesus inform the way you live your life? Fill in the mirror of traits you want to reflect

7 Adult Service The overarching theme for the weeks leading up to Lent is Jesus is the one who ---. We look at the various ways in which the weekly Gospel passages fill in our picture of Jesus giving us different dimensions; different perspectives of who he is. On Sunday 5 th January we began with John s affirmation that Jesus is the Word made flesh, the very person and essence of God personified. The Word made flesh speaks to affirm our identity also; that we are God s precious creation destined by him to be his children, part of his loving purpose for the world. [John ] On Sunday 12 th January we saw that when Jesus came to be baptised by John the Baptist he recognised immediately that Jesus was the one mightier than I who was sent by God. In his baptism Jesus had a powerful experience of the blessing of God s Holy Spirit and those present heard God s affirmation that Jesus was his beloved son in whom he was well pleased. Again, in this there is also affirmation for us drawing us to reflect upon our own baptism. Jesus is the one sent by God; beloved of Go who comes to draw us into that Father / Child relationship in which is our fulfilment. [Matthew ] On Sunday 19 th January we saw Jesus engaging with some of the disciples of John the Baptist, Andrew among them. Noticing their curiosity he draws them in, welcoming them and encouraging them to Come and See What they experience is Jesus living in acceptance that he is [and we are] created by God; beloved of God and purposed for God. The effect is immediate as after a day with Jesus, Andrew is inspired to bring along his brother Simon. Jesus is the one who welcomes us in, eager for us to share his life with him. [John ] Sunday 26 th January develops the theme as we see Jesus not only welcome people into his life but then invite them to follow. This highlights the move into active discipleship. Affirmed as created by God and beloved of God we are invited to engage with the purposes of God for our lives; requiring an increased level of commitment and willingness to embrace challenge and change. Jesus is the one who calls us to follow him, taking direction for our lives from God. [Matthew ]

8 Family activities FOOTPRINTS Draw each others feet on a piece of paper. Cut them out and stick them on the fridge as a reminder to always follow in Jesus footsteps. TRY FISHING TOGETHER Really great activity for the whole family TALKING Children can tell their parents what they think it means to follow Jesus. Parents can tell their children what they think it means to follow Jesus. READING Read Matthew 4: PRAYER Pray together thanking God that we are special and ask Jesus to help us follow him.

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