February 2014 Light series 2: Following Jesus Jesus and our big challenge Aim: To show that Jesus challenges us to live a life that is different, and turns our normal expectations upside-down Reading: Luke 9:46 48 Getting started This service comes during the Light series looking at what it means to follow Jesus, how he calls us, helps us to know who he is and wants us to help others to know him. This short passage challenges the disciples to learn more about what it means to be great in the kingdom of God. The disciples are human, and their true humanity is exposed as they argue about who is the greatest. You can imagine the banter who does Jesus seem to like more, who is the best at speaking, or doing what Jesus wants, or understanding his teaching. As ever, Jesus uses the opportunity to open up discussion and teaching about what it really means to be great. Taking a child in a society that didn t value children and standing the child before them, he taught them that humility is about welcoming the lowest in society and valuing humility more than power or being favourite. We remember as we read this passage that Jesus himself was on the final journey to death giving all in humility to save us all. This passage sets us all, whatever age we are, a big challenge to value others before ourselves, to place children in the centre and to seek after humility above all else. You will need Two adult volunteers to act out the interviews. Reflective music (optional). Images of ten famous people (pop stars, TV presenters, politicians, sports celebrities) printed on sheets. Beginning the service: On the spot interview part 1 With: two adult volunteers, prearranged Ask one of your volunteers to ask the questions given below (number 1s), and the other to improvise the responses based on the ideas given below (number 2s), acting as a member of the crowd walking along with Jesus and the disciples: 1 So you were there, walking along and listening to what the disciples were saying? 2 Yes / lots of others following Jesus / could hear the disciples / raised voices 1 Raised voices? Were the disciples arguing? 2 Yes / who was best / who did Jesus like best / who was greatest 1 And did they agree?
2 No / argument went on / Jesus stopped them / he seemed to know what they had been saying 1 And what happened then? 2 Jesus placed a child in front of them (Finish at that point; the interview will continue later.) Beginning the service: Prayer reflection With: reflective music (optional) Read these sentences, allowing a short amount of time between each. Arrange for quiet reflective music to be playing, if possible. Finish by repeating the final line twice: We think about those who are leaders in our country and world. We think about those who seem to have little value. We think about those who want to be famous and important. We think about those who do good things that few people know about. Generous God, we thank you for all people, for all are important to you. Generous God, we thank you for all people, for all are important to you. Bible reading Read the Bible passage as given below (Luke 9:46 48, Contemporary English Version), pausing to ask the questions in bold as you read. Encourage responses from all ages before moving on: What do you talk about when you re walking along with friends or family? 46 Jesus disciples were arguing about which one of them was the greatest. Why do you think they wanted to be the greatest? 47 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he had a child stand there beside him. Do you think Jesus knows what we think? 48 Then he said to his disciples, When you welcome even a child because of me, you welcome me. Why do you think Jesus chose a child to show what it means to welcome someone? And when you welcome me, you welcome the one who sent me. Whichever one of you is the most humble is the greatest. What does it mean to be humble? Bible reading: On the spot interview part 2 With: the same two adult volunteers as for On the spot interview part 1 1 So you were saying Jesus took a child that was nearby and asked the child to stand in the middle of everyone? 2 Yes, that s it / disciples told to welcome children / children are important
1 Is that what Jesus meant? 2 All about welcoming the least people / welcome them, you welcome Jesus / welcome Jesus, you welcome God the Father too 1 Confusing! Did Jesus really mean that we should welcome the poorest, least important? 2 Yes / finished with the most humble is the greatest / that s a BIG challenge! Bible talk With: sheets of images of famous people make sure there are some that children will recognise Who is great? Ask everyone to turn to people around them and look at the images on the sheet. Together they should try to work out who they are, and why they are famous. Get some feedback from the small groups, asking them to say whether they think the person is great or not, and what it is that makes them great if they are. Move on to the explain the following points: Being considered good or great is not a bad thing, as long as it doesn t lead to pride and arrogance. God gives people the gifts that make them great. Some of these people aren t really great at all, but they have become celebrities and have been made to look great. Why did the disciples think they were great? Ask whether anyone has ever met anyone famous. If possible, ask them to say what it was like, what they felt like and whether that memory stays with them as a highlight. Say that the disciples thought they were great, and were arguing about which one was the greatest. It was a bit like them all wanting to be Jesus favourite, like we may want to be the teacher s favourite, or the favourite worker of our boss! Why did they think they were special? They had been chosen by Jesus to work and live with him at that special time. They were with Jesus as he was welcomed by crowds. They knew Jesus better than any others. Jesus had shared some of his deepest thoughts with them. What does it really mean to be great? Find a child to come and stand at the front. Ask the people, Who are the lowest of the low in our world now? We may think of poor people, addicts, criminals, bankers (!!) and so on. Say that in Jesus time children were not at all important until they were old enough to work. Children were considered a hindrance. Yet, knowing that his disciples had been arguing about who was greatest, Jesus took a child and placed that child right in the middle of him, the disciples and the crowd. He then told them what it really meant to be great! When we welcome a child / the poorest / the lowest of the low to serve Jesus we are great. When we welcome people that others may turn away we not only welcome Jesus, but God the Father. To welcome people and not be proud is a humble thing to do. The big challenge is to do everything for Jesus, and remain humble.
Prayer activity Reflecting on the example Jesus used, remind the congregation that children are important, and that the smallest, poorest and youngest are the greatest in God s eyes. Invite all children who are able to, to stand, and those near a child or children to simply reach out in their direction and pray for them, or use the following prayer: Jesus, you took a child and placed that child in the centre. You encouraged your disciples and all your people to welcome children. Thank you for children for the life they bring and the joy they share. Help us to be humble and welcome the child. Amen Prayers of intercession These prayers all finish with the following line and response: We pray for those who have responsibilities for our teachers, church leaders and politicians. We ask that they would not think of themselves as being great, but would instead know what it is to serve. We pray for those who bring war and turmoil to the world the leaders of aggressive nations, armies and fighters. We ask that they would see their place in your plan, and turn to peace. We pray for this church and all churches. We thank you that the church family is made up of people of all ages, with a whole lot of gifts and abilities. We ask that we would be grateful for our gifts, but not think of ourselves as better or greater than others. We pray for those who are in special need today those known to us who are sick, lonely, sad or struggling with problems. In a moment of quiet we remember them. We ask that even right now they will know your love with them. We pray for ourselves, and for the times when we think of ourselves as being greater than we are. We ask that you would make us understand that your big challenge for each of us is to be humble and to serve you as we serve others. Final activity Say that today we have thought about what it means to be great in God s eyes. But we can still thank each other for the gifts God has given us. Invite members of the congregation to turn, greet each other and say, I thank you that you are great. If appropriate to your congregation (and there are not too many newcomers present) they could say, I thank you that you are great, because adding what it is about that person they really like.
Ending the service Say: God calls us to be servants, to welcome everyone however lowly they may appear to be. And he sets us the big challenge not to think of ourselves as great, but to be humble and serve others. As we go from here today, let s take every opportunity to serve God, and remember that Jesus himself gave everything for others. Helpful extras Music and song ideas Give me a heart of compassion kidsource 65 Jesus wants me kidsource 216 Make me a channel Junior Praise 161 Make me a servant Junior Praise 162 This little light of mine Junior Praise 258 Notes and comments The word humble can often be interpreted as being quiet and subservient. What we are looking at is to place ourselves at the right level, accepting that God has given us gifts but not thinking that we are better than others. Do a Gifts audit! Ask people to clap if they are reasonably good at doing a range of things. There are suggestions below: Music / football / writing / speaking / running / cooking / cleaning / gardening / being caring / listening / drawing / etc At the end of the activity remind everyone that God gives us these gifts, and we should be grateful but not personally proud. Service written by Nick Harding