Open the Word

Adult & All Age

Open the Word: Everlasting

Ideas for sermon preparation

Everlasting

When something is really good we want it to last forever. Scientists dream of discovering the secret of eternal motion or boundless energy. Lovers cling to each other, wanting their passion to burn intensely forever. Our favourite clothes wear out too quickly. We’re always replacing batteries, so advertising campaigns stress their ‘everlasting’ properties. Some see heaven as an everlasting life of bliss, while for others endless hymn singing is a nightmare.

We consider it a tragedy if someone dies while still young. Yet insects have lifespans of just days, and some trees live for hundreds of years. There is a natural life cycle for each species. Why then do we want longer life? Do we want to preserve our existence because it’s programmed into our genes? Is it because life is so good we don’t want to lose it? Or because we are afraid of what might come after death?

Death often appears as the ultimate enemy. Yet life is full of endings — days end, flowers fade, cloth wears out, relationships break down. Some endings are happy endings. Many children’s stories end with ‘They all lived happily ever after.’ A happy ending, when good succeeds and evil is defeated, lifts our spirits. Perhaps that’s why many would like life to end happily. But there are real fears that the world could end in nuclear explosion or biological warfare. Most likely the universe will simply run down into disorder.

One ending we often try to avoid thinking about is our own death. Death can be sudden and like that it is both a shock and a painful tragedy. But we will all die. Is our only hope that there will be more life afterwards? Or is our hope that our lives have an end, a purpose — that life is of value and of significance? We will all draw our last breath, but will our lives have a lasting effect? What will be the end that we have lived for? Christian Aid has a slogan, ‘We believe in life before death’. That is a purpose worth living and dying for.

Open the Word: Riddles and paradoxes

Ideas for sermon preparation

Riddles and paradoxes

What is it that you take out down and put up out? (Answer: An umbrella.) What is it you have only if you give it away? How can you save and spend in the same act (and this is not about discounts)?

A song says, ‘Love is something if you give it away.’ It is a common idea that if you give then you have less. Service is thought of as exhausting. Work is hard. Yet many people will say that they gain enormously from the time and effort they spend in helping others. It is said that a gift brings three blessings — to the one who receives, to the one who gives, and to God.

It is hard to believe that all wealthy people are unhappy and all poor people are content. Yet some found the peace that formerly escaped them when they gave away their wealth and embraced poverty. Francis of Assisi is one among many who set an example of following Jesus through rejecting wealth and accepting poverty.

St Paul writes, ‘We are treated as impostors, and yet are true, as unknown and yet are well known, as dying and see — we are alive; as punished and yet not killed, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor, yet making many rich: as having nothing, yet possessing everything’ 2 Corinthians 6.8-10.

There are some who find that they are most alive when they risk death. Christians testify that life means most when it is given in love.

Open the Word: Safety or service?

Ideas for sermon preparation

Arthur was the medical officer at the pit (coal mine). He proudly said, 'I'm the only person in the pit who can properly hope to do nothing all day.' If he was idle it meant that no one had been hurt. His service was easiest when all was going well. But for others their service means taking great risks. Firefighters may also wish to do nothing, but when something has to be done, it can mean they have to go into a life-threatening situation. They have to put their lives at risk in order to save others.

We might want to preserve our health but for some, the only work available might be such that their lungs become damaged, their skin harmed, their joints worn out. We are very concerned in the West these days to ensure workers are protected against injury and industrial disease. But for many around the world, and even in these islands, a working life can mean a short and dangerous life.
The introduction to the Covenant Service within the Methodist Church includes the words: 'Christ has many services to be done. Some are easy, some are difficult; some bring honour, some bring reproach; some are suitable to our natural inclinations and material interests, others are contrary to both.' While the Covenant prayer includes: 'I am no longer my own but yours: put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you or laid aside for you.' Through these words and prayers we hope to follow the example of Christ, who loved and 'did not count the cost'. He gave his life that others might live.

Story: Babushka's gifts for the Christ child

Brief telling of the traditional Russian folk story of Babushka, and its associations with Christmas gift-giving.

The Babushka story

Babushka is an old Russian woman who loves her home and loves children. On their journey to see the Christ child, the magi call at Babushka's house seeking food and a place to rest. Babushka gives them a warm welcome. While they are there Babushka learns of their quest. Despite their invitation to travel with them she decides to stay until she has made sure that the house and, more importantly, all the children she knows, are well provided for. Eventually she leaves, taking presents for the Christ child - a pair of shoes, a coat, a toy and other presents.

She looks for the star the magi spoke about - but it is not there. Nevertheless, she sets off and travels over hills, down valleys, through towns and villages.

In her long journey she meets a child with no shoes and gives him the shoes meant for the Christ child. Later she meets a second child, who has no coat. So she gives her the coat meant for the Christ child. Further on she meets a third child, who has no toys. So Babushka gives away the toy meant for the Christ child.

Finally, after walking many days, and covering many miles and meeting many children, Babushka dreams of a stable far, far away, where there is a child in a manger. She never does see the Christ child, but her story inspires many to give gifts to children and to search for the Christ child. So today Russian children wake up to find gifts at the bottom of their beds and they say Babushka has left them as she continues her search for the Christ child.

Children & Young People

Open the Word

Ways of presenting the Bible passage to children and young people

For children

Build a picture

The Gospel reading for today is not easy to use with children. It will help to have some visual aids. On a large sheet of paper, draw a background of land and sky — or stick on coloured paper. Draw the relevant pictures — or photocopy and enlarge the pictures on pages 27-9, colour them, and cut them out. Add sticky tack to the back and stick on to a board at the relevant points in the story.

One day, some people wanted to meet Jesus, (Picture 1, Jesus .) but it seemed that Jesus had other things on his mind. (Picture 2, Jesus’ friends. ) He told his friends that the time had come for him to do what God wanted him to do. ‘It’s like this,’ he said. ‘Unless a grain of wheat goes into the ground and dies, it stays as just one seed. (Picture 3, a grain of wheat. ) But if it goes into the ground, it eventually grows lots of fruit.’ (Picture 4, a stalk of wheat. ) Then he said something else. ‘If you want to serve me, and follow me, you must go where I go and do what I do. (Picture 5, children playing ‘follow my leader’. ) Sometimes it will be hard. But if you do it, God will be very, very happy with you.’

After he had said that, Jesus started to pray.

(Replace the picture of Jesus with one of him praying, no.6. ) He said something like this. ‘Dear Father, I don’t want to do the next bit. It will be hard. I want to ask you to rescue me. But, actually, I know that I have to do it, because I want everyone to know how wonderful you are.’

At that moment, the crowd was surprised, because God spoke to Jesus from heaven. (Add a speech bubble, with God’s words, coming from the sky.) Some people said it was thunder. Others thought it was an angel.

God said: ‘I have glorified my name and I will glorify it again.’

While they were wondering about it, Jesus told his friends: ‘That voice came to help you. Not me.’

Then he said that the time had come for him to fulfill his mission. He knew that he was going to die. His friends did not understand all that he said then, but when he died and came alive again, everything began to make sense.

Challenge

When you have told the story, maybe twice through, challenge the older children to tell it again from memory, and put up the pictures in the right order. The younger children could draw pictures of themselves to add in to the crowd, as if they had been there. What would it have been like to be there that day? Do you think God’s voice sounded like thunder? What would an angel’s voice sound like? Some of the crowd thought it had been an angel.

For young people

Picture this

To illustrate the Gospel text as it is read out, create a series of pictures, OHP slides, a computer presentation or even a video. These could be literal representations like seed planting and harvest, or more symbolic, like storm clouds representing the troubled soul. Use a ‘chillout’ CD as background music.

Covenant

Read with the group the Jeremiah reading, which talks about a new covenant and of people knowing the Lord. How does it relate to Jesus’ mission? Pay attention to the last line from Jeremiah, which assures us that God will no longer remember our sins. Link this to Christ’s sacrifice.

Bible story: Build a picture

Simple version of John 12.20-33 for use with children. Visual aids are also supplied on the web site under the Be creative heading within today's web material.

The Gospel reading for today is not easy to use with children. It will help to have some visual aids. On a large sheet of paper, draw a background of land and sky – or stick on coloured paper. Print out and colour in the relevant pictures, which are available on the web site under the Activity heading for today. They are also linked to from this page. Cut them out, add sticky tack to the back and stick them on to a board at the relevant points in the story.

One day, some people wanted to meet Jesus, (Image 1, Jesus ) but it seemed that Jesus had other things on his mind.(Imagee 2, Jesus' friends ) He told his friends that the time had come for him to do what God wanted him to do.‘It's like this,’ he said. ‘Unless a grain of wheat goes into the ground and dies, it stays as just one seed. (Image 3, a grain of wheat ) But if it goes into the ground, it eventually grows lots of fruit.’ (Image 4, a stalk of wheat )

Then he said something else. ‘If you want to serve me, and follow me, you must go where I go and do what I do.(Image 5, children playing ‘follow my leader’ ) Sometimes it will be hard. But if you do it, God will be very, very happy with you.’

After he had said that, Jesus started to pray. (Replace the image of Jesus with one of him praying, no. 6 ) He said something like this. ‘Dear Father, I don't want to do the next bit. It will be hard. I want to ask you to rescue me. But, actually, I know that I have to do it, because I want everyone to know how wonderful you are.’

At that moment, the crowd was surprised, because God spoke to Jesus from heaven. (Add a speech bubble, with God's words) Some people said it was thunder. Others thought it was an angel.

God said: ‘I have glorified my name and I will glorify it again.’

While they were wondering about it, Jesus told his friends: ‘That voice came to help you. Not me.’

Talk about

Discussion ideas for children and young people

For children

Being afraid for younger children

There are times when we feel unsure and sad. That is just how Jesus was feeling, wasn’t it? He tried to let people know what was going to happen but they didn’t seem to understand. So, Jesus turned to the one person who would know how he felt — God. And God helped him.

Talk about what it is like when your friends don’t understand you. Just like Jesus, we need people we can talk to when we are afraid or unhappy. Sometimes, mum or dad, or a teacher can help. Sometimes we need to pray as well, as Jesus did.

Digging deep

Dig deep in your thinking together as to how afraid and uncertain Jesus felt about the next stage of his life. Is it encouraging that Jesus faced things that made him want to escape?

What makes us frightened? How do we cope with it? Or what about when we just don’t want to do something? God can help us see beyond our own misery. For example, visiting a relative in an old people’s home may seem boring, but to the visitor it can make all the difference. Why did Jesus want to glorify God’s name above all things (v. 28)? What does it mean to glorify God?

For young people

The Greeks in verses 20-22 seem to disappear from the story. Was their appearance just a way for John to connect with the Greek readers he was writing for? The exciting news is that Jesus is interested in everyone and not just the Jewish nation. Whatever background people in your group come from, they are included.

In this passage, Jesus struggles with what he knew he had to do. Isn’t it encouraging that Jesus wanted to chicken out? However, as he prayed, his resolve strengthened and God blessed him. There are many struggles facing young Christians. Can Jesus’ experience help them see that theirs is not an isolated experience?

Is there a difference between ‘hating your life’ as Jesus used the words, and hating yourself? The stark language of this passage may resonate with young people dealing with serious issues like bereavement or low self-esteem. Be ready to engage gently with such matters.