Share the Word

Adult & All Age

Share the Word

Ways to present Jeremiah 20:7-13; Matthew 10:24-39

All age act of worship Session

Jeremiah 20:7-13

Display an image of a burning fire in the background as the following monologue, a version of Jeremiah’s words, is read.

Oh Lord, where are you?
Why have you tricked me?
Why have you abandoned me?
I’m done, I can’t do this anymore!
I am tired and weary.
All day long they laugh at me and call me names!
They hate me, God, they hate me!
It’s too much, God, I can’t do this anymore!
This prophet life is so hard,
Full of twists and turns
Risks and more risks.
I AM DONE!
Oh! But oh no!
There is a fire, yes, a fire burning in my soul,
it’s shut up in my bones (whatever that means?!)
Even if I don’t want to talk about you, Lord,
It’s there in me,
Bursting to get out. I cannot contain it.
My friends are waiting for me to fall and stumble
But you, God, you are with me.
You are holding me up and my friends will not win.
You, God, you will WIN.
I am singing to you, Lord, all day long.
You have delivered me and the needy
From the hands of those who hate us.
I will sing to you, Lord, even though sometimes it’s hard.

Matthew 10:24-39

In the Polish chapel at the third station of the cross in the Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem, there is a painting of Jesus’ followers taking up their crosses behind a ghostly figure of Jesus carrying his cross. It is a powerful image of the sacrificial and risk bearing cost of being a disciple of Jesus. Display the image to accompany the Gospel reading, along with words taken from the reading that change as the reading progresses to highlight the message: ‘What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light’, ‘Do not think I have come to bring peace’, ‘Whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me’, ‘Those who lose their life for my sake will find it’. Allow a time of silence for reflection.

NEW Drama: Like, follow, subscribe

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Very young children's session for a version of the story for the under 5s.
Sermon ideas
Thought for the week
Bible study

NEW! Drama: Like, follow, subscribe

A YouTuber decides to tell his viewers about his faith.

You will need: YouTuber, eight viewers.

A ‘YouTuber’ is sitting on a chair. They are wearing headphones and speaking to an imagined camera. They are doing a live YouTube cast for their channel. Viewers are those watching the channel; their words represent what they are typing. Viewers 1 to 5 are sitting or standing around the YouTuber, miming typing on laptops, tablets or phones. Viewers 6 to 8 begin ‘hidden’ among the congregation. The rest of the congregation could also participate with actions – for example, every time they hear ‘like’, they do a ‘thumbs up’. Likewise, ‘follow’ is point forward; ‘subscribe’ put hand up.

Viewers 1 to 4: (randomly, in turns, or all together – whatever feels right to them!)

Like, follow, subscribe, skip ad.
Like, follow, subscribe, comment.
Like, follow, subscribe, skip ad.
Like, follow, subscribe, comment.
Go live!

Youtuber: Hey! And welcome back to another live video where we are talking about…

Viewer 1: Love your channel. Like.

Viewer 2: You’re always soooo funny! Subscribe.

YouTuber: Funny? Right, yeh, well actually today… (slight pause)

Viewer 1: You’ve paused.

Viewer 2: Has your internet dropped?

Viewer 3: I’m about to move on to a new video.

Viewer 4: What’s going on?

YouTuber: No, right, I can see the comments. My internet is fine. I just need a minute.

Viewer 1: We don’t have time for this.

Viewer 2: Oh, a suggested video…

Viewer 3: A dancing goat!

YouTube: Jesus is Lord! That’s what I want to talk about today.

Viewer 4: Unsubscribe. Who wants to hear about Jesus?

Viewer 3: Block. Does anyone know where this loser lives?

Viewer 2: Report! They have no right to talk about Christianity in today’s world.

YouTuber: I thought that might happen. Right, okay. So forget that; erm, forget I said that. (to self) Why did I decide to talk about my faith? My followers are literally unsubscribing before my eyes. What an idiot!

Viewer 5: Don’t be afraid of them, carry on.

YouTuber: Carry on? Are there still people out there watching?

Viewer 5: You said, Jesus was Lord.

YouTuber: Yeh, I did, but…well, it doesn’t matter.

Viewer 5: I think it does.

YouTuber: No honestly, it doesn’t. I’ll lose all my followers and subscribers if I tell them any more about Jesus.

Viewer 5: You know, Jesus isn’t some big secret, there are lots of people out there who have heard of him. The truth will get out whether you say it or not.

YouTuber: So, what should I do then?

Viewer 5: Speak out, what you know and have been told. Speak out, announce it from the roofs of the houses!

YouTuber: I dunno. This could really harm my channel, my career. I rely on this and my subscribers, sponsors, to get money!

Viewer 5: How much do you get from this channel? A single copper coin if you’re lucky? You’re worth so much more than that to God.

YouTuber: I thought I was ready to tell people, my followers, about my faith make it cool, relevant. But I’m just not there yet.

Viewer 5: All I’m saying is, whoever owns up to loving Jesus in front of others, will truly be owned by God in heaven.

YouTuber: And those who disown him?

Viewer 5: You can work that one out for yourself.

Pause.

YouTuber: You’re right, erm, viewer number 5. Time to speak out what I’m bursting to tell. (brief pause to gather and reset) Hey guys, if you’re joining me live for the first time, welcome! I just wanna take some time in this video to share my faith with you…

Viewers 6 to 8 stand in the place as they act and speak their line.

Viewer 6: Like. He sounds cool!

Viewer 7: Follow. Love to hear more.

Viewer 8: Subscribe! This channel is soooo good!

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Children & Youth

Share the Word

Ways to present Matthew 10:24-39

Activities marked with an asterisk next to the activity title are in addition to the resources in the Ready to go sessions. Suggested timings for these activities are also shown. NB The inclusion of additional activities varies from week to week.

For very young children
For children
For young people

A version of the story for very young children

Very young childrens Session

Tell the story using the hand actions.
Jesus said, ‘Don’t be afraid! (shake one finger)
It can be hard following me, but God cares for each of you. (hold hands out)
God cares for every little sparrow,
but you are more special to God. (interlock thumbs to make a bird)
You are so special that God knows how many hairs are on your
head. (point to head)
Even when things are hard and tough, (bang fists together)
don’t be afraid.’ (shake one finger)

FOR CHILDREN

Childrens Session

Read the story and pause at the to share these points with the children (see Stop and share below). Then use the activity to explore the passage together. (10 mins)

Click on the image to view a PDF.

Stop and share

Good disciples remember their teacher’s example, even if their message is not heard.
Do you know how many hairs there are on your head? What does that tell you about God?
Although things may be tough, Jesus says that we should not be afraid, we can rely on God

Action mimes W E

Encourage mime actions for the following words: hidden, dark (hand over eyes), secret (finger on lips), whisper (whispering), shout (shouting), sparrows (flap arms), hair (point to hair), tell, say (talking).

FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Young people Session

Envelope opening 5 mins W E A

Break up the Matthew passage into five blocks (vv: 24-25, 26-31, 32-33, 34-38 and 39) and seal in five unmarked envelopes. Give out the envelopes for some young people to read each piece separately, asking the whole group whether it is more frightening or reassuring. Then read the whole passage to the group, this time in the correct order.
What is about to happen here?
What aspects of the Gospel message would you want to ‘shout from the rooftops?’
Does fear stop us from sharing our faith? What does God have to say about this?

Spiritual styles abbreviations
W Word E Emotion S Symbol A Action
Read our Spiritual Styles articles

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