God Keeps His Word

Short Talk (SHT135a) God Keeps His Word © Jane Hulme 2019 Aim of Short talk: Use of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Lectionary: Props and prep: SHORT TALK: “God Keeps His Word” To encourage people that God always keeps His word to us, even when we have to wait for it to be fulfilled for a very long time. This is a short All Age talk picking out one issue from the Lectionary Gospel reading of the Sunday main service. The talk stands alone and assumes that the Gospel Bible reading may not yet have been read to the congregation. It could be used for example, for the whole congregation before the children go out to their age specific groups, leaving the adults with a full sermon later. Promise, Jesus, Saviour Luke 4:14-21 Year C 2021 – The Third Sunday of Epiphany You will need the following props laid out on a table at the front of church: • A plate on which you have laid out some really nice “child- friendly” biscuits, which is covered with a clean tea-towel. Be aware that you might need a separate plate with “free from” biscuits for any child with allergies. • A stop watch or timer of some sort .................................................................................................................. I need some children to come and help me today. • So if there are any children, especially hungry children, come and join me now. (Children join you in a line at the front of church facing the congregation) Under this tea towel is a plate and on that plate is something really nice to eat. • Today I give you my word that every child standing here who would like to receive what is on my plate can have it. But I am not going to give you what is on the plate immediately; • you are going to have to wait a little while. How many of you find waiting to get something nice easy? (Receive responses) • Waiting isn’t easy is it? I wonder if you can wait well for 30 seconds. • I wonder if you can stand completely still and silently. • Do you think you can do that? • Let’s see shall we? I am going to set my timer for 30 seconds and we will all be silent and still as we wait. • Are you ready? © Jane Hulme 2019 2 Let’s wait for 30 seconds. (Set your timer) 30 seconds are up. • That wasn’t too hard was it? Now I am going to keep my word to you and give you something nice to eat. (Remove the tea- towel to reveal the biscuits and give one to each child standing in the line) Imagine now that I told you that you had to wait a few hours until you could get the surprise on the plate. • That would have been much harder wouldn’t it? Imagine now that God spoke to your family over 800 years ago and said that He was sending someone very special to save you, • and that you were still waiting for that promise to be kept. • Waiting for such a long time would be very hard wouldn’t it? That was the case for God’s chosen people, the Israelites. • God had made a promise to them over 800 years before Jesus was born that He was sending them a Saviour and they were still waiting for Him to appear. And then, one day, after all of the years of waiting, all was revealed in a small synagogue in Nazareth. Jesus stood up and read out a promise that God had made to His people; the promise about sending a Saviour. • This is what He read: “God’s Spirit is on me; He’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the burdened and battered free, to announce, “This is God’s year to act!” (Luke 4:18-19 The Message) Jesus then rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. He then said: “You’ve just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place.” (Luke 4:21 The Message) • In other words, I, Jesus, am The One you have been waiting for. • I am The One that God promised to send to you all of those years ago, to save you. You see God always keeps His word to us, even if we have to wait for what He has promised to happen. • So can I encourage you today to trust God; • that what He says He will do, He always does, • and wait well for the day when His promises to you are fulfilled. © Jane Hulme 2019 3