Who Do You Say I Am?

Short Talk (SHT115a) Who do you say I am? © Jane Hulme 2018 Aim of Short talk: Use of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Lectionary: Props: To challenge people to answer Jesus’ question: “Who do you say I am?” 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. Jesus, Messiah Mark 8.27-38 Year B – The 15th Sunday after Trinity You need a picture of Megan Markle and Andy Murray (see Appendix 1) – which you can either project or enlarge onto card and show. SHORT TALK: “Who do you say I am?” .................................................................................................................. It is normally quite easy to work out who someone is when you can see a picture of them isn’t it? • So who is this? (Show picture of Megan Markle) • And who is this? (Show picture of Megan Andy Murray) It is often much harder to work out who someone is when you don’t have a picture of them isn’t it? • When you don’t have a picture you have to rely on something that the person has said or done to work out who they really are. • Let’s see if you can guess who my next 2 people are. Person 1 is a generous person • Can anyone guess who this might be? (Receive responses) Let’s have our next clue. • They bought cakes for the Chelsea fire-men who were involved in putting out the Grenfell fire. • Can anyone guess who this might be? (Receive responses) Let’s see if you are right. • My last clue is that in one of her songs she sang famously the words, “Hello.” • Who is the person I am describing? (Receive responses) • That’s right, it’s Adele. © Jane Hulme 2018 2 Person 2 has a silly sense of humour. • Can anyone guess who this might be? (Receive responses) Let’s have our next clue. • They once said: “A bully can only make you feel bad about yourself if you let them.” • Can anyone guess who this might be? (Receive responses) My last clue is that they have been a male judge on the TV show, “Britain’s Got Talent,” and they write children’s books. • Who is the person I am describing? (Receive responses) • That’s right, it’s David Walliams. Without a photograph of Adele and David Walliams it was much harder to work out who they were wasn’t it? • We had to rely on the things that they have said or done, and on their characters to work out who they are. When the disciples were with Jesus, they had to work out who He really was. • They knew that God was sending a special person, called the Messiah, to save them, but they didn’t have a photograph showing what the Messiah would look like. So the disciples listened to the things that Jesus said. • They watched and saw the wonderful things that Jesus did. • They spent time with Jesus and experienced His gentle and loving character. And then one day Jesus turned to them and said: “Who do people say I am? (Mark 8:27) • The disciples told Jesus that some people thought he was John the Baptist come back from the dead whilst others thought He was Elijah and still others thought that He was one of the prophets. Jesus then said to them: “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8:29) • Jesus wanted to know if the disciples had finally worked out who He really was. Peter had listened to Jesus. He had watched Jesus and spent time with Him. • His response to Jesus was: “You are the Messiah” (Mark 8:29 NRSV) • Peter had worked out that Jesus was The One whom God the Father had sent. Now you and I aren’t able to see Jesus in the flesh, but we, like the disciples can hear the things that Jesus said because they are written down in our Bibles. • We can read about the wonderful things that Jesus did and what kind of character He had because it is all written down in our Bibles. So I wonder how you would answer Jesus’ question today: “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” • The way that you answer this question will affect the rest of your life. © Jane Hulme 2018 3 Megan Markle Andy Murray Appendix 1 - Pictures 4 © Jane Hulme 2018