Who Does he Think he Is?

Short Talk (SHT105a) Who does He think He is? © Jane Hulme 2018 Aim of Short talk: Use of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Lectionary: Before the service: To challenge people to answer the question: “Who do you think Jesus is?” 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, Faith Mark 6:1-13 Year B 2021 – The 5th Sunday after Trinity For this short talk you need a child with a parent, who will be willing to take part. Note: When you choose the child, their parent needs to be someone who would be extremely unlikely to be able to deliver a sermon! You need to brief them before the service as to the questions you will be asking the child, so that the child can answer them correctly. SHORT TALK: “Who does He think He is?” ........................................................................................................................ Would N (Name of child volunteer) bring their mum/dad with them and come and join me at the front please. (Volunteer child and their parent comes forward) N you know your mum/dad pretty well don’t you because you have lived with them since you were born. • Could you please tell me where your mum/dad was born? (Child gives the right answer) • Is that right mum/dad? (Parent gives answer) N please could you tell me if your mum/dad has any brothers or sisters and what their names are? (Child gives the right answer) • Is that right mum/dad? (Parent gives answer) And finally what work does your mum/dad do? (Child gives the right answer) • Is that right mum/dad? (Parent gives answer) • So N you know your mum/dad well. Imagine now that next Sunday when you came to church, when it got to be the time for the sermon your mum/dad got up, walked to the front of church and preached the best sermon that anyone here had ever heard. © Jane Hulme 2018 2 Would you be amazed that your mum/dad could speak such words of wisdom? • or would you think... “that’s my mum/dad.....I know them....I know what they are really like at home.....who do they think they are taking the Vicar’s job?” (Child answers) • Thank you so much for your help....would you like to sit down. Jesus’ family and hometown got a surprise one day too. • On the Sabbath day Jesus went to the synagogue and He gave an amazing sermon. To start with the people who were listening to Him were amazed at the things He said, but then they started to say things like: • “He's just a carpenter • He’s Mary's boy. • We've known Him since He was a kid. We know His brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and His sisters. • Who does He think He is?” (Mark 6:3 – Message Version) The people thought that they knew who Jesus was because He had grown up in their town, • a bit like N thinks that they know who their mum/dad is and would be really shocked if they preached a great sermon next Sunday! The people in Jesus’ home town knew that Jesus was a carpenter. • They knew that Mary was His mother and that He had brothers and sisters. Unfortunately their minds were closed to who Jesus really was.... • in a way they were too near to Jesus to see His true greatness, • and so sadly Jesus wasn’t able to do many miracles in His home town of Nazareth. Now you and I all have the advantage over the people in Nazareth in that we can read all the amazing things that Jesus did in the Bible, • so I wonder who you think Jesus is. • You know it is the most important question to answer in your life....“Who do you think Jesus is?” • Make sure that you answer it wisely and if you are not sure, check it out. [You could mention here any Christian basics courses that your church is running] And by the way.....just a thought about the people you live with. • Be prepared to be surprised by their greatness! © Jane Hulme 2018 3