What is Eternal Life?

Short Talk (SHT205) So, what is Eternal Life? © Jane Hulme 2020 Aim of Short talk: Use of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Lectionary: Props: To teach that according to Jesus, the gift of eternal life is an intimate and personal relationship with the living God. 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. Eternal life, Gifts, Relationship, Faith, Heaven John 17:1-11 Year A – The 7th Sunday of Easter You need 4 gifts wrapped up in wrapping paper as follows: 1. Abarofsoap. 2. Aboxof“MilkTray”chocolates(orsomeotherboxof chocolates) 3. Anipad/computertablet 4. Apieceofcardonwhichyouhavewritten“EternalLife.” The gifts are placed on a table in front of where you are SHORT TALK: “So, what is eternal life?” standing. .................................................................................................................. Look at all these wonderful gifts......I can’t wait to open them (pointing at the gifs on the table).... • I wonder what this is? (Pick up the soap) • It feels quite heavy..... • I think I know what this is and it is just what I need... • A doorstop! Let’s have a look. (Unwrap the soap) • Yes, just what I thought....a piece of soap... • A perfect doorstop. Now, I wonder what this is? (Pick up the box of chocolates) • It is the right shape for a picture..... • I hope it is the right colour because I am desperate for a picture in my lounge. Let’s have a look. (Unwrap the box of chocolates) • Perfect.....look at that beautiful purple box called “Milk Tray chocolates” • It is just the right colour for my lounge......I will hang it above the fireplace.... © Jane Hulme 2020 2 And what’s in here? (Pick up the laptop) • It feels very heavy and solid..... • You know it looks like it might be just what I need for my kitchen. Let’s have a look. (Unwrap the ipad) • How did they know that I needed a new chopping board? • I have so many onions I need to chop tonight – that is wonderful. Aren’t gifts great? • I’m so delighted to have a doorstop, a picture and a chopping board today. But have I really understood what these gifts are actually for? • Is soap normally used as a doorstop, • or a box of chocolates normally hung on a wall as a picture, • or an ipad normally used as a chopping board? It can be easy to think we know what a gift is but actually get it quite wrong, like I have done with the 3 gifts I have just unwrapped. Let’s see what my last gift is. (Unwrap the piece of card) • Look at that.....the card says: “eternal life.” I wonder what you think eternal life is. • Is eternal life something we get after we die, so we have to wait for it? • Is eternal life about living for ever in heaven, sitting on a cloud, strumming a harp and singing worship songs 24/7? • Is eternal life getting older and older and never ever dying? We can have all sorts of ideas about what this gift is, but are those ideas right? • Have we actually understood what the gift really is? Why don’t we find out what Jesus says the gift of eternal life is? • Jesus says in John chapter 17 verse 3: “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” So, Jesus says that the gift of eternal life is actually an intimate and personal relationship with the living God. • Wow – that sounds good doesn’t it? • This gift is given when we first put our trust in Jesus and goes on all the way through our life here on earth and on into the next life after we die. • Nothing can separate us from knowing God as our loving Heavenly Father. Are you enjoying exploring this wonderful gift of eternal life; this gift of relationship with your Heavenly Father? © Jane Hulme 2020 3