Giving and Getting

Short Talk (SHT166) Giving and Getting © Jane Hulme 2019 Aim of Short talk: Use of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Lectionary: Props: SHORT TALK: “Giving and Getting” To encourage people to give to people that they wouldn’t normally give to, without expecting to get anything in return. 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. Giving, Rewards Luke 14:1, 7-14 Year C – 11th Sunday after Trinity You need a table on which you place: • A bag of sweets • A school book • A present wrapped up • A birthday invitation .................................................................................................................. I wonder how often we give to people, expecting to get back something in return. • Let me show you what I mean. I might have a bag of sweets one day. (Pick up bag of sweets and open them) • You don’t have any sweets and you ask me for one, so I give you one. (Share sweets with one or two people) Another day, you have a bag of sweets and I don’t. • When I ask you for one, I expect to get one. (Put down bag of sweets) One day you might be stuck on your homework (Pick up school book) and you ask for my help, so I give it to you. • Another day when I am stuck on my homework and I ask you for help, I expect to get it. (Put down school book) At Christmas I give you a present (Pick up present) and I expect to get one back from you. • On my birthday I give you an invitation to my party (Pick up invitation) and I expect to get one back from you when it is your birthday. © Jane Hulme 2019 2 Many times, when we give to people, we can be tempted to expect to get something back from them. One day Jesus was having a meal with one of the Jewish leaders. Jesus said this to the man: • “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbours; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (Luke 14:12-14) Now Jesus wasn’t saying that we shouldn’t invite our friends and family round for a meal. • What He was saying was that as children of the King, we are to give to people who cannot give us back anything in return, • people who others tend to ignore because they are poor or needy in some way. • We are to give, and not expect to get back anything. So when you have a party, (Pick up invitation) think about inviting someone who never gets invited because their family cannot afford to put on parties for them. When you buy Christmas presents, (Pick up present) think about buying something for someone who won’t get a present..... • maybe someone you see living on the streets. When you have time to help other people, (Pick up school book) think about helping someone who cannot pay you back. When you have a bag of sweets, (Pick up sweets) think about giving some to another child who you know doesn’t have pocket money to buy sweets. If we do these things, Jesus says that we will be blessed and one day Father God will reward us. • Who can you give to this week who cannot pay you back? © Jane Hulme 2019 3