He Knows Me

Short Talk (SHT080) He Knows Me © Jane Hulme 2017 SHORT TALK: “He Knows Me” To encourage people that Jesus knows them totally, and loves them. 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. Main themes: Biblical references: Lectionary: Props: Before the service: ........................................................................................................................ I am after a couple who have been married for a long time, who are prepared to have a bit of fun with us today and see how much they know about each other.  Any volunteers?  Would you mind coming and joining me? (Couple join you with the wife standing on one side of you and the husband standing on the other side of you)  How long have you been married? If you don’t mind too much I am going to ask you some simple questions about each other.  When I have asked you the question, please don’t speak out your answer.  Simply write it down on this piece of paper, (Hand out paper and pens) and then we will see if your answers are the same. So the first couple of questions are about H (husband’s name). Let’s see how well your wife knows you.  Question 1: You are both watching television when a huge spider runs across the lounge carpet and under the settee. Does H a. Ignoreit, b. Leavetheroomandaskyou,hiswifetogetridofitor c. Pause the television programme and deal with it? Please write down your answer  Question 2: You have just got back from holiday and your neighbour, who has been looking after the house, has forgotten to put milk in the fridge. W (wife’s name) is desperate for a cup of tea. Does H a. Gooutimmediatelyandgetsomemilk,eitherfromashoporyourneighbour b. Askyou,hiswifetogoandgetsomemilk, c. Say that you can drink something else – buying milk can wait. Please write down your answer Aim of Short talk: Use of Short talk: © Jane Hulme 2017 Jesus, love John 1:43-51, Psalm 139:2-4 Year B – The 2nd Sunday of Epiphany Two pieces of paper and two pens You may want to prime a couple who have been married for a long time to help you. 2 Now let’s see if you both have the same answers.  So H, what would you do if a spider ran across the lounge carpet and under the settee while you and your wife were watching television? (H gives his answer)  Did your wife agree with you? (W gives her answer and you make the appropriate response)  And secondly what would you do if you got back home after going on holiday to find that there was no milk in the fridge and with your wife desperate for a cup of tea? (H gives his answer)  Did your wife agree with you? (W gives her answer and you make appropriate response) OK well done, so our next couple of questions are about W (Wife’s name). Let’s see how well your husband knows you.  Question 1: What’s the one thing, apart from you, that W would save from your home in a flood? Please write down your answer  Question 2: In a box of chocolates which one is W’s favourite? a. Oneofthefruitysoftcentredsweets b. Oneofthenuttysweets c. One of the toffees Please write down your answer Now let’s see if you both have the same answers.  So W, what is the one thing, apart from your husband that you would save from your home in a flood? (W gives her answer)  Did your husband agree with you? (H gives his answer and you make the appropriate response)  And secondly W what is your favourite chocolate in a box of chocolates? (W gives her answer)  Did your husband agree with you? (H gives his answer and you make appropriate response) Thank you both for being such incredible sports. (Send the couple back to their seats)  Now H and W have been together for a long time and they know each other well,  but even they, after all of this time won’t know absolutely everything about each other. They cannot know every thought that goes through each other’s minds.  They won’t always know what is going on in each other’s hearts.  They will continue to discover new things about each other throughout their life together. There is however someone who does know us completely. As the Psalmist put it.....  He knows “when we sit and when we rise;  He sees our thoughts from afar.  He notices when we go out and when we lie down.  He is familiar with all our ways.  Before a word is on our tongues, He knows it completely.” (Psalm 139:2-4) Who do you think I am talking about who knows us so well? (Receive responses)  That’s right....it is God our Heavenly Father. And when Jesus, who is “God in the flesh” came to earth, He also knew people.  One day He met a man named Nathaniel and Jesus said this about Him: “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit. (nothing false)” (John 1:47b) © Jane Hulme 2017 3 Nathaniel was shocked that Jesus knew this about him and said to Jesus: “How do you know me?” (John 1:48)  and Jesus replied: “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree” (John 1:48b) Jesus saw Nathaniel.....  He noticed him....  and He knew what was in Nathaniel’s heart. Jesus sees each one of us.  He notices us.....what is going on in our lives.  He knows what makes us happy and what makes us sad.  He knows what is in our hearts..... And the wonderful thing is that although Jesus knows us completely;  even the bits that we tend to hide from other people,  He loves us and calls us to belong to Him.  Isn’t that wonderful? So whoever you are......the truth today is that you are noticed.  You are known and loved by Jesus.  Let that encourage you this week. © Jane Hulme 2017 4