Seeking Treasure

Short Talk (SHT079) Seeking Treasure © Jane Hulme 2017 Aim of Short talk: Use of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Lectionary: Props: Before the service: SHORT TALK: “Seeking Treasure” To encourage people to make time to seek Jesus, and when they have found Him to worship Him. 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. Epiphany, Jesus, Seeking, Worship Matthew 2:1-12, Jeremiah 29:13-14a (Message Version) Year B – Epiphany A few large gold coins wrapped up in a small box and covered in gold wrapping paper, then placed in a carrier bag. 6 pieces of A5 paper/card with a star drawn on one side of them and a number (from 1-6) written on the other side of them. Make all the stars the same size except for star 6 which you make much bigger than the rest. (See Appendix 1) Give out the 6 star pictures to different members of the congregation who are sitting in different places around the church as follows: Star 1 - held by a person at the front of the LHS of the church Star 2 - held by a person in the middle of the LHS of the church Star 3 – held by a person at the back of the LHS of the church Star 4 – held by a person at the back of the RHS of the church Star 5 – held by a person at the middle of the RHS of the church Star 6 – held by a person at the front of the RHS of the church Give to the person holding star 6 the plastic bag containing the small gift wrapped box of gold coins and tell them to hide it by their feet. This works best if the person is sitting in the middle of a pew or row of chairs. It is crucial that your 2 volunteers do not see you giving out the “treasure” or the star pictures. ........................................................................................................................ Who would like to go on a treasure hunt today? (Choose a couple of young volunteers and invite them to the front) OK there is some treasure hidden somewhere in the church.  You have 20 seconds to find it. (Send off the 2 volunteers. After 20 seconds call them back) It is very hard to find treasure when you don’t know what you are looking for isn’t it?  How about if I told you that the treasure is inside a small box that is wrapped up in Christmas paper?  You have another 20 seconds to find it. (Send off the 2 volunteers again and recall in 20secs). © Jane Hulme 2017 2 How about if I give you some signs to help you find the treasure?  If you follow the signs they should lead you to the treasure.  So can the person with Star 1 stand up please? (Send the 2 volunteers to star 1, then invite stars 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 to stand up one at a time to lead the 2 volunteers around the church.) Star 6 is very big isn’t it?  Have a look around that place and see if you can find the treasure there. (The 2 volunteers find the treasure and bring it back to you) Well done, you have found the treasure. Now see what is inside. (The treasure is opened)  Thanks for seeking and finding the treasure - would you like to sit down. Over two thousand years ago some other people were on a treasure hunt.  These people were called Magi, or wise men and they made a long journey from the East to find the treasure. The treasure they were looking for wasn’t gold or silver or precious jewels.  The wise men had been shown that the treasure they were to look for was a new King that had been born; so they set out looking for Him. Now they didn’t find the treasure immediately.  It took time and effort and a lot of searching until they eventually found Jesus, who was by this time probably just under 2 years old. Sometimes you and I don’t realise that if we are going to find the greatest treasure of all,  which is a life-giving relationship with Jesus,  then we too, like the wise men, need to put time and effort into looking for Him. God says this to us through an Old Testament prophet.... “When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed.” (Jeremiah 29:13-14a The Message Version) God helped the wise men find Jesus by putting a special star in the sky, which they followed.  God has helped us too...  He has given us the Bible and the gift of the Holy Spirit, who will lead us when we go looking for Jesus. Having found Jesus, the wise men bowed down and worshipped Him as they recognised Him as King.  When we find Jesus, we too need to bow down and worship Him and allow Him to take His rightful place in our lives. So this New Year can I encourage you to go on a treasure hunt and to look for Jesus,  either for the first time,  or if you have found Him, to look to deepen your relationship with Him? You will need both your Bible and the leading of the Holy Spirit to find Him.  but once you have found Jesus, make time to worship Him.  Allow Him to reign over your life as King, and you will then know the joy of His gift of peace. © Jane Hulme 2017 3 Appendix 1 – Picture of Star 4 © Jane Hulme 2017