Witnesses

© Jane Hulme 2017 Short Talk (SHT076) Witnesses Aim of Short talk: Use of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Lectionary: Props: Before the talk: SHORT TALK: “WITNESSES” To teach that John the Baptist was a witness to Jesus and to encourage Christians to also be witnesses to Jesus. 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. Advent, John the Baptist, Witness John 1:6-8, 19-28 Year B – The 3rd Sunday of Advent A plate of wrapped chocolate biscuits on a table at the front of the church You need two children / adults who are friends to help you.  Tell Person 1 that you want them to come and steal the plate of biscuits and take them to the back of the church when you disappear to get your notes. Tell them to wear either a hoodie, or a distinctive hat.  Tell Person 2 that they are going to be the witness and that when you ask if anyone saw what happened, they are to jump up and say, “I did.” When you cross-examine them they are to tell you that they would recognise that hat/hoodie anywhere and so they know who the thief is! ............................................................................................................... I don’t know if any of you are hungry this morning but I have got some nice biscuits here.  But before I carry on, I have forgotten something......hold on a moment. (Walk off and out of sight. Person 1, acting like a burglar comes and grabs the plate of biscuits and walks off, out of sight, but still in the church. Once they have disappeared you come back) Oh dear....where have my biscuits gone?  Did anyone see what happened? (Person 2 jumps up and says, “I did”)  Would you come and join me please? (Person 2 joins you at the front) So you witnessed what happened? (Person 2 answers)  Please tell us what you saw? (Person 2 answers)  How do you know it was N (Name of person 1) who stole the biscuits?  Oh so you recognised their hat/hoodie Thank you very much for being such a good witness.  N (Name of person 1) please return my biscuits immediately. (Person 1 returns the biscuits and says, “sorry” then both person 1 and person 2 return to their seats) © Jane Hulme 2017 2 When we see something happening; either good or bad,  then we are a witness. Sometimes we may be asked to go to court to describe what we have seen.  Witnesses are very important for telling the truth of what has really happened. Today we had a really good witness who told us the truth about what happened to my chocolate biscuits. John the Baptist was a witness to Jesus.  When the Jewish leaders saw Him in the wilderness, preaching to the people, they thought that John might be the long awaited Messiah;  the King whom the Jewish nation were expecting who would bring peace and God’s rule to the nation. But John said, “No I am not the Messiah.”  John knew that He had come to point to Jesus;  to say: “He is the One you are waiting for......I am only a voice.” John was a good witness. He spoke the truth and was always pointing people to Jesus in His ministry. Followers of Jesus today are also called to be witnesses....  to point to Jesus and speak the truth, saying: “He is the One who loves you and who gave up His life for you.” When we are witnesses and we tell other people about what Jesus has done in our lives, we do it not to make ourselves look good, but simply to tell the truth about Jesus. Let’s be like John the Baptist and be good witnesses to the people we know. © Jane Hulme 2017 3