Giving up the Lesser for the Better

Short Talk (SHT056) Giving up what is lesser for what is better © Jane Hulme 2016 SHORT TALK: “GIVING UP WHAT IS LESSER FOR WHAT IS BETTER” (SHT056) Aim of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Props: Note: To encourage people to receive the life that God wants to give them by laying down their lives before Him. Life, Cost, Submission Mark 1:15, Luke 9:57-62, Colossians 3:1-3 A large box of wrapped sweets for example “Quality Street,” four £5 notes sealed inside a brown envelope. This short talk is costly financially. It involves giving away four £5 notes and a large box of sweets, but it is worth the cost! You may choose to use two £10 notes and two children instead of four £5 notes and four children.....but whatever you do, don’t take back the money once you have given it to the children! You are aiming to make people think about receiving something much better from God than they already have, so it is important to give away a reasonable sum of money. At the end of the service you might like to share the sweets with the children who didn’t receive the money. ........................................................................................................................ Who likes sweets?  The first four children to come and stand in a line here can receive some. (Gather 4 children in a line and send back quickly any extra children)  Right put your hands out so that I can give you some sweets. (Children put out their hands. Fill their hands to overflowing with sweets)  Wow those sweets look good don’t they?  I bet they taste amazing......  Well they are all yours to eat......but don’t eat them just yet. Now I have something in this brown envelope that is much much better than a handful of delicious tasting sweets.  Do you believe me? (Get children’s response) The thing is you can only have what is inside this envelope if you give me back your sweets so that your hands are empty and ready to receive it.  It is your choice. Do you dare to trust me that I am offering you something better than a handful of sweets even though you can’t see what is inside the envelope?  How many of you are willing to give me back your sweets so that you can have what is inside this envelope? (Receive sweets) Keep your hands out and ready to receive what is inside my envelope. © Jane Hulme 2015 2 Shall we see what is inside now? (open envelope and pull out four £5 notes)  Wow there is £20 here.....  That is much better than a handful of sweets isn’t it?  You gave up what is lesser to receive something better. Those of you with empty hands can receive a share of this £20.  The rest of you can eat your sweets. (Hand out £5 notes) Two thousand years ago Jesus came to earth with an amazing message...  He told people that God was doing a new thing on earth.....inviting people into His kingdom to receive a much, much better life than the one that they were currently living......  a bit like when I offered the children something much better in the brown envelope than a handful of sweets. Jesus told people that in order to receive this much better life they had to lay down their old lives......however good they looked......  and submit to God as their Lord and their King.  a bit like when I invited you to give me back the sweets I gave you in order to have empty hands to receive what was much better in the brown envelope. Jesus’ message hasn’t changed and is the same today in 2016.  Our Heavenly Father wants to offer each one of us life in His Kingdom.....  life where we can know Him and enjoy His love, kindness, freedom, joy and peace...... This new life Jesus has made possible through his death on the cross and resurrection.....  but.......  and there is a big but......  but....in order to receive this new life we have to let go of our old life, however good it looks and come to God with open hands.  When we come to God with open hands we can then receive the better life that He wants to give us. The question is... Will we trust what Jesus has told us?  Are we willing to give up what is lesser to receive something better? © Jane Hulme 2015 3