The Walk of Faith

Short Talk (SHT031) The walk of faith © Jane Hulme 2015 Aim of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Props: Before the service: (SHT031) To encourage people to trust that Jesus is walking with them through the ups and downs of life. Faith, trials, God’s presence Matthew 16:24-25, John 15:18-19, Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 23:4 Piece of plastic covered in shaving foam, bowl of water, towel, tunnel of some sort, piece of rope, small table or couple of chairs, good blindfold Prepare a couple of adults to lay out your obstacle course at the relevant time. The obstacle course begins with walking on a piece of plastic covered in shaving foam, then into a bowl of water, then onto a towel, then into a tunnel, then under a piece of rope being held by two people and finally over a small table or couple of chairs put together. Prepare a volunteer. Tell them you want them to go on your obstacle course. Ask them if they are OK to remove their shoes and socks and to be blindfolded. Tell them that you want them to choose a helper and that this person needs to be someone who will really help them and not have fun steering them into the obstacles! SHORT TALK: “THE WALK OF FAITH” ........................................................................................................................ How many of you like obstacle courses?  They can be great fun can’t they? N has offered to have a go at my obstacle course. Would N like to come forward now (Volunteer comes forward)  While my team lay out the obstacle course, would you please remove your shoes and socks? (Volunteers lay out the course) Now you are going to do my obstacle course blindfolded,  but we are not going to leave you alone.  You can choose someone from the congregation, whom you trust to help you.  So who would you like to choose? (Once volunteer has chosen their helper, who joins them at the front, put blindfold on the volunteer) Are you ready to begin? (Hold volunteer’s hand and lead them to the start of the obstacle course where you let go of their hand. The helper walks near the volunteer as they go through the obstacle course, but doesn’t have any physical contact with them.)  Your helper is going to lead you through this obstacle course now by giving you instructions.  Listen carefully to what they say!  OK off you go (Volunteer goes through the obstacle course receiving instructions from his helper) Well done.....thank you both for being good sports.  Would you like to sit down. © Jane Hulme 2015 2 Life can be a bit like an obstacle course can’t it?  Sometimes things happen that we aren’t expecting.....(Stand by plastic covered in foam) Those unexpected things may be lovely happy things,  like meeting someone you immediately click with, who becomes a new friend,  or seeing God healing someone as you pray for them. On the other hand those unexpected things may be something that is not very happy,  like getting a serious illness or losing your job. We may go through periods in our lives where everything is going well  and we feel really close to God (Stand by towel) Or we may go through periods in our lives where God feels very far away,  and it feels like darkness is all around us,  a bit like being inside this tunnel (Stand by tunnel) We may not understand the path that God seems to be taking us on (Stand by rope)  or we may be making really good progress in our Christian lives,  growing in all sorts of ways (Stand by table) When we follow Jesus, he doesn’t promise that we will have a trouble-free life.  What Jesus actually promises is that He will walk with us,  guiding us a step at a time,  and giving us all that we need. Like N’s friend who never left him through the obstacle course,  Jesus will never leave us on our own. So if you are going through a really happy time in your life,  know that Jesus is walking with you....  He is the One blessing you. But if you are going through a really difficult time,  and you are walking through trial after trial,  and if feels like God has abandoned you....  know that Jesus will never leave you.....  He has a purpose for your life....  He is walking with you right now. © Jane Hulme 2015 3