The Protective Clothing of Humility

Short Talk (SHT028) The protective clothing of humility © Jane Hulme 2015 SHORT TALK: “THE PROTECTIVE CLOTHING OF HUMILITY” Aim of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Props: (SHT028) To encourage people to clothe themselves with humility as a protection against pride. Humility, pride 1Peter 5:5b, Philippians 2:3, Colossians 3:12, Proverbs 18:12 Coat, Sunhat, ski-goggles, marigold gloves, some sort of robe that has the word “HUMILITY” pinned to it. ........................................................................................................................ The clothes that we wear are important for all sorts of reasons,  but one of the things that they do is to protect our bodies from harm. I have some clothes up here and I need four volunteers please to come and put them on. (Four people come up and one person puts on coat, another the sunhat, another the ski-goggles and another the marigold gloves) Now I wonder if you can tell me what these different clothes are protecting these people from.  What is the coat protecting N from? (receive answers) The coat is protecting N from getting cold.  People can even die from what is called “Hypothermia,”  which is when their bodies get too cold,  and so it is important that we wear warm clothes if we are going somewhere very cold. What is the sunhat protecting N from? (receive answers)  The Sunhat is protecting N from getting too hot.  If people get too hot or over-heated,  normally by staying in the sun too long, they can get ill. What are the ski-goggles protecting N from? (receive answers)  The Ski - goggles are protecting N’s eyes from getting damaged by the sun,  which reflects off the snow. What are the marigold gloves protecting N from? (receive answers)  The Marigold gloves are protecting the skin on N’s hands from getting damaged from strong chemicals,  that are sometimes needed for cleaning things. We choose to wear different clothes to protect our bodies from getting damaged in different ways. The Bible tells us that we need to wear another sort of protective clothing.  Let me read you a verse from the book of Peter,  and then we’ll see what this protective clothing is,  and what it protects us from. © Jane Hulme 2015 2 “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1Peter 5:5b) Can anyone tell me what protective clothing the Bible tells us we need to wear? (Humility)  We need to wear humility.  Can I have another volunteer please (Clothe volunteer with robe that says, “HUMILITY” on it) What does the clothing of humility protect us from? (Pride)  It protects us from pride. Pride says:  “I know best”  “I know better than God”  “I will live life my own way”  “I am better than other people”  “No-one tells me what to do”  “I am never wrong about anything”  “I deserve to be served by others” Pride is dangerous because it destroys.  It destroys friendships,  It destroys relationships and especially our relationship with God,  so the Bible tells us to put on the protective clothing of humility to keep ourselves safe from pride. Let’s think for a moment about what humility is. Humility says:  “God is great and I am small, therefore I will believe what God says and do what God asks”  Humility says: “I am not better than other people”  Humility says: “I am willing to serve other people” Jesus’ example shows us what wearing the protective clothing of humility looks like.  When we look at his life, we see that He always did what His Father asked Him to do,  He didn’t think he knew best.....  Jesus always submitted to His Father, even when it meant he was going to suffer. Not only that, but Jesus was willing to see the best in other people and put their needs before his own.....  Even on the night that he was arrested, Jesus washed his disciples’ dirty feet. We, like Jesus, need to wear the protective clothing of humility.  Can I encourage you to daily pray that you “clothe yourself with humility” as St Peter instructs, so that you are safe from the dangers of pride.  Let’s pray Thank you Jesus for giving us different sorts of clothes to wear, that can protect us from different things that might hurt us. Help us put on the clothing of humility that will protect us from pride. We declare that you are God and we are not. Help us to listen to you and do what you tell us to do. For the glory of your name. Amen. © Jane Hulme 2015 3