Lessons from the Sea

Short Talk (SHT012) Lessons from the sea © Jane Hulme 2015 Aim of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Props: (SHT012) To encourage people to “hate what is evil and to cling to what is good” Choice, hearts Romans 12:9b You need a picture either projected onto a screen or on a large piece of card of both a “Box jellyfish” and a “Limpet.” You can find images of these sea creatures online using google images. SHORT TALK: “LESSONS FROM THE SEA” ........................................................................................................................ This morning I want to show you a couple of pictures of sea-creatures that can teach us some really valuable lessons.  Can anyone tell me what this is? (show picture of Box jellyfish)  It is called a “Box Jellyfish” and it is extremely dangerous. In fact, although it looks quite beautiful,  it kills more people than sharks and crocodiles combined.1 This jellyfish has great long tentacles,  and along these tentacles are many stinging cells, containing poison.  The sting of one of these jellyfish can kill a person in less than three minutes! So what would you do if you were swimming in the sea and came across one of these jellyfish in the water?  You would get away as quickly as possible wouldn’t you?  You wouldn’t hang around and see how close you could get to it before you got stung would you? We need to treat sin in the same way as we treat the poisonous Box jelly fish don’t we?  We need to keep as far away from it as possible,  as it is very dangerous to our spiritual health. St Paul says in Romans 12 verse 9, “Hate what is evil”  He doesn’t say...... “Get as close as you can to sin and evil.”  He says...... “hate it,”  and the reason he says, “hate it” is because he knows that like the Box jelly fish, sin wants to destroy our lives,  and ruin our relationship with our Heavenly Father. So if we are tempted to tell a lie.....stop and tell the truth.  If we are tempted to watch something bad on TV....stop and switch it off.  If we are tempted to be selfish...stop and go and do something for someone else. 1 See http://web.utah.edu/umed/students/clubs/international/presentations/dangers.html © Jane Hulme 2015 2 Let me show you my second picture. (Show picture of a Limpet on a rock)  Can anyone tell me what this is?  It is called a “Limpet” Limpets are members of the snail family,  and are remarkable creatures,  living on rocks by the sea. If you have ever tried to remove a limpet from the rock, you will find it very difficult to do so,  because they cling onto the rock so tightly. Limpets cling onto the rock using their very strong muscular foot,  which helps them when they are attacked by crabs, birds or fish,  or when the force of many waves crashes down upon them. As the “Box jellyfish” reminds us to “Hate what is evil,”  so limpets can remind us to “cling to what is good,”  which is what St Paul says after he has told us to “Hate what is evil” The Limpet clings to the rock because the rock protects it from being eaten or from being destroyed.  We need to cling to Jesus.....our Rock.  We need to cling to everything that is good,  so that we too are protected during the storms of our lives. One of the ways we cling to Jesus is by spending time with Him in prayer and reading our Bibles.  Another way is by worshipping Him and  spending time with other Christians. This morning, let the Box Jellyfish and the Limpet remind us of what St Paul says in Romans 12 verse 9b,  “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”  and we will be blessed if we obey. © Jane Hulme 2015 3