FRIDAY PRELUDE
page 116 “peace like a river”
• Jesus Blesses the Children •
March 21, 2016
WELCOME and happy Sabbath. I guarantee that today’s story will be worth the cost of admission, but you may be in the wrong car for calm, because we don’t get into a ♥ situation like this every day. Now, go out into the audience and sit with somebody.
We’ll be tuned in to the command center this morning with walkie talkies, listening to a parable from Jesus. Parables are brief stories that express spiritual truth in a poignant, memorable way, that allow us to honor God in a new light. We’ll say some of the finest things with some stinging insight.
How simply and accurate this story describes our life. Our most important function is to be present and establish the significance of our experience with Jesus, because what will transpire is PROVIDENCE, a surprise for which we are not even prepared. I dont question how this thing works. I only know that I will show up, and I will try this thing again tomorrow.
Enjoy your last week of VBS, because next month, we’re going to work hard in the Lord’s vineyard @matthew 20:1-16.
CONFLICT CRAFTED CAFE QUESTIONS I POSE TO EXPLORE AND ENGAGE YOU WELL:
Have you ever attended a VBS as a child? What are some of your memories at VBS? What’s on your wish list? What would you do with 6 dozen roses? Where do you find significance in your life? What encouragement do you receive from belonging to Jesus? When have you received comfort from his love? When is your ♥ most tender and compassionate? When have you encouraged the expression of love, generosity, and loving impulses of a child? Have you accepted the idea that we’re childish? When have you felt empowered, like instantly mature beyond your age? When have you been afraid to ask someone what they mean? When have you been afraid to tell someone what you mean? When did we become afraid to talk open and honest?
HYMNS & WORSHIP
come thou fount
how great thou art
PRAYER by Jesus @matthew 11:25-27 or 30
PSALMS responsive reading:
100
* 127:1-5
128:1-6
131
136
150:1
PAINTING: “Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose”
by JSSargent
I’m seeing a painterly composition mandering outside
little light bearers
weaving in and out
perk up her cheeks
repeating strong shapes and strong strokes pulled in a certain direction for a purpose against accented soft edges that go with the portrait’s message.
added color to make strength in yellow temperature change to warm up her face and stands out
lighter and darker than the background
Transparent color in the shadows
sneaked color on edges
use of S curve for darks, causes
action to distract
narley texture
SCRIPTURE @luke 2:46-52.
Narrate the BACKGROUND @mark 9:30-32. Jesus was teaching the disciples about his death, and how he would be betrayed into the hands of his enemies, as they were passing through Galilee to a house in Capernaum. The disciples were filled with grief. Then they left Galilee to the region of Judea east of the Jordan.
STORYTIME This is where our story begins.NARRATE the STORY @mark 9:33-37, and chapter 10:13-16, NLT, twice.
This is the story we have, and that’s the way the story goes. Let us spend some time to WONDER and dialogue about this story, and bring any questions or observations we have to the table. For example
Let us look at key CHARACTER moments. Look for Jesus in everyone. Discover Jesus in their story.
What do we know about childhood? After your parents and the disciples have words about Jesus’ over booked schedule, Jesus picks you up in his arms and blesses you. How might the children feel in his arms? Jesus is calling you. What might our open ears hear?
What do we know about the 12 disciples? The disciples intended to brush off the children from seeing Jesus, but Jesus just offered the kingdom to those kids. How might the disciples feel? On their way down the road to Capernaum, the disciples argued about who was or would be the greatest. What were they envisioning? What could they not see?
What do we know about Jesus?
What do you think Jesus saw in the children? What might Jesus be thinking about the parents who brought their children to be touched by him? Jesus took a little child in his arms, what was he trying to recover? 2 cor 5:20_
What did we learn about GOD in this story? God’s most efficient solution is simple, to have a mind of a child. God’s grace is sufficient to aid in the management of our children. God has a far reaching, inclusive spirit of sympathy.
What aspects of this story or character, foreshadow the GOOD NEWS?
• It’s only good news when we present and dedicate our valuable children to Jesus. Without the behaivor of “watch and learn” from Jesus and his believers, we wouldn’t know that we achieve greatness through serving others, or that you can die and find eternal life, and we would never know the depths of real love. So, Mary and Joseph, took their son, Jesus, to the temple in Jerusalem to present and dedicate him to the Lord @luke 2:22b.
• Fruit of the Spirit gal5:22-26
• isa 14:12,14 desired his power but not his character
• Children are innocent, often ignored or rejected, and are less favored as compared to adult XYZ. As a child, we are reduced to poverty, bottom line. But Jesus desires to be with us, and he lifts us up, like a cup of water. (Dylan Pierce) Poverty is a gate, an opportunity, if you will, to enter into the Kingdom of God.
• luke 2:35 kjv hearts will be revealed as either under the government of God or under the prince of darkness for his own glory. Satan blamed God for XYZ. Sometimes I dont believe what God said, but God stand’s clear of blame for the existance and continuence of evil.
• The gospel is our only hope for satisfying our need for praise and approval. Jesus presents a different view of greatness, deflating some of our egos. Jesus possessed true glory, yet he laid it aside, taking our sin and shame upon himself. Neither did he hide himself from the children of light.john 12:35-36.
•philipians 2:6-8
•jeremiah 45:5
Storying EVALUATION:
1. Inductivly present 2. Biblical answers validated 3. Did we see Jesus 4. Clear questions 5. Logical flow of story 6. Affirmations given 7. Low participants encouraged 8. Who did most of the talking
Our goal is to seriously apply this story to our life. Our challenge is to write a prayer, a poem, a song, a short story, or create something that EXPRESSes our response and share. You get to hear what God has placed on my heart.
BODY PRAYER:
I live in the heart of God
my life long friend
you’re not far but in there
I want to meet my destiny
where I put down so much love
and I want to anoint you
not because you’re a King or a God
I want to anoint you
because you’re that good
CHILDREN’S SUMMER ART CAMP: I’ll teach one, two hour art class this summer and see how it goes. I’m not making a commitment to the exhausting day’s heat, where my gung-ho attitude evaporates on the spot. For “fun and free” is a good place to start, but to stand steadfast in half a shade won’t last, and I want to be free in my spirit. Others around me may benefit from my love toward them, but I want to love for me, an emotional reward.
picture of girls flowers
CHILDREN’S JOURNAL PROMPTS:
In Luke 12:22-34 Jesus is speaking to each of you and asks why worry about everday life. This farm is our school and He wants us to talk with Him through nature but we have to observe the lillies and the ravens. He wants us to think, question, and to work together.
I feel like this can be my home. I see the great power of our God and His creations of life. Every living thing has a purpose on earth.
If you were to look out here
You would see nothing but green things.
>Marcus, age 17
Well I’m sitting near a lake and a tree. This tree is not bearing fruit. I can see the sun and the sand, and there is a be who keeps flyen around my head.
>Malik, age 11
First thing I seen was poison ivy and oak
The squirrels were making the branches crack
Snakes were my biggest fear
I thought I was going to get attacked.
>James, age 13
I heard songs of birds like tweet, tweet, and peep, peep
and so it went
I loved hearing the wind blowing and the limbs falling from the tree
>Keller Blue, age 9
Looking at a tree
The tree is looking back at me
Asking in my head
a who are you
I heard buzz buzzing
>Christavious, age 12
I feel ok because I am a boy becoming a man. I love how God inspires me. I am starting to feel scared because I am hearing bees, wasp, and sweat bugs flying around me.
I feel like God have me and he’s watching me. I know that the Lord is speaking to me like he did last night.
>Deyanciss, age 9
I think this is a safe place to be and I hear a lot of voices and birds.
God I want you to lift me up and I hope you don’t let me go. And God, I want you to help me work.
>Zavier, age 7
SHORT STORY:
“Little Lightbearers”
I was in desperate need
for salt unto life
to flow through me like sap
an inclusive wavelength
found on the far end of the spectrum
harvest at first blush
like six dozen roses on Valentines
fossilize common ground
steer myself safe across zips
as the botanists brought in hundreds of thousands of roses of every color and kind
under the wings
little lightbearers
they were wonderfully made with all the silk like petals swirled together
inside of the petals the pistol where pollen grains enter
to pollinate seeds
the hidden manna
while brushing against the anthers
causing pollen to fall like powder onto his hairy coat as he comes and goes
to inhabit the most funny places this sweet little critter
friend and companion to the flower
seals up honey in glorious little cells
for the queen was charmed
that these honeybees would make
their sweet homes in the palace
POEM:
picture of Maron’s neck
“Angel Kisses”
Around in the garden
goes merry-go-Maron
red roses
gold marigolds
underneath the pergola
the timbers fell
on her vessel a wreck
embraced by an angel
kissed on her neck
~ Stacy
