Olympics Messy Church Story- The call of Matthew (being on Jesus' team!)

In our celebration slot at Olympics Messy church, we focussed on the idea of being on a team and how you could be part of Jesus' team. This is the story we told and it involves a lot of audience participation!!

Story- The Call of Matthew.

Being on Jesus' team

Matthew was someone that no one really liked! ( Boo!)

He collected tax money from people- probably the job that people hated most (Boo!)

Nobody wanted to speak to him. (Boo!)

Jesus came to town one day (hurray!)

He brought his team with him! (hurray!)

Everybody came out to see Jesus and cheer! (hurray!)

Matthew sat at his desk because he still had a job to do (boo!)

Jesus (hurray!) walked over to Matthew (boo!)

Watch Jesus tell him off the people said (hurray)

"Come and be on my team!" Jesus said (WHAT?)

"WHAT?" Said all the people

"But everyone on your team has to be amazingly and brilliantly good at being perfect. You must have it wrong. He’s not good enough to be on your team Jesus!"

But Matthew got up and joined the team.

"WHAT?" Said all the people

"But he’s a tax collector" (boo!)

But Jesus smiled because his team was not just any team. You didn’t have to be rich or famous or strong or fast or even perfect to be on his team. You just had to want to join.

"Join me", said Jesus

"WHAT?" The people said, "HURRAY!"

Comments

Button Prayers

If you are looking for an active, kinaesthetic, way of praying in a small group or even with the whole congregation, then this might be for you! You will need: A collection of buttons of different shapes, sizes and colours- at least one button for each person praying. Give everyone a button. Feel the hardness of the button and think about people who are going through hard times. Ask God to help them. Buttons are used to fasten clothes together. Ask God to bring together people who have fallen out and moved apart from each other. Pray that He will bring peace. Look at your button and see how many holes it has. Think of that number of things you would like to say thank you to God for and say Thank you prayers. Look at the colour of the button and say thank you to God for something that is that colour Find someone who has the same colour button as you. You might want to make a small group of people with the...

Trusting God: The Amazing Water Glass Trick!

I used this idea in an assembly yesterday, focussing on people we trust and what it means to trust God. This would work really well if you are exploring miracle stories or stories about trust. Suitable verses to use with it might be: Joshua 1:9: Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Psalm 56: 3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. John 14: 1 Jesus said, “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me I have to admit that this trick is not an original idea. I found the trick in this book: Simple Science Object Talks by Heno Head Jnr and would definitely recommend getting cold of a copy if you can! You will need: A glass of water (about half- 2/3 filled) and an index card. This is what you do: place the index card over the top of the glass, making sure that the whole of the rim is covered by it, and press...

The Power of Prayer: Skittles Experiment!

This experiment with skittles is colourful, easy and makes a great statement about what we are asking God to do when we pray. In essence, prayers are a way of joining with God and asking him to have an effect on the world and situations around us. We pray because we believe that our prayers, through God's power, will make a difference to the world. In this activity, colour is released from the sweets into the surrounding water, creating a colourful picture, symbolic of how the prayers we raise to God are a way of us joining with Him to release the kingdom here on earth and have an impact. You will need: A bag of skittles, a plate, hot water (not hot enough to scald, but hot enough to make the colour run!) Arrange the skittles in the plate Pour some hot water onto the plate to cover its surface. Pour it carefully so that the skittles stay in place. Wait and the skittles will gradually release their colour Try an alternative... Cover the s...

Flame: Creative Children's Ministry

Search This Blog