Knowing Jesus,
making Jesus known
making Jesus known
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Web manager Simon Ford
Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.”
Rev 22.13
the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.”
Rev 22.13
EDGE 1 – Summer 2006 - Joy Joy Joy
Welcome
Play the weapon game with jokes. Make sure you have enough jokes and answers for 2 per person. Each joke and answer on a separate slip of paper Shuffle the jokes together in one pile and shuffle the answers in another. (Jokes and answers are on page 2 and page 3)
Each person takes 2 answers and puts one under each knee.
The first person takes a joke from the joke pile, reads it out and chooses a knee. If it fits then the person keeps the joke. If it doesn’t then joke returns to pile and answer returns under the same knee.
Next person then tries to match up joke with answer. Keep playing until either all jokes have been paired up, or only one person has any answers left or until one person has 4 jokes or you get bored, or before you laugh too much!
Worship
Simply tell each other of the things that bring you joy. And be thankful
Word
A great passage this week it fits in with the Panto.
Read first though Luke 15:1-10
2 familiar stories – talk about all you know about them. (eg the coin being part of the bridal head covering – like a wedding ring, how the shepherd would have to pay for any lost sheep etc.)
Who does the looking? Who does this represent?
Are you amazed that Jesus tells two stories describing how God looks for people who are lost and the great joy he has when they are found.
Why is the song we sing “I’ve found Jesus” wrong according to this passage?
Read Psalm 1-3:8-14 to see this character of God.
Read Luke 15:11-24
Now Jesus tells a story about the joy of returning.
Can you or others recount occasions both physical (ie end of holiday) or spiritual when you have returned. And the joy there has been!
Although this story is more about the Son returning home rather than the Father actively seeking, take a look at what the Father does…
1) He allows him to leave. Why does God do this?
2) He is looking out for him, awaiting his return. How does God do this?
3) He runs to him? (Read Deut 21:18-21) Why did the Father in the story do this? How does God do this? (Hint think of Easter!)
4) He throws a party, restores rights and privileges to the son? How is this like God?
This is not just about the joy of returning it is about the joy of forgiving. Take a look at the older brother and what he says to hear how he fails to appreciate the joy of forgiving.
Witness
Everyone in this chapter experiences joy… the shepherd, the woman, the younger son, the father… everyone except the older son.
Pray for one another to experience the joy of finding others (bringing them to God), the joy of returning and the joy of forgiving and being forgiven.