1. Transformation Quiz (for children)
• Acorns become …?
• Eggs become …? (no, not tortillas, birds!)
• Tadpoles become …?
• Caterpillars become …?
• All signs from God that new and better life is possible.
2. Metamorphosis of Butterfly
• One caterpillar to another - “You’ll never get me up in one of those things!”
• He was wrong – one day loses urge to eat and grow, forms cocoon around self, which hardens – looks dead – but later, a BUTTERFLY!
• Dries wings, flies, shows off colours, works for God POLLINATING.
3. Butterfly Quiz
• WHICH is the only continent which has no butterflies?
• WHAT part of its body does a butterfly taste with?
• WHAT colour can butterflies see, but bees can’t?
• (older child) EXPLAIN pollination; how & why it is important.
4. Great Illustration of Resurrection
• Disciples found J’s grave & burial clothes empty (like cocoon)
• J was alive in a new way, with new powers (like butterfly)
• Many disciples saw & believed sin & death would not be the final word for them either.
5. Why Easter Baptisms in early church
• Not just a day for bunnies & egg hunts but … BAPTISMS
• They realised God wasn’t just concerned for people to trust that he will give them new life after they die…
6. Living like Butterflies
• God wants people to live in a new way NOW (i.e. before they die)
• God gives Christians new abilities and powers for this life
• We have an important role in the world (like pollination?)
• =Sharing God’s love and mercy, Telling the good news about Jesus and Sharing the new life that God has so freely and generously given us.
Let’s end with a prayer.
Posts
Andrew....brilliant, such a simple analogy, as Christ himself so often used for people to remember, even tho it took time for the full meaning to sink in.
ReplyDeleteRef yr Maundy Thursday blog perhaps what the Church needs is a breath of fresh air, just as Christ himself brought thru all his teachings and actions. The Church blesses us with "the peace of the Lord beyond all understanding, and to grow in the KNOWLEDGE and LOVE of His Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.......
No need to mention that the world today is an increasingly knowledgeable world, growing at ever faster speed.
So perhaps as Christians and the Church itself should refresh the image and teaching.
To go out and give the Good News where do we start with the simplest (?) statements.
- The Cross - Christ died for our salvation?
Salvation. - For what? ( comes back the answer!)
- To reconcile the world with God.
Even the Pope in his TV broadcast answering FAQs over Easter was stumped on some related questions!!
look fwd to yr nxt sermon and Wednesday studies!
Michael