ROOTS is a partnership of denominations and other Christian organisations and has been publishing lectionary-based worship resources online and in print since 2002.
Go to: Resources for families; Resources for adults
Copyright
You are welcome to copy this material for use in your own resources e.g. printed sheets or web pages including audio/video recordings. If you do so, please include this acknowledgement to ROOTS:
© ROOTS for Churches Ltd (www.rootsontheweb.com) 2002-2020.
Reproduced with permission.
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For families
Introduction
There are lots of things which might make us feel uncomfortable in this passage as Jesus calls and commissions his disciples in a challenging situation. But despite the challenge, it is good news that they are sent out to share. While we may not be able to ‘go out’ in the same way there are many ways that we can share the good news with others. Use your time of worship to inspire you about how you might do this in a new way.
Gather
Use this prayer as you begin your time of worship together. Nominate a leader or all join in together.
Encourage everyone to move in different ways e.g. run, hop, skip around the room. Each time everyone returns to the start, ask them to shout: The kingdom of God is near.
Where is the kingdom of God?
The kingdom of God is near.
Amen.
You may wish to play the following song during this time of prayer: Get up and dance, Hillsong Kids on Jesus is my superhero
Read
Share the Bible story using the idea below to help you explore it together.
Bible story
Open the Bible at Matthew 9.35–10.8,(9-23): Jesus’ friends go out to share all that he has taught them with the world.
You don’t need that!
Display six large boxes. Ask for a volunteer and pile all the boxes into their arms. Explain that in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus sends the disciples out to tell people about him. Ask everyone: how might they prepare for this task?
Read the Bible passage and, when you get to ‘you won’t need gold...’, take one of the boxes away. Continue to read what they won’t need, removing a box with each item. When you get to the end of the story, remind everyone that you don’t need anything to go out on Jesus’ mission; instead, Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to help us.
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Activities
You may wish to use these additional resources to worship together and/or the activity sheets for children.
Job description
Discuss what type of person the tasks in Matthew 10.5-14 would require and what skills they would need. Challenge everyone to write a job advert for the position. Talk about how each member of the group might be a good fit for the job.
Stepping out
Think about stepping out of our comfort zone
You will need: coloured paper, pencils, scissors, pens.
Doing things for God can often involve stepping out of our comfort zone and may make us feel uncomfortable. But God is with us at these times. Make some ‘stepping out feet’ as a reminder.
Invite everyone to take their shoes off and draw round both feet on the paper and cut them out. They can write ‘Do not worry’ on one foot and ‘God is with me’ on the other.
Ask everyone to stand with their paper feet in front of them and pray: ‘Sometimes we have to step out and do things we don’t find easy.’ Step onto first footprint. ‘Help us to remember, God, that you are always with us.’ Step onto second footprint. Amen.
Activity and colouring sheets
(Links to the PDFs for these can also be found at the end of the page.)
Activities for families - English |
Colouring sheet English |
Activities for families - Welsh |
Colouring sheet Welsh |
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For adults
PostScript - reflection for the week
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In conversation with the Scriptures: Already but not yet |
| Cherryl Hunt explores how we read Scripture, in conversation with John Parr | |
Live your faith
This week's Live your faith sheet for adults with Bible notes, prayers, a picture and questions for reflection, a live your faith action
