ASK (a.k.a The On-Ramp)
- Good morning!
- Can you tell what this is a picture of? (A safe – note: You might have to give some
hints to help them identify the safe as a safe)
- And what do people usually use safes for? (To keep something that’s important to
them safe; something they want to keep away from other people)
- And how does a safe, like this, keep the things that are inside of it safe? (By keeping
other people/things from getting to it)
TELL (a.k.a. The Freeway)
- I am asking you about safes because in today’s scripture story, Jesus does a lot
of talking about secrets.
- And secrets to me make me think of safes because when we keep secrets, what we are
doing is keeping words locked up – words that we don’t share with other people.
- In other words, a secret is like putting ideas or thoughts into a locked safe.
- At first, in the story, Jesus is saying how secrets won’t stay secret. That covered-up
things will get uncovered. That locked-up things will become unlocked.
- But then Jesus switches from talking about secrets to telling his disciples that
they better not keep him a secret from others.
- He tells them that the words he has shared with them should then be shared by them,
later on, with everyone.
- He also says to “acknowledge” him in their lives. Or, put another way, “don’t keep
what you know about Jesus a secret.”
- Finally, Jesus tells his disciples that it might seem easier to keep his words a
secret because that will seem safer for them. Because, when they do share his words,
not everyone will be happy to hear those words.
SHARE the Good News (a.k.a. The Destination)
- And guess what? The disciples listened to Jesus! They did not keep what they knew
about Jesus a secret.
- Instead, the shared Jesus’ words and actions with others!
- Because the disciples shared what they knew about Jesus and who Jesus was, others
have been able to better know God’s healing, hope, and love – including us!
- And, just like the disciples shared with others, we can also share our own words
and actions of God’s healing, hope, and love that we’ve learned from Jesus.
- Instead of keeping these words and experiences that bring life to this world locked
up, we can do just like the disciples did and share those words and experiences of
Jesus with the world!
- And that’s the good news for today. Let’s pray.
CLOSING Prayer
- This is a repeat-after-me prayer.
Dear God,
Dear God,
Thank you for Jesus…
Thank you for Jesus…
…who shared your healing, hope, and love…
…who shared your healing, hope, and love…
…and then taught his disciples…
…and then taught his disciples…
…how to share your healing, hope, and love.
…how to share your healing, hope, and love.
Help us to do the same.
Help us to do the same.
Thank you and Amen
Originally posted June 18, 2017
Updated on May 29, 2023
Written and edited by Nathanael
Vissia
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