Only Jesus can sort out our sinful mess
Fri 14 April 2017
| Bible Bite | Only Jesus can sort out our sinful mess. |
|---|---|
| Date | 2017-17-14 |
| Passage | 1 Timothy 1:15 |
| Passage Text | Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners---of whom I am the worst. (1 Tim 1:15) |
| Tags | Easter, Jesus, Sin, Salvation, Fall, Pride |
| Other Refs | |
| Key Points | Beware of 'sin is nothing more than incompetence rather than wilful disobedience'. |
| Props/Materials | Apple core, chocolate egg with peel half off, |
| Preparation | |
| Debrief |
[ Introduction: leader picks child to knock on bin, everyone calls 'come out Stinky!', Stinky comes out singing his intro tune ]
STINKY: Hello little monkeys!
LEADER: Hello Stinky! Phew! [Holds nose up when lid opens]
STINKY: Hello Mr Nathan.
LEADER: Hey, Happy Easter! I've got a little gift for you... Maybe you should put it away for later. [holds up chocolate easter egg, then gives to Stinky]
STINKY: Oh, thank you! I love chocolate. I'll put it away carefully in the special place where I keep chocolate eggs. [Drops egg onto bin casually but visibly to audience]
LEADER: Oh. That doesn't look very tidy Stinky.
STINKY: Yeah, it's a big mess down there. Now, let me find an Easter gift for you... [goes down, comes back up with apple core] Here you go!
LEADER: Oh. An Easter apple core... thanks -- I think. [smells it, makes disgusting face, holds it away from face]
STINKY: What, you don't like it?
LEADER: Oh, I appreciate the gift. It's just not what we usually give each other for Easter. And... it smells pretty bad.
STINKY: Yeah. I think that one is from last year. OK, let me see what else I can find... [Goes down, rummaging sounds, comes up with half unwrapped chocolate egg]. Here you go!
LEADER: Ah, I love chocolate. Thanks for opening it for me.
STINKY: Ah, no it was like that already. I think I got that one two years ago, started licking it, then I put it away.
LEADER: Oh, that's why it smells so bad...
STINKY: Yeah, it's tricky to find new ones [looks]. Oh, I can see some mouldy toast. And hairy yougurt...
LEADER: Stinky, it looks to me like it's a big mess down there in your bin.
STINKY: Eh? No, it's not that bad...
LEADER: Stinky this is the worst you and your bin have ever smelt.
STINKY: [Defensive] No, it's OK, it's OK.
LEADER: Would you like me to help you tidy it up one day?
STINKY: [Angry] No! It's my mess. And I don't need any help anyway!
LEADER: Now you're being being stubborn. I'm trying to help you, and you're just saying 'no' to me in a rude voice. This mess is making it hard for you to be friends with other people.
STINKY: [Repentant] Oh, I know... Sorry Mr Nathan. The mess has gotten out of control -- I don't know where anything is! Thank you for helping me, that's kind. Maybe tomorrow?
LEADER: OK, deal, tomorrow I'll help you sort out your mess.
STINKY: Thank you! Hey Mr Nathan, I have a question.
LEADER: Yes?
STINKY: How does God help us sort out our mess?
LEADER: Great question for Easter. You know, we've all said 'no' to God as our ruler -- that's called 'sin'. We make a mess of our lives, our friendships, and the world. The mess is so big, ugly, and smelly, that we can't sort it out ourselves. And even then, we are stubborn and pretend we don't need God's help.
STINKY: That's stubborn and silly and wrong!
LEADER: But there's more. My mess affects my friends, and my friends' mess affects me.
STINKY: So how can we sort it out?
LEADER: Well, we can't. Only Jesus can That's why he came: To sort out the mess that our sin makes, and that we can't fix ourselves. Look at what the Bible says:
[ Slide (verse): Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners---of whom I am the worst. (1 Tim 1:15) ]
LEADER: See? Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. That's all of us. And that's what we remember and celebrate at Easter. That Jesus can sort out our sinful mess, when we trust him.
STINKY: That's wonderful! What's our Bible bite for today?
LEADER: Let's see:
[ Slide: Bible Bite: Only Jesus can sort out our sinful mess. ]
LEADER: OK Stinky, you have a go.
STINKY: Ah... Only Nathan can sniff out my mouldy toast.
LEADER: Stinky! Let's do it together kids.
[ Repeat with kids ]
STINKY: Oh, I better go now. Happy Easter little monkeys! Bye bye...
Category: scripts Tagged: Easter Jesus Sin Salvation Fall Pride