Gathering Activity: What's your favorite story?
Opening Prayer: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit you have welcomed us into your story. You have given us eyes to see and ears to hear. We do not always see and hear clearly but we ask that you will give us clarity and guide our hands to do your will, and our hearts to desire it.
Amen.
Scripture: Matthew 1.5-7
5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.
Response: who knows what comes next in the story?
Scripture: Matthew 1.26-38
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ 29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. 31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ 34Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ 35The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.’ 38Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.
Response: Do you feel that you are a part of the same story?
The bible can be broken down into:
Prologue:
The Bible as a Grand Story
Act I: God Establishes His Kingdom: Creation
Act II: Rebellion in the Kingdom: Fall
Act III: The King Chooses Israel: Redemption
Initiated
Interlude: A Kingdom Story Waiting for an Ending:
The Intertestamental Period
Act IV: The Coming of the King: Redemption
Accomplished
Act V: Spreading the News of the King: The
Mission of the
Church
Act VI: The Return of the King: Redemption
Completed
Dismissal: Thank-you God for giving us a place in your story. Help us to live in a way that glorifies you and spreads the news of your kingdom in everything we do. In your name we pray,
Amen.
Opening Prayer: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit you have welcomed us into your story. You have given us eyes to see and ears to hear. We do not always see and hear clearly but we ask that you will give us clarity and guide our hands to do your will, and our hearts to desire it.
Amen.
Scripture: Matthew 1.5-7
5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.
Response: who knows what comes next in the story?
Scripture: Matthew 1.26-38
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ 29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. 31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ 34Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ 35The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.’ 38Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.
Response: Do you feel that you are a part of the same story?
The bible can be broken down into:
Prologue:
The Bible as a Grand Story
Act I: God Establishes His Kingdom: CreationAct II: Rebellion in the Kingdom: FallAct III: The King Chooses Israel: Redemption
InitiatedInterlude: A Kingdom Story Waiting for an Ending:The Intertestamental PeriodAct IV: The Coming of the King: Redemption
AccomplishedAct V: Spreading the News of the King: The
Mission of theChurchAct VI: The Return of the King: Redemption
Completed
*from Craig Bartholomew and Michael Goheen's the drama of scripture
We exist in Act V. We have a place in the story. This story really is our story.
Prayer Requests:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom,
the power and the glory are yours.
Now and for ever.
Amen.hallowed be your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom,
the power and the glory are yours.
Now and for ever.
Dismissal: Thank-you God for giving us a place in your story. Help us to live in a way that glorifies you and spreads the news of your kingdom in everything we do. In your name we pray,
Amen.
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