St Luke the Evangelist

22 October 2023

Bible readings for today

Isaiah 35:3-6
Acts 16:6-12
Psalms 147:1-7
2 Timothy 4:5-17
Luke 10:1-9

Collect

Almighty God,
you reign over all things and have created each one of us in your own image.
Assist your people to give to earthly rulers and powers what belongs to them
and to give our allegiance and ourselves to you alone,
the one whose image is imprinted on every human soul.
Through Jesus Christ our Liberator,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Saint Luke the Evangelist

In today's reading we are encouraged to have strong hands and firm knees!

God is our strength

Today's lectionary readings have the theme of strength running through them, which can be drawn out and expanded on in your age groups

In our Old Testament passage, Isaiah asks God to strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. For those who have a fearful heart, Isaiah asks for a reminder to "be strong, don't be afraid", and that God will come and save those in trouble. The imagery of a lame man being strengthened to walk and the mute having the power to not only talk, but to sing, talks of restoration and abundance. The strength God gives is not only for the basics of life, but to help restore us to live a life to all its fullness.
In our passage in Luke, Jesus commissions 70 of his followers to go out and share the good news. He doesn't send them out alone, he sends them in pairs, and nothing they take with them will be of use. The provision and care that Jesus talks about, speaks of accompaniment, shared mission and accepting the hospitality of others. And from this, they will know God's peace.
And finally in our New Testament passage from 2 Timothy, Paul says "But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion." The strength that kept Paul going in all his travels, trials and adventures was from God. Not only do we have others to walk alongside us in our mission (like in Luke), but God stands alongside us and strengthens us too.

'I have run that race' kids talk

A great kids bible talk on today's 2 Timothy verse, given by Andy Gawn. This is a new video filmed in August 2020, and includes some funny jokes and drama.

Sports ministry

If finishing the race' catches your kids attention, then a great way to connect with your local community is through sports outreach programmes. Here are a list of sports themed resources and organisations to connect with.

Family Fit https://family.fit/en/seasons/growing-together/1-how-to-be-kind-to-others/
Sport: Connecting your church and your community - an article on Youth and Children's Work
Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand
Ready Set Go! Making disciples for Christ in all nations in the world of sport and play.
Scripture Union's Champion's Challenge Holiday Programme

Games and activities

Most of the resources for this bible passage focus on verse: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7; NIV)

Some of our favourite ideas include:

Where's the finish line? -- a running race object lesson
Overcoming obstacles -- setting out a race track around your space with obstacles to overcome (like soft toys, cones)

Marble run

Get the children to make a marble run and set up obstacles along the way that stops the marble from running the course.

Popsicle race car craft

Click here for this fun idea.

Bible verse race track

Bible verse race track -- make a race track and write on the bible verse from today. The link uses a different verse to our one, but you could include one rom the reading today.

What is 2 Timothy about?

In Paul's final and most personal letter in the Bible, 2 Timothy encourages church planter Timothy to accept his calling and deal with corrupt teachers. Paul urges Timothy to remain faithful and confident in the gospel message.

You can watch a video about 2 Timothy from the Bible Project here

The Bible Project also has a great downloadable poster with an overview of 2 Timothy

There is also a kid friendly version of a 2 Timothy overview by Crosspaint on YouTube

Running the race

Similar passages that reference 'the race', can be found in Philippians 3:7-14; 1 Corinthians 9:23-27; Hebrews 12:1-13
Here is a video from LifeKids, about how we have to be disciplined and driven when it comes to winning the race that God has set before us. Run as if to win the prize.