Welcome
Share a favourite Bible verse or passage – saying why it is important to you
Worship
Leaders: gather some symbols of being imprisoned eg. pictures of ball and chain, walls of prisons, a lock and key, or other ideas
Use the symbols to reflect on different types of prison (physical, spiritual).
Read aloud the words of Jesus in his first sermon in Nazareth: Luke 4.18
& of St Paul to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2.8-10. “The word of God is not bound.”
Pray together – prayers of gratitude for our freedom, physical and spiritual
Pray together – prayers of gratitude for the Word of God given to us.
See Witness for our prayers for those in prison today.
Word for all
- 2 Timothy 2.8-10
“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, born of David.” This is a statement of Paul’s faith in Christ. Take each word or phrase, and write out the meaning for you.
What is the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus? If you have not studied
1 Corinthians 15 before, do look this up now. Leaders: you will need to prepare if you are going to do this study. V 3-7. The people who saw the risen Lord. V 12-19. The significance to Christian faith. V 20-28. The spiritual significance. V 29-34. The motivation for Paul’s ministry cf. human motivations. V 35-58. The resurrection body.Can you explain in your own words, the meaning of 2 Timothy 2.10b? What is “the salvation that is in Christ Jesus”?
- 2 Timothy 2.11-13
This is probably an early Christian hymn. The point is that suffering for Christ will be followed by glory. What do these words tell you about the character of God? What does that mean to you? Discuss how this would work out in your own discipleship.
- 2 Timothy 2.14-26
Pick out the key behaviours and attitudes that we will demonstrate in our lives if we are following Jesus closely. Can you think of particular situations in our 21st century life in which these notes apply? Can you share any personal stories?
Witness
Pray for prisoners of conscience, for prisoners who are suffering for their faith in Christ, and for Christians called to minister in prisons.
Leaders: research for information, websites to include
The Barnabas Fund - https://barnabasfund.org/
The Mothers’ Union – Hartley Wintney branch have a local work in Hook. http://www.mothersunion.org/our-focus/helping-those-facing-adversity/prison-work
Rev’d Dr Marion de Quidt. Sept 2016
