Da wir mit der Jungschar einen Ausflug zur örtlichen Feuerwehr planen, wollte ich eine Andacht im Sinne des Einheitsprogrammes halten. Da ich dazu aber nicht besonders viel Material gefunden habe, habe ich selbst etwas ausgearbeitet. Ziel war, eine greifbare Parallele zwischen der Erlebniswelt der Feuerwehr und dem Evangelium zu bilden, gleichzeitig aber auch eine praktische Anwendung für den Alltag besonders auch für die vielen Gemeindekinder in unserer Jungschar weitergeben zu können.
Introduction
Distribute Bible passages, have them search and wait (that they are prepared to start reading right away: 2 Tim 1:10 and Jn 1:12)
Story - Andi and the Fireman
Andi woke up suddenly. Just a moment ago he had been dreaming about how he had been playing with his new Lego. But something was different. There was such a pungent smell in the room. It really hurt his nose. Even when he inhaled it was really horrible. He had to cough. What was going on? He reached beside him and turned on his bedside lamp. It was really smoky in the room! Quickly he slipped out of bed and ran to the door of the room. But when he opened it, such heat hit him that he fell back and slammed the door shut again. Fire. Fire! There. The sirens of the fire brigade could be heard too. What about his parents? They and his little sister were asleep downstairs. Are they okay? GOD please make them okay and please help me get out of here! Tears came to his eyes, he was scared. Suddenly he heard a knock. The knock came from his window and sure enough! Outside his window was a man in a rescue basket, a fireman knocking on the window. Andi ran to the window and with all the bustle he almost didn't get it open. The fireman looked at him reassuringly and confidently. Andi managed it, and the man reached out his hand to him. "Don't be afraid! Give me your hand and come join me in the rescue basket." The man was calm and collected. Andi climbed onto his window sill. He propped himself up on the side by the frame and then he looked down. A stick was a bit high after all. He swallowed. He looked back at the man, who was still standing there with his hand out, waiting, nodding at him confidently. Andi swallowed again. Then he briefly asked God once more for courage and protection, reaching out first one hand to the man and then the other. The fireman had a firm grip on him. Andi pushed off with his legs and the fireman caught him then he was already with him in the rescue basket. Only now Andi saw that this basket belonged to a big fire engine. And he moved further and further away from his window. When they reached the ground, he realized that he had been holding his breath. All out of breath, he greedily drew in the air. Then Mama and Papa rushed towards him. Mama had Paula, his little sister, in her arms. Andi felt his feet go soft, but his dad caught him. He was saved!
Main part
Andi, in the story, was trapped in his room and he desperately needed help. He needed a fireman to save him(show picture of fireman). Otherwise he would have died. And the fireman was there and rescued him from the burning house. And we need rescues just as much.
Why do WE need saving? -- because we are sinners
God is so great and perfect and glorious and beautiful that even the briefest bad thought toward someone else is enough to make us unworthy to come before this great God. But I know of myself that I have done much worse than just one bad thought. And I can't stand before God myself. That's why I need rescue. And like the fireman in the story, God has reached out to us through Jesus. Because Jesus died for all the bad and evil in my life, I can come before God again. And there is no greater joy than to be with God!
Bible passage 1: 2 Timothy 1:10 (let it read)
He gives us life through this because he has saved us. But as in the story, it requires us to accept the hand. Just as Andi had to reach out and take the firefighter's hand, so too it is up to us whether we believe in Jesus and that he died on the cross for our guilt.
Bible passage 2: John 1:12 (let it read)
The firefighter saved Andi's life and Jesus can save our lives and we can have eternal life through Him.
I want to read you another scripture, Isaiah 40:26-31
It wasn't easy for Andi to get up the courage and take the firefighter's hand. And God also knows how hard it is sometimes to reach out to Him over a seemingly insurmountable height or to persevere in everyday life. Andi in the story also thought a quick push prayer to God before mustering up the courage to let go and fall into the firefighter's hands. Like an eagle trusting that the wings he has from God will carry him, Andi trusted God to bring him safely over the height between the window and the rescue basket. (Pointing out picture of eagle)
In the same way, we can also come to God whatever we are experiencing. Whether it's when you have a tough school assignment, generally thinking that studying is getting to be too much for you. Or if you find it stressful at home because there is so much going on, you or someone in your family is sick. Or if you have a problem and don't know how to solve it. A firefighter is there to help you in a certain situation. But God is always there. As I just read from Isaiah: This great God doesn't care about you, He cares about you too and every single second of your life. Whether you are in a burning house or sitting in front of a simple homework assignment
Conclusion
I want to reiterate to you the two thoughts that are important to me in this devotion:
-->We need salvation and God is reaching out to us, and we can take hold of it by believing that Jesus died for our guilt. (Show picture of firefighter again)
-->God promises you that if you trust in Him, He will give you strength when you are exhausted or powerless. (Show picture of eagle again)
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