Talk about

For children

for younger children

Ask the children how they would recognise a police officer, a firefighter or a footballer.

How do they recognise their parents? Stress that we don’t recognise people simply by what they look like — we use sounds and touch too. It’s much harder to recognise God whom we can’t see, but we can sense that there is something God wants us to do or that we are being called to something.

Abraham didn’t know who his visitors were, but he recognised that they had come from God and that they were special. How can we recognise something as being from God?

for older children

Prepare a list of surprising statements to read to the children. Examples might include:

• Your teacher is going to be an astronaut!
• You are going to find a million pounds in your dustbin!
• (Name and name’s father) are going to play for England in the European Cup!

Ask the children how they felt when they heard these statements.

Why did they laugh? Sarah laughed but it did come true — she did have a baby.

Sometimes the things that God does are very mysterious. Abraham recognised that his visitors had been sent by God. He showed them the respect that they deserved. How can we show respect to others?

For young people

Before the session, download and print out some images of Jesus from around the world (see Further resources ). Make sure you include traditional and more unusual and unexpected versions of what Jesus may have looked like. Abraham instinctively knew there was something special about his visitors — ask the young people to describe why they chose their particular picture of Jesus.

Abraham honoured his guests by preparing them a lavish meal and making them comfortable in his home — a customary honour for a guest. Ask the young people to think about how they might honour someone special. If a celebrity turned up unexpectedly at their front door, how would they treat them?

Where do we see God in the world? Abraham knew straightaway that his visitors were, in some way, God, and he treated them accordingly. Whilst we might not see God in the same way as Abraham did, we can often see evidence of God in the world around us and in the people around us and the way they behave. Discuss with the group ideas about places and people that have shown them God in the world.

Today’s passage shows Abraham going all-out to welcome these three men — despite the suddenness of their appearance. Ask the young people to think about whether they let God into their lives with such complete abandon — does everything come second to making sure that God and his wishes come first? What things compete for their attention?

Abraham knew the importance of taking a break and of feeling refreshed, even in the heat of the midday sun! Invite the young people to talk about the things they do to refresh themselves when life is difficult or stressful. How do they take a break? Do they make time to rest and reflect, away from the business of their lives?