Short speech for Sunday school competition

2 Peter 1:4: We are the partakers of divine nature. (Theme)
Nelson Mandela said that “Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.” Even when we see and experience things different we must be reminded of Genesis 1:27 which confirms that we have been created in the image of God. Human beings were created to share and work in the goodness of God. Yet whenever we move away from God, we start sinning and performing acts which are indifferent towards God.

Today societies all over the world are being corrupted through ungodly and unethical acts which are inhuman and terrorizing. 2 Peter 1:4 talks rightly of this corruption which has become a part of our existence in this world. It is a time to remind ourselves of our responsibilities and duties towards God and our fellow human beings and all of God’s creation. Our lust for various things has distanced ourselves from God and made us fall into a deep pit.

Holy Communion in church reminds us that the Holy Elements in the form of the body and blood of Christ are instilled in our forefathers and foremothers and by this they have been saved. Holy Communion is an act where we participate in God’s call for being like him through the institution of the Holy Communion by Christ Jesus. We are partaking of the divine and human nature of Christ Jesus by accepting the elements from the celebrant of the Holy Communion. In St. John 6:53-56 it says “So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.” This truly means that Christ abides in us and just as he has saved our ancestors through this, he will also save us.

But we need to do further to be participants of the divine nature of God. Verses 5-7 of 2 Peter 1 explain how we need to go on by reminding us “ For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.” Chanakya said that “The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all directions.” Human beings are not meant to corrupt and spread corruption, they are meant to spread the fragrance of God’s love.

Our society is being challenged by acts of terror, racism, hatred towards one another and narrow mindedness. Being God’s children should inspire us to do different. 1 John 3:17 points out that “But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?” In such a time as this it is our responsibility to reach out and help all those who need our presence and help. It is not possible as ordinary human beings. But it is definitely possible because we can do the extra ordinary with God inside us. Bishop Desmond Tutu says “God's dream is that you and I and all of us will realize that we are family, that we are made for togetherness, for goodness, and for compassion.” May God the only begotten son strengthen us by his presence inside us, may God the creator embolden us by the good measure of our ancestors and may God the Holy Spirit inspire us to look ahead towards the goodness that we are going to do. May we as partakers and participants of the divine nature reflect God’s goodness inside us. Amen.

(An example of a short speech for Sunday school competitions.)