Children’s Sermon

Mark 9:30-37

Choices

OBJECTS SUGGESTED:

Items mentioned in text of lesson or substitute other items which are more convenient for your use.

I have two pieces of toast. (Show a slice of burned toast and a slice of golden-brown toast with jam.) Which one would you choose? Yes, most of us would choose the nicely toasted bread with jam.

Here are two cookies. (Show a large cookie and a smaller cookie.) Which cookie would you choose? Yes, many of us would choose the larger cookie.

Look at these bananas. One is overripe and has black spots; the other seems just right to eat. I think I know which one you would choose.

What would you do if you knew the person with whom you were to share the food had not had enough to eat and felt hungry? Would it change you decision? Yes, you might decide that the hungry person needs the toast with jam. You might decide to give the hungry person the larger cookie and the yellow banana. You might decide to go without things you want so others will have what they need.

It is not unusual for us to want the biggest or best. We may want to be first in line when it is time for recess. We may want to have the first turn when we play a game. We make decisions like that everyday.

Jesus asks us think about those decisions in a different way. He says, “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all” (9:35). And he took a little child in his arms and said, “Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me…” (9:37).

his Bible lesson reminds us to think about those who are smaller than us, have less than us, or may have special needs. Try letting someone else go first or have what you might want when there is a choice to be made. It is kind of an upside down way of thinking, but when we put others first we are doing God’s work and honoring God. And, you might be surprised how good it feels to make those kinds of decisions.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible