Mark 7:24-37

Script
Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our
friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning,
Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone! Boys and girls, I have a question for you: How
many of you have a dog?

[Allow children to raise hands and share about their dog]

Pastor: I have a dog at home, and my dog really like to eat food. Does anyone
here have a dog that really likes food?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: On the farm, Farmer Mark has lots of dogs. He has dogs for hunting,
fishing, and herding us sheep!

Pastor: Do Farmer Mark’s dogs like food as much as you do, Sammy?

Sammy: Oh they really love food! They each get breakfast, first dinner, and
second dinner, and they get lots of treats, too!

Pastor: That’s a lot of food!

Sammy: It is a lot of food! But that’s not even all. When the dogs come out to the pasture, they tell me about how during the family meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, they get to lay under the table.

Pastor: They’re allowed to lay under the table during meals?

Sammy: Of course! You can’t stop them. Farmer Mark and his family don’t mind.
They get all the little crumbs and scraps that the children drop when they are
eating.

Pastor: So are these dogs really big dogs?

Sammy: No. Why do you ask?

Pastor: They are eating a lot of scraps.

Sammy: Scraps are small. They are just getting the pieces that are left behind.

 

Pastor: That connects to our Gospel for today. A mama in our gospel also wanted
just the scraps. She asked Jesus to heal her daughter, and Jesus agrees to heal the
child.

Sammy: Why did he agree?

Pastor: This woman was not Jewish. She was from a different group of people.
She demonstrated great faith by talking with Jesus and sharing the truth that he
came for all people, even the ones that were not originally chosen by God.

Sammy: Am I chosen by God?

Pastor: Yes—each person who is baptized and believes in Jesus is chosen by God.

Sammy: Jesus performs some amazing miracles.

Pastor: Isaiah predicted what Jesus would do many years before Jesus was born.
He says in chapter 35, “God will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind
shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man
leap like a deer and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.”

Sammy: Wow! And that really happened! Jesus is God!

Pastor: Yes indeed! Let’s pray. Can everyone please fold your hands and bow your
heads? Dear Jesus, Thank you for calling us your children. Thank you for miracles.
Thank you for choosing us. We love you. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

“Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are guiltless?  I tell you, something greater than the temple is here” (Matthew 12:5-6).  

 The priests work on the Sabbath.  Are they breaking the law?  The Lord knows what needs to be done and He has made provision.  Mind you, in our twenty-four/seven world, we live the opposite extreme.  Rather than jumping from one to the other, the Lord intends that we live in that middle ground of freedom.  Be guided by His grace and mercy and walk as the Lord intends for you to walk through this life. 

LORD, You know where I jump around and do not do things as You would have me do them.  Bring balance into my life so that I live freely and yet do not cause another to stumble.  Through all things, help me to understand that You are Lord and that You have put boundaries around our lives for our sakes.  Guide me now and always in the truth You have revealed in Christ, my Savior. 

 Lord Jesus, You point out the obvious that I sometimes forget.  Things do need to be done.  The law was made for our good and it is not a snare.  Help me to live freely and to treat others as I want to be treated.  Guide me now and always so that I may seek to please You within the boundaries You have placed around me.  May I now and always seek Your will in all things that I do.  Amen.