Children’s Sermon October 20th, 2024/ Twenty-Second Sunday of Pentecost/ Lectionary Year B

 

Scripture

Mark 10:35-45

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!

 

Pastor: Boys and girls, I was wondering, do you have a favorite spot to sit in your house? Where is that spot?

 

[Allow time for responses]

 

Sammy: I love sitting at the top of the meadow and looking down at the rolling great hills and the wildflowers blowing in the wind. And I love listening to the birds sing. The top of the meadow is my favorite spot.

 

Pastor: That sounds like a lovely spot, Sammy.

 

Sammy: It is.

 

Pastor: In our gospel reading from Mark today, James and John want to sit at Jesus’s left and right hands.

 

Sammy: Sitting next to Jesus sounds like a great place to be. What’s wrong with that?

 

Pastor: Well, Jesus tells James and John that they don’t know what they are asking. Jesus asks them questions in return: “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” And they say that they are able.

 

Sammy: Well that’s great!

 

Pastor: Jesus then agrees with them, and says James and John will drink from the cup that he drinks and be baptized with the baptism that he is baptized with. But James and John cannot sit at his left and right hand—it is for those for whom it has been prepared.

 

Sammy: I am lost. What does Jesus mean?

 

Pastor: James and John drink from the cup of wine Jesus offers. This cup is the blood Jesus shed to give us the new covenant. We drink from this cup when we have communion.

 

Sammy: That makes sense. What about the baptism?

 

Pastor: Jesus is baptized with water, the Word, and he receives the Holy Spirit. When we are baptized, we are baptized with water and the Word, and we also receive the Holy Spirit.

 

Sammy: I understand that part now, too. But what about the seats at Jesus’s left and right hands? Why can’t James and John sit there?

 

Pastor: That place is reserved for the two men who stole from other people and were crucified on Jesus’s left and right sides.

 

Sammy: Oh no.

 

Pastor: That’s why James and John can’t be seated at Jesus’s left and right hands—two other people were already chosen to take those places.

 

Sammy: Pastor, I find comfort knowing that God knows better than me. He has a perfect plan for my life, and he delivers me from harm and danger even when I am not aware of the danger around me.

 

Pastor: Jesus loves each one of his disciples, and he loves each one of us. He was looking out for James and John.

 

Sammy: I’ll look out for you, too, Pastor. Let’s pray. Can everyone please fold their hands and bow their heads? Dear Jesus, thank you for communion. Thank you for baptism. Thank you for keeping us safe and helping us to serve each other in love. We love you. Amen.

 

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

 

Sammy: Bye, everyone!