Matthew 4:1-11

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! 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: Hey Sammy, how are you doing?

Sammy: I am ready for Spring, Pastor.

Pastor: I am, too, but we still have several more weeks of Winter. 

Sammy: We do. I know.

Pastor: Wouldn’t it be great if we could just melt all the snow?

Sammy: Yes it would.

Pastor: And wouldn’t it be great if we could just have warm spring breezes and sunshine?

Sammy: I would really like that. And fresh grass, too! But you, know, Pastor, winter has a purpose and the seasons are a part of God’s plan for creation.

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy. 

Sammy: I mean, as much as I would love to have new spring grass and feel the warm sun on my wool, I am going to try my best to enjoy the last few weeks of winter.

Pastor: Great perspective, Sammy. It’s tempting, though–to just think about willing winter away. 

Sammy: What does tempting mean?

Pastor: Tempting means that you feel pressure to do something that you shouldn’t do.

Sammy: Oh you mean like eat extra oats out of the oat bin?

Pastor: Yes.

Sammy: Or go in the Pastor’s office and hide somewhere and yell, “Surprise!”

Pastor: Definitely.

Sammy: Or let a whole bunch of mice in the church?

Pastor: Sammy, let’s focus. You know, Jesus was tempted, too.

Sammy: Did he want spring to come, too?

Pastor: No, Sammy. Jesus is fully God and fully man, and he felt hungry, just like we do.

Sammy: I understand that. I’m always hungry. 

Pastor: Being hungry is okay, but because Jesus is the Son of God, he was tempted to make his own food.

Sammy: Well, there’s nothing wrong with that. Men can make food, too, Pastor. I know you can cook–I’ve been to your house. 

Pastor: That’s not what I mean, Sammy. Jesus was tempted to turn stones into bread.

Sammy: Stones? Like rocks on the ground?

Pastor: Yes.

Sammy: That’s silly. Why would he do that?

Pastor: Jesus is God–he is Lord of Creation and can do anything. But he was asked by someone to turn stones into bread so he could prove who he is. 

Sammy: Why would Jesus need to prove he is God? All throughout scripture, people who encounter him just know by the power of the Holy Spirit. They trust him, and they believe.

Pastor: And that’s what we are called to do today, too. We are called to believe in Jesus. 

Sammy: How did Jesus stop being tempted?

Pastor: That’s a great question, Sammy. We all are tempted to do wrong things. Jesus gave us a great example of how to resist temptation: He quoted scripture. 

Sammy: That’s why it’s important to know your Bible verses.

Pastor: Indeed it is. Boys and girls, will you please fold your hands and bow your heads to pray with me? Dear Jesus, thank you for coming to earth to rescue us. We praise you and we love you. Thank you for helping us stay strong when we are tempted to do wrong. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! 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, I have a question.

Pastor: Okay Sammy. Go ahead. 

Sammy: So the apostles go up the mountain with Jesus right? 

Pastor: Yes they do Sammy.

Sammy: And when they get to where Jesus was, they saw Jesus in all his glory with Moses and Elijah. 

Pastor: You are on track so far. 

Sammy: And then they hear the voice of God. 

Pastor: Sammy, are you just going to recite the passage we just read or are you going to ask me your question?

Sammy: Excuse me pastor, but I said I had a question.

Pastor: I’ll be quiet now Sammy. 

Sammy: If the apostles saw Jesus in all of his glory. Why were they afraid of Jesus? 

Pastor: Well Sammy, Seeing God is quite the scary thing. 

Sammy: It is? 

Pastor: Yes it is, even when Angels come to see people on earth. The first thing they tell them is be not afraid. 

Sammy: Why is that. 

Pastor: Because just seeing an angel is very different than anything else in this world. Seeing God is even scarier. When Israel reached Mt. Siani, God set a whole mountain on fire, and blew trumpets. As said anyone that approached him on the mountain, without being called up like Moses was, would die from the sight of God. Once the apostles heard God’s voice. They thought their life was in danger. 

Sammy: But why would they be afraid of dying just by seeing God? I thought that would be a good thing. 

Pastor: It would be a good thing, but because we sin and do bad things. We can’t look at God. We can’t even approach him. Because sinners cannot approach God. 

Sammy: But how do we approach God then?

Pastor: Because Jesus died and rose again Sammy. Jesus died to forgive our sins so we could be with God again. Just like our first parents were: Adam and Eve. 

Sammy: Oh I see pastor. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection was all about reconciling God and humanity. And because Jesus died and rose from the dead. We don’t have to be afraid. 

Pastor: Exactly Sammy. I hope I answered your question Sammy. 

Sammy: You did Pastor.  

Pastor: Let’s pray everyone. Dear Jesus, thank you for coming down from heaven and living on earth. Thank you for revealing yourself to us so we can approach God without fear. We love you. Amen. 

Scripture

Matthew 5:13-20

Script: 

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! 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: How are you doing today, Sammy?

Sammy: I am doing great! Today we are talking about salt. I know all about salt. There is a ton of it outside.

Pastor: What do you mean, Sammy?

Sammy: There’s salt all over the sidewalks and parking lot here at church. Haven’t you seen it, Pastor?

Pastor: Yes I have. It’s a special kind of salt that helps melt the snow and ice. We don’t eat it.

Sammy: Oh. That’s good to know.

Pastor: You tasted it, didn’t you?

Sammy: Yep.

Pastor: Boys and girls, we put a special salt for eating on our food. The salt on the ground outside is not good to eat, but salt that your parents and grandparents give you is good to eat. I have some salt with me here. Let’s talk about it. What are some things you notice about it?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: What kinds of foods do you put salt on? 

Pastor: I put salt on every dinner cooked at home.

Sammy: Do your dinners need salt? Aren’t they just fine the way they are?

Pastor: Yes they are wonderful.

Sammy: Boys and girls, what kinds of foods do you put salt on?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: Talking about salt is really important. We all eat and use salt. Jesus is talking about salt and how his followers need to be the salt of the earth. 

Sammy: What does that mean?

Pastor: That means that we need to go into the world and spread the good news that Jesus is Lord. We are called to love God and each other.

Sammy: That’s a big job.

Pastor: Yes it is, but there are a lot of us, and we have the power of the Holy Spirit to help us and to guide us.

Sammy: Every time I eat salt, I’ll be thinking of Jesus calling us to be the salt of the earth.

Pastor: Wonderful, Sammy. Boys and girls, will you please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, help us to be the salt of the earth. Help us to share your message with everyone we meet. Thank you for being Lord and Savior of our lives. We love you. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! 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: Sammy, today we have scripture from the Gospel of Matthew.

Sammy: Yes, it’s one of my favorites: The Bee-Attitudes.

Pastor: The what?

Sammy: The Bee-Attitudes. You know, like honey bees, and bumblebees, and carpenter bees, and not like wasps or hornets or yellow jackets or anything like that.

Pastor: Here we go again.

Sammy: All right everyone! Can everyone help me with the Bee-Attitudes? Can you buzz like a bee? 

[Allow children time to buzz like bees]

Sammy: That was really good. But let’s do that again, but louder. Ready?

[Allow children to buzz like bees]

Sammy: Great job! That’s just the warm-up!

Pastor: Sammy, I don’t think you understand what Jesus is talking about.

Sammy: Of course I do, Pastor! We just had to warm up. Okay everyone! Are you ready for the next part?

Pastor: I can only imagine…

Sammy: Repeat after me: Be comforted. Be filled. Be merciful. Be pure. Be peaceful. Let’s try again. Ready? Be comforted. Be filled. Be merciful. Be pure. Be peaceful. Great job! See, Pastor. These are the Bee Attitudes.

Pastor: Oh I get it. The Beatitudes. Jesus is teaching us about who is and what he does. He is merciful in his forgiveness. He mourns over our sins and comforts us in our guilt. He is pure in heart and he makes peace between us and God.  What he is saying helps us to know how much he loves us. Even though we fall short of his love. People hearing these words for the first time would be surprised. 

Sammy: Why’s that? 

Pastor: Jesus says that those who are sad will be comforted. The meek will inherit the earth. The pure in heart will see God.

Sammy: These are big promises.

Pastor: Yes they are. They are promises that are filled by Jesus. He loves each one of us, and his love is a gift.

Sammy: The Bee-Attitudes are fun. Can everyone buzz with me one more time?

Pastor: Great job, little bees. Let’s say a prayer and then you can buzz like a bee back to your seats. Let’s fold our hands and bow our heads. Dear Jesus, Thank you for teaching us how to live. Thank you for helping us with our Bee-Attitudes. We love you and praise your name. Amen.

Sammy: Buzzzzzz.

“I don’t want to offend anyone or lose my friends.” That was the reason one of my church council members gave as to why she holds back from talking to her close friends about faith.

Her response came from a discussion we were having about the importance of building intentional relationships with friends and neighbors with whom we can talk about what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. It’s reasonable to understand her hesitancy. Yet, simultaneously, sadly, this is an excuse many believers fall back on because they don’t know how. Admittedly, I have not been exempt from using it myself, that was until one day, I was moved to change.

I had been invited as a guest to attend an NALC Regional Convocation. During one of the breaks, I had an engaging conversation with four individuals from the same church, who were attending as a group. They had asked me about my seminary experience. Up to that point, I had had difficulties with the ELCA candidacy process and I was contemplating leaving to join the NALC.

Throughout our exchange, I noticed how easy it was to talk to them. Even though I was a fish out of water, so to speak, they never made me feel uncomfortable. Their questions were genuine, not attacking or forceful, all while respectful. As we neared the end of the break, they asked if they could pray for me. As I told them that I would appreciate it if they would, they did something quite unexpected; rather than going on their way, they surrounded me, each placing a hand on my shoulder or arm, and began to pray for me, right then and there. It caught me by surprise because I had never had someone not only offer to pray for me but to do it! Over the next few minutes, each of them took a turn praying over something they had picked up on as they listened in, praying for God to give me the insight I needed to make my decision, whatever it was to be, for strength and guidance to go wherever He called me. As they ended, I opened my eyes to find that there were no longer four people surrounding me; passersby had also stopped to pray, placing their hands on those around me.

That day, I witnessed a group of believers demonstrate what following Jesus looks like, and I saw that conversations about life and faith don’t have to be divisive, inspiring me to do the same.

When our Lord encountered someone who was spiritually and/or physically hurting, he didn’t attack them. He didn’t simply offer to pray for them and then continue on his way. Instead, he stopped and prayed over them at that moment.

In the years since, I have stepped out of my comfort zone and offered to pray for strangers—even even someone who struck up a conversation with me on a flight home from Texas.

The feeling I have after praying for someone is that of joy. Doing so reminds me of Luke’s Gospel, where Jesus sends out his disciples ahead of him. As Christ told his disciples (I’m paraphrasing), “If you meet someone receptive to the Word, have a conversation; if they are not, don’t force it and go on your way.” However, I have never encountered anyone who refused my offer of, ‘Can I pray for you?’

Yet, encouraging her and telling her how to do it—based on scripture—only goes so far. While I have had such a positive experience, I find myself asking how I can help empower my councilwoman to set aside her fear and step out in faith.

Her fear is reminiscent of the disciples when Jesus told them to feed the five thousand. They had no clue how, and they certainly didn’t believe they had what it took to get the job done until their shepherd showed them the way. Their reaction was evident; they needed more time to be equipped and empowered.

After they had spent some time watching and learning how Jesus ministered to others, he released his disciples to try it for themselves. That’s when he instructed them how to minister to those receptive to the Word of God and to those who are not. When they came back to him, they reported incredible joy. As her earthly Shepherd, I can see how God has prepared her to spend time with me to learn how to follow Jesus.

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! 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: Happy Epiphany, Sammy!

Sammy: Epiphany? What’s that, Pastor?

Pastor: That’s the time in the church year when we celebrate the Wise Men going to see Jesus. They recognized that Jesus is God.

Sammy: What was so wise about these men?

Pastor: Well, they were astronomers, which means that they studied the stars. The wise men understood that even though they were wealthy, smart men, there was one who was greater than them–that’s Jesus. They also knew not to return to King Herod to tell him about Jesus.

Sammy: I heard that the Wise Men also brought gifts to Jesus. 

Pastor: Boys and girls, what gifts do you think the Wise Men brought to baby Jesus?

Sammy: I know! A wool blanket!

Pastor: That’s a great gift from a sheep to baby Jesus, but that’s not the right answer. What did the Wise Men bring to Jesus?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: The Wise Men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

Sammy: Those are expensive gifts, and strange gifts for a baby. What were they thinking? Are you sure they really were Wise Men?

Pastor: I’m sure of it, Sammy. These gifts show everyone that Jesus is a prophet, priest, king, and God. 

Sammy: I still think a wool blanket is a good idea, Pastor. 

Pastor: You know what’s neat, Sammy? Jesus was wrapped in a blanket made for lambs that were supposed to be for sacrifice. Jesus died on the cross, and he is the Lamb of God sacrificed for us all.

Sammy: That’s the best gift ever!

Pastor: Yes it is. Boys and girls, would you please pray with me? Let’s fold our hands and bow our heads. Dear Jesus, thank you for special gifts. We thank you for being the best gift. Help us to love you more and more each day. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Once the endless meetings, insulting slurs, character attacks, hurt feelings, and procedural difficulties involved in leaving one ecclesial community and entering another are over, the remaining congregation members are often fatigued. Yet they are often galvanized by the process’ inevitable conflicts and are more committed as disciples of Jesus Christ than ever. They hope that the Lord will reward their faithfulness by swelling their ranks, securing their sometimes-tenuous finances, and allow them to return once again to whatever is identified as the golden age of the congregation’s life.

The Lord, in His mercy, rarely does this, at least in any easily recognizable, straightforward way.  The process of reaffiliating for the local congregation is always, to a larger or smaller degree, a traumatic one.  Before a congregation is ready to properly disciple a significant number of people, there is usually work the Lord needs to do within us first.  There is a gap between what we were and what we will need to be for the mission the Lord has planned for us.  I want to encourage anyone facing this to GO intentionally into that GAP:

Go deep with God:  Lutherans confess that the Spirit uses God’s Word and Sacraments to create and sustain saving faith in the hearts of people and thereby constitutes the Church.  As Luther avers, it is only in this way that we are “called, gathered, enlightened and sanctified.”  Don’t do generic Bible studies but do some focused on God’s promises and power related to healing, mission, and yes, even vengeance upon those who persecute His people (having one’s character assassinated by people you love is a real, though mild, form of white martyrdom).  Let the Lord’s Word be a branch thrown into the oft unspoken tension, pain, and ennui of the bitter waters of church hurt and make them sweet.

Open your heart to the new thing the Lord wants to do:  Paul’s ministry changed radically after he was called by Jesus.  Your congregation has been called by Jesus too, and it is not likely that He has called it to do basically what it has done in the past, just with purer doctrine.  This is not because local traditions are bad or change is good, but because if Jesus has called you into a new denominational affiliation, it is for the purpose of mission, and the mission field is always in flux.  Indeed, learning that the mission field lies at our doorstep rather than in other countries is a radical thing for many long-established congregations.  Please note that what I am issuing here is not a call to radical change, but rather to radical openness to God’s leading.

Get to know your mission field: Don’t assume you know your community’s spiritual needs.  Remember, when you ASSUME, you make an ASS out of U and ME.  As a Gen X’er I typically assume that Christianity’s chief rival is atheism.  For those under 40, it is paganism.  Does your congregation’s ministry take this into account?  What are the socio-economic pressures with which your visitors are dealing?  What are the most common family dynamics and dysfunctions?  Learn what people will need in your context to become good Christian disciples apart from orthodox doctrinal commitments.

Align yourself with what God is already doing: Ministry changed for me and my congregation when we stopped having a plan to reach people and started recognizing what the Lord was already doing with those He was gathering, then putting our time, talent, and treasures behind that.  “Unless the Lord builds the house, the laborer works in vain.”

Patiently wait for God, then move decisively: Don’t let anxiety about the future push your congregation to waste energy on mission to which the Lord is not calling you.  The Church’s only mission is the Great Commission, but your congregation is not the Church.  Your congregation is a church, and God is not calling you to do everything.  Instead of trying to reach some group or create some ministry that leadership thinks is essential to the congregation’s long term survival, trust the Lord with your future.  It may be that the ministry everyone thinks critical must have the foundation the Lord wishes to provide now.

GO into the GAP without fear, for it is not the valley of the shadow of death, but rather God’s way of teaching you trust on the way to the green fields and still waters for which He has claimed you.

Luke 20:27-38 

Script:

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

Sammy: Hey Pastor! What is the special theme this week? 

Pastor: What do you mean, Sammy? 

Sammy: Well, two weeks ago we celebrated Reformation Sunday, and last week we celebrated football Sunday– 

Pastor: No, Sammy. We celebrated All-Saints Day. 

Sammy: That’s what I meant. So we had two big weeks in a row at church. What is the big event or theme this week? 

Pastor: Well, this week we are talking about Resurrection. 

Sammy: Happy Resurrection Day, Pastor! 

Pastor: Not quite, Sammy. It’s not really a feast day or a holiday or a celebration. We are having worship together during ordinary time. 

Sammy: Pastor, these times are anything but ordinary. Have you read the newspaper lately? Watched the news? 

Pastor: Let’s get back to our topic for today: Resurrection. Boys and girls, what does “resurrection” mean? 

[Allow time for responses] 

Sammy: These are great answers.  

Pastor: Jesus did rise from the dead. But we also look forward to our resurrection. 

Sammy: What do you mean, Pastor? 

Pastor: One day, Sammy, after we die, we are going to wait for Jesus to come back. When he comes back, the dead will rise and will see his glory. 

Sammy: Is that going to be a scary day? Like a Halloween day? 

Pastor: No, it’s going to be like Easter Sunday. 

Sammy: Oh I love Easter! We get to sing Alleluia songs to God and there’s an egg hunt and Bartholomew the Bunny comes to worship.  

Pastor: That’s the spirit, Sammy. There’s nothing scary about resurrection. Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will not die, but will have eternal life.” That’s a gift from God. 

Sammy: Yes it is. 

Pastor: Let’s pray. Boys and girls, will you please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, thank you for resurrection. Thank you for your gift of new life. Thank you for your love. Amen. 

Sammy: Bye, everyone! 

Pastor: Bye, Sammy! 

John 8:31-36

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

Sammy:

Sammy: Good morning, Pastor. Good morning boys and girls. Hey Pastor, why do you look like you are looking for someone.

Pastor: I am expecting a friend come today. I thought he would be here at worship. But I can’t find him.

Sammy: What does he look like? Maybe I can help you find him.

Pastor:  Well, you can’t really miss him. He’s a really big guy. He’s in a strange outfit, and he’s really grumpy. And his name is Martin Luther.

Sammy: Oh, I thought you were talking about Santa Clause for a moment. But he’s not grumpy. You really know how to disappoint someone Pastor.

Pastor: Sorry to disappoint you, Sammy. But Martin  Luther is as fun as Santa Clause.

Sammy: Pastor you really shouldn’t lie in church.

Pastor: No really. He always brings pretzels and cider with him. So that means snacks Sammy.

Sammy: Okay, I think I like him now. But why is he visiting today?

Pastor: Well today is reformation Sunday. It’s a day when we remember Martin nailing the 95 theses on the door of his church. This moment caused a movement to spark reformation within the church.

Sammy: Oh okay. So he was really important. And I just realized something pastor. His name is Luther. Aren’t we part of a Lutheran church?

Pastor: Good job Sammy. We are a Lutheran church. He is the person that wrote a lot of what we teach here at St. Paul’s. His courage is why we are here today. Let us pray now: Dear Jesus, Thank you for reformers like Martin Luther. Thank you for teachers that followed his lead by teaching people the true gospel. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Script:

Luke 17:11-19

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

Sammy: Good morning, everyone! Pastor, I just wanted to thank you for doing a great job.

Pastor: Thank you, Sammy.

Sammy: You always listen to me, tell me stories, teach me about the Word of God, and you are a great friend to me.

Pastor: That’s very kind of you, Sammy.

Sammy: I just wanted you to know.

Pastor: You know, Sammy, your thankfulness reminds me of the Gospel reading for today. Jesus healed ten men with a skin disease.

Sammy: A skin disease?

Pastor: Yes—they called out to Jesus and asked him to heal them. He healed them by telling them to go show themselves to the priests. On the way to the priests, they were healed.

Sammy: But why did he tell them to go to the priests? Why not just heal them right away?

Pastor: What do you think, boys and girls? Why did Jesus send the men to go to the priests instead of healing them right away?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: These are great answers and ideas. Jesus wanted the men to act in faith. Walking toward the priests meant a commitment of faith for them. And men with a skin disease were considered unclean. They were unable to worship God at the temple if they had a skin disease.

Sammy: So that would be like if we couldn’t go to church?

Pastor: Yes.

Sammy: But they couldn’t help it!

Pastor: That was the rule. In Jesus’s time, there was no cure for this skin disease.

Sammy: That’s horrible. They were forever banned from church. I love church. I want to be here every day.

Pastor: I know, Sammy. But you know, what? Jesus healed all ten of these men, and then they could go to worship God in the temple.

Sammy: And one of them went back to thank him. That man is my favorite. Jesus gave him his life back.

Pastor: Jesus gives each of us a new life in him, and it’s important to thank our God for the many gifts he gives us. In fact, let’s pray and thank him right now. Boys and girls, will you please fold your hands and bow your head? Dear Jesus, we thank you for your healing power. We praise you for directing us to you. Help us to be thankful for everything you give us. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!