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Children’s Sermon

Mark 9:30-37

God Helps Us To Be Great

September 22, 2024

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary Year B

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ASK (a.k.a The On-Ramp)

Good morning!
Can you tell me how you got here, to the church building, today? (by car; walked)
For those of you who got here by car - did you, personally, drive the car? (No)
Why not? (can't drive)
If you can't drive, how do you get to work in the mornings? (We don't work)
You don't work!? [Pause. Pretend to think]
Well, if you can't drive and you don't work, then how do you buy food to eat? (family gives it to me)
You're telling me that other people give you food? (yes)
Well, that's really nice of them, isn't it? (yes)

TELL (a.k.a. The Freeway)

So what all of my silly questions are meant to do is to help us remember that we need each other's help.
I bring that up because in today's scripture story, we hear that Jesus' disciples seem to have forgotten that they need each other’s help.
We know they have forgotten they need each other’s help because they were having an argument about who was the greatest and best.
Thinking about being the greatest and best is about thinking how well you can do things on your own by yourself – because if others are helping you do something, then you obviously aren't the greatest and best individual.
Which is why Jesus has to remind his disciples, saying, “Being the best and the greatest does not welcome me or God into your life.”

SHARE the Good News (a.k.a. The Destination)

In other words, Jesus is telling his disciples to stop trying to be “know-it-alls” and to instead be more like you [point at the kids]: To be people who know that they could use some help from time to time.
Accepting help may seem like a simple thing to you, but it is a really important thing for all of us to remember and to practice.
When we know we need help and ask for it, then we are much better at accepting that help.
This is so important, I’m going to say it again in a slightly different way:
When we know we need God’s help, then we are much better at accepting God’s help.

And, when we do accept God’s help, then our best will become even better.
That’s the good news for today. Let’s pray.

CLOSING Prayer

This is a repeat-after-me prayer.

Dear God,

Thank you for Jesus...

...who teaches and shows us…

…how to do our best…

...how to do our best…

…by asking for and accepting...

…your help.

Thank you and Amen

Originally posted August 30, 2015

Updated on August 22, 2024

Written and edited by Nathanael Vissia

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