Childrens Sermon Service

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed — or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (vv. 41-42)

Object: A broom, a dust rag, and a pan.

Note: Select two children to play the roles of Mary and Martha. When it is time to pick them, you can either ask for volunteers or select the two actors yourself. And, you can either decide which will be Mary or Martha or let them choose for themselves.

Hello, everyone! Are you ready for today’s story? (Let them respond.) Awesome! This is a story about two sisters named Mary and Martha. I think it will make the story better if I had some help. I need two people to help me tell the story. (Pick your two actors and decide who will be who.) Great! Now the story will be even better.

One day, Mary and Martha were at home when someone knocked on the door. They opened the door, and who do you think was there? (Let them respond.) It was Jesus and his disciples. They were walking to Jerusalem and were tired, so they came to see if they could rest for a while and maybe get something to eat. Well, I’ll bet Mary and Martha were excited, don’t you? (Let them respond.) I sure would be. So, they opened the door and let Jesus and his disciples come inside.

Jesus sat down and started talking to his disciples about what was going to happen when they got to Jerusalem. Martha went to the other room to start fixing something for Jesus and his friends to eat. She noticed the dining room floor was a bit dusty, so she got the broom (give Martha the broom) and started sweeping the floor. Then she noticed that Mary wasn’t helping her, so she peeked through the door (have your Martha pretend to peek through a door) and saw Mary sitting on the floor listening to Jesus. How do you think Martha felt? (Let them respond.) Maybe a little upset? Well, after she swept the floor, she got a dust rag (give Martha the rag)  and started cleaning off the table to make sure everything looked just right when Jesus came in to eat. She peeked through the door again, (have your Martha pretend to peek through a door) and saw Mary still just sitting there listening to Jesus. How do you think Martha felt now? (Let them respond.) Maybe more upset or frustrated? Then Martha went to the kitchen and got a pan (give Martha the pan) to start fixing something for them to eat. A few minutes later she went over and peeked through the door again (have your Martha pretend to peek through a door) and saw Mary still just sitting there listening instead of helping her cook. This time we know how Martha felt because she went to Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” She sounds upset, doesn’t she? (Let them respond.)

Jesus looked at Martha and said, “Martha, you are worried about getting a lot of things done, and that is good. But Mary is doing something that is more important right now, and I am not going to stop her.”

Jesus said Mary was doing something that was more important. Can anyone tell me what Mary was doing that was so important? (Let them respond.) She was listening to Jesus, wasn’t she? And Jesus said that was more important than sweeping, or dusting, or cooking.

Sometimes it is hard to figure out what is really important, isn’t it? (Let them respond.) I think if we remember the story of Mary and Martha, it will help us figure out what the more important things for us to do are. I have a little test for us to take to see if we can decide what is more important. It is a short test. Just three questions. Let’s try it!

Question #1: Imagine you see a pair of really fancy shoes that you like a lot. But, on the way to the store you see someone who has no shoes to wear at all. Which is more important? To buy the fancy shoes for you to wear, or to get some shoes for the person who has no shoes at all? Which do you think is more important? (Let them respond.) Which do you think Jesus would do? (Let them respond.) Get shoes for the other person, right? Jesus would think that was more important.

Question #2: Imagine you wanted to play your favorite game, but then you saw someone who was feeling really sad and lonely. Which is more important? To play your game, or to go and be with the person who is feeling so sad and lonely? (Let them respond.) Which do you think Jesus would do? (Let them respond.) He would go to the person who was sad and lonely, wouldn’t he? Jesus would think that was more important right now.

Question #3: Imagine you wanted to watch a movie, but mom or dad asked you to go and clean your room. Which is more important? (Let them respond.) Which do you think Jesus would do? (Let them respond.) I think Jesus would probably clean the room because it is one way you can help mom and dad out around the house. I believe Jesus would think that was more important right now, don’t you? (Let them respond.)

Jesus told us that the most important thing we can do is to take care of each other. So, when we do things to care for others, we are listening to Jesus, and doing what he said is the most important thing we need to do.

Let’s all pray together and ask God to help us remember how much God loves every one of us no matter who we are, what we have, or where we are from and ask God to help us remember to do the things God wants us to do to take care of each other. Let’s ask God to help us go and do likewise…

Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for reminding us how much you love us. Please help us remember that you love all of the people you have created and help us let the people around us know that we love them just like Jesus loves us. Amen.