Jesus' New Math
Children's sermon
Object:
2 sketches on sketch pad, using stick man or cartoon style, of Enormous Ego Ed and Winsome Widow Wanda
“...this poor widow has put in more...all she had to live on.” (v. 43b, 44b)
Hello children,
I am so glad to see you this morning. Who likes to do math? Who doesn’t?
I’m going to teach you something you may never heard of before.
It’s Jesus’ new math. That’s right, Jesus’ mathematics. Ready?
But first I want you to meet Enormous Ego Ed and Winsome Widow Wanda. (draw or show the sketches -- Ed has a proud, pompous look with big belly, cigar, and holding a bag of money, while Wanda is a petite, lovely bag lady in a shabby dress)
Enormous Ego Ed is a braggart. Look how proud and boastful he is. Now see Wanda.
She is a lovely, humble lady who is down on her luck. (discuss the contrast between these two imaginary characters)
Boys and girls, are there people like Ed and Wanda today? Yes? No? Sort of? In a way?
In Mark’s gospel today, Jesus notices people like Enormous Ego Ed. They are the Scribes. They are religious people who are not sincere. The Scribes love attention. They are rich. The Scribes throw large amounts of money into the treasury. Jesus also notices a person like Winsome Widow Wanda. She’s a certain Widow who puts in only 2 leptons in the treasury. A lepton is like a penny.
Then Jesus astonishes the disciples and the crowd. He teaches his new mathematics. Who gives the most? The rich or the poor? In total amounts the rich do. But in total percentages, the poor widow does. The Scribes give, for example, 5%. The widow gives 100%. The rich Scribes following the law, give only a portion of their wealth.
The humble widow, living by God’s grace, gives her all. She gives from her heart.
When Jesus died on the cross did he give only a portion of himself? Or did he give his all? (discuss and remind listeners that there is a bit of Ed and Wanda in all of us)
In God’s sight Jesus’ 100% is given to you and me. What a gift! What do you say when you receive a gift of 100%? (thank you)
Prayer: Dear God, teach us Jesus’ math. Show us Jesus did it all for us. Amen.
Hello children,
I am so glad to see you this morning. Who likes to do math? Who doesn’t?
I’m going to teach you something you may never heard of before.
It’s Jesus’ new math. That’s right, Jesus’ mathematics. Ready?
But first I want you to meet Enormous Ego Ed and Winsome Widow Wanda. (draw or show the sketches -- Ed has a proud, pompous look with big belly, cigar, and holding a bag of money, while Wanda is a petite, lovely bag lady in a shabby dress)
Enormous Ego Ed is a braggart. Look how proud and boastful he is. Now see Wanda.
She is a lovely, humble lady who is down on her luck. (discuss the contrast between these two imaginary characters)
Boys and girls, are there people like Ed and Wanda today? Yes? No? Sort of? In a way?
In Mark’s gospel today, Jesus notices people like Enormous Ego Ed. They are the Scribes. They are religious people who are not sincere. The Scribes love attention. They are rich. The Scribes throw large amounts of money into the treasury. Jesus also notices a person like Winsome Widow Wanda. She’s a certain Widow who puts in only 2 leptons in the treasury. A lepton is like a penny.
Then Jesus astonishes the disciples and the crowd. He teaches his new mathematics. Who gives the most? The rich or the poor? In total amounts the rich do. But in total percentages, the poor widow does. The Scribes give, for example, 5%. The widow gives 100%. The rich Scribes following the law, give only a portion of their wealth.
The humble widow, living by God’s grace, gives her all. She gives from her heart.
When Jesus died on the cross did he give only a portion of himself? Or did he give his all? (discuss and remind listeners that there is a bit of Ed and Wanda in all of us)
In God’s sight Jesus’ 100% is given to you and me. What a gift! What do you say when you receive a gift of 100%? (thank you)
Prayer: Dear God, teach us Jesus’ math. Show us Jesus did it all for us. Amen.
