A Children’s Sermon on Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 — The Second Mission Trip

Preface for Pastors and Parents

I’m back, after a few weeks away from writing, with a brand new children’s sermon on Luke 10:1-11, 16-20.

We are in the long post-Pentecost season of the Church year, in what is often called “Ordinary Time.” That means our Gospel readings from the Lectionary are hopping and skipping through Luke 8 to 21.

Today we look at the second-ever church mission trip.

Earlier, at the beginning of Chapter 9, Jesus sent the Twelve Apostles on a mission adventure. Interestingly, Luke uses more ink describing this second mission trip than on the one the Apostles’ went on. And his time seventy disciples get sent out.

It seems like the idea of a mission trip could be familiar to a to a lot of kids. Many churches have mission trips regularly. Even if the children’s sermon crowd is too little to actually go on such a trip, they may know that a sibling or parent went on one. And even if not, the concept isn’t complicated.

Anyway, here we go with a children’s sermon on Luke 10:1-11, 16-20.

A Children’s Sermon on Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Good morning, kids! I am so glad to see you here in worship this morning. Thanks for coming up to hear the children’s sermon.

I wonder if you’ve ever known someone who went on a mission trip. A mission trip is when a group of people go somewhere to do the kinds of things Jesus liked to do.

One time I went on a mission trip to help put a new roof on a family’s house on Mexico. Another time I went to help out in a school in India. But mission trips can also go somewhere close by — wherever Jesus sends people, that’s the place to go.

Jesus Sends Seventy

A little while before today’s story from the Gospel, Jesus sent out his twelve very special friends on a mission trip. He called them “Apostles” and that means “People who are sent.” When they got back they told everybody all about it.

It sounded pretty great, going out to do things for Jesus. Now a whole lot of people wanted to go on a mission trip too.

So a bunch of them came to Jesus. They asked Jesus, “Can’t we go on a mission trip too? Peter, James, John and the others got to go. We want to go on a mission trip too!”

Peter came over and said, “No way! Mission trips are just for us Apostles. And we already went.”

Jesus smiled and said, “Actually, I think it’s a great idea! How many of you want to go?”

So they all counted off and told Jesus, “Seventy! Is that too many?”

“No,” said Jesus, “Seventy is a great start. But you should pray that even more will want to go next time.”

“Why is that?” they asked.

Jesus said, “Because God has so much to do in the world. The world is ready—like a wheat field at harvest time.”

Why A Mission Trip?

Someone asked, “But can’t God just do stuff without our help? Why does God want to send people?”

“Oh sure,” Jesus said, “God can do anything. But God likes to do things through people.”

“Why is that?” he asked.

Jesus said, “When God sends people, the people God sends learn to love what God loves. And all the people whom they help learn that that God loves them.”

“Doesn’t God love them even if we don’t go to help them?” they asked.

“Yes, of course,” said Jesus. “But it is a lot easier to believe God really loves you when people are doing loving things to help you.”

Who Goes Where?

Then Peter spoke up again. He said, “Jesus is right. There are lots and lots of towns and villages where people need God’s love. You should split up and go to seventy different places. That’s the most efficient way.”

“Um, Peter?” said Jesus quietly. “That’s not such a good idea.” Then he turned to the seventy people who wanted to go and said, “I think it would be better for each of you to travel with a friend. If you pair up, you can go to thirty-five towns and villages.”

“Jesus!” whispered Peter, “That’s not very efficient.”

“Peter,” said Jesus, “Being efficient is not the most important thing. When I go new places I bring all twelve of you with me! It can be scary to go to new places. If they travel in pairs, when one person gets scared, they’ll have a friend to lean on.”

So Jesus got them all paired up. They looked at a map and decided what town or village each pair would go to.

What to Do?

Then one of the women tapped Jesus on the shoulder. “There’s something important you haven’t told us,” she said. “What are we supposed to do when we get there?”

“Great question,” Jesus said. “All these towns are places I’m planning to visit soon. Tell them I’m coming. Tell them the Kingdom of God has come very close to them. Tell them to be ready.”

“But how can we help them get ready?” the woman asked.

“Another good question.” Jesus said. “Just do the kinds of things you’ve seen me do. If people are sick, help them to feel better. And teach them some of the things I’ve told you about the Kingdom of God. Stuff like that.”

How to Pack?

Then someone else asked, “Do you have a packing list? What should we bring?”

Peter blurted out,  “I know the answer!” he said. “You should each carry a bag of money. Plus a big bag of food. And bring some extra sandals, because you’ll be walking a long way. And—“

But Jesus put his hand on Peter’s shoulder and said quietly “Peter, don’t you remember? When I sent the twelve out on their mission trip, I didn’t let you take any of that stuff.”

But Peter whispered “But Jesus! They are going to need money. And their extra shoes!”

“Actually no,” said Jesus. “I don’t want them to take anything. Not even sandals. I want them to learn how to trust. They will learn that God will provide for them through other people.”

Peter said, “Yeah, but I didn’t think these guys would be able to handle that. They don’t look like they know how to trust God to provide for them.”

Jesus said to Peter, “How will they learn to trust if they don’t even try to trust?”

Where to Stay?

The one who asked about packing spoke up again: “But Jesus, I’m kind of worried. I mean, I’ve never been to this town you’re sending me to. Where will I sleep? What will I eat?”

Then Jesus smiled gently at the man, his big brown eyes all full of love. “It’s a good question,” he said. “But you don’t need to worry. There are wonderful peaceful people everywhere. Find a peaceful person and ask if you can stay with them. Eat whatever they serve you. That’s the polite thing to do. Don’t complain about the food. You’ll be fine.”

“But what if people are mean to us?” asked the worried man.

“Well,” said Jesus, “that can happen too. If people are mean, just move on. Wipe the dust off your feet and go — but first tell them God’s Kingdom has come very near to them!”

Wondering

I wonder how it felt to be sent out to do what Jesus did?

I wonder how it felt to go to a new town where they didn’t know anyone?

I wonder how it felt to go with no extra food, or clothes, or money?

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