As I sit down to write my children’s sermon on Mark 12:38-44, life is a bit of a scramble. So, I’m not wading in with my usual comments on the process or on issues in the text.
- Maybe you find that a relief.
- Maybe you’ll miss that stuff.
Either way, here we go with a children’s sermon on Mark 12:38-44.
Let me know of you think it’s okay that I turned Jesus’ comments about the scribes into a dialogue with Peter.
Oh yeah: You can find my regular Monday Meditation on this text from a while back through this link.
A Children’s Sermon on Mark 12:38-44
Good morning kids! I’m so glad to see you here in worship today. Thanks for coming up to hear the children’s sermon.
A Fancy Robe
One day, Peter had been praying in the Temple. He came out just as Jesus was passing by.
“Hey Jesus!” called Peter.
“Oh, hi Peter,” Jesus said. “Been to the Temple I see.”
“Yes!” Peter said, “And boy did everybody like my fancy new robe. Check it out!”
And Peter did a little twirl to show off his outfit.
“Nice,” said Jesus. And he meant it. But then he asked, “So, I’m curious: How come you bought a new robe just now? Your old one seemed pretty nice too.”
“Well Jesus, it’s like this,” said Peter. “I find that if I wear a bit fancier clothing people just seem to treat me better. I call it ‘dress to impress.’”
“I see,” said Jesus. “How did they treat you in the temple today?”
“I’m glad you asked,” said Peter. “When I swooped in with my long flowing robe people really took notice. They stood up out of respect when I passed by. The ushers led me to the best seat—front row! They even asked me to pray.”
“And did you?” asked Jesus.
“Oh yeah,” Peter said. “I gave them a really long prayer. One with a lot of big words in it. Again, I’d say they were very impressed.”
“I see,” said Jesus. “So that’s what’s really important to you? Impressing people with expensive clothes and fancy prayers?”
“Well, I guess. It felt pretty good,” he said.
Jesus looked at Peter for a second and said, “Remind me to tell you how you can be the greatest on the kingdom of God.”
“Oh you did,” said Peter. “Something about helping people, right?”
The Rich Man’s Offering
“Ooh, check this out,” said Jesus. “People are bringing their offerings to the Temple.”
Peter turned to see where Jesus was pointing. He saw a big wooden box, like a pirate’s treasure chest. There was a hole in the top for donations.
A rich man in nice clothes came up with a big bag of money. He shook it and the coins inside rattled and jingled.
Then he took out the big gold coins one by one, dropping each one down the hole with a “clink!” He did this for quite a while. There were a lot of “clinks”!
When the bag was half empty he shook it again. Then he turned it over and poured the coins down the hole—“Rumble, Jingle, Clink, Rumble, Jingle, Clink.”
His big coins made quite a lot of noise. A number of people looked at him with admiration. Others looked at him with envy. He didn’t seem to mind. He tucked his empty money bag back inside his robe, and walked off smiling.
“Wow!” said Peter. “That guy gave a lot of money. He’s really generous.”
The Widow’s Offering
“Watch this,” said Jesus.
Just then a little old lady came quietly up to the big wooden offering chest. She was wearing the tattered black dress of a poor widow.
She had a bag too, but it looked like it was empty. She reached way down to the bottom of her bag. Then she brought her hand back out. She was holding two tiny copper coins.
She reached over the top of the chest and slipped her coins down the hole. They didn’t even make a sound. Then she walked quietly away.
“Well,” said Peter, “she didn’t give much.”
“Didn’t she?” asked Jesus. “I’d say she gave more than anybody.”
“No way,” said Peter. “She gave two tiny coins! That rich guy gave a whole bag of money.”
“That’s just it,” said Jesus. “He gave all that and he’s still a rich guy. He only gave a little bit of what he has. That poor widow gave all she had. That’s way more. At least in God’s eyes.”
Peter wasn’t sure what to say.
Wondering.
- I wonder if the rich man was hoping someone would see what he was giving to the Temple?
- I wonder how somebody begins to want to please God with what they do?
- I wonder what you and I might give to please God and help people?
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You are, of course, free to use this children’s sermon, or adapt it as you find most useful. But, if you use it, please do one (or more!) of the following.
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Gary: Thanks for giving me a good chuckle for Friday morning. I do have a hard time picturing Peter or any of the disciples being able to afford a fancy robe. That said it was a good way to drive the main point of the pericope.
Blessings,
Steve
Thanks Steve!
Yes, I took some liberties to make the declarative teaching into a story.
Peter, as a character, seems fair game for doing goofy stuff and getting criticized by Jesus. That happens in other texts so is my biblical justification.
You are certainly right that there is nothing biblical to justify his extravagant purchase. Maybe I should have put that on Judas…
Blessings,
Gary
I recently learned about your website while looking for help leading a children’s time talk at our church on Mark 12:38-44 and was pleased to find your children’s sermon. I used the second part of it (the rich man and widow dropping their coins in the temple offering) and it really captured the children’s attention. I’m sure it didn’t hurt that my very expressive adult son played the parts of the rich man and the widow. :o) Thank you for posting these online for people like me who can use some extra help! You have a very captivating way of writing and making the stories interesting for both children and adults. (I even had one older adult tell me that she often gets more out of our church’s children’s talks than the sermons.) Ha!
I recently found your site while searching for a better way to explain the gospels to children. I now read one of your sermons during the week to the children at my school. I of course I tweek it a little to encompass the West Indian culture. The children are now so attentive and eager to hear the stories and learn about Jesus and the Kingdom of God. Thank you for your insight.
That is so exciting, Mary! Thank you for letting me know. I would love to hear more about your work with kids! You can email me through the contact form in the main menu.
Blessings,
Gary
Thank you for the skit idea. It’s simple and more accessible to kids. I teach 5th graders for church school and this helped them get more interested in the scripture behind the skit.
That’s great Matt!
Yes, for kids as old as 5th grade turning the stories into skits is probably most effective.
So glad you found if helpful. I hope you’ll subscribe so I can send each children’s sermon straight to your inbox!
Blessings,
Gary