From a Child's Point of View

Today's texts cluster around the theme of discipleship.

Old Testament: 1 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14. This story can be told to compare Elisha's persistent faith with the excuses of the would-be disciples in the Gospel lesson. (Children are impressed by Elisha's refusal to leave Elijah, and also with his bold request of his hero.) Or it can be told with the focus on the passing of "the mantle." (If Elijah's life has been the focus for several weeks, children are pleased to hear about God's recognition of Elijah's work in the story of the fiery chariot—a neat way to die!) Whichever your focus, present this story with the same open wonder with which we tell the story of Cinderella or the Knights of the Round Table.

Psalm: 77:1-2, 11-20. Verses 11-15 form the most child-accessible section of this psalm. Children easily understand the call to remember all the powerful things God has done. If this service culminates a series on Elijah's ministry, children can use these verses to review the ways God acted powerfully through Elijah.

The water and references in verses 16-25 confuse children, who cannot make the connection between the poetic references and familiar stories.

Epistle: Galatians 5:1, 13-25. These passages will not make much sense to children as they hear them read. However, with some help, they can grasp Paul's message in verses 14-15. (The emphasis on Christian freedom in vss. 1 and 13 will be understood in later years.) Paul begins with the command to love your neighbor as you love yourself (vs. 14). Then he presents a list of what happens when people do not follow this rule (vss. 19-21), and another list of what happens when they do follow this rule (vss. 22-23). The first list, in particular, is more clear in the vocabulary of the Good News Bible or New International Version. Although some items on the list may make children giggle, the need to hear Paul's condemnation of activities that television and today's culture seem to accept. Because they often are told not to act like animals, children enjoy Paul's comparison of the people who do not love to packs of destructive animals.

Gospel: Luke 9:51-62. This passage includes two separate stories. Verses 51-55 are a lesson in what to do when someone you have tried to love refuses to love you. Children will need background information on Jewish-Samaritan relations to understand the story, but they will need no help in understanding its "reality" message. The reality is that even Jesus was turned away by some people he tried to befriend. Children need to realize that the same probably will happen to them when they try to reach out to lonely, unhappy people at school and in their neighborhoods. When this happens, they are to be as forgiving as Jesus was.

Verses 57-62 report Jesus' conversations with three would-be disciples. A child's version of these excuses: "I am not ready to be a real disciple yet. When I grow up, Ill be one. But now I'm just a kid. All I can do is learn about Jesus." Jesus' response is that now is the time to be a disciple. Jesus needs children to do his work on the playground, in the swimming pool, the locker room, and all those other places where adults are not as influential. So children are called to be disciples now.

Watch Words

In speaking of discipleship under difficult conditions, avoid terms such as perseverance and forbearance.

Before reading the Old Testament story, explain that a mantle is a coat, and urge worshipers to listen for how Elijah's mantle was used.

Avoid using the flesh and the spirit as tag words for life based on disobeying or obeying the command to love one another. Instead, speak of obeying and disobeying.

Translate into today's vernacular the unfamiliar or obsolete words that describe sexual activities.

Let the Children Sing

"Lord, I Want to Be a Christian," "Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated," and "Breathe on Me, Breath of God" (in order of ease) are discipleship hymns children can sing.

"O Jesus, I Have Promised" will be hard for younger readers, but preadolescents often appreciate and claim for themselves this musical prayer.

Ask the childrens choir or the congregation to sing "I've Got a Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy, Down in My Heart." Add verses that celebrate Paul's "fruits of the Spirit." A lighthearted congregation can enjoy even a final verse: "If the devil doesn't like it he can sit on a tack—and stay!"

Sing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," pointing out its base in Elijah's story. Either "I Sing a Song of the Saints of God" or "For All the Saints" can be sung to honor both Elijah and Elisha.

The Liturgical Child

1. If you have been following the Elijah readings, review them and celebrate Elijah's life with a litany. A worship leader makes a series of statements that describe what Elijah was like or recall the things Elijah did. The congregation's response to each: "I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; I will remember your wonders of old" (Ps. 77:11) .

2. To stage the three conversations in Luke 9:57-62, enlist the help of three would-be disciples (standing in a group at one side of the chancel) and Jesus (standing at the center). The worship leader (standing in the lectern) serves as narrator, introducing the passage and reading the introductory phrase for each conversation. Actors should memorize their parts, plan the emphasis and tone of their speaking, and work together to present the sequence smoothly.

3. Base a prayer of confession on Galatians 5 :

Lord, when we read Paul's list of the results of living apart from you, we recognize many of them in our own lives. Each of us has done things of which we are deeply ashamed. (Pause for worshipers to offer silent confessions.) Though most of us have not practiced witchcraft, we have treated our own wants as gods. (Pause) Each of us has made enemies and waged war with them. (Pause) We know what it is to be jealous of what others have. (Pause) We are amazed at how quickly we can become really angry and lash out at others. (Pause) We often put our ambitions first, even before doing what is right and loving. (Pause) We have been part of groups that shut others out. Forgive us and help us change our ways to reflect your love. For we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God does forgive all who repent and change their ways. We are promised that when we do love one another, we will find that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control fill our lives to overflowing.

Sermon Resources

Tell a story about two children in a sports camp at your state university. Put them in a group with two campers from a different area of the state who are very push about playing "their" plays and are very loud in their support of opposing university teams. Tell how the two disciples reach out to these difficult outsiders by helping them find a practice field, eating with them in the cafeteria, and setting up plays in their favor during practice sessions. Let the outsiders respond by showing no appreciation for help in finding a field, making rude jokes about the disciples' favorite teams and players at the cafeteria table, and stealing a play from the disciples to cause their team to lose the game. After hearing this story, worshipers of all ages will be ready to walk in the shoes of Elijah, Jesus, and his disciples; they will think about discipleship that does not give up when faced with discouraging results.