2 CORINTHIANS 12:2-10

MARK 6:1-6

10:30 Sermon with children

How God Can Make Us Strong

Is anybody here as strong as...The Incredible Hulk? Superman? Arnold Schwarzennegger? No? Does that mean we’re weak compared to them?

Jesus’ friend St. Paul was called “weak” by some people who were trying to make him look bad. But he tells us in today’s first reading from the Bible that we can be strong even when we’re weak – IF we rely on God instead of trying to do everything ourselves!

God can give us good ideas (I point to my head), the heart to carry them out (I point to my heart), and friends to help us (I point to all the kids), all of which can make us really strong (I “make a muscle” and flex my biceps with both arms). Now, repeat after me, including the hand motions: “God can give us good ideas, the heart to carry them out, and friends to help us, which makes us really strong.” Do you think the grown-ups could learn this? Let’s teach them!

Let’s stand up and turn around and ask them to say the words and do the hand motions with us: “God can give us good ideas (all point to their heads), the heart to carry them out (all point to their hearts) and friends to help us (all point to everyone else), which makes us really strong (all flex biceps).”

Now we all know how God can make us strong!

(The Rev.) Francis A. Hubbard

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church