Recorded
VersionChildren’s Sabbath
Terri Stewart · Luke 17:11-19 · October 14, 2007
Dear friends,
Pastor Dave didn't preach on Sunday; it was Children's Sabbath. We are passing along the message that was shared by Terri Stewart, a lay person.
Opening Prayer
Dear God:
Thank you, God, for bringing us here together.Please help our hearts to open and our ears to hear. Amen.
Ten Men with Leprosy
11 On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus went along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men with leprosy came toward him. They stood at a distance 13 and shouted, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" 14 Jesus looked at them and said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." On their way they were healed. 15When one of them discovered that he was healed, he came back, shouting praises to God. 16He bowed down at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was from the country of Samaria. 17 Jesus asked, "Weren't ten men healed? Where are the other nine? 18 Why was this foreigner the only one who came back to thank God?" 19 Then Jesus told the man, "You may get up and go. Your faith has made you well."
Luke 17:11-19
Got Thanks?
In this story, Jesus is telling us about two kinds of people-those who are healed and are thankful and those who are healed and just keep on going.All ten people in this story were lepers and all ten were healed. But nine didn't say thank you!The just kept on going. Only one returned to say thank you to Jesus.
Do you always remember to say thank you?It is pretty easy for us to say that those nine folks were rude and unthankful!Does your mom and dad tell you to say thank you?Or to send thank you cards? Do you think your mom would be really embarrassed if you forgot to say thank you? What if you forgot to say thank you to Jesus?
OK, it is easy to rag on these 9 guys for not saying thank you.I'm sure they have their reasons. So, let's do an interview!We are going to interview the nine lepers that didn't say thank you.
Leper #9, why didn't you say thank you?
9. I wanted to see the priest and make sure I was healed.
Why would that be important?
Only the priest has the power to say that a leper can safely return to his home.Lepers were cast out of everything because it was believed they were cursed by God.
Okay. Leper #8
8. I deserved to be healed.
And why not? Weren't years of rotting flesh, social ostracism, wearing a bell and shouting while walking "Leper, I am a leper" punishment enough?
What does Leper #7 have to say?
7. I didn't know I was healed.
That could be true. Some lepers get healed and don't know it. So they don't say thank you because they don't know they have anything for which to say thank you.
All right, let's see what #6 has to say.
6. I was afraid Jesus would change his mind.
Some lepers feel like they don't really deserve healing and so grab onto it as if it were their last dollar, worrying that their good fortune will be taken away.
OK. Leper #5?
5. I had work I needed to do.
When you are sick work piles up.The fields need tending and the medical bills need to be paid.There is a lot to do.
Leper 4?
4. I was hungry.
You don't get fed much as a leper.Sometimes you have to eat from the garbage.You get hungry as a leper and thank you can just skip your mind.
What do you say leper #3?
3. I had friends I needed to see.
And you leper #2?2. I had family I needed to see.
Those reasons are very similar.Being a leper is lonely.You are cut off from those you love by disease and by law.
And leper #1? What is your reason for not saying thank you?
1. This is the top reason for not saying "Thank You:" There is a Seahawk game on.
This may seem silly, but sometimes we just get so caught up in the excitement and joy that we put our "Thank You" off until later; sometimes much later.
GAME: Musical Thank You's How many times I do this depends upon time.
We are going to take a moment and work on our thank yous.As you can see, there are sheets of paper that we will pass around.Just keep on passing while you hear the music. When the music stops, hold onto the sheet of paper that you have. (Music)
Stop:
OK. Now everybody with an orange sheet of paper, say out one thing you are thankful for.
Great! Here we go again: (Music)
Stop:
Now everybody with a red sheet of paper, say one thing you are thankful for.
And the last time: (Music)
Stop:
Now everybody with a brown sheet of paper, say one thing you are thankful for.
Being thankful is important.I think each time we remember to say thank you to someone, it puts us in touch with God who wants us to always be thankful.
Now it's time for our closing prayer.
Closing Prayer:
Father, we don't always remember to say thank you.Please forgive us for that. And help us to say thank you for everything!We are thankful for sunny days and for rainy days. For dogs and for cats. For holidays and normal days.And we're really thankful for Jesus.Thank you for all these things.
Amen