I was recruited by a well intentioned member of my church to help in our childrens ministry. I've done many things in the past working with youngsters in and outside of the church arena, my background was in early childhood education. She told me that there were prepared materials she would send in the mail. My mini-message would follow the reading of the Gospel on Sunday morning.
The Scripture text is found in the book of Matthew, the 22nd chapter. "Render to Ceaser what is Ceasers and render to God what is Gods".
The prepared lesson explained that I should have the children stand, face the flag & pledge alliagence and tell them we honor our government. Then I should tell them to look at the Cross & recite the apostles creed to honor God .Well I think this might seem like a simple explanation to most people but I can't imagine too many 2-8 year olds that know both of these or can fluently read them. Besides the only place they might recognize the name Ceaser is from watching T.V. in the context of salad or dogfood commercials.
I decided that Ceaser, needed to be translated into the currency of a more limited experience. Therefore I'm going to use the Library, Blockbuster, & love as the basis for my message.
I know you're probably curious as to how that will explain this particular scripture. Most adults I know struggle with their understanding of God, how can we expect kids to connect a worldly system with an all powerful Creator? What was Jesus talking about here?
Oh, I also received a reminder to return my overdue library book in the mail the same day as I got the lesson. I think I'll have a fine to pay next time I want to check out a good read. I hate that don't you? I mean I know it's not that big of a deal, it just tells me that membership has it's priviledges until you mess up , then it has it's price.
I used to fear going into Blockbuster a few years back when my teens would rent movies, because I never knew if they returned things on time! My husband & I occasionally got a movie out and always were told to pay some late charge for flix we didn't even see, I could have owned the darn movies for some of the extended charges I've gotten hit with!
Anyway, as I thought about this message thing, I realized that most kids watch movies and read books. The library and Blockbuster is a world system that they already recognize. It represents my Ceaser . We have to give back the movies & books because they don't belong to us. We didn't buy them.
It makes me think about how I sometimes forget to pray or love others the way I should. Like an overdue book, I don't belong to me! I have to return to God . And Jesus says "I paid the fine because I Love you and you are one of my favorite works. " I imagine If I was His living letter my first page might be dedicated to God for wanting me, purchasing me and keeping me.
Return to the Lord your God ! The Price was Paid !
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