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Free Workshop Rotation Model Lessons - Season 2

Children’s Sermon

Mark 6:1-13


Choosing To Be Refilled


July 4, 2021

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary Year B


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ASK    (a.k.a The On-Ramp)

  • [Hold up the two sports bottles] Can you tell me what I have in my hands? (two water bottles!)
  • And what do we use sports bottles like these for? (a way to store liquid to then drink during a sporting event)
  • What two ways can you get the drink out of the bottle?  (using the nozzle or taking the cap off and pouring the drink out)
  • Now, if I want to get drink INTO the bottle, can I use those same two ways of getting drink OUT of the bottle to also get the drink back into the bottle? (Uhh….no?)
  • Let’s find out! Here I have one bottle with the cap on and the nozzle open and I have the other bottle with the lid off -- if I pour water into both of them, do you think they will fill up with the same amount of water? (Yes! No!)
  • Let's see what happens when we try with both the bottles [pour water from pitcher into the bottle with no lid on top and then pour water into the open nozzle of the other bottle -- try to avoid too much splashing]
  • [Show  the insides of the bottles to the kids]
  • Well -- what do you think -- which one was filled up with more water? (the one with the lid open!)
  • [Put the pitcher and bucket/tray behind you so that kids don't get distracted by the water while you talk]


TELL    (a.k.a. The Freeway)

  • To help us think about today's scripture story, let's pretend these two bottles are like towns.
  • The first town we hear about in today's story is Jesus' hometown.
  • Let's pretend this bottle that had the lid on [put lid back on the empty bottle and then lift up that bottle] is Jesus' hometown.
  • In the story, we hear that Jesus' hometown wasn't very excited about him. And, because they weren't very excited about him, Jesus was not able to pour very much of God's love, hope, and healing into the town.
  • It's like Jesus' hometown was closed off and just didn't want to be refilled very much.
  • [put first bottle down and pick up second bottle]
  • And then, later in the story, we hear there are all these other towns that Jesus' disciples visited.
  • In those towns, we hear that Jesus' disciples were able to pour a lot of God's love, hope, and healing into those places.
  • Those towns were like this other bottle, that had the lid off. Those towns were opened up and ready to be refilled.


SHARE the Good News   (a.k.a. The Destination)

  • Now, if you think about the two bottles, they are the same type of bottle -- the only thing that is different about them is the choice to have the lid open or closed.
  • And, today's story reminds us that the choice of being open or closed to receiving God's love, hope, and healing is something that we help each other choose.
  • I say this because it wasn't one person who was open or closed to God's love, hope, and healing. It was towns of people that were open or closed to God’s love, hope, and healing.
  • Even though we are not a town, I want to tell you that I am very thankful to be part of this congregation, where every week we gather together and remind each other that we want to be like this bottle  – [hold up bottle with the lid off]. – that we want to be open to God's love, hope, and healing and be filled up with God's hope, love, and healing.
  • Because, when we are filled up with God's love, hope, and healing [close lid and open nozzle of filled bottle], we then have that love, hope, and healing to share with others.
  • Anyone want a drink!? [squirt water into a few of the kid's mouths if they say yes]
  • And that’s the good news for today. Let’s pray.


CLOSING Prayer

  • This is a repeat-after-me prayer.

Dear God,

Dear God,


Thank you for Jesus and his disciples...

Thank you for Jesus and his disciples...


...who kept offering your love and healing.

...who kept offering your love and healing.


...to all who would receive it.

...to all who would receive it.


…so that we can then share…

…so that we can then share…


your love and healing with others.

your love and healing with others.


Thank you and amen



Originally posted June 17, 2018

Updated on June 7, 2021

Written and edited by Nathanael Vissia



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Supplies: Two sports bottles (with nozzles) that look similar (consider visiting the dollar store if you don't have matching bottles); a pitcher with water in it, and a large pan (like an aluminum oven tray) or bucket that ensures no water will be spilled.

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