Jesus Without Language

Kid's Ministry & Sunday School Resources

The Widow’s Gift (Mark 12) | Story

This story of the widow’s mite becomes all the more amazing when you learn about the coins and offering boxes. The Mites were roughly the circumference of a pencil and thin, the offering was tiny in every way. The offering boxes meanwhile sported bold trumpets of shiny bronze would direct any offerings into a large wooden box. 12 of these distinctive shapes were placed around the main courtyard edges, where the large column supported covers could keep they free from debris and rain. Financial gifting wasn’t a secret pursuit but a public display.

This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.

Main Passage : Mark 12:38-44

Biblical retelling of The Widow's Gift (Mark 12) for youngsters.

In her hand, between the wrinkles, lay two tiny copper coins. She would have to wait until there was nobody near the offering box.

In the temple courtyard there were thirteen wooden boxes with trumpet-shaped bronze funnels for giving gifts. The coins would bounce off the funnels, ringing out the offering to show how much people had given. These two tiny coins might not even make a sound.

The old woman shuffled around the large open space. It was often busy in this courtyard; most people got to the temple through here. There were also groups of men discussing religion or gathered listening to a rabbi speak. As she passed one, she learnt it was the teacher Jesus they were listening to today.

Jesus had seen her too. He was watching her look for a quiet offering box. Jesus knew that she only held two tiny coins in her hands. Jesus didn’t want to embarrass her because he knew her truth; he knew her secret. Jesus knew those two coins were all the money she had left and she wanted to give it to God.

Into the courtyard came a group of scribes. Their long robes were bright, making them stand out from the other visitors. They walked over to one of the offering boxes and started to pour coins into the funnel. The coins made the air ring like bells. Everyone stopped and turned towards the sound. The scribes looked around, proud that they were being recognised for their gift.

Jesus wasn’t impressed. He knew the men would change the large value coins for many little ones to make themselves look generous. He knew that these men would have collected the money from those with so little. Their generosity was fake.

While everyone was staring at the men putting on a show, Jesus turned around and looked straight at the old woman. When she saw him staring, he looked across at an offering box that had nobody near it. He nodded, and she smiled back to him.

Then, Jesus did something amazing. As the old woman dropped her two coins, sure the whole crowd would be looking the other way, Jesus spoke to all the men around him and told them that her offering was the greatest. As she turned back into the courtyard, Jesus and the crowd around him stood up. They didn’t face the rich noisy scribes, oh no! They all faced the old woman. Her offering, her two tiny coins, had been recognised.

James and John (Mark 10) | Story

This story pulls in many passages to paint a big picture of the character of James and John before the set passage. The main story highlights our impulsive and selfish nature, but shows How Jesus turns that around. It continues past the focus passage to show how James and John became changed by this encounter in their lives.

This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.

Main Passage : Mark 10:35-45
Additional Passages : Luke 9:51-55, Mark 1 + 3

Biblical retelling of James and John (Mark 10) for youngsters.


Today’s story is about two of Jesus’s twelve special friends called disciples These disciples were called James and John, but Jesus liked to call them the “Sons of Thunder.” James and John were fishermen; they worked with Simon-Peter. Jesus had walked along near their fishing boat one day and called them to follow him. They went from fishing all night and pulling in heavy nets with fish to fishing for people to be part of God’s kingdom, fishing for followers of Jesus.

From then on, James and John could always be found near Jesus. We do know that they weren’t always very intelligent, and sometimes they got a bit overexcited. One day, they were so irritated with a village who didn’t welcome them that they suggested calling down fire from Heaven to burn it up. Do you think Jesus agreed with their request? No. Jesus told them that he was there to save people, not destroy them. James and John may have had bad tempers, but Jesus still chose them to be part of his kingdom.

One day, James and John came to Jesus with another request. The brothers had worked out that one day Jesus would be king, and they wanted to sit at his right- and left-hand sides when he was on the throne. Jesus listened patiently. The only throne Jesus would have on earth was a wooden cross; Jesus knew this, but obviously James and John hadn’t worked that out yet. “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you go through the things I must go through?” James and John didn’t hesitate, “Yes, we can, we really can.” Jesus looked at his friends; he did not want them to suffer but he knew they would. “To sit at my right or left is not for me to decide,” Jesus said and then he walked away.

When the apostles heard about this conversation, they became angry with James and John. Jesus called everyone together and gave them some new instructions. “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. I did not come to be served, but to serve,” he said. That must have sounded crazy to the disciples, but slowly they came to understand. Through Jesus, they learnt a better sort of greatness, not one you take but one you give.

After Jesus had gone to Heaven, James and John helped start the church, a church of people who would serve. The disciples tried to serve everyone, and the church grew. James became the first apostle to join Jesus in Heaven. His boldness meant he didn’t deny what Jesus had taught him, even if it meant losing his life. His brother John lived for a long time. He wrote to churches, and some of his letters are in the Bible. Knowing Jesus changed John. No longer did he imagine burning villages; his letters are full of love and understanding. He became known as “The Apostle of Love.”
 

The Rich Man (Mark 10) | Story

This is a difficult passage in some ways. The young man’s failings are not clear-cut, he seems to genuinely want to do what is right, but money has become more important to him than his belief. It’s essential to stress that riches does not stop you from entering the Kingdom of God.

This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.

Main Passage :Mark 10:17-31

Biblical retelling of The Rich Man (Mark 10) for youngsters.

It was time for Jesus and his friends to leave. Everyone picked up their things, shook off any dust and placed them into bags if they could. But before they could move, a young man ran up to them. He knelt down in the grass by Jesus’s feet and begged to ask just one question.

“Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to live with God in heaven forever?”

Jesus looked down at the man. He looked like someone important. His clothes were very fine and his cloak looked warmer than any Jesus’s friends carried. He must really, really want to know the answer to this question if he would run so far and risk making his fine clothes stained.

“You know the commandments,” said Jesus.
“Do not kill; do not envy what is not yours; do not steal, do not lie; do not cheat; honor your parents.”

“Yes, yes,” interrupted the man, “I have kept those commandments since I was a child.”

“Then you are missing just one thing,” said Jesus sadly, for he could see the man’s heart.
“Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

The man looked around at Jesus’s followers; they travelled with so little. He stood slowly shaking his head. He had worked hard to gain his money, to sleep in comfortable beds and wear fine clothes. He wouldn’t give that up.

Some of Jesus’s followers had gathered to hear the man’s question, and they watched as he walked away.

“How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” sighed Jesus.

The disciples looked confused; so Jesus tried using a picture.

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

“Then who can be saved?” asked one of the disciples.

Jesus’s sad face disappeared and was replaced by a cheeky grin.

“With God all things are possible!” he laughed.

“We’ve given up everything to follow you Jesus,” came Peter’s voice.

“Yes, and I promise not one thing you have lost won’t be repaid 100 times over. But the first, they will come last, and the last will be first.”

The disciples had heard that last line before; with Jesus everything seemed upside-down. They picked up their things and left the rich man behind.

Jesus Knew (Mark 9) | Story

This may seem like a deep tenant of theology to teach kids and seem overly sombre for their innocence, but it’s so central it shouldn’t be skimmed. Jesus was more than powerful enough that he didn’t need to allow himself to be captured, powerful enough that he could have stopped the crucifixion at any point, he went willingly. He went because there was a bigger story happening. He loved his disciples enough to prepare them.

This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.

Main Passage : Mark 9:30-37

Biblical retelling of Jesus Knew he would die (Mark 9) for youngsters.

The crowd travelling with Jesus was getting near Galilee. Some of the disciples were looking forward to seeing their family.

“Do you want to stay at my house tonight, Jesus?” asked Andrew.

“We could find some space at our house too!” said John.

Jesus shook his head. “No, we won’t stay. I don’t want people to know we are here.”

Andrew and John looked disappointed. Jesus saw their faces and paused. “I have some important things to teach you,” he said. “I don’t want a crowd.”

They understood that. When people heard Jesus was near, the crowd gathered in minutes. People who were sick were pushed to the front to be healed, and kids ran up to see. Jesus had become a celebrity.
When they stopped, the disciples gathered round to hear what Jesus was going to teach them. Jesus breathed in a deep breath.

“The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the hands of men. He will be betrayed.”

The disciples shuffled uncomfortably. Jesus called himself “the son of man.” They knew some people hated Jesus, but who would betray him?

“They will kill him.”

Jesus paused. Some of the disciples looked shocked, some sad. Some seemed not to believe him. Jesus was the Messiah, the rescuer. How did him dying help his people? But Jesus wasn’t finished.

“And after he is killed, he will rise three days later.”

Nobody said anything. Did they hear him? Did they not have questions?

They did have questions, lots and lots of questions. They didn’t understand what Jesus had said. They whispered one to another all evening, but nobody questioned Jesus. They were afraid of what his words meant.

But Jesus was sure. Jesus knew the big plan of what would happen. Jesus knew that nothing could stop God’s new kingdom coming: not the religious leaders, not the weak disciples, not the armies and people in power. Nothing. Not even death.

David Danced (2 Samuel 6) | Story

If you had to sum up this story in non-religious terms, it would be a man went to collect something precious and did an embarrassing ‘dad dance’ all the way home. The story here doesn’t mention it, but they also handed out cake to everyone at the end! David, however, would point to this event as an outpouring of thanks and joy. If even the king can humble himself and look foolish, how much more should the people rejoice!

This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.

Main Passage : 2 Samuel 6

A Biblical retelling of David Dances 2 Samuel 6 for youngsters

There was something missing from David’s city, and today was the day he would go fetch it. At the top of the city, on a wide flat ground, David had given orders for a special tent to be put up, a tabernacle.

The tabernacle would be the new place for the ark of the covenant, a very special box which held the stones God had given Moses and some of the manna he had given his people to eat. Even though God is everywhere, the box was a symbol to show God was with his people. The Israelites had carried the ark through the desert and into God’s promised land, into the land where David now ruled as king. The ark had lived many places; at one time it had even been lost, but wherever the ark went it was powerful. When the ark was in the wrong place, bad things happened; when it was in the right place, great things happened. David wanted the ark in his city, in Jerusalem. He wanted God to be at the centre of the kingdom he ruled. One day, he planned to build a great temple for the ark, a home for God to live in.

David had tried moving the ark before, but he’d been too quick to do it his way and everything had gone wrong. This time he would do it God’s way, the way the scriptures told him the ark should be moved. David was so excited. He called the Levites who had been prepared to carry the ark. He called his whole house. He called everyone to come join the journey. When they reached the house of Obed-Edom where the ark was, the Levites picked up the ark, and the journey back to Jerusalem started with David leading the procession.

And what a procession it was: men and women and children, gladfully singing, making music, worshipping God! There at the front came David, not in his royal robes or on a huge war horse, but wearing a simple linen cover and dancing with joy. The rams horn blew, the people sung, and David danced. He danced even though he sometimes looked silly; he danced even when people pointed and whispered. Eventually, one of the women asked him why he would make himself look so silly, and David replied:

“I will dance before the Lord, and I will not care about honouring myself, for I dance with such joy for all the Lord has done for me and my people. I will happily humble myself even more before my Lord.” David understood right then that he wasn’t the important thing in that procession, but the ark, God with them.

Want to add an extra elements to this story?
Verse 19 tells us David “distributed a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake to each one in the entire Israelite community, both men and women. Then all the people went home.”
Raisin cake is straightforward to make, and my friend Annalisa made one up for me if anyone wants to add some food to their bible story — hit the picture to be linked to the recipe she used!

David’s City (2 Samuel 5) | Story

David’s story is truly a saga. That young teen or boy that was called in from tending sheep to be anointed by Israel’s holy prophet, is now a thirty-year-old man in his prime. Anointed now as King, David recognises the squabbling between the tribes and knows he must unite them. Dwelling within anyone would lead to issues, and so he seeks a central place, controlled by none and yet flanked by Israelite’s — the stronghold of the Jebusites is perfect.

This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.

Main Passage : 2 Samuel 5
Other passages : 1 Samuel 15 + 17.

A Biblical retelling of David's City (2 Samuel 5) for youngsters.

Saul had died. It was the time God had been preparing David for since Samuel had come to his house many years before. It was time for David to be King.

The leaders of the tribes of Israel met David at Hebron. They made speeches. They praised the things David did. They talked about how, even when Saul was alive, it was David that they followed. They knew the Lord had called David to be a shepherd to the Israelite people, to guide them and fight for them. Then they took oil, just like the oil that had once anointed David king-in-waiting, but this time the oil would anoint him KING!

David looked at his army, men from different tribes, men who wanted something to unite them. He would unite them today, but he needed a place too. Somewhere in the middle of all the tribes. Somewhere he could build a city rule from. He knew just the place.

David led his men, the smell of the oil still on his forehead, to the city of the Jebusites. Their city was strong. It was on a hill with a big wall all the way around. The wall was thick and strong, and many armies had failed to get through. To the north, the tribe of Benjamin lived and to the south, the tribe of Judah, but neither claimed this city for they could not take it. It was perfect for David’s capital, but the Jebusites didn’t think so.

“You can’t take our city!” they jeered as they saw David’s army coming. “This city is so strong that even if we only let the blind and lame fight they would still defeat you!” they laughed. But David had been laughed at before. David was the boy who faced Goliath, not by his strength but by God’s. He knew there was a way to defeat this city. Soon he discovered it. Under the city, there were tunnels that were used for water. If the water could get out, then David could get in! David returned to his generals to let them into the plan. “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must go through the water shaft to reach the lame and the blind who despise David.” He told them, a smile playing on his lips.

Once the army got inside the city, their feet wet and hands dirty from climbing, the victory was easy. David threw out the Jebusites and built himself a new palace there. He set apart a place for the Ark of God to live and would eventually make plans for a temple to be built. He renamed his part of the city “the city of David;” the rest of the city was called Jerusalem. David became the most beloved king the Israelites ever had.

David Anointed (1 Samuel 16) | Story

The introduction to John’s gospel can read a little abstract and symbolic for many. Who is this ‘Word’ that John is referring to? What knowledge is John building on, and why does he use this convoluted tone as an introduction to a book about a man who talked of sparrows, sheep, and stone? This retelling looks at the reasons why John started the book with these now famous lines

Main Passage : 1 Samuel 16

Biblical retelling of David Anointed (1 Samuel 16) for youngsters.

David lived in the town of Bethlehem with his seven older brothers. One evening, David’s father Jesse told the boys that a great man of God was coming to Bethlehem, the prophet Samuel. Everyone knew that Samuel had the job of choosing the king. He had chosen King Saul. But Saul had disobeyed God, and people thought Samuel was looking for a new king. Then, Jesse told them something even more amazing: Samuel had asked to come to their house. The brothers got super excited and started to talk about what they would do if they were king.

The oldest brother suddenly pulled out his sword, “I’ll be a strong king! Samuel will see that I have my sword ready.” A brother laughed and shouted, “You want to protect, not fight. I’ll take a shield!” By morning prayers the next day, all the brothers stood ready to greet Samuel with their chosen object. Jesse looked at his sons, “Tell me, why do you have all that stuff?”

Starting with the oldest brother, they each showed their father their choice.

“If Samuel sees me with this sword, he will know that I will fight for the people.”
“If Samuel sees me with this shield, he will know that I will protect the people.”
“If Samuel sees I have gold, he will know that I will provide for the people.”
“If Samuel sees how strong I am, he will know that I will rule the people.”
“If Samuel sees me sharing food, he will know that I will feed the people.”
“If Samuel sees me with scripture, he will know that I will pray for the people.”
“If I take nothing, then I shall act like a King; for a king does not give but receive.”

Right on the end of the line stood David. He was not dressed in his house robe but in his work clothes. In his hands was his little harp and his slingshot. When Jesse came to David to ask what he would take, the other brothers laughed. David smiled and said, “Today I take my sling and my harp and go to watch the sheep. I will play songs to the lambs and throw stones at the wolves and bears.” Then he opened the door and headed out. But it wasn’t long before somebody was sent running across the fields to bring him home.

When David got home, the prophet Samuel was waiting for him. “Your sons look like kings,” he said to Jesse, “but God has told me that he does not look at the appearance but the heart. This young boy David may not look like a king now, but God has told me to pour my oil on his head, for he has a good heart and will one day be a great king.’ Everyone was shocked! Seven strong, young men and Samuel chose their smaller, weaker, younger brother. The next day, David went back out to the sheep, but everyone could see God was with him. David did become a king, but that’s another story.

Wanting a King (1 Samuel 8) | Story

The need to be just like those around you is strong and even though the Israelite’s had a prophet leader they wanted a king. Poor Samuel needs reassuring by God as the request leaves him feeling outright rejected. God knows that creating a King of Israel is going to spell trouble, and he’s right, so he makes the pitfalls of having a monarch known and yet, the people are stubborn.

This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.

Main Passage : 1 Samuel 8
(does reference other passages)

Biblical retelling of Wanting a King (1 Samuel 8) for youngsters.

 

I wonder – have you ever felt a bit lost on what to do and wished somebody would come and give you some instructions? God’s people started like that in this story.

They saw other people who had kings, and all they had was a prophet called Samuel. Now, having a prophet was awesome. God told the prophet what to do, and the prophet told the people. But sometimes God didn’t seem to say anything, or sometimes the people wished they could hear God’s instructions themselves, and sometimes, sometimes it felt like nobody was leading them. Mostly they missed having a king when they had to fight. Samuel was really good at giving them advice about God, but he wouldn’t lead them into battle like a king would when people attacked.

They went to Samuel and asked if he could choose a king for them. Samuel thought it was a bad idea, a really bad idea.

Samuel thought they were saying he wasn’t enough, that he wasn’t good enough. So, he talked to God about it. God told Samuel that the people weren’t rejecting Samuel as a prophet but rejecting God as their king. Then Samuel went back to the people and told them what God had said.

“You don’t want a king!” said Samuel. “A king will take your sons for his army. He’ll take your daughters for his palace. He’ll take your grain and your wine for his household. Do you really, really want a king?”

But no matter what Samuel said, the people still asked for a king. So Samuel agreed. Who would you choose as a king? What would they be like?

God promised He would send a man to Samuel to be king. When Samuel saw the man God had chosen, all became clear. Saul looked like a king. Saul was big and strong and brave. Saul was a good fighter and good at giving instructions.

Samuel told Saul that he would be king and that God had chosen him. Some days later, all the people gathered and Saul was chosen. He put on his new robe and new crown, and everybody cheered. Saul gathered the army and went out to battle the bad guys, and Saul won the battle. God’s people were very happy.

They may have a new king, but they still had a prophet. Soon, the two would fall out as Saul started to listen less and less to God’s instructions. That kingly robe would be torn, and Saul would not get to choose who wore the crown next.

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