Mark 13:1-8, NIRV

13Jesus was leaving the temple. One of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What huge stones! What wonderful buildings!”

²“Do you see these huge buildings?” Jesus asked. “Not one stone here will be left on top of another. Every stone will be thrown down.”

³Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, across from the temple. Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him a question in private. ⁴“Tell us,” they said. “When will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to come true?”

⁵Jesus said to them, “Keep watch! Be careful that no one fools you. ⁶Many will come in my name. They will claim, ‘I am he.’ They will fool many people. ⁷You will hear about wars. You will also hear people talking about future wars. Don’t be alarmed. These things must happen. But the end still isn’t here. ⁸Nation will fight against nation. Kingdom will fight against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many places. People will go hungry. All these things are the beginning of birth pains.”

Worship word of the day: “Hope”

Message

Last week, we learned through a worship word of the day. Do any of you remember what the word was? (Allow children to respond.) That’s right; the word was “generous.” Do any of you remember what it means? (Allow children to answer.) I wonder if any of you acted generously this week? Did any of you act the one way you thought of last week? What did you see when you acted that way? (Allow a child or two to share.) Today, we will have another word to invite us to discover how Jesus wants us to live a life that matters. I have a sign with today’s word printed on it. The definition of the word is on the back. Would one of you like to read the definition? (Hold up the sign and have a child read this printed page of the definition. Today’s worship word of the day is “hope.” Hope means to desire something and expect that it will happen. “Hope.”) Throughout the next few moments, listen and see if you hear the definition to the word hope described.

Today’s scripture passage from Mark’s Gospel finds the disciples admiring the large buildings and structures in the city. Have you ever seen a very tall building? Let’s pretend we’re looking at one now. Everyone look way up in the sky! Look how tall that building is! (Pantomime straining your neck to show how high you are looking.) The disciples were surprised with Jesus’ comments during their conversation. Jesus talked about how earthly things, such as buildings would someday be destroyed. Jesus reminds his followers that if we follow him, we must put our hope in looking forward to God’s kingdom. Just like we say those words in what we call the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Sometimes in life, we get caught up in the moment. We talk about how big a building is, or how shiny and new something is. We certainly need to appreciate every moment of life, but we can’t lose hope in something so much greater – God’s kingdom is coming!

Jesus’ response to his followers isn’t meant to scare them, but to make God’s plan for their lives a little clearer. Does it sound scary to you? (Allow children to respond.) I think that Jesus’ words may have sounded scary to the disciples as well. Jesus was showing them that their hopes in those sorts of things will someday crumble and be temporary. What Jesus wants us to learn is that we should put our trust and hope in him, who is eternal and brings everlasting life. I wonder what eternal life means to you. (Allow children to answer.) Jesus reminds us to do the same thing. The life that matters is a life that holds on to hope that indeed God has the whole world in God’s hands.

That reminds me of a song. Will you all join with me? (Sing “He’s Got the Whole Word in His Hands.” Add the name of your church in one of the verse.)

He's got the whole world
In His hands
He's got the whole world
In His hands
He's got the whole world
In His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands

He's got the little bitty babies
In His hands
He's got the little bitty babies
In His hands
He's got the little bitty babies
In His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands

He's got the mommies and the daddies
In his hands
He's got the mommies and the daddies
In his hands
He's got the mommies and the daddies
In his hands
He's got the whole world in His hands

He's got the brothers and the sisters
In His hands
He's got the brothers and the sisters
In His hands
He's got the brothers and the sisters
In His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands

He's got [insert church's name]
In His hands
He's got [insert church's name]
In His hands
He's got [insert church's name]
In His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands.

Jesus reminds us that a life that matters is a life that puts all hope and trust in God!

Prayer: Today let’s say the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray that reminds us of God’s kingdom coming to earth and the hope that we have in that day.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and
the glory, forever. Amen.