Taking the Yoke

Matthew 11:28, NIRV

2 “Come to me, all you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest.

New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Supplies

• Camping objects – box of Band-Aids®, sleeping bag
• Bible

Message

Have you ever been sick? What was that like? (Choose a couple of children to share a story of when they were ill.) It’s not very fun when you’re sick, is it? When you are sick, who takes care of you? What do they do to care for you? (Allow children to respond.)

Today, our Bible passage shares the story about Jesus and how he healed lots of sick people. He made them all well again. Sometimes when we go to the doctor, the doctor tells us to get plenty of rest to make us feel better. Usually, a parent or another adult who cares about us will take care of us when we are sick. It’s nice to have someone care about and take care of you, isn’t it? (Allow children to respond.) In the passage from the Bible, Jesus made sick people well, but he can do much more than that! Sometimes, we are hurt on the inside, even if no one can see the hurt. Sometimes people are sad or lonely or upset. And Jesus can take care of those kinds of hurt too!

(Read from your Bible Matthew 11:28 and let the children see you read the verse.) Listen to what Jesus says in the Bible: “Come to me, all you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest.” Jesus can heal all our problems – both inside hurts and outside hurts.

Can one of you tell me an inside hurt that you have right now? Maybe you’re sad because a neighborhood friend moved away, or your pet is sick, or even died. Don’t say anything out loud, but just think of your problem. I have a Band-Aid® to remind you that Jesus can heal all your hurts. (Hand a Band-Aid® to each child.)

Today’s verse also tells us that Jesus will give us rest. I want each of you to lie down and pretend you are resting on a camping trip. As we are lying down, together we will pray that Jesus will help us with those hurts that we thought of. (Make sure children are lying down appropriately and not touching another child.)

Will you repeat after me our poem that we are beginning each day with this summer?

Good morning, Sun!
I can feel the warmth of your rays.
As this new day begins, I will shout God’s praise.
Use me today to share God’s story,
as I celebrate the morning sun and all its glory.
Amen