Luke 4:22-30, New International Reader's Version

²²Everyone said good things about him. They were amazed at the gracious words they heard from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.

²³Jesus said, “Here is a saying you will certainly apply to me. ‘Doctor, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me this. ‘Do the things here in your hometown that we heard you did in Capernaum.’”

²⁴“What I’m about to tell you is true,” he continued. “A prophet is not accepted in his hometown. ²⁵I tell you for sure that there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah. And there had been no rain for three and a half years. There wasn’t enough food to eat anywhere in the land. ²⁶But Elijah was not sent to any of those widows. Instead, he was sent to a widow in Zarephath near Sidon. ²⁷And there were many in Israel who had skin diseases in the days of Elisha the prophet. But not one of them was healed except Naaman the Syrian.”

²⁸All the people in the synagogue were very angry when they heard that. ²⁹They got up and ran Jesus out of town. They took him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They planned to throw him off the cliff. ³⁰But Jesus walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

Objects:

Bible, red construction paper, scissors, and other materials to make construction paper heart cutouts. Before the message, fold the sheet of red construction paper in half horizontally. On the sheet of folded paper, draw half of a heart shape so that when the sheet is opened, there is a whole heart. Since it is so close to Valentine’s Day, try to find small, heart-shaped erasers or candies to give each child. If you choose candies, pay attention to food allergies.

Message:

I am so glad to see you this morning. In today’s Bible story, Jesus had been preaching to the people throughout the land. He taught people how much God loved them. (Hold up the sheet of construction paper.) The people who heard Jesus liked him and said good things about him. (Begin to cut the line, then unfold the paper to show the children the heart shape.)

Then Jesus went back to Nazareth, his hometown, where he had grown up. He went to the church and talked to the people there about God. But in his hometown, the people didn’t like what he said. (Hold up the heart.) These were people who had known Jesus since he was a child, but it seemed that they didn’t like Jesus at all. (Rip the heart in two.) Do you feel that they treated Jesus unfairly? (Allow children to answer.)

If Jesus came to our town today, how would you feel? What would you say to Jesus when you saw him? Would any of you like to share what you would say to Jesus? (Allow children to provide answers.) How would you treat Jesus if he walked into our church right now? (Allow children to answer.)

(Read from your Bible.) I would like to read to you a passage of scripture that tells us how we should treat Jesus. Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIRV) says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your strength.” (Hand out the hearts. If you use candy, don’t let the children eat yet.) What does it mean to love Jesus with all your heart? (Allow children to answer.) Those are all excellent answers. When you love someone with all your heart, you love them a whole bunch – you love them more than anyone!

What do you think it means to love Jesus with all your soul? (Allow children to answer.) Again, excellent answers. To love someone with all your soul means that all of you loves Jesus. You love Jesus with your heart, and your brain, and all your feelings.

Let’s try this: I will give you one word that may describe how it makes you feel to love Jesus. When you agree with that word, hold up your heart to show that is how you feel. Let’s try it.

Does your love for Jesus make you feel “joy”? (Allow children to respond.)

Does your love for Jesus make you feel “thankful”? (Allow children to respond.)

Does your love for Jesus make you feel “hopeful”? (Allow children to respond.)

I know that it is more than one word, but does your love for Jesus make you feel “love for others”? (Allow children to respond.)

This is an easy one. Does your love for Jesus make you feel “loved”? (Allow children to respond.)

The verse from Deuteronomy says we should love Jesus with all our strength. What do you think that means? (Allow children to answer.) Loving Jesus with all our strength means that we should try to not to let anything get in the way of loving him. I wonder what kind of things might get in the way of loving Jesus in your life. (Allow children to answer.) We need to remember to put Jesus in first place in our lives. When we love him with all our strength, we do that.

As we pray, let’s hold our hearts close to our own to show that we won’t let anything come between us and the love that Jesus has for us. This week, remember our verse and try to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength in everything you do. Then others will know just how much you do love Jesus.

Prayer:

God of love, thank you for loving each of us as you love all of us. Help us to love you with all our hearts, and all our souls, and all our strength. We want to show others how much you love them through how we treat them. We love you! Amen.

Between the Sundays: Family Conversation Starters

We have added conversation starters to each children’s message series to help spark conversations within families during the week. We encourage families to use these questions to guide them through conversations and subject matter discussed during the worship service, including the children’s messages on Sundays. These conversations will reinforce learning and nurture faith formation for the entire family.

If you were in the crowd that day in Nazareth, how you would have felt about what Jesus said?
The crowd listening to Jesus would have known him from childhood. As a family, talk about why the people from his hometown, who had known him since he was a child, would have had a harder time believing some of the things that were being said about Jesus (such as Jesus being the son of God).
Together as a family, watch the YouTube video from Slugs and Bugs, Deuteronomy 6:5. Discuss as a family how the words from scripture make you feel.
Place the heart that you received Sunday in worship by your bed, or make a new one out of construction paper, and place it by your bed. Let this be a reminder of Deuteronomy 6:5 as you say your evening prayers. Ask yourself, “On this day, how did I love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, and strength? Did others see Jesus through my actions today? How can I show others that I love the Lord my God tomorrow?”