Ask the Children "who and what is the greatest?"

9/14/2015

Read this week's text Mark 9:30-37 here.

This coming Sunday is our version of "Rally Day" - the start of the program year at our church. We call it "Expo" Sunday and we highlight all the different ministry teams that contribute to the worship and work of our congregation.

With the start of the program year, I'm drawn to the conversation the disciples were having about "who is the greatest" which I think was more a conversation about "who is going to take over when Jesus dies?" After all, that's what Jesus was trying to explain to them. And although the text says they "didn't understand," it sure seems like they were trying or at least creating a contingency plan.

What are we going to do when what we are doing falls apart?

Along with figuring out who is going to be in charge, were the disciples also working on their business plan? Were they figuring out their organizational chart? If Pete is CEO, then who will be CFO. And we need someone to cover HR. Do we need a lawyer on retainer? Who will cover the day to day needs, like what we eat and where we will sleep?

How many decisions had Jesus made for them? How reliant were they on Jesus for their mission? Did they know where they were headed next? Had they ever created their plans together - as a team?

Now the rub for me this Sunday - or the challenge I should say - is that I'm thinking that my sermon is going to be a discussion with the children. So, how do I ask the question of "who is the greatest" to the children of our church? How do I have a discussion about planning the work and worship of our mission with the youngest among us?

Here's what I'd like to know from a child's or youth's perspective: