Friday, June 12, 2009
what is sin to a 9 year old boy?
Updated: the finished product ended up here.
I’m working on Sunday’s sermon. As part of the morning service, we welcome one of our community ministries, to 8-12 year old community kids. Since we’re working our way through the early chapters of the gospel of Mark, the story of Jesus forgiving and healing the paralyzed man stands out as quite appropriate.
I mean, this guy had good mates, who stuck with him even when he got sick. This guy also had problem solving mates, willing to whip the lid of a roof. And I’ve started writing a story. I’ve not done storytelling as a sermon for a while. And it seems a good way to access this Bible text through the eyes of a 9 year old.
Currently I’ve got Bill and Ben and their goat called raisins. How they argue, as boys do, and fight as boys do, about the boring old synagogue and what God actualy, really looks like. How Ben got sick and Bill’s a good mate who sticks beside in. Until the day of the big adventure, when Bill and Ben suddenly realise they’ve suddenly discovered what God actually does look like – straw in hair and mud in mouth.
What I need to know is this – given Mark 2:5, when Jesus says “Son, your sins are forgiven” – what is sin to a 9 year old boy?
)
Haven’t got an answer to your question – but at a guess, it would have something to do with his sister.
Comment by KSW — June 12, 2009 @ 5:23 pm
1. That thing you did that don’t want your teacher to tell your parents about
2. pretending you didn’t hear, because you didn’t want to do what was asked
3. understanding what your parents meant, but then ignoring them.
4. The things we do, and we really know why we did it, but we wished we hadn’t.
Comment by Jonathan — June 13, 2009 @ 7:55 am
– the things that you do that you know you shouldn’t
– the rules that you break
– the times that you have done something that left you with that awful feeling in your stomach such as calling someone a name, damaging the old lady’s fence, injuring someone or taking something that didn’t belong to you.
My 9 yera old helped me with these.
Comment by Karen — June 13, 2009 @ 2:50 pm
these are all really helpful. thanks so much. Karen, happy to send your 9 year old the finished story if wanted – Bill and Ben and their goat called raisins meet God!
Comment by steve — June 13, 2009 @ 3:38 pm