Hebrews 11:29-12:2, New International Reader’s Version

29 The people of Israel had faith. So they passed through the Red Sea. They went through it as if it were dry land. The Egyptians tried to do it also. But they drowned.

30 Israel’s army had faith. So the walls of Jericho fell down. It happened after they had marched around the city for seven days.

31 Rahab, the prostitute, had faith. So she welcomed the spies. That’s why she wasn’t killed with those who didn’t obey God.

32 What more can I say? I don’t have time to tell about all the others. I don’t have time to talk about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah. I don’t have time to tell about David and Samuel and the prophets. 33 Because of their faith they took over kingdoms. They ruled fairly. They received the blessings God had promised. They shut the mouths of lions. 34 They put out great fires. They escaped being killed by swords. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became powerful in battle. They beat back armies from other countries. 35 Women received back their dead. The dead were raised to life again. There were others who were made to suffer greatly. But they refused to be set free. They did this so that after death they would be raised to an even better life. 36 Some were made fun of and even whipped. Some were held by chains. Some were put in prison. 37 Some were killed with stones. Some were sawed in two. Some were killed by swords. They went around wearing the skins of sheep and goats. They were poor. They were attacked. They were treated badly. 38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains. They lived in caves. They lived in holes in the ground.

39 All these people were praised because they had faith. But none of them received what God had promised. 40 That’s because God had planned something better for us. So they would only be made perfect together with us.

12 A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us. 2 Let us keep looking to Jesus. He is the one who started this journey of faith. And he is the one who completes the journey of faith. He paid no attention to the shame of the cross. He suffered there because of the joy he was looking forward to. Then he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Objects:

Photo of a tightrope walker, photo of Jesus, piece of removable painter’s tape (to serve as a tightrope)

Message:

Do you know what it means to be faithful? (Allow children to respond.) To be faithful to a friend or to God means to be loyal and true. What does being loyal and true mean? Can you give an example of being loyal? (Allow children to offer examples.) Those are excellent examples. Being loyal means being a good friend even if things are difficult. Being loyal is being dependable, keeping your promises and telling the truth, and not talking badly about someone. Being loyal is being a true and faithful friend. Are you a loyal friend? Being loyal means that the person you are faithful to is at the top of your list. If you are a faithful friend, you will not say terrible things about your friends behind their backs. If you are a faithful son or daughter, you will always listen to what your parents tell you.

In the Bible, the people of Israel had faith. So, they passed through the Red Sea and followed Moses through it as if it were dry land. The Egyptians tried to do it also. But because they were not faithful to God, they drowned.
Israel’s army had faith. So, the walls of Jericho fell down after they had marched around the city for seven days.
You have heard the stories of David and Samuel and the prophets, like Daniel. Because of their faith, they ruled over kingdoms. They ruled fairly. They received the blessings God promised. They defeated giants. They shut the mouths of lions.

Talk about being faithful to God! Those are just some examples found in today’s scripture. The Bible is filled with people who put their faith in God, and God never failed them.

The writer of this passage says to keep looking to Jesus. Jesus started this journey of faith, and he completes the journey of faith. Have you ever seen a tightrope walker? When you watch a tightrope walker cross a thin rope, that person is concerned with focus and balance. The tightrope walker looks ahead, not moving their head much at all because that movement might throw off balance and make them fall. It’s the same way with following Jesus. Watch. I will demonstrate. Imagine that I am a tightrope walker. I will place this piece of tape on the ground to be my rope. (Place the tape in a straight line.) Now, imagine that I am one hundred feet above the ground. All my concentration is on my balance. I don’t look down. I don’t turn my head too quickly or I might lose my balance. I focus straight in front of me at the end of the rope. (While describing this, mimic being the tightrope walker.) What would happen if I started to move my head around and lose focus? (Allow children to answer.) That’s right. I would fall off the tape.

Now, what if I put a picture of Jesus at the end of the tightrope? (Have an adult volunteer hold a picture of Jesus.) Look where my focus is. It’s on Jesus. But when I take my eyes off Jesus, I get distracted and lose my balance. Today’s scripture passage reminds us to throw off everything that stands in our way of following Jesus. Those are the distractions in life that cause us to lose our balance, fall, or fail. But the Bible says to keep looking to Jesus. He is the one who started this journey of faith. And he is the one who completes the journey of faith. If I keep my focus on Jesus, he will take care of me. And he will do the same for you.

If you are faithful to Jesus, you’ll put your faith at the top of your list. Following Jesus and being faithful to God becomes first place in your life. When you make God first, you will never love anyone or anything more than you love God. Just like those people from the Bible we mentioned earlier, you will never worship anyone or anything other than God. God is the best thing in your life, and you’re faithful to God!

As we leave this morning, I want each of you to walk the tightrope. I will hold the picture of Jesus, and you concentrate on looking him in the eyes. Don’t take your focus off him, now or ever.

Prayer:

Dear God, please give me faith as strong as those who ruled kingdoms, defeated giants, and even shut the mouths of lions. Help me learn from them what it means to trust you with my life. Don’t ever let me take my focus off you. Amen.

(As the children exit, hold the picture of Jesus and have each walk the “tightrope.” Suggest playing the song, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” [ United Methodist Hymnal 349], as the children walk and focus on Jesus.)

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.

Place a piece of painter’s tape on the floor somewhere in your house where there is a lot of foot traffic. Invite every family member to take a moment to walk the “tightrope” while praying to Jesus. At the end of the week, discuss how that made you feel. Did you feel closer to God after doing this “prayer walk”?

Each night, have the family sit silently and reflect on the day while listening to the song “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” Here is a couple of versions: Alan Jackson, Hillsong Worship, or another version your family might enjoy. Play a different version each night. Once the song is finished, discuss how you kept your focus on Jesus during that day. Give examples of when you placed your faith first in your life.

Devise a family definition of “faithful.” What does it mean to be a faithful follower? How have you lived faithfulness this week?

Likewise, find a family definition for the words “loyal” and “trust.” How can your family show others in your neighborhood, school, and church that you are faithful, loyal, and trustworthy? What actions must you take to show others that God and your faith are the most important parts of your life?

The people mentioned in this passage of scripture had tremendous faith, and they passed that faithfulness on to others in their lives. Discuss as a family how you can pass your faith on to other people. An excellent starting point is to discuss the statement, “People care more about what you do than what you say.” Do you agree with this statement? If so, what can you do to show others that God is first in your life? Create a plan to act and to show others that your faith is a verb. There is an action to be taken. Find ways to model and to “do” faith (service to others) in your community. Then, act.