This message describes what it means that Jesus has authority over all things. While on Earth, Christ demonstrated the power to cast out demons, heal the sick and injured, control weather, and even raise people from the dead! He was and is stronger than anything else. As such, we can listen to Him and trust Him because we recognize His authority. Jesus has power and authority in our lives, if we allow Him to.
Law/Gospel Theme: Jesus did more than just preach a good message. When He taught, He did so with authority. His messages carried meaning because He was who He said He was (God!). In the Bible, Jesus proved His authority and strength. We can still rely on that today, trusting that He takes care of us and provides for us. Jesus is stronger and more reliable than anything we can imagine. In that we can take hope and comfort.
Optional Materials: Sources of information, such as newspapers, encyclopedias, magazines, letters, phones, Bible, etc.
Bible Passage: Mark 1:21-28
More Teaching Ideas
- Watch our video demonstration of this children’s sermon on YouTube
- Watch the demonstration of these craft ideas and Sunday School lesson on Mark 1:21-28
- Compare our preschool lesson on the Authority of Jesus
- Compare the lesson on this passage from rfour.org
Mark 1:21-28 Children’s Sermon: Jesus Has Authority
Greet students, carrying or browsing informational items of choice
Hello, children of God!
Who has power over you? Who gives you instructions or information? (Allow for responses.) Now, I look to a lot of various sources to get instruction… (Hold up items as you describe, depending on which ones you choose to use.) I might read about current events in a newspaper, to find out what’s going on around me. Or if I want to know about something that happened a long time ago, I could look in a history book or an encyclopedia. These were big thick books that gave people information before the internet came along… If I want to know how to do something, I could look in an instruction manual or a cookbook. I know that I can rely on sources like these because the people who wrote them have been given that ability. They might have degrees from school, or be experts on topics, or maybe they’ve been recommended by someone else. Now, I also might have to take directions from other people in my life. My parents, my teachers, my pastor might all have rules and instructions that they ask me to follow. I know that they have the power to ask or tell me things to do, because their authority comes from God Himself.
Do you know what it means to have authority? Authority means someone or something is in charge. It means that for some reason, they have the ability to tell you what to do. For instance, the police have authority to make sure we obey the laws. A teacher has authority to give you a grade, and to communicate the information you need to know in school. Someone who writes an important book or article might have authority to tell you information because they’ve studied and know a lot about a topic.
Well, what about Jesus? How can we know that He has authority, and where does His authority come from? In the Gospel lesson today, people noticed the power of Christ and how He taught with authority. He wasn’t just saying fancy words, but seemed to really know what He was talking about, and the people were impressed. But they became even more impressed when Jesus put action behind His words. There was a man that had an unclean spirit inside him. That means there was some sort of evil that he had let in him, maybe even a demon. Well, even that evil demon recognized Jesus, because it cried out asking what He was going to do. Jesus told the spirit to be quiet, and made it come right out of the man, restoring him to health and sanity. The people who saw the event take place were amazed. They realized that Jesus did have true authority. He taught like He knew what He was saying, because He really did know what He was saying. He had control even over the powers of evil and darkness. He had the strength to control and teach anyone and anything…not everyone who saw Jesus believed this. But those who recognized His authority also recognized His love, and saw that He had authority from God.
And what do we take from this? Well, we know that Jesus still does have strength and authority. His words are true and reliable, more so than anything else we could read or hear or imagine. His authority comes from the Lord. And where do we get His words? From the Bible, of course! (Hold up Bible.) This is our source of information, and we know it is the true word of God. We know that Jesus has power, and that we can trust what He says. We can pray to Him, knowing He cares for us and loves us and hears us. When we rely upon Him, we can have confidence He will provide. We can listen to Him and know that He’s in control!
Children’s Prayer Moment
(Have kids repeat each line, if desired)
Dear God,
We know that You have all power and authority
You are stronger than anything we can imagine
Help us to trust in You
And make you authority in our lives
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
Thank you for Jesus
In His name, Amen!
Bible Verses/story to Reference:
And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. –Mark 1:21-28
You really have prepared a ton of solid materials. God bless you! Very useful.
Thank toy
Dwayne
Thank you so much for sharing your resources freely.
We often use your materials as we are a poor church, in financial terms, and your stuff is high quality and really well thought through.
This week we have the Mark 1:21-28 gospel reading and it’s hard to find a way through for children, but you’ve nailed it!
Children’s Worship Team at St Peter in Eastgate, Lincoln UK.