Children’s Message: Does the Day Matter?Jesus Changes the Rules 

Main Objective: Sometimes we get distracted and focused on the wrong things. In the life of Christ, there were many times when Jesus clashed with the church. This story highlights one of them, with the church leaders placing the emphasis on the wrong things and criticizing Jesus for doing something wonderful. The goal of this message is to communicate to kids that we want to love and serve God first and foremost. 

Law/Gospel Theme: The church leaders who dealt with Jesus completely missed the Gospel, because they completely missed Christ! They were so focused on the letter of the law that they missed the Messiah. The law had particular rules about days and ways of doing things. Jesus came not to abolish that law, but to fulfill it. His life changed and replaced the old rules with a beautiful new thing. 

Optional Materials:  Seasonal items: Calendar, holiday items, etc. 

Bible Passage: Luke 13:10-17

Bonus Ideas: Some more inspiration for your teaching

• video teaching example of this message or browse all object lessons
• activity ideas for this passage from Sermons 4 Kids
• Jesus Healing on the Sabbath

Note: All elements are open to adjustment. Cater to the needs and ages of your group.

Children’s Message / Object Lesson

(Luke 13:10-17) Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

Greet students, and discuss some seasonal frustrations…

Hello again! You know, I have lately seen something that frustrates me…the stores are full of Halloween supplies! Can you believe that? (pull out a pumpkin or other seasonal decoration)

Look at this? It is still August! We’re just barely starting school! The weather is still hot! It’s not time to think about all of this. You know, I’ve even seen pumpkin spice in some stores! Next they’ll be selling Christmas ornaments, for crying out loud! This is absurd! (Hold up calendar)

See? NOT time for those seasonal things. Oh, but…I will say one thing I approve of: CANDY CORN (Hold up bag of fall themed candy corn).

This is okay. This we can have around, even in August. Why, you might ask? Well….I mean, I like candy corn. So…that I approve of. 

Does this seem strange? Probably. And it probably seems a little like a contradiction. Why would I say one thing is not okay, but another thing just like it is? Well, in the Gospel story today, Jesus dealt with some people who were struggling with rules and regulations, and were making some strange contradictory statements.

You see, Jesus went to the Temple, the church, and he healed someone. There was a woman who was crippled; she couldn’t walk and had been that way for a long time. Jesus touched her and immediately made her better.

What an amazing thing! But the church leaders were not so impressed. In fact, they got mad at Jesus! They were upset because He did something on the Sabbath day. You see, back then there were a lot of very specific rules for the Sabbath. These days we go to church on Sundays, and it should be a special day set aside for God. But back in Bible times there were many things that told people what they could and could not do on the Sabbath.

They did not want any sort of work done, and they told Jesus He had done work because someone was healed. Jesus pointed out that they would have allowed a donkey to be untied if it was needed, but they didn’t want to let someone out from the bondage of pain and suffering! 

The problem was that these church leaders completely missed who Jesus was and the important nature of what He was doing. They were distracted and focused on all the wrong things. They were concerned with how they would look, or with following just the right rules or doing the right thing. They wanted the laws followed just right…and they didn’t see Jesus as the Savior, the One they said they were waiting for!

This might seem silly. But sometimes we get distracted, too. We let our minds and hearts wander and we worry about the wrong things. It’s important for us to keep our eyes on Jesus and recognize who He is. It is important to follow what the Bible tells us, or to take a special day on the Sabbath. But we can get so caught up in those things that we forget to look at God first and foremost.

When we find ourselves too caught up in details, we need to come back to humbly fixing our eyes on the Savior. It’s all about Jesus. He does, has done, and will do amazing things for us. Let’s not get so caught up in details that we forget that our faith is all about someone, not some things. Can you pray with me to thank God for that? 

Children’s Prayer Moment

(Have kids repeat each line, if desired)

Dear God,
Thank you for all your amazing miracles
You are always present in our lives
Help us to remember that
To focus on the right things
And to love and serve you and your people
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
Thank you for Jesus
In His name, Amen!

Luke 13:10-17 NIV

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, ¹¹ and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. ¹² When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” ¹³ Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. ¹⁴ Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” ¹⁵ The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? ¹⁶ Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” ¹⁷ When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.  Luke 13:10-17