CHILDREN
Aim: to explore what God wants each of us to do to change the world where we are; to be God’s agents of
transformation
Objectives:
zz to think about how God can use each of us to be an agent of transformation
zz to think about what role we play in God’s transformation of his world
Bible Reading: Mark 2:1-12 (Also Matthew 9:1-8; Luke 5:17-26)
Icebreaker Ideas
Option 1
Place the children in pairs and ask them to space themselves out. Explain that you are going to give them a
series of instructions to carry out with their friend, but whenever you call out ‘Swap a friend!’ they must find a
new partner and carry out the instructions with that partner.
Instructions might include the following:
zz Stand back to back
zz Link arms
zz Make your partner laugh
zz One person does 10 star jumps while the other person counts
Teaching Point: the paralysed man had good friends who carried him to see Jesus.
(Parkinson, R., 2012 Fill the Gap p154)
Option 2
Give each child a piece of paper. Explain that you are going to ask them to move around the room until you say
‘STOP!’ They must then put their paper on the floor and stand on it. No part of their foot can be touching the
floor, only the paper. (They can tiptoe or balance on one leg.)
When you say ‘PICK UP YOUR MAT!’ they pick up their paper, fold it in half and continue to move around the
room. When you say ‘STOP!’ again, they will stand on that smaller piece of paper.
The game continues with the children folding their ‘mat’ smaller and smaller until a ‘champion mat-balancer’
is found. All the children continue the game, even if they don’t manage to balance on a particular size of mat.
Sometimes they improve as they see how other children carry out their balances.
Teaching Point: Jesus performed a great miracle when he healed the man and told him, ‘Pick up your mat!’ It
seemed impossible, but God can do anything.
(Parkinson, R., 2012 Fill the Gap p155)
Bible Passage
Option 1 – Tell the story by acting it out
Jesus was in a house and it was very, very crowded (all the children crowd together).
Friends carried their friend who could not walk. But they could not get close to Jesus (give four children a small
towel with a doll on and ask them to walk around carrying it).
The friends climbed the stairs to the roof (act out climbing stairs).
They tied a rope to their friend’s bed (tie string to the corners of the small towel)…
…and they lowered the bed through the roof (lower the towel and doll on to the floor).
Now their friend could see Jesus (put your hand on your forehead as if looking out).
The friend on his mat could not walk (sit on the floor).
But Jesus healed the man, so that he could walk (get up, pick up towel).
And the man was so happy because his friends had brought him to Jesus.
(adapted from www.teresaklassen.wordpress.com)
Option 2 – read the story from The Big Bible Storybook (Scripture Union) page 148
Option 3 – Watch the story on www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LqHYkGU4Zg (or www.max7.org/en/resource/
crippledman, ‘Jesus heals the paralytic’)
Teaching
Ask the congregation to suggest words that describe the people who carried the man to see Jesus. Write up the
words for everyone to see. (Suggestions may include perseverance, ingenuity, compassion, concern, dedication,
love, commitment.)
The man’s life was changed for ever because his friends saw a need and responded to it. The man was
physically healed – he got up and walked out in full view of everyone carrying his mat. The man was spiritually
healed – Jesus said to him, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’
The man’s friends could have left him lying on the mat and done nothing to help. But instead they were used to
change his life through the power of Jesus. They had a part to play in bringing the man to Jesus.
Today we all have a part to play in bringing people to Jesus and changing the world for Jesus. We all have a role
to play in seeing individuals’ lives transformed and our communities transformed.
To be an effective ‘agent of transformation’ means to no longer see the world from an earthly perspective but to
see people through the eyes of God and to act according to what we see. We are part of the solution, being God’s
hands, feet and heart. You can be the change you want to see, with God’s help and direction.
Are you passionate about seeing the transforming mission of Jesus in people’s lives and communities?
What are you being called to do or be this day?
If the man’s friends had done nothing, he would not have been healed. What are you being called to this day that
no one else can fulfil?
Response
Challenge the congregation to think about what God is calling them to. Put the following sentence on the screen
and ask them to consider their response:
I will transform my world by….
You may wish to play some suitable background music at this point. (A suggestion is ‘If we are the body’ by
Casting Crowns – www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_7j1SMuTN0)
Prayer
Lord, take my hands, and wipe them clean of every selfish action.
Lord, take my feet, and change the paths of self-interest they love to walk.
Lord, take my lips, and remove every hurtful word that brings division wherever it is heard.
Lord, take my ears, that I may no longer listen to gossip but only what is pleasing to you.
Lord, take my eyes, that I might see the suffering of my neighbour and not simply see the things that affect me.
Lord, take my mind, and transform my way of thinking, that your will and the needs of others may take
precedence over my own.
Lord, take my heart, the centre of my being, and reign in my place as you were always meant to do.
Amen
(Clowes, D., 2010, 500 More Prayers for All Occasions p108)
Worship Songs
‘Shine’ by Nick Jackson (Inside Out CD, Powerpack Ministries OR see www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2xcw8Zcbo)
‘God can do anything’ by Doug Horley (CD Chuffed!, or see www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nuzbWEiaeY (video
and words)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwYJ-HHa3A0 (information video showing the actions)
NSASB 34 ‘I believe that God the Father… I believe in transformation’
NSASB 321 ‘I dare to live the life of faith… I dare to be different’
NSASB 326 ‘Thou Christ of burning, cleansing flame’
NSASB 355 ‘Beautiful Lord, wonderful Saviour’
NSASB 378 ‘Lord, I come before your throne of grace’
NSASB 386 ‘Open our eyes, Lord’
NSASB 392 ‘Teach me to dance’
Activities for Children
Option 1
Challenge the children to create a craft in which they can show the paralysed man being lowered down to Jesus
and then healed.
Use a shoe box tipped on its side to create the house; wool and fabric to create the mat and cut-out people to
represent the man, his friends and Jesus.
Ask the children to re-tell the story using their craft.
Option 2
Make a simple friendship bracelet from pieces of wool or material plaited together. (Alternatively, Baker Ross sell
simple friendship bracelets at www.bakerross.co.uk/search/go?w=friendship%20bracelets)
Ask the children to show what they have made. Remind everyone that the friends in the story were good friends
who carried the man to Jesus. Encourage the children to wear the bracelet and when they see it to remember to
be a good friend who wants to help.