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Mark 6

BIBLE EXPLORE / NEW TESTAMENT / MARK

Book of Mark: Chapter 6


A prophet without honour, Jesus sends out the disciples (Mark 6:1-13)

Today's story looks at 'travelling lightly'
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Talks and Focus

  • There is a good all age talk on the Faith Formation Journeys website, using a suitcase illustration to talk about what we need to take on our journey with Jesus. ​
  • Jesus sends us out talk (Sunday Children's Focus)
  • Children's Talk (Sermons4Kids)
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School holiday packs

Our friends at the Salvation Army created these fun 'God is with me' printable holiday packs a few years ago, to help churches who were taking it a bit slower over the school holidays. You can view and download them here
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Intergenerational worship

Have you ever been asked to do a job or a task that you thought was too difficult? Or maybe you have been asked to do something that you didn’t feel qualified to do? In this resource from Intergen Australia, written and compiled by Katherine Ruhle, the lectionary readings share examples of how God helped people in the Bible to overcome the impossible. View it here
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Gospel Conversations

Who is Jesus? The key question of Mark's gospel continues to challenge us. Who do we say Jesus is? Can we see through the familiarity that blinded the "locals" to the mystery and wonder beyond? Gillian Townsley, Damon Plimmer, and John Goodwin make up the discussion panel with Michael this week.
Gospel Conversations 2021: with David Tombs (University of Otago), Bishop Kelvin, Trish Franklin and Michael Godfrey engage in a lively and varied discussion of Mark 6:1-13. This conversation is crammed with insights into the incarnation, mission, and finding God in the ordinary people and things of our lives.

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 The Death of John the Baptist (Mark 6:14-29)

This week's RCL gospel reading is a difficult one - the beheading of John the Baptist. We wouldn't necessarily advocate for this story to be told in children's ministry programmes or in an intergenerational context, but adults may like to chew this passage over in a sermon. However, a story like this reminds us that a sermon can never 'only be for adults' - there are often young ears in the room, even if you have a full children's programme. Please be sensitive to this, when preparing any material for main church services!

In this passage, there are themes of prophecy, power, and truth that connect this passage to the Amos reading. For more information, have a read of the Church of Scotland's resources for today

Gospel Conversations

+Steve, Gillian and Alec tackle a rather difficult gospel passage together. What do we do with the story of John the Baptist being beheaded? Where is the good news in this "gospel of two halves," and who do we say Jesus is?

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Jesus feeds the 5000 (Mark 6:30-34,53-56)

When word spread that Jesus was healing people, crowds followed him everywhere he went. In today's readings, Jesus seeks time out with his disciples and with God, and also responds to the needs of the crowds. 
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Activities

  • Moving Paper Fish Craft (Krokotak)
  • Storytelling Idea (I Did It You Do It)
  • Pipecleaner Fish Craft (Catholic Icing)
  • Printable Craft (Jesus Without Language)
  • Fishing Game (Christian Montessori Network)
  • Paper Plate Basket Weaving Craft (Ministry to Children)
  • Bread Baking (BBC Good Food)
  • Playdough Prayer Mat  (Flame Creative Kids)
  • Printmaking (Grace and Wondering)

Children's Talk

Have you ever felt like everyone needs you to do something for them all at the same time and there is no time left for yourself? (Pause for discussion.) Well, in today's story, Jesus and the apostles were having just that very dilemma! Can anyone remember what Jesus' solution was? (Pause) Well, Jesus said 'Let's go to a place where we can be alone and get some rest.”!! You see, even Jesus needed time to recharge his batteries. If he didn't make time to look after himself, then he would have been too exhausted to help all those other people in the rest of the story.
What do you think we can learn from this story? (pause) Well, I think we can try and make time for us to recharge our own batteries. One of the things that work for me is to have Time out with God. I go to a quiet place like my bedroom and just sit quietly and try to listen to God. Sometimes I play some music in the background or I read from the bible. Do any of you do something similar? (pause)

Shrunken Island

A game for younger children
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What you need: A blanket 
What to do: 
  • Spread the blanket out on the floor. Tell the children that it is an island and they all need to stand on it so they don't get wet in the water surrounding it.
  • Get then to get off the blanket and then fold it in half and place it back down on the ground.
  • Again, get all the children to stand on it without touching the ground.
  • Repeat until it is too small for them all to fit. See how small they can get it without touching the ground!

Quick Questions

  • How do you recharge your batteries?
  • When you get really busy, what helps get you through the day?
  • Have you ever tried having a quiet time with God?
  • If you did, what did you do?
  • I wonder why God would want to spend some alone time with us? 

Creative prayer

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Helping children discover that prayer can be fun, creative, deep and personal, can transform the way they speak and listen to their heavenly father. When you talk to them about 'quiet times' or spending time with God alone, brainstorm and introduce them to some creative ways they can pray. Prayer can be:
  • colourful -- praying by colour
  • written -- Written conversation/narrative with God
  • tactile -- Flame Creative ideas
  • playful -- lego prayers
  • sung -- Lords prayer in te reo
  • fun -- fidget spinner prayers
  • personal -- the best 5 finger prayers

Time With God Hangers

Print out these door hangers on A4 card and decorate with pens, crayons, stickers and your favourite craft bits. Encourage the children to have a quiet time with God this week, or to think about good times of the day when they can spend time with Him. ​
Download it here
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Jesus Walks on Water (Mark 6:45-55)

This story, tells how Jesus sent the disciples by ship back to the "other side" of the Sea of Galilee  while he remained behind, alone, to pray. Night fell and the sea arose as the ship became caught in a wind storm. After rowing against the wind for most of the night, the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water. They were frightened, thinking that they were seeing a spirit, but when Jesus told them not to be afraid, they were reassured. After Jesus entered the ship, the wind ceased, and they arrived at land. This story is also found in John 6.
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Activities

  • Sensory Jelly Play (Baby Devotions)
  • Printable Puppet Craft (Jesus Without Language)
  • Object Lesson (Bible Lesson Stuff)
  • Printable Playdough Mat (Flame Creative Kids)
  • Walking on Water Snack (Ministry 2 Kidz)
  • Wet Walk Game (Come and See)
  • Paper Plate Craft Christianity Cove)
  • Jelly Cup Snack (Ministry 2 Kidz)
  • Messy Painting with Feet (Flame Creative Kids)
  • Printable Cut and Colour Craft (Ministry Ark)

Quick questions

  • What do you think it means to have faith?
  • What is the hardest thing for you about being a Christian?
  • When is it easiest for you to be a Christian? When is it hardest?
  • What are some ways that could help you strengthen your faith?

Walking on water (preschool)

Create a leak proof blob! We haven't tried this, but it looks like it could be fun... Buy a plastic painters sheet, and seal the edges using baking parchment and an iron. On the morning, fill with water and tie a knot in the corner to seal shut. Use on a flat surface (like patch of grass) and let the children walk over the top of it barefoot. If it isn't popped, untie the knot and tip out the water. Reuse! 
​Source: Homecleaning Family
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Intergenerational Worship

Intergenerational worship material and resources for this scripture from Matthew, compiled by Chris Barnett for Intergen Australia. 
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Oceans

If you have some young musicians in your church, this could be a good opportunity for them to learn 'Oceans', by Hillsong United

Gospel Conversations

We all know the story of Jesus walking on the water, and of Peter's mixture of reckless faith and sinking doubt. (You are allowed a small groan at my choice of words). James, Lucy and Joel and Michael, all from the South Island, take this familiar story and look at it from multiple angles, from "living the metaphor" to the character of Peter, always bringing it back to what God might be saying to us, today, now.

Seven minute sermon

The Seven Minute Sermon podcast with Rev. George Penk. "​Sometimes there are storms in our lives. But we shouldn’t worry about the wind and the waves. Instead, we should focus on the one who walks on water."
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Lectionary ideas

The Church of Scotland have some weekly worship ideas for today's lectionary readings. Download pdf

Children's talk

Do you find it easy to tell your friends that you are a Christian? (pause) In today’s story, Peter wanted to have faith in Jesus, but he got scared and started to doubt. Even though he knew that it was Jesus, and he had seen Jesus walk on water, Peter still started to sink when he got scared.

I know that on a Sunday morning at church is the easiest time for me to be a Christian because most of the people at church are Christian as well. But outside of church I have friends who aren’t Christian and sometimes I struggle to talk to them about Jesus because I get scared of what they might think of me.  So I can identify with Peter in the story, because even though I know Jesus, I still struggle sometimes to tell my friends about him.

But here is the amazing thing, what does Jesus do when Peter doubts and starts to sink? Can you remember? (pause) Well, Jesus helps Peter up! That’s really important for us to remember, because Jesus understands that sometimes we struggle, and Jesus is still there for us even if we haven’t been there for him. 
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So next time you are in a situation where you are trying to decide whether or not to share about Jesus, or invite a friend to church, try to remember today’s story and hopefully it will give you the strength to do the right thing. And don’t forget that you can always pray to Jesus about it.

Walking on water

As a fun activity, you can try 'walking on water' using cornstarch and water (also known as oobleck). Oobleck can behave like both a solid and a liquid depending on how much pressure you apply. This is a fun activity to do with children, as they can 'walk over water' - and if they stand still, they start sinking into the goop. 

Basic recipe for Oobleck is 1 cup cornstarch to 1.5cups water. Pour the cornstarch into a large mixing bowl and slowly add the water. Your mixture should feel kind of like honey and tear a bit when you run your hands across the top.
​Source: Housing a Forest
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