Children’s sermon: Clean on the inside. This children’s object lesson is based on Jesus’ teaching in Mark 7 regarding what makes a person unclean. (Lectionary – Trinity 12) Object lesson props: Plastic tub with soap, water and a towelChildren’s Lesson: Good Morning Children. Look what I have here this morning. I’ve got a big tub of soapy water so I can wash my hands. (Set the water down in front of the children and begin washing your hands. Ask if any of them need to clean their hands as well. Dry off your hands.) Cleaning our hands is an important thing to do because it washes away dirt and germs that we can’t even see. However, in our bible reading this morning in the Gospel of Mark (chapter 7) Jesus talked to some of the religious leaders about washing hands and it turns out that they were more concerned about having clean hands than they were about having clean hearts! It’s good to have clean hands but God is far more concerned about what we are like on the inside. What is most important is to clean up is the things that make us dirty on the inside (selfishness, pride, unforgiveness, bitterness, etc). Having a shower or a bath won’t clean us on the inside. There are things we can do to help us be clean on the inside. If we have bitterness towards another person we can ask God to help us forgive them. If we have done something wrong we can ask God for forgiveness. If we are having trouble following Jesus we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us. In this way God will help us be clean on the inside and not just the outside. Pray: Dear God, help us to be clean on the outside and the inside of our lives. Thank you for the complete cleansing and forgiveness that we have through your son Jesus Christ. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so we can be clean on the inside and live lives pleasing to you. In Jesus name. Amen! Copyright Andrew Hewlett Sundaychildrensfocus.com Feel free to use this story on Sunday morning but please give credit to SundayChildrensFocus.com and consider linking to this site. Blessings, A.H.