Faith the size of a Mustard Seed

Children’s Chapel

October 2, 2016

Proper 22C

Theme: Faith

Bible Reference: Luke 17: 5-10

Introduction: Good morning girls and boys! Do we have any new friends today? (Welcome new friends.) I am so happy to see everyone here! How many of you have ever seen a seed? Let’s think about the different types of seeds that there are. Can you raise your hand and tell me some different types of seeds? (Allow answers.) Wow! You all came up with some great answers. I have some seeds here too that I want to show you. (Show collage of seeds and name each one.) These seeds are in all different shapes and sizes. Some are big, some are small, some are round, some are oval, some are smooth and some are pointy. All of these seeds produce or make a different type of plant that could in turn produce a fruit or vegetable or it could simply produce a bush or a tree or another plant. I want to show you one more type of seed. It is a mustard seed (Hold up jar of mustard seeds.) Look at all of these little tiny seeds! Have you ever seen such small little seeds! (Pass jar of seeds around so everyone can see.)

Bible Story: Today in our Bible story the apostles say to Jesus,

⁵“Increase our faith!” ⁶Jesus replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” Wow! Jesus said that if the disciples had faith even as small as a teeny tiny mustard seed that they would have great power. That’s not very big is it?

Response: The disciples really wanted Jesus to increase their faith. Let’s think again about what faith is. (Allow answers.) You are right! Faith is believing and trusting in God to guide us in our lives. The disciples asked to have their faith increased so that they will be able to trust in God more fully. Having faith is not a bad thing, but it is not our faith that is the true power that guides our lives. Jesus told the disciples that if they even had faith the size of a teeny tiny mustard seed, they would have the power to command a bush to get up and walk! Do any of us have that kind of power? No, you are right.  But who does have great power or love for all of us? Right! God loves each one of us so much that even though we are weak, he still chooses to shower his blessings upon us and shine his love through each one of us. The good news is that God’s work in the world does not depend on the size of our faith. God’s work in the world is great and wonderful because God is great and because he loves each one of us so much.

Pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving each of us so much that you choose us to use as your instruments to shine your love into the world. Help us to trust in you and to know that it is not because of our faith in you that great things happen in the world, but rather because you are so great and so loving. Amen

Say the Lord’s Prayer together.

Response Activity (Crafts, Singing, or Another activity will be provided.)