Children’s Sermon

Mark 6:30-56

Rest A While

By Lois Parker Edstrom

Objects suggested: Items delivered by long-haul truck drivers. A map of your country illustrating the miles truck drivers travel to deliver goods.

Pictures of trucks

Truck drivers often drive long distances to deliver supplies to others. These dedicated drivers bring groceries to our local markets. They move lumber to mills where doors and windows are made. They deliver cars, books, computers, flowers, fish, fruits, vegetables, and even Christmas trees.

Long-haul truck drivers are hard working men and women who drive from one side of our country to the other, delivering many of the things we enjoy each day. To help them be safe on the road and function at their best, there are rules which they must follow. One of the most important rules is that drivers need to rest after they have driven a certain number of hours. They must take time off and rest a required amount of time before they can safely drive again.

We learn about the importance of rest in the Bible.  Jesus and his disciples had been very busy teaching great crowds of people about God’s love. Jesus said to his disciples, “… come apart into a deserted place, and rest awhile” (6:31).

This is good advice for all of us – we can become very busy. It is useful and exciting to study hard in school and learn new things every day. Taking lessons to become a skilled musician, dancer, painter, or bowler is great. And it is fun to be active and play with friends.

While we are busy enjoying all the wonderful opportunities we have, it is important to remember that we also need time to be alone and to rest. Rest is important for our health and allows us to be more helpful to others. Jesus says, “… come apart… and rest awhile” (6:31).

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible

Copyright 2007, Richard Niell Donovan