Time Out - Mark 6:30 [Children's Lesson]

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.”
(You’ll need a folding or lightweight chair for this Message)
(As a handout for this Message, you could purchase “Time out” bars on Amazon. Or simply give each child a prayer card to read, as this Message is telling them to take time out and read scripture.)

Good Morning!
When I was young like most of you, we had a special chair in our classroom at school. The chair looked a lot like this one (point to chair) and was set off all by itself in the corner of our class. It was called a “time-out” chair. One of my teachers called it, “The naughty bench.”
Does anybody know what a time-out chair is used for? (Assorted answers)
That’s right when a student breaks a rule their teacher tells them to sit in the time out chair, or if you’re at home, your parents might tell you to sit in time out if you do something wrong.
Have any of you ever been sent to time out or told to stand in the corner? (Raise your hand, so children raise theirs) How did that make you feel? (Assorted answers)
Most of us don’t choose to be in time out, because when we do, we know we’re being punished for something we did wrong. What are you supposed to do when you in time out? (Assorted answers)
That’s right; you’re supposed to think about what you’ve done wrong, aren’t you? Then we should say we’re sorry, and not do the thing we did wrong, again.
In the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Mark (Hold up your bible), it talks about a time when Jesus and His disciples wanted to get away from everyone. It was kind of like getting a time-out. But they didn’t go to time out because they were doing anything wrong; they wanted to take time out from being around so many people. Here’s what Mark says in verses 30-32, “The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.”

Jesus and His disciples wanted to get away for several reasons. They wanted to get some rest, get away from the noise of the crowds that always followed Jesus, and just take some time to pray. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out; here’s what it says in verses 33-34, “But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.”
The bible verses I just read, tell us that it’s important to take time out for ourselves, to get away and rest and pray so we can refocus our worlds and action on Jesus. Then it’s a whole lot easier to tell others about Him.
(Point to the chair) Remember, this time out chair is the kind of time out we don’t want to have, but taking time out to rest, getaway, pray and connect with God, that’s the kind of time out that will bring us closer to Jesus.

At Home Craft

(An at-home craft for this Message, the children could draw a picture of Jesus and his disciples resting and praying. They could also draw a picture of their family praying together. They could also make stick figures and put them in a kneeling position using toothpicks or craft sticks.)