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Sermon Outline Using Themes from The Polar Express
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Faith Like A Child
Text: Mark 9:14-27
It is suggested that you either watch The Polar Express movie or at least read the book before preaching this sermon.
INTRODUCTION
- When you were a child, what did you believe in that
became more difficult to believe in as you grew older?
1. Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy
2. The goodness of mankind
3. “Happily ever after” endings
- For most of us, being a child was great!
1. Little to no worries and responsibilities
2. Endless summers
3. Belief that life was good, and that tomorrow held
endless possibilities
- When I think of childhood at its best, I think of…
1. Innocence
2. Free-spiritedness
3. Happiness
4. Excitement
5. Hopeful anticipation
- Maybe that’s why Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 19:14
to let the children come to Him because, as He said, “The
kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
- He was teaching his disciples that those who will inherit the
kingdom of heaven must be like little children. They must
have faith like a child.
- The question is…What does faith like a child look like?
- This is not an easy question to answer, but the new
movie, The Polar Express, gives us some help.
o The movie is based on the popular children’s book by the
same title.
o It’s about a little boy who is hitting the age where his
belief in Santa Claus is eroding.
o On Christmas Eve, a train called The Polar Express comes
to take him to the North Pole and he reluctantly gets on.
o After many adventures on the way, the train carrying him
and several other children arrives.
o To make a long story short without giving it all away…At
the North Pole, the little boy can't hear the bells on
Santa's sleigh, while all of the other children can.
o Finally, however, he admits, “I believe…I believe…I
believe!" and at that moment, he begins to hear the bells
and comes face to face with Santa.
- This is a great picture of childlike faith.
o It’s a faith that may be clouded by some unanswerable
questions like:
• “How can Santa deliver presents to every child in one
night? and
• “Can reindeer really fly?”
• Or, “If God is so good, then why does He allow evil to
run rampant?" and
• “If it’s God’s desire for no one to perish, then why do
so many people die without knowing Him? Is He
weak?"
o But, belief in the midst of all these tough questions, belief
wins out, proven by the proclamation, “I believe!”
- In Mark 9:14-27, we get a glimpse of the type of faith that
Jesus is talking about…
TEXT: Read Mark 9:14-27
- A little background…
o Disciples and “teachers of the law” were involved in a
heated argument.
o No doubt, the teachers of the law were chiding them
because they were unable to cast the demon out of the
boy.
o Jesus shows up, and the attention turns to him.
PRINCIPLE #1:
A person with childlike faith believes that God has the power to do anything. (Verse 23)
- The boy’s father describes the boy’s problem to Jesus and
says, “…if you can do anything, take pity on us and help
us.” (Verse 22)
- In Jesus’ response to this statement in verse 23, we get
our first glimpse into what childlike faith looks like.
o Jesus repeats the father’s request almost sarcastically,
“If you can?!”
o He then says, “Everything is possible for Him who
believes.”
- The principle then is: A person with childlike faith
believes that God has the power to do anything.
o A faith that is childlike is a faith that recognizes that it’s
not about our ability or strength…it’s about God’s ability
and strength.
o Phil 4:13 “I can do everything through Him who gives me
strength.”
PRINCIPLE #2:
A person with childlike faith admits unbelief…and asks for help. (Verse 24)
- (Verse 24) “Immediately, the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do
believe; help me overcome my unbelief.’”
- Childlike faith is not perfect faith. There is room for doubt.
However, the doubt does not win out! Belief prevails!
- The principle then is: A person with childlike faith admits
unbelief…but still believes nonetheless.
o God does not expect perfection, but he does expect
humility.
o Proverbs 3:34 “He mocks proud mockers but gives grace
to the humble.”
PRINCIPLE #3:
A person with childlike faith watches as God does the impossible. (Verses 25-27)
- What motivated God to heal this boy?
o Ultimately we know that God works in order to bring glory
to Himself, but…
o It sure looks as though it also had something to do with
the father’s childlike faith and humility.
- Would God have healed the boy if the father had not shown
childlike faith?
o Only God knows the answer to that for sure, but…
o In Matthew 9:29, Jesus healed two blind men because
they admitted belief in his ability to heal them BEFORE he
actually healed them.
o Then he said to them, “According to your faith will it be
done to you.”
- What is clear from all of this is: A person with childlike
faith watches as God does the impossible.
CLOSING:
- To some extent, we are all like the little boy in The Polar
Express. There are many hard questions about our faith
that haunt us.
o For him:
• “How can Santa deliver presents to every child in one
night?”
• “Can reindeer really fly?”
• “How can a fat man fit through my narrow chimney?”
o For us:
• “If God is so good, then why does He allow evil to run
rampant?”
• “If it’s God’s desire for no one to perish, then why do
so many people die without knowing Him? Is He
weak?”
• “Why do bad things happen to good people?”
- These questions are very real, but in spite of them, God is
waiting for us to:
1. Believe that He can do anything.
2. Humbly admit our unbelief to Him.
3. Watch Him do the impossible on our behalf.
- Will you trust Him today?
- Even without all of your questions answered, will you
proclaim – like the little boy in the movie did – “I believe! I
believe! I believe!”?
Jim Burns is the president of HomeWord and the host of HomeWord’s 30-minute and 1-minute daily radio programs heard throughout the United States.
Mike Potter is the founder and director of Parenting Teenagers and contributing writer for HomeWord. He and his wife Michelle have 3 children and live in the Midwest.
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