Title: Cleaning House
Theme: Jesus Cleanses the Temple. 3rd Sunday of Lent, Year B
Objects: Some cleaning items: broom, mop, sponges, dust cloth, etc.
Scripture: In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at
tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both
sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those
who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"
John 2:14-16 (NIV)
Mops, brooms, sponges, a dust cloth... what do we use these things for? We use them when we clean
house, don't we? Do you ever help your mom with the cleaning around your house? I don't know about
your mom, but there were many times when my mom thought our house needed cleaning when it
looked just fine to me. Well, how do you know when it's time to clean house? Well here are some signs
that will definitely let you to know that it is time to clean house.
It is time to clean house when your feet stick to the floor when you walk through the kitchen.
It is time to clean house when your mother can't find you when she comes into your room to wake you
up in the morning.
It is time to clean house when the kids in the neighborhood use their fingers to write "wash me" in the
dirt on your windows.
It is time to clean house when there are more dishes in the kitchen sink than there are in the cabinets.
It is time to clean house when you have enough dust bunnies under your bed to start a bunny farm.
Well, I think you get the idea! I know that your house never gets THAT dirty, but the truth of the
matter is, we all need to do a little house cleaning at times.
Today we are going to learn about a time when Jesus did some house cleaning. It was time for the
annual Passover celebration, so Jesus traveled to Jerusalem. When he arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus went
to the temple. He couldn't believe what he saw. Right there in the temple area he saw people who
were se