Agape
Children's sermon
Object:
Candy
Jesus once gave a very special message to his disciples and
to us. He says we should love each other in the same way he loved
us. The Greek word that is used in the Bible is agape. Does
anybody know what kind of love he is talking about? (Let them
answer.)
Well, this kind of love is the kind of love he showed us when
he went to the cross and died for us. It's a love that puts the
needs of others ahead of our own. We call it "sacrificial love,"
being willing to give up something for the sake of others.
Now, since Jesus wants us to love each other that way, I'd
like to see if any of you will practice this kind of love. There
are __________ of you here this morning, and I have a problem.
There are __________ of you, but I have only __________ pieces of
candy (one less than the number of children). How are we going to
solve this problem? (Let them answer. It may be that one will
volunteer to be skipped in order that the others will get one. If
that happens, use the first response. If not, use the second
response.) First response: Hey, that's great! __________ is
willing to be skipped on the candy today so that the rest of you
can have one. That's real agape love! He/she is willing to
sacrifice for the rest of you. Second response: Well, there's only
two ways to do this. We can forget the candy today and not pass
out any ... or ... if somebody would volunteer to be skipped, then
the rest of you could have one. Do we have any volunteers? (If
nobody volunteers, you can use it as a demonstration of the need
for sacrificial love for the benefit of all and give no candy. It
is very doubtful, however, that nobody will volunteer.)
Dear Lord Jesus: We thank you so much for loving us enough to
sacrifice your life on the cross for us. Help us to learn that we
need to learn how to sacrifice for others. Amen.
to us. He says we should love each other in the same way he loved
us. The Greek word that is used in the Bible is agape. Does
anybody know what kind of love he is talking about? (Let them
answer.)
Well, this kind of love is the kind of love he showed us when
he went to the cross and died for us. It's a love that puts the
needs of others ahead of our own. We call it "sacrificial love,"
being willing to give up something for the sake of others.
Now, since Jesus wants us to love each other that way, I'd
like to see if any of you will practice this kind of love. There
are __________ of you here this morning, and I have a problem.
There are __________ of you, but I have only __________ pieces of
candy (one less than the number of children). How are we going to
solve this problem? (Let them answer. It may be that one will
volunteer to be skipped in order that the others will get one. If
that happens, use the first response. If not, use the second
response.) First response: Hey, that's great! __________ is
willing to be skipped on the candy today so that the rest of you
can have one. That's real agape love! He/she is willing to
sacrifice for the rest of you. Second response: Well, there's only
two ways to do this. We can forget the candy today and not pass
out any ... or ... if somebody would volunteer to be skipped, then
the rest of you could have one. Do we have any volunteers? (If
nobody volunteers, you can use it as a demonstration of the need
for sacrificial love for the benefit of all and give no candy. It
is very doubtful, however, that nobody will volunteer.)
Dear Lord Jesus: We thank you so much for loving us enough to
sacrifice your life on the cross for us. Help us to learn that we
need to learn how to sacrifice for others. Amen.
