A beach home
Children's sermon
Object:
some water in a pitcher, some sand in a pan, a big rock in a pan
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it
did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these
words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his
house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat
against that house, and it fell -- and great was its fall! (Matthew 7:25-27)
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have ever been to a beach? (let them answer) Was it a sandy beach? (let them answer) Do you like to stand on the sand in the water and let the waves come in and push you back or knock you down? (let them answer) The beach is a fun place. I wonder why people don't build their houses on the beach? Don't you think it would be a good place to live? You could run out your back door and into the water. That sounds like fun. Why don't you build your house on the beach? (let them answer)
Let's see if I have the answer right here. I brought a pan with some sand in it and I brought another pan with a big rock in it. Now let's watch what happens when I pour the water out of the pitcher onto the rock. (let everyone watch what happens) What happened? (let them answer) Nothing happened except the rock got wet.
Let's see what happens when we pour the water on the sand. (pour the water over the sand until you begin to see the ridges develop and the sand slide away) Now what happened? (let them answer) That's right, the sand moved. Imagine if your house was built on the sand. It would slide away into the lake or ocean. A lake or the ocean would not be a good place for a house.
Jesus told this story to people a long time ago and it is still a good story today. Jesus said that people who listen to what he teaches and believe in him would be like the wise person who builds his/her house on a rock. Nothing will move that house. Water, wind, and storms cannot destroy the house that is built upon a rock. Nothing will ever move you away from God if you listen and believe.
Jesus also taught us that people who build their homes on sand would always be in danger of losing them. It could be a storm, a large wind, or waves that will destroy a house built on the sand. The same is true of people who do not trust in the love of Jesus. Things will happen that make life hard and uncertain.
The next time you stand on a beach, remember what Jesus taught us. The beach is a good place to have fun but not a good place to build a house. It is also true that a real life and a good life are built on the words of Jesus and his love. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have ever been to a beach? (let them answer) Was it a sandy beach? (let them answer) Do you like to stand on the sand in the water and let the waves come in and push you back or knock you down? (let them answer) The beach is a fun place. I wonder why people don't build their houses on the beach? Don't you think it would be a good place to live? You could run out your back door and into the water. That sounds like fun. Why don't you build your house on the beach? (let them answer)
Let's see if I have the answer right here. I brought a pan with some sand in it and I brought another pan with a big rock in it. Now let's watch what happens when I pour the water out of the pitcher onto the rock. (let everyone watch what happens) What happened? (let them answer) Nothing happened except the rock got wet.
Let's see what happens when we pour the water on the sand. (pour the water over the sand until you begin to see the ridges develop and the sand slide away) Now what happened? (let them answer) That's right, the sand moved. Imagine if your house was built on the sand. It would slide away into the lake or ocean. A lake or the ocean would not be a good place for a house.
Jesus told this story to people a long time ago and it is still a good story today. Jesus said that people who listen to what he teaches and believe in him would be like the wise person who builds his/her house on a rock. Nothing will move that house. Water, wind, and storms cannot destroy the house that is built upon a rock. Nothing will ever move you away from God if you listen and believe.
Jesus also taught us that people who build their homes on sand would always be in danger of losing them. It could be a storm, a large wind, or waves that will destroy a house built on the sand. The same is true of people who do not trust in the love of Jesus. Things will happen that make life hard and uncertain.
The next time you stand on a beach, remember what Jesus taught us. The beach is a good place to have fun but not a good place to build a house. It is also true that a real life and a good life are built on the words of Jesus and his love. Amen.
