Blending
Children's sermon
Object:
a blender; chopped apples, oranges, bananas, and strawberries; ice
For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. (v. 14)
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you like celebrations? (let them answer) What kinds of celebrations do you like the best? (let them answer) Birthdays are good celebrations and so are Christmas, Easter, and other holidays. All of these are special celebrations. Today we are going to celebrate being in God's house. I have a special reason for our celebration. Let me tell you about it.
Before Jesus was born, the Jews believed that there were two kinds of people. There were the Jews, who were God's chosen people. God did choose them when he asked Abraham to travel a long way and begin a nation. Abraham did everything that God asked of him and before long there was a nation of people that called themselves the Jews.
Everyone else was Gentile. The Jews called people from all of the other nations Gentiles -- Syrians, Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, and many other people. Jews lived in those other countries and they did not think of themselves as Greeks or Romans. They thought of themselves as Jews and the other people as Gentiles.
After Jesus began his ministry, he met with some of these Gentiles at work, at dinners, and many other places. He taught them the same thing that he taught the Jews. After Jesus died, the church in Jerusalem was filled with Jews that called themselves Christians. It was true in other places as well.
Then things changed. The disciples listened to the voice of the Spirit who was sent to them by the Father. The Spirit told them to reach out and bring the Gentiles into the church. Some people thought the Gentiles were not as good as they were. It was a tough time. Then God commanded the people of Israel, the Jews, to invite the Gentiles to worship and visit them in their homes and tell them about Jesus. Things really began to change.
I brought along with me something that may show you what happened. First, I want to show you some things that you really like to eat. (show them the pieces of fruit and the ice) I am going to put them in this blender. How many of you can still see the apple, orange, strawberry, and banana? I know you can see the ice. I am going to add some juice and then turn on the blender. Watch it closely and soon you will see one of the best drinks you have ever tasted. Like this drink, all of us are now one, just like Jesus promised. We are the children of God, not Jews or Gentiles.
The next time you see all of these pieces of fruit, I want you to think of how Jesus is the Savior of us all. Like this great drink, we are one in Jesus. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you like celebrations? (let them answer) What kinds of celebrations do you like the best? (let them answer) Birthdays are good celebrations and so are Christmas, Easter, and other holidays. All of these are special celebrations. Today we are going to celebrate being in God's house. I have a special reason for our celebration. Let me tell you about it.
Before Jesus was born, the Jews believed that there were two kinds of people. There were the Jews, who were God's chosen people. God did choose them when he asked Abraham to travel a long way and begin a nation. Abraham did everything that God asked of him and before long there was a nation of people that called themselves the Jews.
Everyone else was Gentile. The Jews called people from all of the other nations Gentiles -- Syrians, Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, and many other people. Jews lived in those other countries and they did not think of themselves as Greeks or Romans. They thought of themselves as Jews and the other people as Gentiles.
After Jesus began his ministry, he met with some of these Gentiles at work, at dinners, and many other places. He taught them the same thing that he taught the Jews. After Jesus died, the church in Jerusalem was filled with Jews that called themselves Christians. It was true in other places as well.
Then things changed. The disciples listened to the voice of the Spirit who was sent to them by the Father. The Spirit told them to reach out and bring the Gentiles into the church. Some people thought the Gentiles were not as good as they were. It was a tough time. Then God commanded the people of Israel, the Jews, to invite the Gentiles to worship and visit them in their homes and tell them about Jesus. Things really began to change.
I brought along with me something that may show you what happened. First, I want to show you some things that you really like to eat. (show them the pieces of fruit and the ice) I am going to put them in this blender. How many of you can still see the apple, orange, strawberry, and banana? I know you can see the ice. I am going to add some juice and then turn on the blender. Watch it closely and soon you will see one of the best drinks you have ever tasted. Like this drink, all of us are now one, just like Jesus promised. We are the children of God, not Jews or Gentiles.
The next time you see all of these pieces of fruit, I want you to think of how Jesus is the Savior of us all. Like this great drink, we are one in Jesus. Amen.
