Changes
Children's sermon
Object:
a dollar, four quarters, and a candle
He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son
of John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter). (v. 42)
Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever noticed how important changes in things can be? (let them answer) Things change, and when they change, we notice it. Days get longer and we have more sunlight and less nighttime. The leaves on trees change color from green to gold and red, and a forest can look like someone painted it. You wash your face, comb your hair, shine your shoes, change your clothing, and you look like real ladies and gentleman. People like change.
The other day, I wanted to buy something from a machine and all I had was a dollar bill. (show them the dollar bill and then the four quarters) I took the dollar and had it changed to four quarters so I could buy what I wanted from the machine.
The other night, my electricity went out and I was in the dark for a few minutes until I found a candle and lit it. Then I had light and I could see again. Things change.
In the Bible, there are a lot of changes, but one of the best was the day that Andrew brought his brother, Simon, to meet Jesus. Andrew knew Jesus was special because he had heard John the Baptist talk about Jesus. Andrew had followed Jesus to the place where he was staying and, after talking to Jesus for some time, he went home and told his brother, Simon, that he had met the Messiah -- someone very special sent from God. When Simon heard Andrew talk about Jesus, he wanted to meet him, also. They rushed back to where Jesus was staying and Andrew kind of pushed his brother, Simon, ahead of him. Jesus, looking up, recognized this big fisherman and said to him, "You are Simon the son of John but I am going to change your name to Peter." Just like that (snap your fingers), a big fisherman who used the name Simon for years became Peter. Peter became one of Jesus' greatest followers. People never used his old name again because Jesus changed it.
The next time you see something change, like the color on the leaves of a tree or a dollar being changed into four quarters, I want you to remember the day that Jesus changed Simon's name to Peter. It made a big difference to Peter, just like other things that are changed in our lives make a difference to us. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever noticed how important changes in things can be? (let them answer) Things change, and when they change, we notice it. Days get longer and we have more sunlight and less nighttime. The leaves on trees change color from green to gold and red, and a forest can look like someone painted it. You wash your face, comb your hair, shine your shoes, change your clothing, and you look like real ladies and gentleman. People like change.
The other day, I wanted to buy something from a machine and all I had was a dollar bill. (show them the dollar bill and then the four quarters) I took the dollar and had it changed to four quarters so I could buy what I wanted from the machine.
The other night, my electricity went out and I was in the dark for a few minutes until I found a candle and lit it. Then I had light and I could see again. Things change.
In the Bible, there are a lot of changes, but one of the best was the day that Andrew brought his brother, Simon, to meet Jesus. Andrew knew Jesus was special because he had heard John the Baptist talk about Jesus. Andrew had followed Jesus to the place where he was staying and, after talking to Jesus for some time, he went home and told his brother, Simon, that he had met the Messiah -- someone very special sent from God. When Simon heard Andrew talk about Jesus, he wanted to meet him, also. They rushed back to where Jesus was staying and Andrew kind of pushed his brother, Simon, ahead of him. Jesus, looking up, recognized this big fisherman and said to him, "You are Simon the son of John but I am going to change your name to Peter." Just like that (snap your fingers), a big fisherman who used the name Simon for years became Peter. Peter became one of Jesus' greatest followers. People never used his old name again because Jesus changed it.
The next time you see something change, like the color on the leaves of a tree or a dollar being changed into four quarters, I want you to remember the day that Jesus changed Simon's name to Peter. It made a big difference to Peter, just like other things that are changed in our lives make a difference to us. Amen.
