A Childlike Faith
Children's sermon
Object:
a light switch in the church that the children can gather around
The Point: A childlike faith in Jesus includes us in the kingdom of God
The Lesson: Thank you, boys and girls, for sharing this time with me. I want to begin today with a question for you. Who knows how electricity works? (let children answer) No one? That's okay. I don't understand how it works either. I do know that we wouldn't have any lights in our church or homes if it weren't for electricity. Oh, I guess we could use candles or oil lamps. That might be fun for a little while, but then we would realize how poor the light is and how inconvenient they are as a light source.
The object I brought this morning is over there on the wall. Let's gather around the light switch for a moment. Now we agree we really don't understand how electricity works, but that doesn't stop us from using it. Would one of you turn the light switch off? The light is important isn't? Now turn it on again. Even though you don't understand how it works, you trust that every time you flick the switch the light will go on or off.
From our Bible reading today Jesus tells us that we are to receive the kingdom of God as a little child. Jesus wants us to understand that it doesn't take great knowledge and understanding to enter his kingdom. It is enough for us to know that God loves us and wants us to be part of his family. His love for you and me forgives us and enables us to simply trust that Jesus will save us. You don't have to understand all the mysteries of God and the world. It is enough to know that the Bible tells us that Jesus came to love and not to judge you so simply place your trust in Jesus!
You don't need to understand everything about electricity to turn on the lights. And a simple trust, a childlike faith in Jesus, is all it takes to be a part of God's great kingdom.
Prayer: Boys and girls, let us unite our hearts and hands in prayer. Jesus, your love for us is truly beyond our understanding. Your creation can never be fully understood. All you ask of us is to place our trust, our faith, into your loving hands. Lord, even to do that is impossible without the help of your Holy Spirit. Help us by faith to receive you as our Savior. Jesus, in your holy name we pray. Amen.
The Lesson: Thank you, boys and girls, for sharing this time with me. I want to begin today with a question for you. Who knows how electricity works? (let children answer) No one? That's okay. I don't understand how it works either. I do know that we wouldn't have any lights in our church or homes if it weren't for electricity. Oh, I guess we could use candles or oil lamps. That might be fun for a little while, but then we would realize how poor the light is and how inconvenient they are as a light source.
The object I brought this morning is over there on the wall. Let's gather around the light switch for a moment. Now we agree we really don't understand how electricity works, but that doesn't stop us from using it. Would one of you turn the light switch off? The light is important isn't? Now turn it on again. Even though you don't understand how it works, you trust that every time you flick the switch the light will go on or off.
From our Bible reading today Jesus tells us that we are to receive the kingdom of God as a little child. Jesus wants us to understand that it doesn't take great knowledge and understanding to enter his kingdom. It is enough for us to know that God loves us and wants us to be part of his family. His love for you and me forgives us and enables us to simply trust that Jesus will save us. You don't have to understand all the mysteries of God and the world. It is enough to know that the Bible tells us that Jesus came to love and not to judge you so simply place your trust in Jesus!
You don't need to understand everything about electricity to turn on the lights. And a simple trust, a childlike faith in Jesus, is all it takes to be a part of God's great kingdom.
Prayer: Boys and girls, let us unite our hearts and hands in prayer. Jesus, your love for us is truly beyond our understanding. Your creation can never be fully understood. All you ask of us is to place our trust, our faith, into your loving hands. Lord, even to do that is impossible without the help of your Holy Spirit. Help us by faith to receive you as our Savior. Jesus, in your holy name we pray. Amen.
