Consider the lilies
Children's sermon
Object:
an Easter lily
Note: This piece was originally published April 24, 2011.
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (v. 1)
Good morning, boys and girls! Who can tell me what today is? (allow answers) Today is Easter Day! Hallelujah! What are we celebrating today? (allow answers) Today is the day that we celebrate Jesus being raised from the dead. Last Friday we remembered Jesus' death on the cross. It was a sad day! But today is a happy day. What are some things that you notice in the church that are different from last week? (allow answers) Do you see different colors? (allow answers) The colors today are white! White represents Jesus' purity. It represents our souls, which are clean and pure because of Jesus' sacrifice. White is the color of the day today!
This flower is also white. Can anyone tell me what the name of this flower is? (allow answers) We call this flower an Easter lily. Easter lilies are another symbol of Jesus' resurrection. Their trumpet-shaped flowers seem to shout the good news! Can you think of any other reasons why these lilies are good flowers for Easter? (allow answers)
Easter lilies, like a lot of springtime flowers, grow from bulbs. Do you know what that means? (allow answers) Some flowers grow from seeds: each year, we plant tiny seeds, and they grow into flowers. But bulbs are different. Bulbs are much bigger than seeds. Make a fist with your hand. A flower bulb is about the size of a child's fist. When we plant flower bulbs, the flowers that grow will not just last one year. They will come back year after year after year. Each fall, the flowers fade away and it looks like the plant is dead. But every spring, when the snow melts and the sun peeks out to warm the earth, the bulbs that were hidden underground send up tiny green shoots. The bulbs that seemed dead in the winter earth are actually alive!
This is like Jesus. On Good Friday, we saw Jesus die. The next day was like a terrible winter. But today? Today is Easter Sunday. Today, spring is finally here! Jesus did not die -- he is alive! And he will never die again.
When you look at the lilies in the church this morning, think of all of these things. Think of the white purity of Jesus; think of the trumpets telling the good news; and think of Jesus, like the lilies, rising from the dead to new springtime life. Amen.
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (v. 1)
Good morning, boys and girls! Who can tell me what today is? (allow answers) Today is Easter Day! Hallelujah! What are we celebrating today? (allow answers) Today is the day that we celebrate Jesus being raised from the dead. Last Friday we remembered Jesus' death on the cross. It was a sad day! But today is a happy day. What are some things that you notice in the church that are different from last week? (allow answers) Do you see different colors? (allow answers) The colors today are white! White represents Jesus' purity. It represents our souls, which are clean and pure because of Jesus' sacrifice. White is the color of the day today!
This flower is also white. Can anyone tell me what the name of this flower is? (allow answers) We call this flower an Easter lily. Easter lilies are another symbol of Jesus' resurrection. Their trumpet-shaped flowers seem to shout the good news! Can you think of any other reasons why these lilies are good flowers for Easter? (allow answers)
Easter lilies, like a lot of springtime flowers, grow from bulbs. Do you know what that means? (allow answers) Some flowers grow from seeds: each year, we plant tiny seeds, and they grow into flowers. But bulbs are different. Bulbs are much bigger than seeds. Make a fist with your hand. A flower bulb is about the size of a child's fist. When we plant flower bulbs, the flowers that grow will not just last one year. They will come back year after year after year. Each fall, the flowers fade away and it looks like the plant is dead. But every spring, when the snow melts and the sun peeks out to warm the earth, the bulbs that were hidden underground send up tiny green shoots. The bulbs that seemed dead in the winter earth are actually alive!
This is like Jesus. On Good Friday, we saw Jesus die. The next day was like a terrible winter. But today? Today is Easter Sunday. Today, spring is finally here! Jesus did not die -- he is alive! And he will never die again.
When you look at the lilies in the church this morning, think of all of these things. Think of the white purity of Jesus; think of the trumpets telling the good news; and think of Jesus, like the lilies, rising from the dead to new springtime life. Amen.
