Childrens Sermon Service

First Thoughts: Here we have another one of these miraculous revelation stories, where Jesus appears to his friends post-resurrection and they respond with fear and wonder. When we think about it, though, aren't our lives full of God's revelations? Just because those revelations have become familiar doesn't make them any less extraordinary. Every day we are gifted with the sacrifices of countless other living things (plants, animals, the soil beneath our feet) to sustain our lives. Our own bodies are full of miraculous transformation as we convert food into fuel and oxygen into energy. When Jesus appears, his friends are amazed. Perhaps we can share in a bit of that amazement as we look with awareness and gratitude into our own marvelous, miraculous, surprising lives! Carry your gratitude with you in your time with the children.

Teaching As A Team:
(Leader 1 has the sandwich)
Leader 2: What do you have there, (name)?
Leader 1: A snack for you.
Leader 2: Thanks, how did you know I was getting hungry? (takes a bite) Mmmm, yummy!
Leader 1: Do you know what you're eating there?
Leader 2: (stops chewing, looks nervous) PB&J?
Leader 1: Yes, but you're also eating God!
Leader 2: (looking alarmed, swallows quickly) God?
Leader 1: Think about it: God makes the grain grow and that is made into bread. God also makes the peanuts and the grapes grow and those are used in the peanut butter and jelly.
Leader 2: Hey, that's true.
Leader 1: God is even inside you right now, helping your body take that sandwich and turn it into energy.
Leader 2: So I can play soccer this afternoon!
Leader 1: Right. You're having lunch with God! Kinda like our story today, when the disciples had lunch with Jesus. Remember, Jesus died and came back from the dead. His friends were still a little spooked by everything, so when they saw him, they were frightened.
Leader 2: It would be scary to see someone you thought was dead.
Leader 1: Jesus told them not to worry. He talked and explained things to the disciples. Then he ate lunch with them. Finally they realized the true miracle of Jesus being there.
Leader 2: What's that?
Leader 1: Not only was Jesus right there with them, but Jesus was going to be with everybody, everywhere, for all time! Every time we eat or drink, every time we breathe in fresh air, and every time we play soccer, Christ is inside us, celebrating life, bringing us love.
Leader 2: (looking at sandwich in wonder) Wow. This is one miraculous sandwich!
Leader 1: You said it!

Teaching On Your Own: You know what I have here? It's a snack. I'm getting a little hungry, so if you don't mind... (take small bite) Mmmm, yummy. Can you guess what I'm eating here? (let children guess) Good guesses. This is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but you know what else it is? It's God. I'm eating God! Think about it: God makes the grain grow and that is made into bread. God also makes the peanuts and the grapes grow and those are used in the peanut butter and jelly. Even now, as I'm eating the sandwich, God is inside me, helping my body take that sandwich and turn it into energy, so I can play soccer this afternoon. So, really I'm having lunch with God! Isn't that amazing? It's kinda like our story today, when the disciples had lunch with Jesus. Remember, Jesus died and came back from the dead. His friends were still a little spooked by everything, so when they saw him they were frightened. But Jesus told them not to worry. He talked and explained things to the disciples. Then he ate lunch with them. Finally they realized the true miracle of Jesus being there. Not only was Jesus right there with the disciples, but Jesus was going to be with everybody, everywhere, for all time! Every time we eat or drink, every time we breathe in fresh air, and every time we play soccer, Christ is inside us, celebrating life, bringing us love. You know what that means? This is one miraculous sandwich! And we have miraculous lives, don't we?

Closing Prayer: Thank you, God, for the miracle of our lives and for the blessings of each day. Give us eyes to see you and hearts to love you as we recognize your presence with us every day. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.

Follow-Up Lesson: To reinforce this lesson in a classroom or home setting, plan a fellowship meal for your children. Make sure you have a few different kid-friendly foods (carrots sticks, apple slices, crackers, peanut butter). Ask the children to think about where all these foods came from, and how God was part of their creation. Don't forget to mention all the people (farmers, people in food production, truckers, grocers) who brought this food to us and how God is in all these people as well. Emphasize the miracle of how so many people, places, and nonhuman life is connected in this one snack. Invite the children to eat their snacks prayerfully, thanking God for each bite. You might say a prayer yourself or invite the children to pray for each food item. For a craft, invite the children to think of their favorite things: foods they like to eat, things they like to do, people they love. Give each child a large of poster board (11x14) folded into thirds. At the top of each section have the children write, "My Favorite Foods," "My Favorite Activities," and "My Favorite People." (If you have small children who can't write, you can do this part in advance.) Then invite the children to write or draw pictures under each category. Write across the entire bottom of the page, "God is in all things!" After the children are done, laminate their projects and encourage them to use them as placemats during meal time to remind them that, with every meal, they are eating with Jesus!