The disciple named "Rocky"
Children's sermon
Object:
a brick
I'm going to ask you a trick question. Ready? Here it is:
(at this point hold the brick in your hands so the children can
obviously see it) What is the church made of? (Let them
answer.) I thought you might say "bricks," but I'm thinking of
something else. Anybody want to venture a guess? Remember, this
is a trick question. (Let them answer. Some of the children may
have caught on by this time.) The church is made of people. You
and I are the church. All the people gathered here for worship
this morning are the church. Now, where does the church often
gather? (Let them answer.) They gather in a church building
like the one we are in this morning!
So, the church is people. Church buildings are just that --
buildings. They are often made of bricks and stones and wood and
things. But the church itself is made of people like you and me!
A long time ago Jesus chose a follower whose name was Simon.
And Jesus changed his name. He said, "From now on you are named
Rocky because on this rock I will build my church." That's a
loose translation. The name we call this follower is ... (let
them answer). His name is "Peter." The name Peter means "rock."
This man Jesus named "Rocky" -- or "Rock" -- was the leader
of the followers we call "disciples." Each of us is like Rocky.
We are part of the church. If you can think of the church as
being like a church building made of bricks, you and I are like
one of these (show them the brick). We are all built on top of
the first followers like Simon Peter -- Rocky. What they taught
us about the church, we still believe and do. We are like them
in that way. So today we set aside time to think about Peter and
how his life was changed because of Jesus. Since we are like
him, we can learn a great deal about ourselves as we look at
Peter's life.
Dear God: Thank you for disciples like Rocky -- Peter. Thank
you for making us part of your church. Amen.
(at this point hold the brick in your hands so the children can
obviously see it) What is the church made of? (Let them
answer.) I thought you might say "bricks," but I'm thinking of
something else. Anybody want to venture a guess? Remember, this
is a trick question. (Let them answer. Some of the children may
have caught on by this time.) The church is made of people. You
and I are the church. All the people gathered here for worship
this morning are the church. Now, where does the church often
gather? (Let them answer.) They gather in a church building
like the one we are in this morning!
So, the church is people. Church buildings are just that --
buildings. They are often made of bricks and stones and wood and
things. But the church itself is made of people like you and me!
A long time ago Jesus chose a follower whose name was Simon.
And Jesus changed his name. He said, "From now on you are named
Rocky because on this rock I will build my church." That's a
loose translation. The name we call this follower is ... (let
them answer). His name is "Peter." The name Peter means "rock."
This man Jesus named "Rocky" -- or "Rock" -- was the leader
of the followers we call "disciples." Each of us is like Rocky.
We are part of the church. If you can think of the church as
being like a church building made of bricks, you and I are like
one of these (show them the brick). We are all built on top of
the first followers like Simon Peter -- Rocky. What they taught
us about the church, we still believe and do. We are like them
in that way. So today we set aside time to think about Peter and
how his life was changed because of Jesus. Since we are like
him, we can learn a great deal about ourselves as we look at
Peter's life.
Dear God: Thank you for disciples like Rocky -- Peter. Thank
you for making us part of your church. Amen.
