Entertaining angels
Children's sermon
Object:
a glass of water
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." (v. 2)
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of you know what it means to be "hospitable"? (allow answers) When you are hospitable, you help other people feel at home. Maybe you have a guest at your house. Being hospitable means you offer that guest food or a drink. If they need a place to stay, you offer them a place to sleep. If they are cold, you loan them a jacket or sweater.
In ancient cultures, they took hospitality seriously. They didn't have cars, email, or telephones. Often, people who were traveling would stop at a stranger's house to ask for food or water. While hospitality is an option today -- some people are willing to open up their home to unexpected guests, others are not -- in ancient cultures, it was not an option! Hospitality was a way of life.
One example of hospitality can be found in the Old Testament. How many of you have heard of Abraham and Sarah? (allow answers) Abraham and Sarah were some of the earliest followers of God. They lived hundreds and hundreds of years ago in the Middle East. Abraham and Sarah were old -- and although they had always wanted children, they did not have any.
One day, Abraham and Sarah had some unexpected visitors. What do you think they did? (allow answers) They showed hospitality to their unexpected visitors. They offered their guests food, drink, and a place to sit in the shade. And lucky thing they did! Because Abraham and Sarah's guests were more important than they seemed. Do you know who Abraham and Sarah's guests turned out to be? (allow answers) They were messengers from God -- angels!
The angels had a message for Abraham and Sarah. The angels told them that God had promised that Abraham and Sarah would soon have a son. What good news for Abraham and Sarah!
If Abraham and Sarah had turned away their unexpected visitors, they would have missed out on that very important message! Their story shows that sometimes good things happen unexpectedly -- and the best way to be prepared for the unexpected is to show kindness and hospitality to others. Our verse today is talking about Abraham and Sarah -- since they showed kindness and hospitality to strangers, they received good news from God. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of you know what it means to be "hospitable"? (allow answers) When you are hospitable, you help other people feel at home. Maybe you have a guest at your house. Being hospitable means you offer that guest food or a drink. If they need a place to stay, you offer them a place to sleep. If they are cold, you loan them a jacket or sweater.
In ancient cultures, they took hospitality seriously. They didn't have cars, email, or telephones. Often, people who were traveling would stop at a stranger's house to ask for food or water. While hospitality is an option today -- some people are willing to open up their home to unexpected guests, others are not -- in ancient cultures, it was not an option! Hospitality was a way of life.
One example of hospitality can be found in the Old Testament. How many of you have heard of Abraham and Sarah? (allow answers) Abraham and Sarah were some of the earliest followers of God. They lived hundreds and hundreds of years ago in the Middle East. Abraham and Sarah were old -- and although they had always wanted children, they did not have any.
One day, Abraham and Sarah had some unexpected visitors. What do you think they did? (allow answers) They showed hospitality to their unexpected visitors. They offered their guests food, drink, and a place to sit in the shade. And lucky thing they did! Because Abraham and Sarah's guests were more important than they seemed. Do you know who Abraham and Sarah's guests turned out to be? (allow answers) They were messengers from God -- angels!
The angels had a message for Abraham and Sarah. The angels told them that God had promised that Abraham and Sarah would soon have a son. What good news for Abraham and Sarah!
If Abraham and Sarah had turned away their unexpected visitors, they would have missed out on that very important message! Their story shows that sometimes good things happen unexpectedly -- and the best way to be prepared for the unexpected is to show kindness and hospitality to others. Our verse today is talking about Abraham and Sarah -- since they showed kindness and hospitality to strangers, they received good news from God. Amen.
