Ephphatha
Children's sermon
Object:
a combination lock
Good morning! What is this I have here in my hand? (Show the
lock and let them answer.) Yes, this is a lock that will only
open if you know the combination. Do any of you think you can
open it? (Let them answer.) You could try, but it's doubtful that
any of you can open it unless you know the combination. Now, I do
know the combination, so let's see if I can open it. (Dial in the
combination and open the lock.)
Once Jesus healed a man who was deaf and couldn't speak.
People brought this man to Jesus and begged him to help the man.
There was nobody else that could have helped the man. Doctors in
that day knew very little about how to cure people, so this man
would have been deaf and unable to speak for the rest of his
life.
Jesus healed the man by simply saying one word. That word
was "Ephphatha." In the language of that time, this word means,
"Be opened." When Jesus said those words, it was just like me
dialing in the right combination on this lock. When I put in the
right combination, the lock opened. When Jesus said these words,
the man's ears and mouth were opened and he could hear and speak
plainly. Do you think somebody else could have said those words
and caused the man to hear and speak? (Let them answer.) No, it
wouldn't have worked for anybody else. Jesus could do it because
he is God and has the power to do it.
Do you know anybody who has been given the power to hear by
Jesus? (Let them answer.) Well, I do know several people who have
been given that gift by Jesus. Anybody who at one time didn't
believe in Jesus, but does believe in him today has received a
healing from Jesus. Their ears have been opened to hear the
truth. It's just as if Jesus had said to them, "Ephphatha."
Before, they couldn't hear the truth, but afterward, they could.
Let's thank Jesus for opening up people's ears so that they
can believe in him and go to Heaven.
Dear Jesus: We thank you for continuing to heal people in our
world who don't believe in you. Please continue to open their
ears so they can know the truth about you and go to Heaven. Amen.
lock and let them answer.) Yes, this is a lock that will only
open if you know the combination. Do any of you think you can
open it? (Let them answer.) You could try, but it's doubtful that
any of you can open it unless you know the combination. Now, I do
know the combination, so let's see if I can open it. (Dial in the
combination and open the lock.)
Once Jesus healed a man who was deaf and couldn't speak.
People brought this man to Jesus and begged him to help the man.
There was nobody else that could have helped the man. Doctors in
that day knew very little about how to cure people, so this man
would have been deaf and unable to speak for the rest of his
life.
Jesus healed the man by simply saying one word. That word
was "Ephphatha." In the language of that time, this word means,
"Be opened." When Jesus said those words, it was just like me
dialing in the right combination on this lock. When I put in the
right combination, the lock opened. When Jesus said these words,
the man's ears and mouth were opened and he could hear and speak
plainly. Do you think somebody else could have said those words
and caused the man to hear and speak? (Let them answer.) No, it
wouldn't have worked for anybody else. Jesus could do it because
he is God and has the power to do it.
Do you know anybody who has been given the power to hear by
Jesus? (Let them answer.) Well, I do know several people who have
been given that gift by Jesus. Anybody who at one time didn't
believe in Jesus, but does believe in him today has received a
healing from Jesus. Their ears have been opened to hear the
truth. It's just as if Jesus had said to them, "Ephphatha."
Before, they couldn't hear the truth, but afterward, they could.
Let's thank Jesus for opening up people's ears so that they
can believe in him and go to Heaven.
Dear Jesus: We thank you for continuing to heal people in our
world who don't believe in you. Please continue to open their
ears so they can know the truth about you and go to Heaven. Amen.
