Fragile
Children's sermon
Object:
inexpensive clay pots (purchased at a pottery shop or
hobby store)
I love things made out of clay. I especially like the
little pots you can use to plant things in. I could fill these
with dirt and plant seeds in them and water the soil and the
plants would grow. From these little clay pots comes life!
When the great church leader Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, he compared himself and others to being like clay pots or clay jars. In those days, most every kind of jar or pot was made of clay -- like this. Sometimes people would put gold and silver and precious stones in the clay pots. The pot was not so fancy, but inside were precious jewels.
The problem with clay pots is that they are not so pretty sometimes. They also are very fragile. (If you can, take one of the pots and drop it or deliberately break it.) "Fragile" means that they can break easily. Why do you think Paul would compare himself and others to fragile clay pots? (Let them answer.)
Like a clay pot, we human beings are not perfect! Yet God has chosen people like you and me to carry God's silver and gold. We are the ones who tell the good news of God! Yet we are the very same people who sometimes tell lies, or steal, or cheat, or get very angry, or hurt others. Like the fragile clay pots, we also are fragile. Some of the things we do are wrong and it is amazing that God would still use us!
Paul knew what he was talking about. Even though he was a great saint in the church, he also still did some wrong things. Even though I am a pastor -- even though I try very hard -- sometimes I also do wrong things. Yet God uses me and God uses you! Wow! God uses us fragile clay pots to do God's work on earth. That's great!
Dearest God: Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you -- even though we disappoint ourselves and surely disappoint you sometimes. It is a great honor that you have chosen us to carry your good news. Amen.
When the great church leader Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, he compared himself and others to being like clay pots or clay jars. In those days, most every kind of jar or pot was made of clay -- like this. Sometimes people would put gold and silver and precious stones in the clay pots. The pot was not so fancy, but inside were precious jewels.
The problem with clay pots is that they are not so pretty sometimes. They also are very fragile. (If you can, take one of the pots and drop it or deliberately break it.) "Fragile" means that they can break easily. Why do you think Paul would compare himself and others to fragile clay pots? (Let them answer.)
Like a clay pot, we human beings are not perfect! Yet God has chosen people like you and me to carry God's silver and gold. We are the ones who tell the good news of God! Yet we are the very same people who sometimes tell lies, or steal, or cheat, or get very angry, or hurt others. Like the fragile clay pots, we also are fragile. Some of the things we do are wrong and it is amazing that God would still use us!
Paul knew what he was talking about. Even though he was a great saint in the church, he also still did some wrong things. Even though I am a pastor -- even though I try very hard -- sometimes I also do wrong things. Yet God uses me and God uses you! Wow! God uses us fragile clay pots to do God's work on earth. That's great!
Dearest God: Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you -- even though we disappoint ourselves and surely disappoint you sometimes. It is a great honor that you have chosen us to carry your good news. Amen.
