Give us ...
Children's sermon
Object:
a lamp (such as one a magic genie might use) or a magic
wand
Good morning! One of the great privileges we have as
children of God is the honor of getting to talk with God whenever
we want. We have a name for this activity. Who knows what this
is called? (Let them answer.) It is called prayer! We can pray
whenever we want; wherever for whatever. What a great thing
prayer is.
God gives us a lot of freedom in prayer. We truly can pray for anything. What are some things we might want to pray for? (Let them answer.) There are all kinds of things we can ask God to give us. Sometimes, however, we can treat God like some kind of genie in a magic lamp. Are genies or magic lamps real? (Let them answer.) No, but it is fun to pretend, isn't it?
According to the stories, what supposedly happens if we rub a magic lamp? (Let them answer.) A genie appears and offers to give us any wish we might have. How is it we sometimes treat God like a magic genie? (Let them answer.) By asking for all kinds of things -- some of which may not be good for us.
We have an example today when the brothers James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come to Jesus and say, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." What did they want Jesus to do for them? (Let them answer.) They wanted Jesus to give them seats of honor in heaven!
Jesus could not give them what they asked for. God does not always give us what we ask for either. Sometimes we ask for the wrong thing and God must answer our prayers with a firm "no" or sometimes God answers our prayers with a "not yet." (Here you could share some personal "not yet" answers you have received in your life.)
James and John could not have what they had asked Jesus to give them. Sometimes we also cannot have every request we make of God in our prayers. But God still wants us to talk through our prayers. Let's pray now:
Dearest Lord God: Thank you for the privilege we have of talking with you anywhere, anytime about anything! Amen.
God gives us a lot of freedom in prayer. We truly can pray for anything. What are some things we might want to pray for? (Let them answer.) There are all kinds of things we can ask God to give us. Sometimes, however, we can treat God like some kind of genie in a magic lamp. Are genies or magic lamps real? (Let them answer.) No, but it is fun to pretend, isn't it?
According to the stories, what supposedly happens if we rub a magic lamp? (Let them answer.) A genie appears and offers to give us any wish we might have. How is it we sometimes treat God like a magic genie? (Let them answer.) By asking for all kinds of things -- some of which may not be good for us.
We have an example today when the brothers James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come to Jesus and say, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." What did they want Jesus to do for them? (Let them answer.) They wanted Jesus to give them seats of honor in heaven!
Jesus could not give them what they asked for. God does not always give us what we ask for either. Sometimes we ask for the wrong thing and God must answer our prayers with a firm "no" or sometimes God answers our prayers with a "not yet." (Here you could share some personal "not yet" answers you have received in your life.)
James and John could not have what they had asked Jesus to give them. Sometimes we also cannot have every request we make of God in our prayers. But God still wants us to talk through our prayers. Let's pray now:
Dearest Lord God: Thank you for the privilege we have of talking with you anywhere, anytime about anything! Amen.
