God's house is special
Children's sermon
Object:
a bar of soap, washcloth, towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, and comb
Good morning, boys and girls. It seems like a special day to me today. Does it seem special to you? (let them answer) I guess every time I come to church the day seems special. I really look forward to seeing you every Sunday. You make it special for me.
I wonder if any of you brought with you today the things I brought with me. (open your bag and take out the items one by one) Did anyone here bring his or her soap, washcloth, and towel? (let them answer) You didn't? Is that why I can't find the water that I need? Isn't this the place where you wash your face and hands? (let them answer) This isn't the place? Maybe I could brush my teeth here! I have my toothbrush and toothpaste. Would this be a good place? (let them answer) This isn't a good place for brushing your teeth? Has anyone seen a mirror? (let them answer) I have my comb and I thought I would make sure that my hair was combed correctly. I suppose this isn't the place to comb my hair. Where do you comb your hair, brush your teeth, and wash your face and hands? (let them answer) The bathroom! That's the place you do these things. So you never come to church to brush your teeth, comb your hair, or wash your face and hands? (let them answer) Now, I understand.
The reason that I did this was to get you ready to hear a story about Jesus. Jesus went to church one day and he saw something that really upset him. He came to church so that he could pray and read from the scriptures. But instead there were a lot of people doing other things. They were selling animals like doves, sheep, and cattle. There was a lot of money being used and making noise. Do you think it would be pretty noisy in here if there were sheep, cows, donkeys, and birds and everyone yelling at the top of their voices, "Two doves for the price of one?" Or maybe someone would say, "Buy your sheep here, fine wool, healthy, no defects or blemishes." Would you like to try to pray and sing hymns with someone yelling, "Special sale on all cows with black eyes and floppy ears"? (let them answer) I don't think so. And neither did Jesus. He told the people that God's house was a place for worship and not a place to sell animals or anything else.
This isn't a place to wash your face and hands, brush your teeth, comb your hair, or sell doves, sheep, and cattle. Jesus said anyone wanting to do these things should find another place. He told them this was God's house.
So the next time you take out your toothbrush remember where you should brush your teeth and at the same time remember why you come to church. God's church is a place of prayer, singing hymns, and reading the scriptures.
I wonder if any of you brought with you today the things I brought with me. (open your bag and take out the items one by one) Did anyone here bring his or her soap, washcloth, and towel? (let them answer) You didn't? Is that why I can't find the water that I need? Isn't this the place where you wash your face and hands? (let them answer) This isn't the place? Maybe I could brush my teeth here! I have my toothbrush and toothpaste. Would this be a good place? (let them answer) This isn't a good place for brushing your teeth? Has anyone seen a mirror? (let them answer) I have my comb and I thought I would make sure that my hair was combed correctly. I suppose this isn't the place to comb my hair. Where do you comb your hair, brush your teeth, and wash your face and hands? (let them answer) The bathroom! That's the place you do these things. So you never come to church to brush your teeth, comb your hair, or wash your face and hands? (let them answer) Now, I understand.
The reason that I did this was to get you ready to hear a story about Jesus. Jesus went to church one day and he saw something that really upset him. He came to church so that he could pray and read from the scriptures. But instead there were a lot of people doing other things. They were selling animals like doves, sheep, and cattle. There was a lot of money being used and making noise. Do you think it would be pretty noisy in here if there were sheep, cows, donkeys, and birds and everyone yelling at the top of their voices, "Two doves for the price of one?" Or maybe someone would say, "Buy your sheep here, fine wool, healthy, no defects or blemishes." Would you like to try to pray and sing hymns with someone yelling, "Special sale on all cows with black eyes and floppy ears"? (let them answer) I don't think so. And neither did Jesus. He told the people that God's house was a place for worship and not a place to sell animals or anything else.
This isn't a place to wash your face and hands, brush your teeth, comb your hair, or sell doves, sheep, and cattle. Jesus said anyone wanting to do these things should find another place. He told them this was God's house.
So the next time you take out your toothbrush remember where you should brush your teeth and at the same time remember why you come to church. God's church is a place of prayer, singing hymns, and reading the scriptures.
