The guiding light
Children's sermon
Object:
a flashlight
Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever gone into your
backyard at night and turned on a flashlight? (Let them answer.)
The flashlight helps you see in the dark, doesn't it! Flashlights
bring us light. I brought this flashlight to tell you about a man
named John. He was a messenger from God. He came to tell people
that Jesus was coming to help them. John told people that Jesus
would be like a great light in darkness. I want to tell you a
story about a family who became lost in the dark. As you listen
to my story, tell me if you can decide who is John in my story
and who is Jesus.
A family took a hike one night in the woods. As they walked it became darker and darker. Soon there was no light. They couldn't see where they were going. They were lost and frightened! Soon in the distance they saw a small light. The light was coming toward them. It was getting brighter and brighter. It was the light from a flashlight like this one. (Hold up the flashlight.) As the light became brighter they heard a voice. A man was carrying the flashlight. He asked them if they needed help. They replied that they were lost. Then the man said, "Don't worry. I have a flashlight to help you find your path." The family was very relieved. They said to the man, "You have saved us." Then the man said, "No I haven't saved you. Soon there will be a very bright light. It will be so bright that you won't even need my flashlight to see." The man was right. Soon after that the sun began to rise in the east. The sun shone so bright that the family didn't need the flashlight to see. They were able to find their way to safety by the sunlight.
Now, who can tell me which person in this story was John? (Let them answer.) John was the man with the flashlight. Who can tell me who represented Jesus? (Let them answer.) Jesus was the rising sun.
When you see a flashlight, think of John. He came to tell people that Jesus was coming. When you see the sun rise in the morning, think of Jesus. He came to save us from darkness.
A family took a hike one night in the woods. As they walked it became darker and darker. Soon there was no light. They couldn't see where they were going. They were lost and frightened! Soon in the distance they saw a small light. The light was coming toward them. It was getting brighter and brighter. It was the light from a flashlight like this one. (Hold up the flashlight.) As the light became brighter they heard a voice. A man was carrying the flashlight. He asked them if they needed help. They replied that they were lost. Then the man said, "Don't worry. I have a flashlight to help you find your path." The family was very relieved. They said to the man, "You have saved us." Then the man said, "No I haven't saved you. Soon there will be a very bright light. It will be so bright that you won't even need my flashlight to see." The man was right. Soon after that the sun began to rise in the east. The sun shone so bright that the family didn't need the flashlight to see. They were able to find their way to safety by the sunlight.
Now, who can tell me which person in this story was John? (Let them answer.) John was the man with the flashlight. Who can tell me who represented Jesus? (Let them answer.) Jesus was the rising sun.
When you see a flashlight, think of John. He came to tell people that Jesus was coming. When you see the sun rise in the morning, think of Jesus. He came to save us from darkness.
