Here, there, and everywhere
Children's sermon
Object:
a microphone and a radio
Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to answer this question, "Why did Jesus leave us after he was raised from the dead?" Do you think that is a good question? (let them answer) Remember Jesus did not stay here on earth after his death and resurrection. Instead he told his disciples that he was going back to heaven to live again with his Father. I can tell you the disciples were disappointed, but when Jesus told them why he was leaving them, they finally understood.
Let's suppose that I have something important to say and I want a lot of people to know about it at the same time. (Take one child apart from the group and tell him/her, "I want to meet everyone in the city in 10 minutes at the airport." Then, ask him/her to start telling everyone in each pew the same thing and let him/her get started.)
I asked our friend to deliver a special message to everyone. He/she is pretty quick, but he/she needs to contact (the number of people that live in your community) in a hurry. I wonder if he/she will get the job done. So far he/she is only to the third pew in the church. Does anyone have any suggestions how we can speed this up? (let them answer) Do you think if I made my announcement on the radio that everyone in town will hear it? (let them answer) What about the people that are not listening to the radio or do not have a radio? Will they get the message? (let them answer) I don't think so.
This is kind of the way Jesus felt. He wanted to be everywhere at once and not just with one small group. If Jesus were living on earth today and he was in Jerusalem or New York City, we would want him here with us. And other people in San Francisco would want him there. It just would not work.
So God had a wonderful plan and he asked Jesus to tell the disciples and everyone else that he could. God said he would send his Spirit who could be everywhere and anywhere he wanted to be at the same time. Remember the Holy Spirit is here and in New Orleans and Dallas and London and everywhere else at the same time.
So that was God's plan. Jesus went back to his Father and sent the Spirit and now the Word of God is everywhere it wants to be and is there every moment of every day of every year. The Spirit of God is with us in this very room and in every other room in the city right now.
Let's suppose that I have something important to say and I want a lot of people to know about it at the same time. (Take one child apart from the group and tell him/her, "I want to meet everyone in the city in 10 minutes at the airport." Then, ask him/her to start telling everyone in each pew the same thing and let him/her get started.)
I asked our friend to deliver a special message to everyone. He/she is pretty quick, but he/she needs to contact (the number of people that live in your community) in a hurry. I wonder if he/she will get the job done. So far he/she is only to the third pew in the church. Does anyone have any suggestions how we can speed this up? (let them answer) Do you think if I made my announcement on the radio that everyone in town will hear it? (let them answer) What about the people that are not listening to the radio or do not have a radio? Will they get the message? (let them answer) I don't think so.
This is kind of the way Jesus felt. He wanted to be everywhere at once and not just with one small group. If Jesus were living on earth today and he was in Jerusalem or New York City, we would want him here with us. And other people in San Francisco would want him there. It just would not work.
So God had a wonderful plan and he asked Jesus to tell the disciples and everyone else that he could. God said he would send his Spirit who could be everywhere and anywhere he wanted to be at the same time. Remember the Holy Spirit is here and in New Orleans and Dallas and London and everywhere else at the same time.
So that was God's plan. Jesus went back to his Father and sent the Spirit and now the Word of God is everywhere it wants to be and is there every moment of every day of every year. The Spirit of God is with us in this very room and in every other room in the city right now.
