I am the vine
Children's sermon
Object:
a flowering plant, pruning shears, and perhaps a gardener
Good morning, boys and girls. Today, we want to do some research and find out why some plants look really healthy and other plants do not. How many of you love beautiful plants? (let them answer) I thought so. Almost everyone likes a healthy plant. (show the plant) When the leaves are green and the stem is straight and the flowers are brilliant in their color, then we all like to look at them.
I brought a friend with me today who has a wonderful garden with many different plants and flowers and some trees. She pays a lot of attention to her plants, flowers, and trees. I want her to tell you a little bit about one of the things that she does to keep her plants, flowers, and trees looking so beautiful. (ask your gardener to explain how she prunes her plants and the results that she gets from doing so) Thank you very much for showing us how to take care of our plants when we are pruning. This is a valuable lesson.
Jesus once described himself as a plant but not the whole plant. He called himself the vine or the stem. He told everyone that the stem was very important to the life of every branch and every leaf and flower. The food and water go through the stem to make the branches healthy and the leaves strong and the flowers beautiful. Of course, Jesus said that the Father was the vinegrower or plant grower.
If a branch is sick or dies it is removed from the stem. If the branch does not grow leaves or flowers, it is pruned right off of the plant. The reason is that when the branch is not growing it is taking strength from the vine.
The reason Jesus told this story is because it is the same with life. God gives us all talents, things to share with others. We are to be like the leaves and the flowers. We should be strong and brilliant for Jesus and for the Father God. If we are not making God look good, or we are doing him harm, then we will be cut away from Jesus and the Father God.
What is your gift or talent? (let them answer) Are you generous and kind? Do you help others that need your help? Do you bring friends to Jesus? Do you love and respect your mother and father? Do you tell the truth? Are you honest? Are you learning more and more about God or are you just drifting along taking all you can get from Jesus, but not sharing his love with anyone? If you are all of the good things we talked about, then you are a brilliant flower, but if you are just taking from Jesus, then you will be pruned away from the branch and left along the ground.
Pretty important to know whom you are and where you are with the vine, Jesus Christ. Amen.
I brought a friend with me today who has a wonderful garden with many different plants and flowers and some trees. She pays a lot of attention to her plants, flowers, and trees. I want her to tell you a little bit about one of the things that she does to keep her plants, flowers, and trees looking so beautiful. (ask your gardener to explain how she prunes her plants and the results that she gets from doing so) Thank you very much for showing us how to take care of our plants when we are pruning. This is a valuable lesson.
Jesus once described himself as a plant but not the whole plant. He called himself the vine or the stem. He told everyone that the stem was very important to the life of every branch and every leaf and flower. The food and water go through the stem to make the branches healthy and the leaves strong and the flowers beautiful. Of course, Jesus said that the Father was the vinegrower or plant grower.
If a branch is sick or dies it is removed from the stem. If the branch does not grow leaves or flowers, it is pruned right off of the plant. The reason is that when the branch is not growing it is taking strength from the vine.
The reason Jesus told this story is because it is the same with life. God gives us all talents, things to share with others. We are to be like the leaves and the flowers. We should be strong and brilliant for Jesus and for the Father God. If we are not making God look good, or we are doing him harm, then we will be cut away from Jesus and the Father God.
What is your gift or talent? (let them answer) Are you generous and kind? Do you help others that need your help? Do you bring friends to Jesus? Do you love and respect your mother and father? Do you tell the truth? Are you honest? Are you learning more and more about God or are you just drifting along taking all you can get from Jesus, but not sharing his love with anyone? If you are all of the good things we talked about, then you are a brilliant flower, but if you are just taking from Jesus, then you will be pruned away from the branch and left along the ground.
Pretty important to know whom you are and where you are with the vine, Jesus Christ. Amen.
