I doubt it!
Children's sermon
Object:
A poster with a large question mark on it
Good morning, boys and girls. What does this sign mean? (Let
them answer.) It is a question mark. When you see it that means
someone is asking a question. Sometimes it means that someone
doesn't believe what you are saying. That means the person is
doubting you. It's a very common thing to have doubts about
something. If one of you told me that you don't like to play with
toys, I'd say, "I'm not so sure about that. I doubt it. I'll bet
you really like to play with toys." If one of you told me that
you didn't like candy, I would say, "I'm not so sure about that.
I doubt it. I'll bet you really like candy."
There was a man who was one of Jesus' disciples. His name was Thomas. We sometimes call him Doubting Thomas. Does anyone know why? (Let them answer.) When Jesus rose from the dead on Easter, Thomas wasn't there to see Jesus. When the disciples told Thomas that Jesus was alive, what do you think Thomas said? (Let them answer.) He said, "I don't believe it." He said, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails, and my hand in his side I will not believe."
Our lesson says that after Thomas doubted, Jesus appeared to Thomas. When Jesus appeared, Thomas had his doubts answered. Thomas believed when he saw Jesus. Like Thomas, it's okay to have questions. You have questions and doubts about many things. Thomas asked questions and he found the answers to his questions. We can't all be like Thomas, however. Jesus won't appear to us in person. We have something else to help answer our questions or doubts about God, however. We have our Christian faith. It is because of our faith, which is our trust in God, that many of our doubts are answered. Everyone has doubts from time to time. One thing is certain, even though we have doubts -- like Thomas did -- we can always trust God.
There was a man who was one of Jesus' disciples. His name was Thomas. We sometimes call him Doubting Thomas. Does anyone know why? (Let them answer.) When Jesus rose from the dead on Easter, Thomas wasn't there to see Jesus. When the disciples told Thomas that Jesus was alive, what do you think Thomas said? (Let them answer.) He said, "I don't believe it." He said, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails, and my hand in his side I will not believe."
Our lesson says that after Thomas doubted, Jesus appeared to Thomas. When Jesus appeared, Thomas had his doubts answered. Thomas believed when he saw Jesus. Like Thomas, it's okay to have questions. You have questions and doubts about many things. Thomas asked questions and he found the answers to his questions. We can't all be like Thomas, however. Jesus won't appear to us in person. We have something else to help answer our questions or doubts about God, however. We have our Christian faith. It is because of our faith, which is our trust in God, that many of our doubts are answered. Everyone has doubts from time to time. One thing is certain, even though we have doubts -- like Thomas did -- we can always trust God.
