Jack-in-the-box
Children's sermon
Object:
a Jack-in-the-box fixed so that the lid does not come
open
Good morning. I have here a Jack-in-the-box. How many of you
are familiar with one? Raise your hands ... I see. You know what
to expect, then, don't you? You will expect the Jack to pop out
of the box when I turn the crank. Today that will not (do not
emphasize the word "not" as you tell it) happen. Now, let's see,
what should I do? Should I turn the handle? Okay, let's do that.
(Start turning it.)
What do you think will happen? (Let them answer that they expect the Jack to pop up.) But the Jack will not pop up. I have taped it down so that the Jack cannot pop up. You expected it to pop up and everything looked like Jack would pop up again. But do you remember how I told you that the Jack would not pop up?
Jesus had told the disciples that he would suffer, die and rise again from the dead. But they had never seen a dead person rise so they forgot what he told them. They were totally surprised when Jesus came from the grave alive!
The Easter story is one of a great surprise. The dead rise. Jesus was dead, yet now he lives. That is a wonderful and great surprise. Thank you for helping me with telling that story again. And I especially want to thank Jack for not popping out of his box this morning. That always scares me.
What do you think will happen? (Let them answer that they expect the Jack to pop up.) But the Jack will not pop up. I have taped it down so that the Jack cannot pop up. You expected it to pop up and everything looked like Jack would pop up again. But do you remember how I told you that the Jack would not pop up?
Jesus had told the disciples that he would suffer, die and rise again from the dead. But they had never seen a dead person rise so they forgot what he told them. They were totally surprised when Jesus came from the grave alive!
The Easter story is one of a great surprise. The dead rise. Jesus was dead, yet now he lives. That is a wonderful and great surprise. Thank you for helping me with telling that story again. And I especially want to thank Jack for not popping out of his box this morning. That always scares me.
