Jesus-time
Children's sermon
Object:
a suitcase mostly packed, with a few items still to put in to make it full
Good morning, boys and girls. I brought with me today something that all of us have probably seen. What do we call one of these things? (let them answer) That's right; a suitcase. Do you know when we use a suitcase? (let them answer) Very good, when we take a trip to somewhere we want to visit. When was the last time you used a suitcase? (let them answer) Very good! You used one when you went on vacation. You used yours when you visited your cousin. I suppose you know what we put in suitcases, don't you? (let them answer) That's right; our clothes.
I brought mine with me this morning because I need to finish packing. It takes a lot of work to pack a suitcase. First, you need to choose the right clothes. And you need the right amount. You can't have a clean shirt every day if you only take one shirt. You need to know how long you are going to be gone and then you must have the right amount of clothes. I have most of them packed but I just have to put in a few more. I hope they fit. It is getting pretty full. (add the remaining clothes and then make an effort to get it closed) This suitcase is pretty full. Now we can travel.
When we pack our suitcase, that is one kind of filling. I want to talk about another kind of filling, and that is about when Jesus knew that the time was right for him to begin his work with people on earth. Did you know that Jesus was about 30 years old when he began his ministry with people? (let them answer) That's right. And God planned it so that the time was just right. The Bible says that God filled the days with different promises until it was just right for Jesus. Jesus did not start his ministry when he was a baby born in Bethlehem. Jesus didn't begin it when Joseph and Mary took him to Egypt. He did not start it when he visited the temple at 12 years old. The time had to be just right. God filled up the days with other things and other people until it was just the right time, and then he told the world that it was "Jesus-time."
We are living in Jesus-time right now. Jesus told everyone that the kingdom of God began with him, and we are part of that time. Someday Jesus is going to come again and that will be another time. But right now we are living in Jesus-time. He lived and died for us so that we could believe how much God loved us. So today and tomorrow are filled with Jesus.
The next time you fill a suitcase, I want you to remember that our time is filled with Jesus. You don't have to wait to pack a suitcase to know it because it is happening every day. Jesus was sent by God to you and me so that we would better know God and share in his world.
I brought mine with me this morning because I need to finish packing. It takes a lot of work to pack a suitcase. First, you need to choose the right clothes. And you need the right amount. You can't have a clean shirt every day if you only take one shirt. You need to know how long you are going to be gone and then you must have the right amount of clothes. I have most of them packed but I just have to put in a few more. I hope they fit. It is getting pretty full. (add the remaining clothes and then make an effort to get it closed) This suitcase is pretty full. Now we can travel.
When we pack our suitcase, that is one kind of filling. I want to talk about another kind of filling, and that is about when Jesus knew that the time was right for him to begin his work with people on earth. Did you know that Jesus was about 30 years old when he began his ministry with people? (let them answer) That's right. And God planned it so that the time was just right. The Bible says that God filled the days with different promises until it was just right for Jesus. Jesus did not start his ministry when he was a baby born in Bethlehem. Jesus didn't begin it when Joseph and Mary took him to Egypt. He did not start it when he visited the temple at 12 years old. The time had to be just right. God filled up the days with other things and other people until it was just the right time, and then he told the world that it was "Jesus-time."
We are living in Jesus-time right now. Jesus told everyone that the kingdom of God began with him, and we are part of that time. Someday Jesus is going to come again and that will be another time. But right now we are living in Jesus-time. He lived and died for us so that we could believe how much God loved us. So today and tomorrow are filled with Jesus.
The next time you fill a suitcase, I want you to remember that our time is filled with Jesus. You don't have to wait to pack a suitcase to know it because it is happening every day. Jesus was sent by God to you and me so that we would better know God and share in his world.
