The just-right plan
Children's sermon
Object:
several pitchers filled with water, a container that holds just the amount of water that is in the pitchers, and a basin in which the container sits
Good morning! How many of you had a wonderful Christmas? (let them answer) Everyone loves Christmas. It is a beautiful time of the year. Now we have to wait almost another whole year before it will come again. Do you think you can wait that long? (let them answer)
I brought with me this morning a few things to help us understand why God chose the time he did to send Jesus into the world. God had a plan, a wonderful plan, and I thought maybe you would want to share in it. See if you agree. I brought a big bowl, the biggest one I have at home, and I brought along some pitchers of water.
Now I want you to imagine that this is God's plan. (begin to pour the water slowly) In the beginning, God created the world and he even made a man and a woman to live in it. God told the man and woman how he wanted them to live and they agreed to it. But one day they decided to see if they were as smart as God, and when they broke their agreement with God, they brought sin into the world. Sin was a nasty thing. No matter what happened -- like Moses receiving the 10 commandments or the Israelites falling into slavery -- the people still sinned. The Israelites were even given back their homeland, but they still fought with their neighbors and themselves. They elected kings and judges and listened to the prophets, but it still was no use; they could not get together with God. (by now the bowl should be getting close to being filled)
Finally God decided the time was just right for sending his son, Jesus, into the world. Everything just seemed to be the right time. (with this the bowl should be filled) It was on that day according to God's plan that Jesus was born into the world.
Do you wonder why we have to wait so long for Christmas? I mean if it is so good and we love it so much, why don't we have Christmas at least once a month or maybe once a week? How many of you would like to open presents once a week? How many would like to eat turkey and all of the rest of the good food once a week? How would you like to have all of the company once a week and decorate a Christmas tree once a week? How would you like to sing the Christmas carols once a week and come to special Christmas church services every week? (let them answer) Doesn't even sound like a good idea, does it? There is a right time to welcome Jesus into our hearts and to learn that he brings us forgiveness and salvation.
Now you understand that God had a plan and the plan was just right for people like you and me.
I brought with me this morning a few things to help us understand why God chose the time he did to send Jesus into the world. God had a plan, a wonderful plan, and I thought maybe you would want to share in it. See if you agree. I brought a big bowl, the biggest one I have at home, and I brought along some pitchers of water.
Now I want you to imagine that this is God's plan. (begin to pour the water slowly) In the beginning, God created the world and he even made a man and a woman to live in it. God told the man and woman how he wanted them to live and they agreed to it. But one day they decided to see if they were as smart as God, and when they broke their agreement with God, they brought sin into the world. Sin was a nasty thing. No matter what happened -- like Moses receiving the 10 commandments or the Israelites falling into slavery -- the people still sinned. The Israelites were even given back their homeland, but they still fought with their neighbors and themselves. They elected kings and judges and listened to the prophets, but it still was no use; they could not get together with God. (by now the bowl should be getting close to being filled)
Finally God decided the time was just right for sending his son, Jesus, into the world. Everything just seemed to be the right time. (with this the bowl should be filled) It was on that day according to God's plan that Jesus was born into the world.
Do you wonder why we have to wait so long for Christmas? I mean if it is so good and we love it so much, why don't we have Christmas at least once a month or maybe once a week? How many of you would like to open presents once a week? How many would like to eat turkey and all of the rest of the good food once a week? How would you like to have all of the company once a week and decorate a Christmas tree once a week? How would you like to sing the Christmas carols once a week and come to special Christmas church services every week? (let them answer) Doesn't even sound like a good idea, does it? There is a right time to welcome Jesus into our hearts and to learn that he brings us forgiveness and salvation.
Now you understand that God had a plan and the plan was just right for people like you and me.
