Just a rock
Children's sermon
Object:
a piece of coal or charcoal (a briquet would do) and a
diamond ring
We would consider this (the charcoal or piece of coal)
worthless. We don't have much use for it. We could use it for
large projects, but most of us have no use for a single piece of
charcoal. We would reject it -- throw it away.
Jesus once compared himself to a stone that is rejected. In his day most buildings were made of stone and the most important part of a building was considered the "cornerstone." Even today we consider cornerstones important. Our church even has one. Do you know where it is? (This might be an opportunity to tell about how historical articles are often placed in cornerstones and that this is the case at your church as well.)
Jesus said the people of God rejected him like they might a stone for a building. But what happened was that the rejected stone became the most important one: the cornerstone. Today I've brought with me a stone we would not consider valuable -- we would reject it. But if the same stone were put under enough pressure and heat, it would become one of these (show them the diamond). A diamond is very beautiful and expensive.
Jesus is also the most important person in the world. The people in his day rejected him -- they threw him out. But Jesus is the Son of God. The people then thought he was like a piece of charcoal -- but we see him and know him to be like a precious gem -- a diamond.
Think of how much more important and valuable Jesus is than even an expensive diamond ring. Think of how silly the people were when they rejected him. And then remember how important and valuable he is to you now.
Jesus once compared himself to a stone that is rejected. In his day most buildings were made of stone and the most important part of a building was considered the "cornerstone." Even today we consider cornerstones important. Our church even has one. Do you know where it is? (This might be an opportunity to tell about how historical articles are often placed in cornerstones and that this is the case at your church as well.)
Jesus said the people of God rejected him like they might a stone for a building. But what happened was that the rejected stone became the most important one: the cornerstone. Today I've brought with me a stone we would not consider valuable -- we would reject it. But if the same stone were put under enough pressure and heat, it would become one of these (show them the diamond). A diamond is very beautiful and expensive.
Jesus is also the most important person in the world. The people in his day rejected him -- they threw him out. But Jesus is the Son of God. The people then thought he was like a piece of charcoal -- but we see him and know him to be like a precious gem -- a diamond.
Think of how much more important and valuable Jesus is than even an expensive diamond ring. Think of how silly the people were when they rejected him. And then remember how important and valuable he is to you now.
