The Kingdom Of Surprises
Children's sermon
Object:
Eye dropper, liquid food coloring, or liquid dye, glass or jar of water
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree... (v. 31b, 32a)
Good morning girls and boys,
I have a couple of surprises for you this morning. But first, have you ever been surprised? (children answer) Have you been surprised lately? Tell about it. (kids share)
Have you ever attended a surprise birthday party for someone? Or received an unexpected gift? What fun!
Jesus told many parables about the Kingdom of Surprises. He calls them the Kingdom of Heaven. In fact, Jesus told over 50 parables that are recorded in the Gospels -- many of them about the Kingdom of Heaven.
Once Jesus told the people that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a tiny mustard seed but grows up into a large shrub. Surprise! Surprise!
Another time Jesus told the crowd that the Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour. Three measures of flour makes 10 gallons of flour so that little bit of yeast would bake enough bread to feed a hundred people or more. Surprise! And here is an example of this Kingdom of Surprises. See this tiny drop of dye? (children respond) Now watch when I put this tiny drop into this large glass of water.
See! The entire substance is changed. Surprise!
Another person Jesus told about found a treasure hidden, buried in a field. Was he surprised!
Still another person found a pearl of great value and beauty and sold everything he had to buy it. Surprise again!
Today this Kingdom of Surprises is still around, and unexpectedly pops out.
Will you children be on the watch for it? (children answer or ask questions)
So how will we spot this Kingdom of Surprises? Whenever there's kindness, honesty, forgiveness and compassion -- that's when.
Here's the biggest surprise. You are the treasure found in a field. You are the precious Pearl -- the very best of all. You are valuable and beautiful in God's eyes. Surprise!
Good morning girls and boys,
I have a couple of surprises for you this morning. But first, have you ever been surprised? (children answer) Have you been surprised lately? Tell about it. (kids share)
Have you ever attended a surprise birthday party for someone? Or received an unexpected gift? What fun!
Jesus told many parables about the Kingdom of Surprises. He calls them the Kingdom of Heaven. In fact, Jesus told over 50 parables that are recorded in the Gospels -- many of them about the Kingdom of Heaven.
Once Jesus told the people that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a tiny mustard seed but grows up into a large shrub. Surprise! Surprise!
Another time Jesus told the crowd that the Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour. Three measures of flour makes 10 gallons of flour so that little bit of yeast would bake enough bread to feed a hundred people or more. Surprise! And here is an example of this Kingdom of Surprises. See this tiny drop of dye? (children respond) Now watch when I put this tiny drop into this large glass of water.
See! The entire substance is changed. Surprise!
Another person Jesus told about found a treasure hidden, buried in a field. Was he surprised!
Still another person found a pearl of great value and beauty and sold everything he had to buy it. Surprise again!
Today this Kingdom of Surprises is still around, and unexpectedly pops out.
Will you children be on the watch for it? (children answer or ask questions)
So how will we spot this Kingdom of Surprises? Whenever there's kindness, honesty, forgiveness and compassion -- that's when.
Here's the biggest surprise. You are the treasure found in a field. You are the precious Pearl -- the very best of all. You are valuable and beautiful in God's eyes. Surprise!
