The Light shining in darkness
Children's sermon
Object:
A flashlight
Sometimes the darkness can be frightening. Have you ever
been someplace that is very, very dark? (Let them answer.) When
it's so dark we can't see anything, that can be frightening. I
remember going to one of our national parks that is a giant cave.
Many people go to that cave every year. The cave has a nice
walkway built in it so the people can have rails to hold on to as
they go down into it. There are lights everywhere, but they are
usually placed behind stones and shining up on the various
formations of the cave so that the lights heighten their natural
beauty. Then the guide told us he was going to turn off the
lights to show us how very dark a cave is by nature. When he did
this, I opened my eyes as wide as I could but I couldn't see a
single thing. It was really dark! Then the ranger turned on a
flashlight like this. I didn't know how bright a simple
flashlight was until I saw his. Then I could see others around me
and the rocks of the cave. It made a big difference!
All of us live in darkness when it comes to knowing God. Our eyes can see just fine, but we just cannot understand God. It's like a darkness on our souls. Even though our eyes can see, our souls cannot and it's as dark as any cave for our souls.
But God fixed all that. God sent a light into the world. Do you know what Light I'm talking about? (Let them answer.) Jesus is called that Light of the world because he showed us the way out of our darkness, like the flashlight showed us what the dark cave kept hidden. It is this Light of Jesus that the apostle Paul wrote about when he wrote to the Christians living at Corinth.
Sometimes as we go through life we forget about the Light -- Jesus. Sometimes we get ourselves in very dark ways. People can get involved in lives that make them feel very bad. And then comes Jesus -- the Light. I'm so glad we know about this Light Jesus who shines in our darkness. Whenever our lives turn dark because of sin or things that happen to us, we know there is always a light we can turn on, and that Light is Jesus!
Dearest Light of the World: Shine on us now and always. Amen.
All of us live in darkness when it comes to knowing God. Our eyes can see just fine, but we just cannot understand God. It's like a darkness on our souls. Even though our eyes can see, our souls cannot and it's as dark as any cave for our souls.
But God fixed all that. God sent a light into the world. Do you know what Light I'm talking about? (Let them answer.) Jesus is called that Light of the world because he showed us the way out of our darkness, like the flashlight showed us what the dark cave kept hidden. It is this Light of Jesus that the apostle Paul wrote about when he wrote to the Christians living at Corinth.
Sometimes as we go through life we forget about the Light -- Jesus. Sometimes we get ourselves in very dark ways. People can get involved in lives that make them feel very bad. And then comes Jesus -- the Light. I'm so glad we know about this Light Jesus who shines in our darkness. Whenever our lives turn dark because of sin or things that happen to us, we know there is always a light we can turn on, and that Light is Jesus!
Dearest Light of the World: Shine on us now and always. Amen.
