Looking for heaven
Children's sermon
Object:
eyeglasses, a magnifying glass, binoculars, a telescope
Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to look for something special. We don't have a long time so we will begin immediately. I am looking for heaven and I would like to have your help. Has anyone seen heaven? (let them answer) Now, I don't mean the sky; I mean heaven. Has anyone here seen heaven? (let them answer) Maybe it is my eyes. Does anyone here wear glasses? (choose a child with glasses or borrow someone's glasses and put them on a child) Does that help? Do you see heaven? (let the child answer) I brought along a big magnifying glass. Is there anyone here who would take this magnifying glass and see if it helps find heaven? (choose another child) Do you see heaven? (let him/her answer) Still can't see it, can you? How about binoculars? They are supposed to make something very far away look like it was close. (choose another child) Now don't forget what you are looking for. Do you see heaven? (let him/her answer) I have one more thing to try. How many of you know what this is? (show them a telescope) This is big; we call it a telescope and it is what astronomers use to study the stars. Who would like to use the telescope? (let a child look through the telescope)
In the Bible it says that Jesus looked up to heaven. What do you think Jesus saw when he looked up to heaven? (let them answer) Did he see something special like a beautiful city? (let them answer) Did he see people who had died walking around and visiting? (let them answer) Did he see God? (let them answer) We don't know what he saw, but looking to heaven meant something special to Jesus and it is special to us. Heaven is not the sky, or the stars in the sky, or the sun or the moon or any of the planets. Heaven is a place where God works and shares his love with people. It is a wonderful place where God uses his special power to heal and to forgive and to do all of the things that God does for us and for the entire world.
When Jesus looked to heaven he was thanking God for being such a wonderful blessing for all of us. This time he asked God to heal a person who could not hear or speak plainly. And do you know what God did? (let them answer) That's right; God healed the man and gave him perfect healing and perfect speech.
So the next time you wonder where heaven is or where God lives, don't think of a place but rather think of God as working to give us courage, power, forgiveness, strength, and love. God is working within us and in the world to bring good and joy to all of us.
In the Bible it says that Jesus looked up to heaven. What do you think Jesus saw when he looked up to heaven? (let them answer) Did he see something special like a beautiful city? (let them answer) Did he see people who had died walking around and visiting? (let them answer) Did he see God? (let them answer) We don't know what he saw, but looking to heaven meant something special to Jesus and it is special to us. Heaven is not the sky, or the stars in the sky, or the sun or the moon or any of the planets. Heaven is a place where God works and shares his love with people. It is a wonderful place where God uses his special power to heal and to forgive and to do all of the things that God does for us and for the entire world.
When Jesus looked to heaven he was thanking God for being such a wonderful blessing for all of us. This time he asked God to heal a person who could not hear or speak plainly. And do you know what God did? (let them answer) That's right; God healed the man and gave him perfect healing and perfect speech.
So the next time you wonder where heaven is or where God lives, don't think of a place but rather think of God as working to give us courage, power, forgiveness, strength, and love. God is working within us and in the world to bring good and joy to all of us.
