The peanut butter
Children's sermon
Object:
peanut butter and jelly sandwich makings (bread, peanut butter, jelly) and a knife
I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (v. 11)
Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to talk about a man chosen by God to introduce Jesus to the world. His name was John the Baptist. Has anyone heard of John the Baptist? (let them answer) What did he do? What was he like? (let them answer) Very good! John was a preacher who lived alone in the desert and baptized people. He wore a camel hair suit with a leather belt and he ate fruit from a locust tree with some wild honey made by bees.
Everyone wanted to hear John speak. He talked about the kingdom of heaven and how close it was to everyone. But John did not preach quietly. Instead he roared that people should repent for their sins and be baptized. He baptized many people in the Jordan River. This baptism was to wash away their sins and to confess to God that they had broken his laws many times. These people needed to change and live their lives in a better way.
The people of Israel remembered a promise God had made that someday a Messiah would come and make a new kingdom for the people who believed in God. Some of the people thought John might be that person. When asked if he was the Messiah, John said, "No, someone else is coming who is much greater than I am."
Let me show you what I mean. How many of you like peanut butter? (let them answer) I have the ingredients to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich here. I want you to watch me closely because I know how to make a really good peanut butter and jelly sandwich. (take out the bread and spread the jelly on it very carefully; then cut it in half and offer someone the sandwich) What's wrong? You say I left something out? What did I leave out of the sandwich? (let them answer) That's right, the peanut butter is missing!
Jesus is like the peanut butter in my sandwich. Something is missing without him. John the Baptist made people aware that they had sinned against God and needed to repent. But when Jesus came he recognized that people were repenting. With their baptism, he also made the people part of God's family and gave them the gift of eternal life.
The next time you have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, remember that the real gift is the peanut butter. Jesus not only forgives but gives each person the gift of the Spirit and the promise to live in the kingdom of God.
Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to talk about a man chosen by God to introduce Jesus to the world. His name was John the Baptist. Has anyone heard of John the Baptist? (let them answer) What did he do? What was he like? (let them answer) Very good! John was a preacher who lived alone in the desert and baptized people. He wore a camel hair suit with a leather belt and he ate fruit from a locust tree with some wild honey made by bees.
Everyone wanted to hear John speak. He talked about the kingdom of heaven and how close it was to everyone. But John did not preach quietly. Instead he roared that people should repent for their sins and be baptized. He baptized many people in the Jordan River. This baptism was to wash away their sins and to confess to God that they had broken his laws many times. These people needed to change and live their lives in a better way.
The people of Israel remembered a promise God had made that someday a Messiah would come and make a new kingdom for the people who believed in God. Some of the people thought John might be that person. When asked if he was the Messiah, John said, "No, someone else is coming who is much greater than I am."
Let me show you what I mean. How many of you like peanut butter? (let them answer) I have the ingredients to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich here. I want you to watch me closely because I know how to make a really good peanut butter and jelly sandwich. (take out the bread and spread the jelly on it very carefully; then cut it in half and offer someone the sandwich) What's wrong? You say I left something out? What did I leave out of the sandwich? (let them answer) That's right, the peanut butter is missing!
Jesus is like the peanut butter in my sandwich. Something is missing without him. John the Baptist made people aware that they had sinned against God and needed to repent. But when Jesus came he recognized that people were repenting. With their baptism, he also made the people part of God's family and gave them the gift of eternal life.
The next time you have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, remember that the real gift is the peanut butter. Jesus not only forgives but gives each person the gift of the Spirit and the promise to live in the kingdom of God.
