Pleased as punch
Children's sermon
Object:
a punch bowl
Good morning, boys and girls. I brought a punch bowl today. How many of you have a punch bowl at your house? (wait for a show of hands) Do you have a punch bowl at your supper table each night? (let them answer) No, not usually. How about at Sunday dinner? (let them answer) No, not usually at Sunday dinner either. When do you usually use a punch bowl? (let them answer) It's usually for a celebration. It might be a wedding. Sometimes at an open house when someone is being honored, there might be a punch bowl. Some people have parties around the holidays and they might have a punch bowl there. Punch bowls usually mean a special occasion of some sort.
Our lesson today is about a very special occasion. It was when Jesus was baptized. The Bible says that a voice came from heaven and said, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." I thought of the expression that people used to use a long time ago when they were very happy about something. They would say they were "as pleased as punch." That made me think of the punch bowl and celebrations and how a person must feel when they are the one being honored. Have you ever had a special party just for you? Maybe your birthday? (let them answer) It makes you feel very special and proud. Sometimes when a baby is baptized, there's a special party, maybe with a punch bowl, to honor the baby. Do you think the baby realizes that the party is for the baby? (let them answer) No, but usually there are pictures and then when the baby grows up, he or she can see the pictures. When a young person is confirmed at church, sometimes there is a special party, maybe with a punch bowl. It makes the person who is honored feel special. Sometimes people even say the same thing the Bible says God said to Jesus, "I'm very pleased with you!" It's something you have done. Maybe it is just as simple as doing a good job setting the table, making your bed, or picking up your toys. When someone says they are pleased with you, it feels good. It makes you want to do a good job all the time because it feels good to have someone tell you they are pleased. I think Jesus felt good, too, to know God was pleased with him. It made his baptism a special celebration.
Our lesson today is about a very special occasion. It was when Jesus was baptized. The Bible says that a voice came from heaven and said, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." I thought of the expression that people used to use a long time ago when they were very happy about something. They would say they were "as pleased as punch." That made me think of the punch bowl and celebrations and how a person must feel when they are the one being honored. Have you ever had a special party just for you? Maybe your birthday? (let them answer) It makes you feel very special and proud. Sometimes when a baby is baptized, there's a special party, maybe with a punch bowl, to honor the baby. Do you think the baby realizes that the party is for the baby? (let them answer) No, but usually there are pictures and then when the baby grows up, he or she can see the pictures. When a young person is confirmed at church, sometimes there is a special party, maybe with a punch bowl. It makes the person who is honored feel special. Sometimes people even say the same thing the Bible says God said to Jesus, "I'm very pleased with you!" It's something you have done. Maybe it is just as simple as doing a good job setting the table, making your bed, or picking up your toys. When someone says they are pleased with you, it feels good. It makes you want to do a good job all the time because it feels good to have someone tell you they are pleased. I think Jesus felt good, too, to know God was pleased with him. It made his baptism a special celebration.
