Retainers
Children's sermon
Object:
a retainer
When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the
Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the
sins of any, they are retained."
Good morning, boys and girls. Christ is risen! (wait for the children to respond) Don't you remember? Let's try it again. Christ is risen! (repeat it three times) We want to remember this for as long as we live. It helps us tell the world of our belief in Jesus. Today we begin to see what this resurrection meant to all of the followers of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus was an amazing act by God and everyone who heard of it and saw Jesus was amazed. Did everyone believe it? (let them answer) Not everyone believed it. Some even wanted to see proof.
If someone told you that a friend jumped in the air as high as your head, would you believe it? If he/she were a really high jumper and had jumped as high as your shoulder the last time you saw him/her jump, you might believe it. But if he/she only jumped as high as your ankle, you might want more proof.
Jesus came into the place his disciples were staying without opening the door. He was just there and they were surprised by his presence. He wished them peace and then he did something that they never forgot. Jesus breathed on them. When Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on them, he gave them a new life just as God had given life to Adam and Eve. All of the disciples received the promise of life forever with Jesus giving them the Holy Spirit. Then he said something that we will also never forget. Jesus told the disciples that their new life had great power. They had the power to give forgiveness for sin. He told them if they did not forgive someone their sin, it would be retained. I wonder what that meant?
Here is a hint. Does anyone here this morning have a retainer? (show the retainer) What do we know about someone who wears braces? (let them answer) That's right, they are correcting crooked teeth into very straight teeth. Their smile is going to be brilliant and everyone will notice the great change that the braces made for their smiles.
The next time you see someone wearing braces or wearing a retainer, I want you to think of how wonderful they are going to look in the future. I also want you to remember what you can do for people who have not accepted Jesus as their Lord. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. Christ is risen! (wait for the children to respond) Don't you remember? Let's try it again. Christ is risen! (repeat it three times) We want to remember this for as long as we live. It helps us tell the world of our belief in Jesus. Today we begin to see what this resurrection meant to all of the followers of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus was an amazing act by God and everyone who heard of it and saw Jesus was amazed. Did everyone believe it? (let them answer) Not everyone believed it. Some even wanted to see proof.
If someone told you that a friend jumped in the air as high as your head, would you believe it? If he/she were a really high jumper and had jumped as high as your shoulder the last time you saw him/her jump, you might believe it. But if he/she only jumped as high as your ankle, you might want more proof.
Jesus came into the place his disciples were staying without opening the door. He was just there and they were surprised by his presence. He wished them peace and then he did something that they never forgot. Jesus breathed on them. When Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on them, he gave them a new life just as God had given life to Adam and Eve. All of the disciples received the promise of life forever with Jesus giving them the Holy Spirit. Then he said something that we will also never forget. Jesus told the disciples that their new life had great power. They had the power to give forgiveness for sin. He told them if they did not forgive someone their sin, it would be retained. I wonder what that meant?
Here is a hint. Does anyone here this morning have a retainer? (show the retainer) What do we know about someone who wears braces? (let them answer) That's right, they are correcting crooked teeth into very straight teeth. Their smile is going to be brilliant and everyone will notice the great change that the braces made for their smiles.
The next time you see someone wearing braces or wearing a retainer, I want you to think of how wonderful they are going to look in the future. I also want you to remember what you can do for people who have not accepted Jesus as their Lord. Amen.
