Samantha and Henry
Children's sermon
Object:
some imaginary sheep
Good morning, boys and girls. Today I just brought with me my imaginary sheep, Samantha and Henry. I would like for you to meet them. (pretend to call your sheep and watch them come from one side to you) I love Samantha and Henry. They are so soft and they have such kind faces. Take a look at Samantha. Isn't she beautiful? She has such wonderful big eyes and such a perfect nose. Henry is pretty handsome also. I like the way his face is all black and his hair is so white. This is the first time they have ever been in church. Most of the time they live out at my house in the backyard. Every night I feed them a carrot before I give them their supper. While they are eating, I read them a story and stroke them very gently behind their ears while they are chewing.
Would any of you like trying to play with Samantha or Henry? (choose volunteers and have them try different things, like getting the sheep to follow them while they take a walk or encourage the sheep to lay down or rub against their leg) Isn't that funny? I wonder why neither Samantha nor Henry will take a walk with you? Maybe someone else who really likes sheep would like to try? (choose another volunteer and let them try to do one of the same things) Still doesn't work!
I wonder what the problem is? It almost always works with me. (take a walk, have them lie down and rub against your leg; with each thing you ask them to do, give the impression that the sheep are doing it) Isn't that strange? Samantha and Henry follow me when I call them, lay down when I ask them to lay down, and just rub my leg with their necks until they wear me out. I wonder why they do it for me and they won't do it for you? (let them answer) You know, I think you are right. The sheep know my voice and they know me. You are strangers to Samantha and Henry.
I guess that is what Jesus meant when he talked about being the Good Shepherd and we being his sheep. Jesus knows us and we know him. We recognize his words and feel him close to us. He takes care of us, loves us, and protects us. The next time you see my invisible sheep Henry and Samantha, you will remember how close we are to Jesus and how much he loves us.
Would any of you like trying to play with Samantha or Henry? (choose volunteers and have them try different things, like getting the sheep to follow them while they take a walk or encourage the sheep to lay down or rub against their leg) Isn't that funny? I wonder why neither Samantha nor Henry will take a walk with you? Maybe someone else who really likes sheep would like to try? (choose another volunteer and let them try to do one of the same things) Still doesn't work!
I wonder what the problem is? It almost always works with me. (take a walk, have them lie down and rub against your leg; with each thing you ask them to do, give the impression that the sheep are doing it) Isn't that strange? Samantha and Henry follow me when I call them, lay down when I ask them to lay down, and just rub my leg with their necks until they wear me out. I wonder why they do it for me and they won't do it for you? (let them answer) You know, I think you are right. The sheep know my voice and they know me. You are strangers to Samantha and Henry.
I guess that is what Jesus meant when he talked about being the Good Shepherd and we being his sheep. Jesus knows us and we know him. We recognize his words and feel him close to us. He takes care of us, loves us, and protects us. The next time you see my invisible sheep Henry and Samantha, you will remember how close we are to Jesus and how much he loves us.
