Secret meeting
Children's sermon
Object:
a hat, a pair of gloves, a pair of glasses, a pair of
binoculars
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the
Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath, they were watching him closely. (v.
1)
Good morning, boys and girls. Is there anyone here that would like to be a spy or a private detective? (let them answer) Today, we are going to listen in on a conversation that Jesus had with a Pharisee. Jesus was invited to the house of this very important person in town and that was quite unusual. Most of the Pharisees disliked Jesus, but this man wanted to see what Jesus was really like.
(Choose one child to be your secret agent.) I brought along a disguise for you to wear including a hat and some gloves and a pair of glasses. I also brought some binoculars in case you can't get close and you have to read lips. (see that your secret agent is in their disguise and has the binoculars) Very good! Now, I want you to watch Jesus and the Pharisee and see how they act toward each other. I want you to listen carefully and tell us what you hear them say to each other. The rest of us are going to be very quiet. Remember, the Pharisee thinks he is a very important person and he has invited Jesus to see what he has to say and how he acts. That is what we want to hear about. Do you have any questions? Okay, then let's imagine we are close to a wall outside of the Pharisee's private home and they are getting ready to eat lunch at an outside table. There is a short wall where you will have to look between the flowers and plants.
Now, let's be quiet and we will see what is going on. Our secret agent will pass on what he/she hears. (Keep everyone very still and whisper to the secret agent. Give them some leading questions like, "What is the Pharisee wearing?" or "Have they started to eat?" or "Is Jesus sitting close to the Pharisee?" or "What is Jesus wearing?" You can ask if Jesus looks scared or is the Pharisee getting upset with what Jesus is teaching. Questions like this should tell a story.) Boys and girls, what do you think? How did our secret agent do? (let them answer) He/she did great. Was it a good meeting? Do you think anyone there will change the way they live? (let them answer)
What if Jesus stopped by to eat with your family? Would Jesus be welcome? (let them answer each time) Would it be important? Do you think other people might be watching how you acted and what you said? Would that kind of meeting with Jesus change your life? Do you think that Jesus would feel good about visiting your house and listening to you say grace and talk about things at lunch or dinner? Would your parents be different? Those are the big questions, aren't they?
The next time you sit down to eat, invite Jesus to share your meal and see what a great experience it might be. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. Is there anyone here that would like to be a spy or a private detective? (let them answer) Today, we are going to listen in on a conversation that Jesus had with a Pharisee. Jesus was invited to the house of this very important person in town and that was quite unusual. Most of the Pharisees disliked Jesus, but this man wanted to see what Jesus was really like.
(Choose one child to be your secret agent.) I brought along a disguise for you to wear including a hat and some gloves and a pair of glasses. I also brought some binoculars in case you can't get close and you have to read lips. (see that your secret agent is in their disguise and has the binoculars) Very good! Now, I want you to watch Jesus and the Pharisee and see how they act toward each other. I want you to listen carefully and tell us what you hear them say to each other. The rest of us are going to be very quiet. Remember, the Pharisee thinks he is a very important person and he has invited Jesus to see what he has to say and how he acts. That is what we want to hear about. Do you have any questions? Okay, then let's imagine we are close to a wall outside of the Pharisee's private home and they are getting ready to eat lunch at an outside table. There is a short wall where you will have to look between the flowers and plants.
Now, let's be quiet and we will see what is going on. Our secret agent will pass on what he/she hears. (Keep everyone very still and whisper to the secret agent. Give them some leading questions like, "What is the Pharisee wearing?" or "Have they started to eat?" or "Is Jesus sitting close to the Pharisee?" or "What is Jesus wearing?" You can ask if Jesus looks scared or is the Pharisee getting upset with what Jesus is teaching. Questions like this should tell a story.) Boys and girls, what do you think? How did our secret agent do? (let them answer) He/she did great. Was it a good meeting? Do you think anyone there will change the way they live? (let them answer)
What if Jesus stopped by to eat with your family? Would Jesus be welcome? (let them answer each time) Would it be important? Do you think other people might be watching how you acted and what you said? Would that kind of meeting with Jesus change your life? Do you think that Jesus would feel good about visiting your house and listening to you say grace and talk about things at lunch or dinner? Would your parents be different? Those are the big questions, aren't they?
The next time you sit down to eat, invite Jesus to share your meal and see what a great experience it might be. Amen.
