Seeing Jesus Today
Children's sermon
Object:
A sad, haggard, smiley face (approximately one foot in diameter) on one side of a circular cardboard piece and a happy smiley face titled “Jesus” on the opposite side that may be attached to a popsicle type stick.
“...come you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you...” (v. 34b)
Good morning girls and boys,
It's so good to see you this morning. I hope you are fine. Let's see a great big smile. (children smile broadly) Now let's give God a big smile. (motion towards the cross and so on)
Children, have you ever wondered what Jesus looked like? We have many artists who have sketched, painted, or sculpted a likeness of Jesus. They are all guesses of course. We have no photograph of Jesus. Was Jesus tall or short - fat or skinny? Light skinned complexion or dark skinned? We don't really know his physical likeness, but we do know what Jesus looks like in another way! You know what that way is? (children may or may not have ideas)
Before we actually find and see Jesus today I want you to meet someone. (show the sad smiley face side) This person has had a tough life. He/she is homeless, been in prison, is hungry, thirsty, naked, a stranger wherever he/she goes.
His/her name is sad Sam (Samantha).
In one of Jesus' parables he pictures the Son of Man (that's another title for Jesus) at the last judgment day. Jesus, as the judging king, compliments the gathered people for doing good deeds to him. They ask how in the world did we do good deeds to you Jesus?
Jesus the judging king says just as you did it to one the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. (flip the smiley face to the “Jesus” side)
So girls and boys whenever we do good to the homeless, to the hungry, to the thirsty, to strangers, to the naked and to those who are in prison we are doing it to Jesus.
That's what Jesus looks like today.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we see you every day in the faces and lives of the poor,
Help us to be kind to them, help them and above all love them. Amen.
Good morning girls and boys,
It's so good to see you this morning. I hope you are fine. Let's see a great big smile. (children smile broadly) Now let's give God a big smile. (motion towards the cross and so on)
Children, have you ever wondered what Jesus looked like? We have many artists who have sketched, painted, or sculpted a likeness of Jesus. They are all guesses of course. We have no photograph of Jesus. Was Jesus tall or short - fat or skinny? Light skinned complexion or dark skinned? We don't really know his physical likeness, but we do know what Jesus looks like in another way! You know what that way is? (children may or may not have ideas)
Before we actually find and see Jesus today I want you to meet someone. (show the sad smiley face side) This person has had a tough life. He/she is homeless, been in prison, is hungry, thirsty, naked, a stranger wherever he/she goes.
His/her name is sad Sam (Samantha).
In one of Jesus' parables he pictures the Son of Man (that's another title for Jesus) at the last judgment day. Jesus, as the judging king, compliments the gathered people for doing good deeds to him. They ask how in the world did we do good deeds to you Jesus?
Jesus the judging king says just as you did it to one the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. (flip the smiley face to the “Jesus” side)
So girls and boys whenever we do good to the homeless, to the hungry, to the thirsty, to strangers, to the naked and to those who are in prison we are doing it to Jesus.
That's what Jesus looks like today.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we see you every day in the faces and lives of the poor,
Help us to be kind to them, help them and above all love them. Amen.
