A shine that does not fade
Children's sermon
Object:
three pieces of silver -- a piece that is tarnished, one that is prepped with silver polish, and a piece that has been polished
Good morning, boys and girls. Do you know what we call today in the life of our church? (let them answer) That's right, we call today All Saints' Sunday. On All Saints' Sunday we remember saints but we also remember some people that you probably knew. We honor the memory today of all the members of our church who died last year. Some of them may have been your grandmothers or grandfathers or other people that you knew really well.
They may have been your grandmothers or grandfathers. They may have been old and did not hear as well as you do. They may not have been able to see as well as you do. They could not run as fast you do, but they were very special people. They loved God and God loved them. Sometimes when we get old, we get kind of rusty or tarnished. Let me show you what I mean.
I brought along some pieces of silver. Isn't it beautiful? It kind of reminds me of you. It is fresh, clean, and beautiful. But let's take a look at another piece of silver. It started out just like the first piece, but it has a lot of wear and it is not so pretty. It has spots and has changed color and it is not anything you would want to show off. I brought along another piece of silver. Someone wants to take a piece of silver like the last one I showed you and clean it up. Someone wants it to look as pretty as this piece that has been polished. It is prettier than the first piece.
God promises us that he will do the same with all who believe in him. God says that he will make all things new. God said he would take us just the way we are and make us better than we were when we were born into this world.
Maybe you remember how your grandfather and grandmother looked before they died. Or maybe you remember an old neighbor or friend who died this past year. Maybe you remember how sad some people felt when they died. God has claimed those people and called them saints. He has changed them into something better. They are even prettier than my best silver.
So the next time you think about one of our church members who has died or some neighbor who has died, I want you to think about how God makes them new again. That's why we celebrate All Saints' Day, because we want to remember those who have died and also thank God for making them new again in Jesus.
They may have been your grandmothers or grandfathers. They may have been old and did not hear as well as you do. They may not have been able to see as well as you do. They could not run as fast you do, but they were very special people. They loved God and God loved them. Sometimes when we get old, we get kind of rusty or tarnished. Let me show you what I mean.
I brought along some pieces of silver. Isn't it beautiful? It kind of reminds me of you. It is fresh, clean, and beautiful. But let's take a look at another piece of silver. It started out just like the first piece, but it has a lot of wear and it is not so pretty. It has spots and has changed color and it is not anything you would want to show off. I brought along another piece of silver. Someone wants to take a piece of silver like the last one I showed you and clean it up. Someone wants it to look as pretty as this piece that has been polished. It is prettier than the first piece.
God promises us that he will do the same with all who believe in him. God says that he will make all things new. God said he would take us just the way we are and make us better than we were when we were born into this world.
Maybe you remember how your grandfather and grandmother looked before they died. Or maybe you remember an old neighbor or friend who died this past year. Maybe you remember how sad some people felt when they died. God has claimed those people and called them saints. He has changed them into something better. They are even prettier than my best silver.
So the next time you think about one of our church members who has died or some neighbor who has died, I want you to think about how God makes them new again. That's why we celebrate All Saints' Day, because we want to remember those who have died and also thank God for making them new again in Jesus.
