Strength from God
Children's sermon
Object:
bottles of water dressed up like people (use doll clothes or just paper drawings) and food coloring
Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. (v. 10)
Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to talk about problems that cause us to be less than we want to be. For instance, how many of you have had a fight with your brother or sister or friend this week? (let them answer) A lot of us have and I know we don't like to fight with them. How many of you have felt selfish some time last week? Do you remember when you didn't share? (let them answer) Did anyone say something bad to their mother and father this week? (let them answer) Some of us had a really bad week, didn't we? (let them answer)
I want to introduce you to some friends I brought along with me today. This is Fred, this is Ethel, and this is Pete. They are all friends of mine, but they have had a bad week, also. Fred wanted his friend to think he was really special, so he told a lie. It wasn't a very big lie, but it was a lie. Fred said that his bike was so fast that he could go eighty miles an hour, faster than most cars, and so fast that the police could not catch him. His friend didn't believe him and, before long, they were not talking to one another. Fred was sorry he lied. Inside he felt very weak.
Ethel also had a bad week. Her mom bought her some pretty doll clothes. Ethel dressed her dolls and then took them to her room. Her sister, Margie, asked if she could play with the dolls, also. Ethel told her to go away and pushed her out of the room. Soon, Ethel's mother came and took away the dolls because the sisters wouldn't share. Ethel had a problem, or let's say, she had a weakness.
And then there is Pete. Pete says really bad things to his parents. He is always sorry that he says those things, but he keeps forgetting and he says them over and over again. Pete is in a lot of trouble. He is weak, too.
One day, Fred, Ethel, and Pete went to Sunday school and the teacher told them about how Jesus could really help people who were weak. The teacher told them they were weak and needed new strength. The teacher said it was a little like this. (show the bottles of water to the children)
This is very weak water. It is plain and filled with weakness. But Jesus wants to give his strength to Fred, Ethel, and Pete so he joins them in their life. (pour the food coloring in the bottles) Jesus kind of shakes us up (shake the bottles) and the first thing you know the weak water is now filled with the life of Jesus and everyone is strong. Fred tries very hard not to lie, Ethel doesn't want to be selfish, and Pete is thinking of nice things to say to his mom and dad. Just think, when we are weak Jesus gives us his strength. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to talk about problems that cause us to be less than we want to be. For instance, how many of you have had a fight with your brother or sister or friend this week? (let them answer) A lot of us have and I know we don't like to fight with them. How many of you have felt selfish some time last week? Do you remember when you didn't share? (let them answer) Did anyone say something bad to their mother and father this week? (let them answer) Some of us had a really bad week, didn't we? (let them answer)
I want to introduce you to some friends I brought along with me today. This is Fred, this is Ethel, and this is Pete. They are all friends of mine, but they have had a bad week, also. Fred wanted his friend to think he was really special, so he told a lie. It wasn't a very big lie, but it was a lie. Fred said that his bike was so fast that he could go eighty miles an hour, faster than most cars, and so fast that the police could not catch him. His friend didn't believe him and, before long, they were not talking to one another. Fred was sorry he lied. Inside he felt very weak.
Ethel also had a bad week. Her mom bought her some pretty doll clothes. Ethel dressed her dolls and then took them to her room. Her sister, Margie, asked if she could play with the dolls, also. Ethel told her to go away and pushed her out of the room. Soon, Ethel's mother came and took away the dolls because the sisters wouldn't share. Ethel had a problem, or let's say, she had a weakness.
And then there is Pete. Pete says really bad things to his parents. He is always sorry that he says those things, but he keeps forgetting and he says them over and over again. Pete is in a lot of trouble. He is weak, too.
One day, Fred, Ethel, and Pete went to Sunday school and the teacher told them about how Jesus could really help people who were weak. The teacher told them they were weak and needed new strength. The teacher said it was a little like this. (show the bottles of water to the children)
This is very weak water. It is plain and filled with weakness. But Jesus wants to give his strength to Fred, Ethel, and Pete so he joins them in their life. (pour the food coloring in the bottles) Jesus kind of shakes us up (shake the bottles) and the first thing you know the weak water is now filled with the life of Jesus and everyone is strong. Fred tries very hard not to lie, Ethel doesn't want to be selfish, and Pete is thinking of nice things to say to his mom and dad. Just think, when we are weak Jesus gives us his strength. Amen.
