Table Scraps
Children's sermon
Object:
some table scraps, a small pan, and a small dog
But she answered him, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's
crumbs." (v. 28)
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have a dog? (let them answer) Do you ever feed your dog while you are eating at the table? (let them answer) Are you supposed to feed the dog when you are eating at the table? (let them answer) No, but some of you do it anyway. Does the dog eat what you give him? (let them answer)
I brought a dog with me this morning and some table scraps that I had left over from last night's dinner. I am going to put the food in this pan and see if the dog will eat it. (put the scraps into the pan and observe what happens) Wow! This dog must be hungry. He is gobbling it all down as fast as he can. Do you think your dog would eat the scraps just as fast? (let them answer) Now, the dog must go away because dogs don't know how to behave in church.
Did you notice what the dog ate? (let them answer) Very good, these were just scraps of food that I had left over from our dinner last night. I wouldn't give a dog a steak or some kind of special meat. But I would give my dog some scraps of food that I would not eat. I wouldn't give the dog your meal, either. I only give him leftover scraps that I do not want to eat.
A long time ago, there was a woman who snuck into a house where Jesus was staying. Jesus was tired and he had just been on a healing mission. All of these people were part of God's chosen people, but this lady was not. She did not pray to the same God. She lived far away and knew that she was taking a big chance when she snuck into the house. Jesus invited her to leave. She stayed. Jesus told her that he had important things to do with God's chosen people. She still stayed. Finally, Jesus told her that he could not help her because he was working with other people. The woman believed that all Jesus had to do was to listen to the story about her very sick daughter and Jesus would make her well. When Jesus heard the woman speak with such strong faith, he told her to leave the house and that her daughter was healed.
She knew that she was a stranger and was as low as a dog. She reminded Jesus that while dogs don't eat at the table, they still eat the scraps that fall to the floor. She wanted the scraps of Jesus' healing power and she believed if she got that much from Jesus that her daughter would be healed. And you know, she was right. Jesus did heal her daughter.
The next time you see your dog eating something off the floor, I want you to remember the woman that had such wonderful faith in the healing power of Jesus. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have a dog? (let them answer) Do you ever feed your dog while you are eating at the table? (let them answer) Are you supposed to feed the dog when you are eating at the table? (let them answer) No, but some of you do it anyway. Does the dog eat what you give him? (let them answer)
I brought a dog with me this morning and some table scraps that I had left over from last night's dinner. I am going to put the food in this pan and see if the dog will eat it. (put the scraps into the pan and observe what happens) Wow! This dog must be hungry. He is gobbling it all down as fast as he can. Do you think your dog would eat the scraps just as fast? (let them answer) Now, the dog must go away because dogs don't know how to behave in church.
Did you notice what the dog ate? (let them answer) Very good, these were just scraps of food that I had left over from our dinner last night. I wouldn't give a dog a steak or some kind of special meat. But I would give my dog some scraps of food that I would not eat. I wouldn't give the dog your meal, either. I only give him leftover scraps that I do not want to eat.
A long time ago, there was a woman who snuck into a house where Jesus was staying. Jesus was tired and he had just been on a healing mission. All of these people were part of God's chosen people, but this lady was not. She did not pray to the same God. She lived far away and knew that she was taking a big chance when she snuck into the house. Jesus invited her to leave. She stayed. Jesus told her that he had important things to do with God's chosen people. She still stayed. Finally, Jesus told her that he could not help her because he was working with other people. The woman believed that all Jesus had to do was to listen to the story about her very sick daughter and Jesus would make her well. When Jesus heard the woman speak with such strong faith, he told her to leave the house and that her daughter was healed.
She knew that she was a stranger and was as low as a dog. She reminded Jesus that while dogs don't eat at the table, they still eat the scraps that fall to the floor. She wanted the scraps of Jesus' healing power and she believed if she got that much from Jesus that her daughter would be healed. And you know, she was right. Jesus did heal her daughter.
The next time you see your dog eating something off the floor, I want you to remember the woman that had such wonderful faith in the healing power of Jesus. Amen.
