Things don't last
Children's sermon
Object:
a glass of water, some sugar cubes, and a rock
Good morning! As we read the Gospel accounts, we often hear
Jesus telling us that all the things in this world are not
permanent; they are just temporary. Now, this church building
seems substantial. Do you think it will be here forever? (Let
them answer.) That's right, it isn't going to be here forever.
Someday, it will get so old we will have to tear it down. The
house you live in and all the buildings in the world will all
wear out someday.
Now let me illustrate that for you. I have here some sugar
cubes. Let's say that this sugar cube is all your clothes. Look
what happens when I put the cube in this water and slosh it
around. What happens to it? (Let them see how it dissolves before
they answer.) And let's say that this cube is the house you live
in. Watch what happens to it. (Again, let them see it dissolve
before they answer. Do it with one or two more using other items
that they are familiar with, such as their car, school building,
and so forth.)
That's what will happen with all the "things" in the world.
They will all be destroyed or wear out and disappear someday. But
there are things that will not wear out and will never be
destroyed. What do you think that might be? (Let them answer. It
is hoped they will give answers like "Jesus," "God," "soul,"
"spirit," and so forth.) That's right. Spiritual things, the
things of God, will never go away. They are permanent! Jesus will
always be with us. He's like this rock. I put the rock in the
water and it doesn't disappear, does it? It's permanent.
That's what Jesus tells us in the Gospels. He wants us to
know that the things of God are permanent; they will never wear
out or disappear. But the things of this world are temporary.
They will not last.
So what should we be really concerned about? Material things
or spiritual things? (Let them answer.) Yes, of course. God knows
that in this life we need material things like clothes, houses,
and so forth, but He doesn't want us to worry about them. Do you
see that the most important thing in this life is to know Jesus
as your friend? (Let them answer.)
Dear Jesus: Thank you for reminding us that we need to think
about you and the permanent things of God and not worry about the
things of the world. Amen.
Jesus telling us that all the things in this world are not
permanent; they are just temporary. Now, this church building
seems substantial. Do you think it will be here forever? (Let
them answer.) That's right, it isn't going to be here forever.
Someday, it will get so old we will have to tear it down. The
house you live in and all the buildings in the world will all
wear out someday.
Now let me illustrate that for you. I have here some sugar
cubes. Let's say that this sugar cube is all your clothes. Look
what happens when I put the cube in this water and slosh it
around. What happens to it? (Let them see how it dissolves before
they answer.) And let's say that this cube is the house you live
in. Watch what happens to it. (Again, let them see it dissolve
before they answer. Do it with one or two more using other items
that they are familiar with, such as their car, school building,
and so forth.)
That's what will happen with all the "things" in the world.
They will all be destroyed or wear out and disappear someday. But
there are things that will not wear out and will never be
destroyed. What do you think that might be? (Let them answer. It
is hoped they will give answers like "Jesus," "God," "soul,"
"spirit," and so forth.) That's right. Spiritual things, the
things of God, will never go away. They are permanent! Jesus will
always be with us. He's like this rock. I put the rock in the
water and it doesn't disappear, does it? It's permanent.
That's what Jesus tells us in the Gospels. He wants us to
know that the things of God are permanent; they will never wear
out or disappear. But the things of this world are temporary.
They will not last.
So what should we be really concerned about? Material things
or spiritual things? (Let them answer.) Yes, of course. God knows
that in this life we need material things like clothes, houses,
and so forth, but He doesn't want us to worry about them. Do you
see that the most important thing in this life is to know Jesus
as your friend? (Let them answer.)
Dear Jesus: Thank you for reminding us that we need to think
about you and the permanent things of God and not worry about the
things of the world. Amen.
