Turning the world upside-down
Children's sermon
Object:
a newspaper, a picture, a clock
Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to have some fun. As a matter of fact we are going to see what the world looks like upside-down. I want you to bend over so your head is touching the floor and look through your legs. (let them assume the position) Very good! How does the world look upside-down? (let them answer) It isn't easy, is it? Okay, now you can sit back down the normal way.
If you saw me reading a newspaper like this, what would you say? (pretend to read the newspaper upside-down) The pictures and words are upside-down. This is a really different way to read the paper. Just think how hard it would be to tell time if our clocks were upside-down. When it was really 6 o'clock, the clock would say 12 o'clock. The same thing would happen if we turned all of our pictures upside-down. Pretty soon we would have to learn how to walk upside-down on the ceiling if we wanted to see things right side up.
The reason I wanted to turn things upside-down is because this is what Jesus did to the world when he gave us the Beatitudes. Jesus taught that the Beatitudes are the ways a Christian should live. (read some of the Beatitudes and substitute the word happy for blessed)
"Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Happy are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
"Happy are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
"Happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
"Happy are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
"Happy are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Happy are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
"Happy are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Happy are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
This is not the way the world teaches us to live. We are taught to be clever, strong, sad at death, and angry at people who hurt us. We are taught to be fighters and not peacemakers. But the way Jesus taught is a lesson most of us are still trying to learn.
The next time you look at things upside-down think about Jesus and how he changed the world with his new teachings.
If you saw me reading a newspaper like this, what would you say? (pretend to read the newspaper upside-down) The pictures and words are upside-down. This is a really different way to read the paper. Just think how hard it would be to tell time if our clocks were upside-down. When it was really 6 o'clock, the clock would say 12 o'clock. The same thing would happen if we turned all of our pictures upside-down. Pretty soon we would have to learn how to walk upside-down on the ceiling if we wanted to see things right side up.
The reason I wanted to turn things upside-down is because this is what Jesus did to the world when he gave us the Beatitudes. Jesus taught that the Beatitudes are the ways a Christian should live. (read some of the Beatitudes and substitute the word happy for blessed)
"Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Happy are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
"Happy are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
"Happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
"Happy are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
"Happy are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Happy are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
"Happy are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Happy are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
This is not the way the world teaches us to live. We are taught to be clever, strong, sad at death, and angry at people who hurt us. We are taught to be fighters and not peacemakers. But the way Jesus taught is a lesson most of us are still trying to learn.
The next time you look at things upside-down think about Jesus and how he changed the world with his new teachings.
