Uncovering the mystery
Children's sermon
Object:
a bottle with a cork or some kind of a stopper in it
Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to talk about mysteries. How many of you know what the word mystery means? (let them answer) A mystery is when something happens but we don't know how or why it happens.
I have a bottle that I found buried in a cave. There was a note attached to it that was written in a different language. I had it translated at a university and the people who helped me there said that the tribes who spoke that old language often put their spirits into bottles. The spirits could be both good and bad. The note on the bottle I found said, "Anyone who opens this bottle without the blessings of the gods will find trouble, trouble, double trouble." I wonder if I should open the bottle. I could be keeping a good spirit in the bottle. But, if I open the bottle, I might let out a bad spirit. What do you think I should do? (let them answer)
Before you make up your minds, I want to tell you about some people called the Gentiles and why Jesus was a mystery to them. The Jewish people had been taught that God was going to send a Messiah into the world. He would be a living person who would rescue the Jewish people from any foreigners and make them a powerful nation. Jesus was a living person, but he said he came not only for the Jews but for all people. He said that all men lived in sin and all needed forgiveness. Jesus said he would die for our sins so we would all be forgiven. Many people thought this was a mystery, something too complicated to understand. But really it was quite simple. Jesus lived to teach us our faith and died for our sins so that we would enter God's kingdom. It was Paul's job to share the good news about Jesus with the Gentiles. Paul wanted everyone in the world to uncover the mystery and become followers of Jesus.
Now back to the bottle, what do you think I should do? If I open it, I might bring an evil spirit back to the world. Then again, I might find a Genie who would grant all of my wishes. I am not going to open it. The note was a warning, "Trouble, trouble, double trouble to anyone who opens this bottle." I don't want to act too quickly. By the way, the Gentiles did begin to follow Jesus, a few at a time, until almost all of the Gentiles accepted Jesus as their Savior. It was a very good choice by the Gentiles.
I have a bottle that I found buried in a cave. There was a note attached to it that was written in a different language. I had it translated at a university and the people who helped me there said that the tribes who spoke that old language often put their spirits into bottles. The spirits could be both good and bad. The note on the bottle I found said, "Anyone who opens this bottle without the blessings of the gods will find trouble, trouble, double trouble." I wonder if I should open the bottle. I could be keeping a good spirit in the bottle. But, if I open the bottle, I might let out a bad spirit. What do you think I should do? (let them answer)
Before you make up your minds, I want to tell you about some people called the Gentiles and why Jesus was a mystery to them. The Jewish people had been taught that God was going to send a Messiah into the world. He would be a living person who would rescue the Jewish people from any foreigners and make them a powerful nation. Jesus was a living person, but he said he came not only for the Jews but for all people. He said that all men lived in sin and all needed forgiveness. Jesus said he would die for our sins so we would all be forgiven. Many people thought this was a mystery, something too complicated to understand. But really it was quite simple. Jesus lived to teach us our faith and died for our sins so that we would enter God's kingdom. It was Paul's job to share the good news about Jesus with the Gentiles. Paul wanted everyone in the world to uncover the mystery and become followers of Jesus.
Now back to the bottle, what do you think I should do? If I open it, I might bring an evil spirit back to the world. Then again, I might find a Genie who would grant all of my wishes. I am not going to open it. The note was a warning, "Trouble, trouble, double trouble to anyone who opens this bottle." I don't want to act too quickly. By the way, the Gentiles did begin to follow Jesus, a few at a time, until almost all of the Gentiles accepted Jesus as their Savior. It was a very good choice by the Gentiles.
