Weed the garden?
Children's sermon
Object:
a garden hoe
(Editor's note: Use plenty of pretending in this lesson. The
children will catch on quickly.) Good morning, boys and girls.
This morning we are going to take an imaginary trip to a garden.
Would you like to go with me? (Let them answer.) I brought my
garden hoe along. It may come in handy. We'll see. First, let me
pass out some seed. (Pass out imaginary seed to each child.) Now
let's spread the seed around in our imaginary garden. (Pretend to
spread or plant the seed.) Now I'll pass out some watering cans.
With these you may water your planted seeds. (Pass out imaginary
watering cans.) Look, things are starting to grow. I see some
flowers coming up. Our gardens look pretty good, don't they?
Something's wrong, however. I'm beginning to see more weeds than I see plants. What is happening to our garden! Weeds are taking over. I have a feeling that someone tricked us. I think that someone came in during the night and planted weed seed in our garden while we were asleep. What shall we do? I have an idea. Let's see what Jesus would have done about this. In our lesson this morning Jesus tells a story about someone who planted a garden. While the gardener was asleep a bad person came and planted weed seed. The gardener's helpers wanted to pull all the weeds out. The problem was that if they pulled the weeds out all the flowers would be pulled out too. Jesus said that the flowers are like God's family. The weeds are like people who do not love God. Jesus said to ignore the weeds, or the bad people. If you pull them out you will harm the flowers, or the good people.
Jesus said that some day God will invite all the people who love him to live with him. When that happens, the bad people will be left behind. Jesus said to wait until the flowers are in full bloom. Then pick them. After the flowers are picked, take the hoe and pull up all the weeds. He tells us to ignore the bad people in our lives. They are like weeds in a garden.
Something's wrong, however. I'm beginning to see more weeds than I see plants. What is happening to our garden! Weeds are taking over. I have a feeling that someone tricked us. I think that someone came in during the night and planted weed seed in our garden while we were asleep. What shall we do? I have an idea. Let's see what Jesus would have done about this. In our lesson this morning Jesus tells a story about someone who planted a garden. While the gardener was asleep a bad person came and planted weed seed. The gardener's helpers wanted to pull all the weeds out. The problem was that if they pulled the weeds out all the flowers would be pulled out too. Jesus said that the flowers are like God's family. The weeds are like people who do not love God. Jesus said to ignore the weeds, or the bad people. If you pull them out you will harm the flowers, or the good people.
Jesus said that some day God will invite all the people who love him to live with him. When that happens, the bad people will be left behind. Jesus said to wait until the flowers are in full bloom. Then pick them. After the flowers are picked, take the hoe and pull up all the weeds. He tells us to ignore the bad people in our lives. They are like weeds in a garden.
