Childrens Sermon Service

Today I want to talk about heaven. What do you think heaven
is like? (Get responses.) Some people think the streets are paved
with gold. Some people imagine angels singing all the time. Some
people think you sit around on clouds all day. I don't know,
myself. I think about it and I wonder what it could be like, but
I really don't know. I can't even show you a picture of it,
because people's ideas are all different.

Here's something I do know. I believe that heaven is a safe
place. In today's reading we hear that there won't be any death
or mourning or crying or pain. I think that sounds really nice.
Try to imagine a place that's happy and safe -- a place where you
can't get hurt and you won't ever be sad.

Here's something else I know. I believe that we can get tiny
glimpses of heaven on earth. I believe that God shows us little
pieces of heaven every now and then to help us know that heaven
is a real place. Tell me some things that might look like pieces
of heaven on earth. (Responses.)

Love, friends, laughter, playing on a pretty day, ice cream
on a hot afternoon, a warm blanket when you're cold -- these
things are all only peeks at how great heaven must really be. The
Bible says that all who love Jesus will get to be with him in
heaven forever. I think that that sounds like a really nice place
to be.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for creating such a wonderful place
like heaven -- a place with no sadness or pain. Please help us
find ways to know some of heaven right here on earth. Amen.