What is missing?
Children's sermon
Object:
a knife, fork, spoon, glass, napkin, and plate
Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (v. 7)
Good morning, boys and girls. Today is the birthday of the church. Pentecost is the day when God sent us the Holy Spirit and formed the church in Jerusalem. How many of you have heard about that day? (let them answer) Did you know that Jesus was not there? (let them answer) Jesus was not with the disciples because Jesus had gone back to heaven.
If you were there on a big day like Pentecost, would you be disappointed that Jesus was not there with you? (let them answer) No one here has ever spent a day with Jesus because Jesus is where? (let them answer) That's right, Jesus is with God the Father in heaven. Are you disappointed? Do you wish Jesus would come to school with you someday and sit in the desk next to you? (let them answer) Jesus is there, but in a special way.
Jesus told us that he was going back to heaven to be with his Father, but he promised us that he would send someone else to fill his place. Do you remember who Jesus said he would send? (let them answer) Let's think about that for a moment. I want to show you something and see if you catch on to what I am trying to teach you.
I invited some friends over to eat at my house. We were ready to sit down when I noticed that something was missing. I checked it out and this is what I had on the table. I had a knife, fork, and spoon. I had a water glass, a plate, and a napkin -- but no one was eating. What was I missing? (let them answer) Right again! I did not have any food. Food is very important when you invite someone to dinner.
Eating without food is what the church is like without the Holy Spirit. We can have everything else, but if we do not have the Spirit, then we would not have a church.
Jesus told us before he went back to heaven that he would send the Spirit and when the Spirit came, we would see many things greater than they had ever been seen before, even when Jesus was here and walking on the earth.
Because of the Spirit, we have a church, and it is a great church. The Spirit gives us faith so that we can believe all that God teaches us.
The next time you think you are missing something like food when it is time to eat, I want you to remember that God the Father and Jesus the Son sent the Holy Spirit so that there would be a mighty church. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. Today is the birthday of the church. Pentecost is the day when God sent us the Holy Spirit and formed the church in Jerusalem. How many of you have heard about that day? (let them answer) Did you know that Jesus was not there? (let them answer) Jesus was not with the disciples because Jesus had gone back to heaven.
If you were there on a big day like Pentecost, would you be disappointed that Jesus was not there with you? (let them answer) No one here has ever spent a day with Jesus because Jesus is where? (let them answer) That's right, Jesus is with God the Father in heaven. Are you disappointed? Do you wish Jesus would come to school with you someday and sit in the desk next to you? (let them answer) Jesus is there, but in a special way.
Jesus told us that he was going back to heaven to be with his Father, but he promised us that he would send someone else to fill his place. Do you remember who Jesus said he would send? (let them answer) Let's think about that for a moment. I want to show you something and see if you catch on to what I am trying to teach you.
I invited some friends over to eat at my house. We were ready to sit down when I noticed that something was missing. I checked it out and this is what I had on the table. I had a knife, fork, and spoon. I had a water glass, a plate, and a napkin -- but no one was eating. What was I missing? (let them answer) Right again! I did not have any food. Food is very important when you invite someone to dinner.
Eating without food is what the church is like without the Holy Spirit. We can have everything else, but if we do not have the Spirit, then we would not have a church.
Jesus told us before he went back to heaven that he would send the Spirit and when the Spirit came, we would see many things greater than they had ever been seen before, even when Jesus was here and walking on the earth.
Because of the Spirit, we have a church, and it is a great church. The Spirit gives us faith so that we can believe all that God teaches us.
The next time you think you are missing something like food when it is time to eat, I want you to remember that God the Father and Jesus the Son sent the Holy Spirit so that there would be a mighty church. Amen.
