All brothers and sisters
Children's sermon
Object:
wear a strange piece of clothing or hat (or something completely out of character, like wearing a wastebasket for a hat)
Good morning, boys and girls. What do you think of my new piece of clothing? (Let them answer.) It's pretty strange looking, isn't it? I might wear this one time and get away with it. If I wore this all the time, you might think I was strange. My family would become pretty concerned about me. What do you think would happen if I wore this everyday for one week? (Let them answer.) I think I know what would happen. My family would probably sit down with me and have a long talk about how I've changed. They would ask me if something were the matter with me. They would then suggest that I get some help from someone about my problem.
Even though I like this (name the object), I think I'll take it off. I want to tell you a story about someone else who did something that made his family very concerned. They wanted to talk with him also. This person was Jesus. Can you believe that? When Jesus started his ministry he began going from place to place healing people. He soon became so popular that people followed him everywhere. Soon his family became concerned. They went to talk to him. He was in a house when someone told him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside asking about you." They were worried about him. They didn't understand his mission from God. Here's how Jesus replied to them. He said, (point to the children and the congregation) "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
Jesus was saying that our family is larger than we think. He was saying that anyone who does what God says to do is your brother or sister. This week I want you to think about this. We all have families that you came to church with. You are also part of God's larger family. God's family members are those around you this morning in church. All people who do what God tells them are your brothers and sisters.
Even though I like this (name the object), I think I'll take it off. I want to tell you a story about someone else who did something that made his family very concerned. They wanted to talk with him also. This person was Jesus. Can you believe that? When Jesus started his ministry he began going from place to place healing people. He soon became so popular that people followed him everywhere. Soon his family became concerned. They went to talk to him. He was in a house when someone told him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside asking about you." They were worried about him. They didn't understand his mission from God. Here's how Jesus replied to them. He said, (point to the children and the congregation) "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
Jesus was saying that our family is larger than we think. He was saying that anyone who does what God says to do is your brother or sister. This week I want you to think about this. We all have families that you came to church with. You are also part of God's larger family. God's family members are those around you this morning in church. All people who do what God tells them are your brothers and sisters.
