The Bible Can Be A Map
Children's sermon
Life Everlasting
The Essential Book of Funeral Resources
Object:
a road map
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
-- John 14:6
Boys and girls, it is good to be with you today. I have some things that I would like to share with you and I hope you will enjoy being together. Jack died a couple of days ago and we have all come to this place to share our lives with his family and with one another. We are going to remember Jack for a long time. He was a good friend to many people.
Someone asked me when I came in to the funeral if I knew where Jack was going. That's a good question. I thought about this for a little while and then I went back out to my car and got something that I hope will help.
If I asked you where Jack was going, what would you say? (let them answer) All of you said, heaven. Very good but how do you get to heaven? (let them answer) One of Jesus' disciples asked him the same question. His name was Thomas and he told Jesus that he did not know the way to heaven.
I went out to my car and I brought in a map. Do you think we can find the way to heaven on my map? I want you to know that this is a very good map and almost brand-new. I know that it works, because I just used it last week when I had to drive to another town. See, the map shows that I drove on Route 30 and then I got on Route 25, and I ended up where I wanted to go. I use my map a lot when I am traveling. This map also shows the names of all the cities and towns and even some very small villages. I always use my map when I travel. Let's see if the name of heaven is on the map. (search for a moment or so) I don't see heaven. Maybe Thomas was right. Maybe we don't know the way to where Jesus went. Does anyone here have a good answer? (let them answer)
To be honest, I knew we could not find heaven on the map. Heaven is not on any map. But the Bible teaches us that finding the way to heaven is following Jesus. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me." In other words, the way to heaven is believing in Jesus and following his teachings. We need to be filled with the love of God and loving to our neighbors. If we follow Jesus we will have no trouble ending up in the right place, a place called heaven.
The next time you see a map and wonder about how you get to heaven or where it is then you simply need to turn to your Bible and look for the words in John 14:6. There you will read the answer that Jesus shared with Thomas when he asked how he would know the way. A map will get you to almost anywhere on earth but to find heaven you must believe in Jesus. Amen.
-- John 14:6
Boys and girls, it is good to be with you today. I have some things that I would like to share with you and I hope you will enjoy being together. Jack died a couple of days ago and we have all come to this place to share our lives with his family and with one another. We are going to remember Jack for a long time. He was a good friend to many people.
Someone asked me when I came in to the funeral if I knew where Jack was going. That's a good question. I thought about this for a little while and then I went back out to my car and got something that I hope will help.
If I asked you where Jack was going, what would you say? (let them answer) All of you said, heaven. Very good but how do you get to heaven? (let them answer) One of Jesus' disciples asked him the same question. His name was Thomas and he told Jesus that he did not know the way to heaven.
I went out to my car and I brought in a map. Do you think we can find the way to heaven on my map? I want you to know that this is a very good map and almost brand-new. I know that it works, because I just used it last week when I had to drive to another town. See, the map shows that I drove on Route 30 and then I got on Route 25, and I ended up where I wanted to go. I use my map a lot when I am traveling. This map also shows the names of all the cities and towns and even some very small villages. I always use my map when I travel. Let's see if the name of heaven is on the map. (search for a moment or so) I don't see heaven. Maybe Thomas was right. Maybe we don't know the way to where Jesus went. Does anyone here have a good answer? (let them answer)
To be honest, I knew we could not find heaven on the map. Heaven is not on any map. But the Bible teaches us that finding the way to heaven is following Jesus. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me." In other words, the way to heaven is believing in Jesus and following his teachings. We need to be filled with the love of God and loving to our neighbors. If we follow Jesus we will have no trouble ending up in the right place, a place called heaven.
The next time you see a map and wonder about how you get to heaven or where it is then you simply need to turn to your Bible and look for the words in John 14:6. There you will read the answer that Jesus shared with Thomas when he asked how he would know the way. A map will get you to almost anywhere on earth but to find heaven you must believe in Jesus. Amen.
