God Doesn't Make Telephone Calls
Pastoral Resources
Gospel-Telling
The Art and Theology of Children's Sermons
Season: Any
Summary: Talking with God is heart to heart and not like telephoning "the Big guy up there."
Props: Puppets, telephone (wireless would be the best)
Note: While I do not recommend sermons with a negative message, there is a tradition that emphasizes the incomprehensibility of God. We must be careful not to teach those things that will need to be unlearned later, namely, that it is possible to have a direct communication with God.
Flopsy: Ring, ring. (Turns to the children.) I'm trying to ring up Leo.
Leo: (Comes prancing in.) If you are trying to telephone me, hang up because I'm here. And if you haven't heard - and I can't believe you haven't - I don't have a telephone. Don't need one. If you want me, come and find me.
Flopsy: Well, excuse me. I thought everyone had a telephone. Then how can I talk to you?
Leo: Like this. (Presses his face up against Flopsy's.) And I suppose you are the kind of person who thinks she can telephone God. (Goes to the telephone.) Just as easy as dialing God, yeah?
Flopsy: All right, I have tried to telephone God. I've tried G--O--D A--L--M--I--G--H--T--Y, Y--A--H--W--E--H.
Leo: Sometimes you amaze me, Flopsy. I thought everyone knew you can't just "ring up" God. It doesn't work that way.
Flopsy: Why not?
Leo: Because God is God and God doesn't take telephone calls.
Flopsy: Oh.
Leo: The way you talk with God is heart--to--heart. You have to stop talking and listen.
Flopsy: And then you will hear God talking?
Leo: Not exactly. I can't explain it. I know it isn't like picking up the phone and talking to a friend. It's ... it's like wordless. It's hard. It takes practice. It's something too hard to explain.
Flopsy: Talking with God is like the two of us here, face--to--face. Only you can't see the face of God.
Leo: It's as I said: heart--to--heart. Give it a try, Flopsy. I know you can do it.
Summary: Talking with God is heart to heart and not like telephoning "the Big guy up there."
Props: Puppets, telephone (wireless would be the best)
Note: While I do not recommend sermons with a negative message, there is a tradition that emphasizes the incomprehensibility of God. We must be careful not to teach those things that will need to be unlearned later, namely, that it is possible to have a direct communication with God.
Flopsy: Ring, ring. (Turns to the children.) I'm trying to ring up Leo.
Leo: (Comes prancing in.) If you are trying to telephone me, hang up because I'm here. And if you haven't heard - and I can't believe you haven't - I don't have a telephone. Don't need one. If you want me, come and find me.
Flopsy: Well, excuse me. I thought everyone had a telephone. Then how can I talk to you?
Leo: Like this. (Presses his face up against Flopsy's.) And I suppose you are the kind of person who thinks she can telephone God. (Goes to the telephone.) Just as easy as dialing God, yeah?
Flopsy: All right, I have tried to telephone God. I've tried G--O--D A--L--M--I--G--H--T--Y, Y--A--H--W--E--H.
Leo: Sometimes you amaze me, Flopsy. I thought everyone knew you can't just "ring up" God. It doesn't work that way.
Flopsy: Why not?
Leo: Because God is God and God doesn't take telephone calls.
Flopsy: Oh.
Leo: The way you talk with God is heart--to--heart. You have to stop talking and listen.
Flopsy: And then you will hear God talking?
Leo: Not exactly. I can't explain it. I know it isn't like picking up the phone and talking to a friend. It's ... it's like wordless. It's hard. It takes practice. It's something too hard to explain.
Flopsy: Talking with God is like the two of us here, face--to--face. Only you can't see the face of God.
Leo: It's as I said: heart--to--heart. Give it a try, Flopsy. I know you can do it.
