Inner Warmth
Children's sermon
That Seeing, They May Believe
52 Children's Object Lessons
Object:
A pop bottle, a balloon and a candle
Purpose: Learning to express love.
Special Preparation: Place the neck of the balloon over the neck
of the pop bottle. Hold the bottle over the flame of the candle
until the air in the bottle is expanded by the heat and it begins
to inflate the balloon. Practice to see how long it takes before
the balloon begins to show signs of being inflated. Try to use a
warm bottle.
Lesson: This morning I want to show you what happens when the air
in this bottle is heated. Watch the balloon. The heat will cause
the air to expand and you will see that expanded air enter the
balloon.
In a way, this represents the Christian life. We are like the
bottle. God's love, which is warm and wonderful, is like the
flame. When God's love comes into our life it gives us what we
call "abundant life."
However, we may not see that abundant life right away. It
often takes time before we can see or feel the influence of God's
love. Therefore, we need patience and we need to continue our
exposure to God's love by studying his word and believing his
promises. When we truly believe that God loves us it will be
experienced within our life. We will be happy, for people are
always happy when they know they are loved; and this happiness
will be seen.
When we have felt the love of God and we realize how wonderful
he has been to us and what he means to us, then we will want to
share that love with others. Like the warm air in the bottle,
God's love within us will warm our heart and it will expand, so
to speak; then the result of that expansion will be seen. We
sometimes say that a generous person is one who has a big heart.
In the letter of John, we are reminded, "We love, because he
(God) first loved us." (1 John 4:19) John also wrote, "Beloved,
let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is
born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7) We are to be kind and
courteous and helpful, not only to our parents, but to our
brother and sister; and to all we meet. Let the strong, warm,
steady love of God fill your life to overflowing. Then let that
fullness be seen.
Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home:
* When there is a lack of expression of love between members of
the family. If we truly accept the love others have for us, then
by the very nature of love, its warmth will be shared with
others.
* When an older child wants to stop attending church school. If
we are to maintain the spirit of love within us, then we need to
keep that warm flame burning. The study of God's word is one of
the major ways of remembering what God has done for us.
Special Preparation: Place the neck of the balloon over the neck
of the pop bottle. Hold the bottle over the flame of the candle
until the air in the bottle is expanded by the heat and it begins
to inflate the balloon. Practice to see how long it takes before
the balloon begins to show signs of being inflated. Try to use a
warm bottle.
Lesson: This morning I want to show you what happens when the air
in this bottle is heated. Watch the balloon. The heat will cause
the air to expand and you will see that expanded air enter the
balloon.
In a way, this represents the Christian life. We are like the
bottle. God's love, which is warm and wonderful, is like the
flame. When God's love comes into our life it gives us what we
call "abundant life."
However, we may not see that abundant life right away. It
often takes time before we can see or feel the influence of God's
love. Therefore, we need patience and we need to continue our
exposure to God's love by studying his word and believing his
promises. When we truly believe that God loves us it will be
experienced within our life. We will be happy, for people are
always happy when they know they are loved; and this happiness
will be seen.
When we have felt the love of God and we realize how wonderful
he has been to us and what he means to us, then we will want to
share that love with others. Like the warm air in the bottle,
God's love within us will warm our heart and it will expand, so
to speak; then the result of that expansion will be seen. We
sometimes say that a generous person is one who has a big heart.
In the letter of John, we are reminded, "We love, because he
(God) first loved us." (1 John 4:19) John also wrote, "Beloved,
let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is
born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7) We are to be kind and
courteous and helpful, not only to our parents, but to our
brother and sister; and to all we meet. Let the strong, warm,
steady love of God fill your life to overflowing. Then let that
fullness be seen.
Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home:
* When there is a lack of expression of love between members of
the family. If we truly accept the love others have for us, then
by the very nature of love, its warmth will be shared with
others.
* When an older child wants to stop attending church school. If
we are to maintain the spirit of love within us, then we need to
keep that warm flame burning. The study of God's word is one of
the major ways of remembering what God has done for us.
