Inside The Gate
Children's sermon
Life Everlasting
The Essential Book of Funeral Resources
Object:
gate latch or a hook and eye screw
I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.
-- John 10:9
I want to thank you for sharing this time with me. I don't know every one of you by name because some of you I have never met. But I know that you have a name so why don't you share it with me. (let each child share his/her name) Very good, did I tell you my name? (share your name with the children) We should all be very proud of our names. Your parents took a lot of thought before giving you just the right name for you.
The person who is in the casket also has a name. Today, we are here because we want to say a kind of "Good-bye" to George. We will not see him where we are used to seeing him anymore. We may see pictures of him or videos with him in them, but we will not see him. Where do you think he is going? (let them answer) Good, you think he is going to heaven. Who will be there to greet him in heaven? (let them answer) Very good! George will be met by God when he goes to heaven. Imagine what that must feel like when you meet God for the first time! It seems almost impossible that someday I will stand in front of God and be welcomed into his kingdom. Where do we learn about meeting God in heaven? (let them answer) That's right, we learn it from the Bible. I have one of the verses from the Bible that I would like to share with you. (read John 10:9)
I brought something with me and I would like you to tell me what it is. (show them the latch or hook and eye) Do you know what this is? (let them answer) Very good, it is used on a door or a gate. It keeps the gate closed when it is used and when it is taken apart it allows you to go in.
In the Bible, Jesus says, "I am the gate." A gate was used to keep sheep safe. A sheep could go through the gate and be sure that a wolf or some other animal couldn't get them. Jesus is the gate. Why does he call himself the gate? (let them answer) Very good. Jesus says that he is the gate for people. When people go through the gate, they are safe from everything.
When we die and we are followers of Jesus we go through a heavenly gate where Jesus is waiting to care for us. Inside the gate is heaven, the place of God.
George is going through the gate today to be in the presence of God. It is a safe place, a beautiful place, and a place filled with other believers who trusted in God. George is going to love seeing Christ as he waits for him to become one of the saints. So be happy for George.
And the next time you see a gate I want you to think of Jesus. Jesus is our Lord and we will be very happy to see him. Amen.
-- John 10:9
I want to thank you for sharing this time with me. I don't know every one of you by name because some of you I have never met. But I know that you have a name so why don't you share it with me. (let each child share his/her name) Very good, did I tell you my name? (share your name with the children) We should all be very proud of our names. Your parents took a lot of thought before giving you just the right name for you.
The person who is in the casket also has a name. Today, we are here because we want to say a kind of "Good-bye" to George. We will not see him where we are used to seeing him anymore. We may see pictures of him or videos with him in them, but we will not see him. Where do you think he is going? (let them answer) Good, you think he is going to heaven. Who will be there to greet him in heaven? (let them answer) Very good! George will be met by God when he goes to heaven. Imagine what that must feel like when you meet God for the first time! It seems almost impossible that someday I will stand in front of God and be welcomed into his kingdom. Where do we learn about meeting God in heaven? (let them answer) That's right, we learn it from the Bible. I have one of the verses from the Bible that I would like to share with you. (read John 10:9)
I brought something with me and I would like you to tell me what it is. (show them the latch or hook and eye) Do you know what this is? (let them answer) Very good, it is used on a door or a gate. It keeps the gate closed when it is used and when it is taken apart it allows you to go in.
In the Bible, Jesus says, "I am the gate." A gate was used to keep sheep safe. A sheep could go through the gate and be sure that a wolf or some other animal couldn't get them. Jesus is the gate. Why does he call himself the gate? (let them answer) Very good. Jesus says that he is the gate for people. When people go through the gate, they are safe from everything.
When we die and we are followers of Jesus we go through a heavenly gate where Jesus is waiting to care for us. Inside the gate is heaven, the place of God.
George is going through the gate today to be in the presence of God. It is a safe place, a beautiful place, and a place filled with other believers who trusted in God. George is going to love seeing Christ as he waits for him to become one of the saints. So be happy for George.
And the next time you see a gate I want you to think of Jesus. Jesus is our Lord and we will be very happy to see him. Amen.
