Where Is God?
Children's sermon
The Giant Book Of Children's Sermons
Matthew To Revelation
Object: a walnut or any nut that has an outer shell that comes off easily
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you think that you know a lot about that which we call Christian faith? There are many important things we should know about God. These are things that he has told us and important and things that he has included in his Holy Word. I know of no one who asks more questions - and important questions - about God than people your age, and it is time that we tried to answer some of them. We want to talk a lot about Jesus and how and why he died and not only that he died but that he lives again, and, in his own words, he lives within us.
Did you know that Jesus lived within you? He does. Let me show you what I mean. You see what I have in my hand? (hold up a walnut) What do we call this? (let them answer) That's right, a nut. But do you see the nut? (let them answer) What do you do with a nut? (let them answer) Is there anyone here who would like to eat a nut, this nut? (see if you can get a volunteer to put the shell in his or her mouth)
How does that nut taste? Not very good is it? Do you know why? Because, that's the shell and not the nut. Where is the nut? (let them answer) That's right; it is inside the shell. You can't see it but you are very sure that it is there. Shall we open it and see if the nut is in there? (with great mystery you begin to pry open the shell and at first reveal it only to yourself until you notice some little craning necks) Sure enough, there it is. The nut is inside the shell.
Now why did I tell you this story? A long time ago, the Apostle Paul answered this very same question for a lot of people who were wondering the same thing that you wonder about, "Where is God?" Paul said that Jesus Christ is not far away for the Christian, but that he is very near, so near in fact that many of us miss him when we are looking for him. Paul said that for the man or woman or boy and girl, Christ is not out there or up there, but that he is inside you. That's right; Jesus Christ is living within you and while you look like Sally or Jane or Pete or Mike on the outside, if you are really a Christian, you shall have Christ within you.
That's what Paul means when he said that it is not I who lives but Christ who lives within me.
So where is God for the Christian? He lives within you and what a warm feeling that must be to know that Jesus is so close that he can never be separated from you!
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you think that you know a lot about that which we call Christian faith? There are many important things we should know about God. These are things that he has told us and important and things that he has included in his Holy Word. I know of no one who asks more questions - and important questions - about God than people your age, and it is time that we tried to answer some of them. We want to talk a lot about Jesus and how and why he died and not only that he died but that he lives again, and, in his own words, he lives within us.
Did you know that Jesus lived within you? He does. Let me show you what I mean. You see what I have in my hand? (hold up a walnut) What do we call this? (let them answer) That's right, a nut. But do you see the nut? (let them answer) What do you do with a nut? (let them answer) Is there anyone here who would like to eat a nut, this nut? (see if you can get a volunteer to put the shell in his or her mouth)
How does that nut taste? Not very good is it? Do you know why? Because, that's the shell and not the nut. Where is the nut? (let them answer) That's right; it is inside the shell. You can't see it but you are very sure that it is there. Shall we open it and see if the nut is in there? (with great mystery you begin to pry open the shell and at first reveal it only to yourself until you notice some little craning necks) Sure enough, there it is. The nut is inside the shell.
Now why did I tell you this story? A long time ago, the Apostle Paul answered this very same question for a lot of people who were wondering the same thing that you wonder about, "Where is God?" Paul said that Jesus Christ is not far away for the Christian, but that he is very near, so near in fact that many of us miss him when we are looking for him. Paul said that for the man or woman or boy and girl, Christ is not out there or up there, but that he is inside you. That's right; Jesus Christ is living within you and while you look like Sally or Jane or Pete or Mike on the outside, if you are really a Christian, you shall have Christ within you.
That's what Paul means when he said that it is not I who lives but Christ who lives within me.
So where is God for the Christian? He lives within you and what a warm feeling that must be to know that Jesus is so close that he can never be separated from you!
