The World Needs Salt
Children's sermon
THE BIG INFLUENCE OF SMALL THINGS
Exegetical Aim: The church intercedes on behalf of God for the salvation of the world.
Props: A string that you will wet prior to its use, an ice cube, a saltshaker, and a dish. Practice this before you perform it.
Lesson: Putting the dish in front with a single ice cube inside it and the salt placed conspicuously beside the dish: Good morning, everyone! I have a little problem for you. I have a bowl here and it has something in it. What's in there? (ice) And I have something in my hand. What is it? (string) Now I need a volunteer. Who wants to be my volunteer? (response) Okay, what I want you to do is pick up that ice cube with this string. But you can't tie the string around the ice cube. What you need to do is demonstrate for the volunteer put the string on the ice cube lay the string down on the ice using your fingers to mold it to the cube and then pick the ice up with the string. Now let me see you do it. (response) Does anybody else think they can do it? (response)
Do you think I can do it? (response) Mold one end of the string to the ice cube. Hold the end of the string like you're going to pick it up and say Do you think the string will pick up the ice? (response) Pick up the salt and liberally apply salt over the portion of the string that is on the ice cube. Do not use an open container of salt, it simply needs to be sprinkled on. Now we need to wait. While waiting: Do you ever use salt? (response) What do you use it for? (response) Now, pick up the ice cube with the string; but, just before you pick it up, make sure the ice has not stuck to the bottom of the dish or your string will tear off the ice.
Wow, it worked! I picked up the ice cube with the string. Do you know how I did it? (response) It was the salt. The salt made the string freeze to the ice.
Application: Holding up the ice with the string, you will have just enough time to say the following: Jesus said this about you, he said, "YOU are the salt of the earth." What do you think Jesus meant when he said, "You are the salt of the earth"? (response) The string is like God. He holds the world. The world is like the ice cube. The world is cold and lonely and desperately needs someone to bring them to God. And the salt ... Who is the salt? (we are) That's right. The church is like the salt. It helps the world come to God. So that is your mission in life. You are to be like salt helping your friends and your neighbors understand who God is, how God loves them, and how they can come to God and no longer be cold and lonely. You hold the string up higher for emphasis are the salt of the earth!
Let's Pray: Lord, help us to be salt, bringing together the world and God. Amen.
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Epiphany 5
1 Corinthians 2:1--12 (13--16)
The Holy Spirit Is The Key!
Exegetical Aim: The Holy Spirit reveals the Gospel of Christ.
Props: A safety deposit box or lock box, its key, and a Bible to fit inside the box.
Lesson: I brought a box and I think something valuable is inside, but I don't know what it is. Give the box to the children. Can you see inside the box and figure out what's in there? (response) Can you hear anything in it? (response) What do you think it is? (response) Try to open it. (response) What's the matter? Can't you get it open? (response) How are we going to get it open? (response) Ah, yes, I do remember that I have a key. Try this. (response) What's in it? (response)
Application: Hold up the Bible. Why is this so valuable? (response) The Bible is important because it tells us what God thinks and how he feels about you and me. Take the key back and hold it up in your other hand. Now in order to get to this Bible, we had to have this key. This key is a good way to understand the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God helps us understand what the Bible says to us. We need the Spirit to unlock the meaning of the Bible and we need the Spirit to help us follow Jesus' teachings. The Holy Spirit is the key to all.
Let's Pray: Almighty God, thank you for your Spirit that reveals to us your words, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
?
Props: A string that you will wet prior to its use, an ice cube, a saltshaker, and a dish. Practice this before you perform it.
Lesson: Putting the dish in front with a single ice cube inside it and the salt placed conspicuously beside the dish: Good morning, everyone! I have a little problem for you. I have a bowl here and it has something in it. What's in there? (ice) And I have something in my hand. What is it? (string) Now I need a volunteer. Who wants to be my volunteer? (response) Okay, what I want you to do is pick up that ice cube with this string. But you can't tie the string around the ice cube. What you need to do is demonstrate for the volunteer put the string on the ice cube lay the string down on the ice using your fingers to mold it to the cube and then pick the ice up with the string. Now let me see you do it. (response) Does anybody else think they can do it? (response)
Do you think I can do it? (response) Mold one end of the string to the ice cube. Hold the end of the string like you're going to pick it up and say Do you think the string will pick up the ice? (response) Pick up the salt and liberally apply salt over the portion of the string that is on the ice cube. Do not use an open container of salt, it simply needs to be sprinkled on. Now we need to wait. While waiting: Do you ever use salt? (response) What do you use it for? (response) Now, pick up the ice cube with the string; but, just before you pick it up, make sure the ice has not stuck to the bottom of the dish or your string will tear off the ice.
Wow, it worked! I picked up the ice cube with the string. Do you know how I did it? (response) It was the salt. The salt made the string freeze to the ice.
Application: Holding up the ice with the string, you will have just enough time to say the following: Jesus said this about you, he said, "YOU are the salt of the earth." What do you think Jesus meant when he said, "You are the salt of the earth"? (response) The string is like God. He holds the world. The world is like the ice cube. The world is cold and lonely and desperately needs someone to bring them to God. And the salt ... Who is the salt? (we are) That's right. The church is like the salt. It helps the world come to God. So that is your mission in life. You are to be like salt helping your friends and your neighbors understand who God is, how God loves them, and how they can come to God and no longer be cold and lonely. You hold the string up higher for emphasis are the salt of the earth!
Let's Pray: Lord, help us to be salt, bringing together the world and God. Amen.
?
Epiphany 5
1 Corinthians 2:1--12 (13--16)
The Holy Spirit Is The Key!
Exegetical Aim: The Holy Spirit reveals the Gospel of Christ.
Props: A safety deposit box or lock box, its key, and a Bible to fit inside the box.
Lesson: I brought a box and I think something valuable is inside, but I don't know what it is. Give the box to the children. Can you see inside the box and figure out what's in there? (response) Can you hear anything in it? (response) What do you think it is? (response) Try to open it. (response) What's the matter? Can't you get it open? (response) How are we going to get it open? (response) Ah, yes, I do remember that I have a key. Try this. (response) What's in it? (response)
Application: Hold up the Bible. Why is this so valuable? (response) The Bible is important because it tells us what God thinks and how he feels about you and me. Take the key back and hold it up in your other hand. Now in order to get to this Bible, we had to have this key. This key is a good way to understand the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God helps us understand what the Bible says to us. We need the Spirit to unlock the meaning of the Bible and we need the Spirit to help us follow Jesus' teachings. The Holy Spirit is the key to all.
Let's Pray: Almighty God, thank you for your Spirit that reveals to us your words, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
?
