Do It, Jesus!
Children's sermon
Object:
A tiny seed, a photo of a large mulberry tree, exercise equipment
“The Apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ ” (v. 5)
Good morning children,
How are you this wonderful day? (presenter comments on the beauty of the day)
Is there something you would like more of? Like more toys? More pretty clothes?
More video games? More money? More candy? More love? (children respond)
How about more kindness? More sharing? More trusting? More faith? (children respond)
Once the disciples asked Jesus a question about more of something. “Increase our faith,” they answered him. Make our faith bigger. Make our faith stronger. Increase and make our faith deeper and wider and richer. That was a daring and awesome request.
Now if Jesus had said to the disciples, “increase your faith” that would be terribly hard.
The disciples would have to get busy and do stuff. They would have to run to a “spiritual gymnasium” and exercise like mad. They would have to build up their spiritual muscles, run marathons and leap high in a pole vault attempt. But running to a “spiritual gymnasium,” and doing “stuff,” that would be impossible and silly. (show dumbbell and so on)
Jesus does not tell the disciples to increase their faith.
It’s the disciples that say to Jesus, “increase our faith.” They are learning, as disciples, that faith is a gift. Jesus gives us this precious gift through the Holy Spirit.
And when Jesus gives even a tiny bit of faith, the size of a mustard seed, (show seed) it will grow into a large tree (show photo of large mulberry tree)
Children, isn’t that amazing? You and I get to ask Jesus to increase our faith, too. We do want more and more faith, don’t we? Just think, our tiny, weeny bit of faith, as small as a mustard seed, does wonderful things already. (presenter gives examples)
Prayer: Jesus, make our tiny bit of faith into something great. Show us the importance of asking again and again, “Jesus, increase our faith.” Amen.
Good morning children,
How are you this wonderful day? (presenter comments on the beauty of the day)
Is there something you would like more of? Like more toys? More pretty clothes?
More video games? More money? More candy? More love? (children respond)
How about more kindness? More sharing? More trusting? More faith? (children respond)
Once the disciples asked Jesus a question about more of something. “Increase our faith,” they answered him. Make our faith bigger. Make our faith stronger. Increase and make our faith deeper and wider and richer. That was a daring and awesome request.
Now if Jesus had said to the disciples, “increase your faith” that would be terribly hard.
The disciples would have to get busy and do stuff. They would have to run to a “spiritual gymnasium” and exercise like mad. They would have to build up their spiritual muscles, run marathons and leap high in a pole vault attempt. But running to a “spiritual gymnasium,” and doing “stuff,” that would be impossible and silly. (show dumbbell and so on)
Jesus does not tell the disciples to increase their faith.
It’s the disciples that say to Jesus, “increase our faith.” They are learning, as disciples, that faith is a gift. Jesus gives us this precious gift through the Holy Spirit.
And when Jesus gives even a tiny bit of faith, the size of a mustard seed, (show seed) it will grow into a large tree (show photo of large mulberry tree)
Children, isn’t that amazing? You and I get to ask Jesus to increase our faith, too. We do want more and more faith, don’t we? Just think, our tiny, weeny bit of faith, as small as a mustard seed, does wonderful things already. (presenter gives examples)
Prayer: Jesus, make our tiny bit of faith into something great. Show us the importance of asking again and again, “Jesus, increase our faith.” Amen.
