Login / Signup

Free Access

The Funnel Of God

Children's sermon
The Giant Book Of Children's Sermons
Matthew To Revelation
Object: a funnel


Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever tried to pour something from one bottle into another bottle? (let them answer) Do you usually spill some of it when you try to do this? (let them answer) Do you know how to keep from spilling whatever you have in the bottle? (let them answer) You can be extra careful, but I have a better way.

How many of you have ever used a funnel? (let them answer) Tell me how you use one of these things that we call a funnel. (allow someone to give an explanation) That's right, you put the funnel into one of the bottles and then pour whatever you have into that bottle. The funnel acts like a guide, and it puts whatever you are pouring in just the right place so nothing is spilled or lost. A funnel is a very helpful tool.

I would like us to think that the funnel is like the Spirit of God. We can try to do things on our own. We can look at the trees and the birds and bees, and see how God has made them, and the way that he takes care of them, and we can try to understand how God wants us to live. We can read books and talk to other people, but that does not really tell us how God loves us as people. We want to feel love from God, and not find it out in any other way.

The Bible tells us that the Spirit of God is like a funnel. The Spirit is a guide who brings the love of God right to us without spilling one drop. The Spirit does not change a word of what he hears when he speaks to us. He is really like a funnel. Whatever God wants us to know, the Spirit of God tells us. The Spirit of God works with us as children of God to help us learn every day something new about God and God's church. The Spirit teaches us how to forgive and how to be honest with each other. The Spirit does not make this up, but rather he brings it to us from God, without losing one part of what God wanted us to know. This is why I tell you that the Spirit is like a funnel.

The next time that you see someone filling the gas tank on their mower with a funnel, or you see your father or mother using a funnel in the kitchen, I want you to think about all of the different ways that a funnel is used. Then I want you to think about the way that the Spirit of God is like a funnel, and the very many ways that the Spirit is used by God in teaching us. You must remember that the funnel does not make the stuff that it helps to pour. It comes from somewhere else. The same thing is true of the Spirit. The Spirit does not make up what he teaches us. The things that the Spirit pours into us are the good stuff that comes from God. The Spirit is like a funnel carrying the good news from God to us.
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Christ the King Sunday
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Thanksgiving
14 – Sermons
80+ – Illustrations / Stories
18 – Children's Sermons / Resources
10 – Worship Resources
18 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Advent 1
30 – Sermons
90+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
George Reed
Christopher Keating
For November 23, 2025:
  • If You Really Are Him by Dean Feldmeyer. Like a loving parent, God does not always solve our problems. Rather, God walks with us as we endure them.

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
In 2014 Hannah Cotton, professor emerita of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, was volunteering her time at the Israel Antiquities Authority’s scrolls laboratory, looking through some ancient documents written in Nabatean, a form of ancient Arabic. It was one of many documents which have been discovered in the desert caves of Judea, where people stashed valuables both during the Jewish War of 67-70 AD (in which the temple was destroyed), as well as the Bar Kokhba Rebellion of 132-135 AD.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Jeremiah 23:1-6 and Luke 1:68-79
Frank Ramirez
God reigns, now and always, but that is not always immediately apparent. Jeremiah warns the false shepherds, earthly rulers who plunder the flock, that God is watching, and someday the true Shepherd will be revealed! Paul reveals to the Colossians, who have no idea that the geological clock is ticking and an earthquake will devastate their city, that the man on the cross is the head of the body, the beginning and the end, and the first-born of the dead. And in Luke’s gospel we see that Jesus reigns, even from the cross, dispensing mercy and reward to a fellow sufferer.

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A simple gift for each child. Depending on your group, this could be a piece of candy, a cookie, a simple toy or book, or any other object you choose to give. Have them in a bag or box.

* * *

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

A thief asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into his kingdom. In our worship today, let us explore those qualities which make Jesus a king.



Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I fail to worship you as king.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I'm not interested in any kind of royalty.

Christ, have mercy.

Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

Lord, have mercy.


Reading:

SermonStudio

Constance Berg
I admit I like it when people are articulate. I like a leader to show a wealth of knowledge on a certain subject. Many people feel the same way. We like the flamboyant skater with a glittery costume and dramatic moves. We like the politician who shakes hands, has good debates, and shows up in the right photos. We admire the celebrity who gives selflessly.

So then, why have we been attracted to Jesus as our authority? Jesus was born in a barn. His father could not hold a job and was therefore demoted to the lowest trade at that time: carpenter. His mother was a teenager.
Schuyler Rhodes
"Be still and know that I am God."

How difficult it is to be still. The world in which we live conspires to make of us a blur as we rush about doing all the things we feel called to do. Indeed, it is difficult to be still. Today, the average worker in the American work force puts in fifteen to twenty more hours a week than a worker did a generation ago. Today, the demands of parenting and community are overwhelming as many find themselves also caring for aging parents. Being still? Sounds nice, but when would that happen? During sleep?
John W. Clarke
Although we are going to concentrate on Jeremiah 23:1-6, it is important to note that these verses are a part of a larger section that is best understood in its entirety. This section contains a collection of prophecies concerning the Davidic kings. It is not important that it be broken down verse by verse, but rather theme by theme.
Scott Suskovic
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created ... in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell...
-- Colossians 1:15-16, 19

Julia Ross Strope
If we love the Lord with all our hearts, minds, and strength,
we are going to have to stretch our hearts, open our minds,
and strengthen our souls ... God cannot lodge in a narrow mind;
God cannot lodge in a small heart. To accommodate God they must be palatial.
-- William Sloan Coffin, Credo

Call To Worship (Leader)

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL