Agape
Children's sermon
Object:
a large piece of cardboard with "AGAPE" printed on it
Good morning! I want to ask you some questions this morning
about a certain English word that we use a lot. The word is
"love." We use this word in a different ways. For instance, we
might say that we saw a movie and we "loved" it. Have you ever
said that? (Let them answer.) We might also say that we "love"
our parents. Now is there any difference between the kind of love
we have for our parents and the kind of love we meant when we
said we loved the movie? (Let them answer.) I surely hope so! And
still, in both cases, we used the same word. The problem is that,
in English, we have only the one word for love, and we use it in
different ways.
Now, the New Testament of the Bible was written in Greek,
and in Greek there are three different words for love. When the
Bible talks about faith, hope, and love and says that the
greatest of these three is love, it uses this Greek word for
love. (Show the cardboard sign with AGAPE written on it.) This
kind of love, agape, is a totally unselfish love. It's the kind
of love that Jesus has for us, the kind of love that he showed
when he went to the cross and died for us. It's the kind of love
that we need to have for God. There is no greater love than this.
It certainly means a lot more than when we say we love a movie,
or a toy, or a game.
Let's ask God to help us have this kind of love for Him and
for others.
Dear Father in Heaven: Please help us love You in the way that
You love us. Help us love others also so that we can show "agape"
love as You want us to do. Amen.
about a certain English word that we use a lot. The word is
"love." We use this word in a different ways. For instance, we
might say that we saw a movie and we "loved" it. Have you ever
said that? (Let them answer.) We might also say that we "love"
our parents. Now is there any difference between the kind of love
we have for our parents and the kind of love we meant when we
said we loved the movie? (Let them answer.) I surely hope so! And
still, in both cases, we used the same word. The problem is that,
in English, we have only the one word for love, and we use it in
different ways.
Now, the New Testament of the Bible was written in Greek,
and in Greek there are three different words for love. When the
Bible talks about faith, hope, and love and says that the
greatest of these three is love, it uses this Greek word for
love. (Show the cardboard sign with AGAPE written on it.) This
kind of love, agape, is a totally unselfish love. It's the kind
of love that Jesus has for us, the kind of love that he showed
when he went to the cross and died for us. It's the kind of love
that we need to have for God. There is no greater love than this.
It certainly means a lot more than when we say we love a movie,
or a toy, or a game.
Let's ask God to help us have this kind of love for Him and
for others.
Dear Father in Heaven: Please help us love You in the way that
You love us. Help us love others also so that we can show "agape"
love as You want us to do. Amen.
