Baptism water
Children's sermon
Object:
Baptismal font and water
Good morning! We do a lot of things with water, don't we?
Today I want to ask you this: What are some things we do with
water? We baptize with water, but what else? I'm looking for two
main things we do with water. (Let them answer.) We use water to
drink. We use water to wash ourselves. There is something else we
do with water that includes drinking and washing. You see, we
also use water to baptize. Can you tell me what baptism is? (Let
them answer.) Water used in baptism is normal water, but it is
water used with God's word. That makes it special.
Baptism water does the same thing as regular water. But baptism water does so much more because it gives us water for our souls to drink. We don't drink baptism water with our mouths as we would drink fountain water, but our souls are watered through baptism. I can't explain to you how that happens. It is a mystery. I just know that God uses baptism water to nourish our souls. As regular water quenches our body's thirst, so baptism water quenches our souls.
Baptism water does something else. It washes us. Just as regular water washes our bodies, so baptism water washes us. But it washes us of more than dirt -- it washes us of our sins. We cannot see sin the way we can see dirt on our bodies, but sin is real. It is there in each of us. Baptism washes our sin away! How does that happen? Again, I don't know. It is a mystery!
So, when we have a baptism, something very important happens. We are nourished and bathed with water that is combined with God's word. We baptize in Jesus' name. Without that, baptism is nothing. With Jesus, baptism is extremely important.
(Later this morning we have a baptism and I want you to come up with the person being baptized. Listen carefully to the words we use and hear how God uses baptism to fill our souls and wash us clean.)
Dear God: Thank you for baptism. It is a mystery and a wonderful gift. Amen.
Baptism water does the same thing as regular water. But baptism water does so much more because it gives us water for our souls to drink. We don't drink baptism water with our mouths as we would drink fountain water, but our souls are watered through baptism. I can't explain to you how that happens. It is a mystery. I just know that God uses baptism water to nourish our souls. As regular water quenches our body's thirst, so baptism water quenches our souls.
Baptism water does something else. It washes us. Just as regular water washes our bodies, so baptism water washes us. But it washes us of more than dirt -- it washes us of our sins. We cannot see sin the way we can see dirt on our bodies, but sin is real. It is there in each of us. Baptism washes our sin away! How does that happen? Again, I don't know. It is a mystery!
So, when we have a baptism, something very important happens. We are nourished and bathed with water that is combined with God's word. We baptize in Jesus' name. Without that, baptism is nothing. With Jesus, baptism is extremely important.
(Later this morning we have a baptism and I want you to come up with the person being baptized. Listen carefully to the words we use and hear how God uses baptism to fill our souls and wash us clean.)
Dear God: Thank you for baptism. It is a mystery and a wonderful gift. Amen.
