Be prepared
Children's sermon
Object:
a portable radio
"And they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man." (v. 39)
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of you have been through a tornado warning before? (allow answers) What happens when there is a tornado warning? (allow answers) When there is a tornado warning, you are supposed to go to a basement or a room with no windows so you will be safe in case the tornado hits your house. You take a radio and a flashlight with you: a radio so that you can listen to any updates on the weather, and a flashlight to be prepared in case the power goes out. Tornado warnings can be scary! They can happen at any time, day or night, at any time of year -- summer, fall, winter, spring. Not even the weathermen can predict a tornado! In fact, scientists still aren't quite sure what causes tornadoes. They know how tornadoes work, but they don't understand why tornadoes only sometimes form when the conditions are right. Natural disasters are often unpredictable. The weathermen may be able to forecast a hurricane or a flood, but they can't always tell how severe or devastating these natural disasters might be.
The Bible talks about unexpected natural disasters. In fact, there is one that I have in mind now that was a very big disaster! Can anyone guess what it is? (allow answers) The great flood! Do you remember the Bible story of Noah and the ark? (allow answers) God told Noah to build an ark because a great flood was coming. Even though his neighbors made fun of him, Noah did as God told him. He took many different animals and his family members on the ark, and when the great flood came -- just as God predicted -- Noah was ready. All the neighbors who had laughed and made fun of him were swept away by the waters!
Our gospel lesson talks about Noah's flood. It compares Jesus' coming to the flood. Jesus' coming will be just as unexpected! We should be prepared at all times, as if Jesus will be coming that very day!
Today is the first day of Advent. Advent is the time when we prepare to celebrate Jesus' birth. Who can tell me what important day that will be? (allow answers) Christmas! Advent is the time during the church year when we prepare for Christmas. Advent is when we focus on preparation: We prepare our church so that it is beautiful when we celebrate Jesus' birth; we prepare our hearts and our minds so that we can understand something new from the Christmas readings; we prepare our congregations for the gift that is Jesus, born on Christmas day. Although Christmas seems like a long way off, it's time to start preparing now! In fact, we don't have to wait until a special day like Christmas to celebrate Jesus -- we should be ready to do that any day of the year. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of you have been through a tornado warning before? (allow answers) What happens when there is a tornado warning? (allow answers) When there is a tornado warning, you are supposed to go to a basement or a room with no windows so you will be safe in case the tornado hits your house. You take a radio and a flashlight with you: a radio so that you can listen to any updates on the weather, and a flashlight to be prepared in case the power goes out. Tornado warnings can be scary! They can happen at any time, day or night, at any time of year -- summer, fall, winter, spring. Not even the weathermen can predict a tornado! In fact, scientists still aren't quite sure what causes tornadoes. They know how tornadoes work, but they don't understand why tornadoes only sometimes form when the conditions are right. Natural disasters are often unpredictable. The weathermen may be able to forecast a hurricane or a flood, but they can't always tell how severe or devastating these natural disasters might be.
The Bible talks about unexpected natural disasters. In fact, there is one that I have in mind now that was a very big disaster! Can anyone guess what it is? (allow answers) The great flood! Do you remember the Bible story of Noah and the ark? (allow answers) God told Noah to build an ark because a great flood was coming. Even though his neighbors made fun of him, Noah did as God told him. He took many different animals and his family members on the ark, and when the great flood came -- just as God predicted -- Noah was ready. All the neighbors who had laughed and made fun of him were swept away by the waters!
Our gospel lesson talks about Noah's flood. It compares Jesus' coming to the flood. Jesus' coming will be just as unexpected! We should be prepared at all times, as if Jesus will be coming that very day!
Today is the first day of Advent. Advent is the time when we prepare to celebrate Jesus' birth. Who can tell me what important day that will be? (allow answers) Christmas! Advent is the time during the church year when we prepare for Christmas. Advent is when we focus on preparation: We prepare our church so that it is beautiful when we celebrate Jesus' birth; we prepare our hearts and our minds so that we can understand something new from the Christmas readings; we prepare our congregations for the gift that is Jesus, born on Christmas day. Although Christmas seems like a long way off, it's time to start preparing now! In fact, we don't have to wait until a special day like Christmas to celebrate Jesus -- we should be ready to do that any day of the year. Amen.
