Beginning and end
Children's sermon
Object:
The symbols Alpha (A) and Omega (ê) on two separate sheets of paper
Today is the beginning of a brand-new year. We even call
this day "New Year's Day" and celebrate it. We like new things. I
wonder how many of you got new things for Christmas? (Let them
answer.) Old things come to an end and new things come. 1996 is
now behind us. Now we live in 1997!
Everything that is new will someday become old. I remember one Christmas when I got a new... (Here tell a story of a gift that meant a great deal to you when it was new but the newness wore off and became old.) People are like our Christmas gifts. New people are babies and old people are our seniors. New people come into the world and old people leave the world and go to heaven.
There is one person who is both new and old. I'm talking about Jesus. He once said, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end." I thought you might want to know what an "Alpha" is so I brought one along. This is an "Alpha." (Show the "A.") Does this "Alpha" remind you of something? (Let them answer.) An "Alpha" reminds us of the letter "A," doesn't it? Now tell me, what is the first letter of the alphabet? (Let them answer.) The letter "A" is first.
Now I want to show you something else. (Show them the "ê.") What do you suppose this is? (Let them answer.) This is an "Omega." It reminds me of a horseshoe. The "Omega" is the last letter of the Greek alphabet. It's like our letter "Z." When Jesus said, "I am the Alpha and the Omega," it was like saying, "I am the letter A and the letter Z." Jesus is both NEW and OLD. Jesus is "the beginning" and "the end." Jesus is both! No one else is like Jesus. He's like the first day of the new year and the last day of the old year at the same time!
Today you learned several things. You learned what an "Alpha" and an "Omega" are, and you learned that Jesus is both new and old. But so what? What does this mean to us? It means that Jesus is eternal God. And I'm so glad to know Jesus as our God! That means he can save us! If he were not God, Jesus could do nothing for us.
Dearest Jesus: Thank you for being our God who saves us. Amen.
Everything that is new will someday become old. I remember one Christmas when I got a new... (Here tell a story of a gift that meant a great deal to you when it was new but the newness wore off and became old.) People are like our Christmas gifts. New people are babies and old people are our seniors. New people come into the world and old people leave the world and go to heaven.
There is one person who is both new and old. I'm talking about Jesus. He once said, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end." I thought you might want to know what an "Alpha" is so I brought one along. This is an "Alpha." (Show the "A.") Does this "Alpha" remind you of something? (Let them answer.) An "Alpha" reminds us of the letter "A," doesn't it? Now tell me, what is the first letter of the alphabet? (Let them answer.) The letter "A" is first.
Now I want to show you something else. (Show them the "ê.") What do you suppose this is? (Let them answer.) This is an "Omega." It reminds me of a horseshoe. The "Omega" is the last letter of the Greek alphabet. It's like our letter "Z." When Jesus said, "I am the Alpha and the Omega," it was like saying, "I am the letter A and the letter Z." Jesus is both NEW and OLD. Jesus is "the beginning" and "the end." Jesus is both! No one else is like Jesus. He's like the first day of the new year and the last day of the old year at the same time!
Today you learned several things. You learned what an "Alpha" and an "Omega" are, and you learned that Jesus is both new and old. But so what? What does this mean to us? It means that Jesus is eternal God. And I'm so glad to know Jesus as our God! That means he can save us! If he were not God, Jesus could do nothing for us.
Dearest Jesus: Thank you for being our God who saves us. Amen.
