The Big Little Word
Children's sermon
Object:
The letters 'I' and 'F' from a game of Scrabble
Have you ever played a word game called Scrabble? The bigger the word the more points that you get. The word I have made today is quite a small word, I wouldn't get very many points! But it is a "BIG" word in many ways. It is a word that we find in our story today.
There were two friends of Jesus that had a brother die and their comment to Jesus was, "IF (hold up the Scrabble letters) you had been here my brother would not have died." (John 11:21) Then later on in the story the other sister repeats, "IF you have been here..."
Have you ever said that same word? IF I had studied harder I would have gotten an A. IF we hadn't missed the ball we would have won the game. IF only... but so often we can't change the situation, it is done.
The two sisters wished that their brother had not died. But God can help us through those difficult times. He feels with us -- in fact it says in this story that Jesus cried. (John 11:35) But I love the other 'IF' that is said in this story. IF (hold up the Scrabble letters) you had believed you would see the glory of God. (John 11:40)
Many things are out of our control in our lives, but God gives us a hope. We have a choice of how we will respond to difficult situations. Yes, they may be sad; Jesus was sad. But he did not stop there. He told them... IF they would believe they could experience something glorious out of something so difficult.
How do we apply this to our lives?
May you remember you have a choice to how you will respond to hard things. Remember the little 'IF.' If you believe that your God is great and powerful, you can have hope even when your best friend may move away or your pet may die. 'IF' represents a choice of how we will respond and trust our God. The little 'IF' can make all the difference in the world.
There were two friends of Jesus that had a brother die and their comment to Jesus was, "IF (hold up the Scrabble letters) you had been here my brother would not have died." (John 11:21) Then later on in the story the other sister repeats, "IF you have been here..."
Have you ever said that same word? IF I had studied harder I would have gotten an A. IF we hadn't missed the ball we would have won the game. IF only... but so often we can't change the situation, it is done.
The two sisters wished that their brother had not died. But God can help us through those difficult times. He feels with us -- in fact it says in this story that Jesus cried. (John 11:35) But I love the other 'IF' that is said in this story. IF (hold up the Scrabble letters) you had believed you would see the glory of God. (John 11:40)
Many things are out of our control in our lives, but God gives us a hope. We have a choice of how we will respond to difficult situations. Yes, they may be sad; Jesus was sad. But he did not stop there. He told them... IF they would believe they could experience something glorious out of something so difficult.
How do we apply this to our lives?
May you remember you have a choice to how you will respond to hard things. Remember the little 'IF.' If you believe that your God is great and powerful, you can have hope even when your best friend may move away or your pet may die. 'IF' represents a choice of how we will respond and trust our God. The little 'IF' can make all the difference in the world.
