Claimed A Child Of God
Children's sermon
Null
Object:
a glass bowl full of water
The Point: In our baptism God claims us as his children
The Lesson: Good morning, girls and boys. It is a joy for me to have you share this time together. Thank you. Today I brought with me a bowl of water. (show the bowl of water) It is an ordinary glass bowl, and the water came from a facet in the church. But when it is used as a sign of baptism, it becomes special. The only thing that changes is what it is used for. To me that means it is God’s presence that makes all the difference. That is what John the Baptism was saying when he said that Jesus will come and baptize with the power of Holy Spirit and with fire.
John was in the wilderness calling people to get ready for the Savior was coming, to ask for the forgiveness he preached. Those who desired repentance were baptized in the Jordan River. But there was a greater baptism to come. Jesus would bring it. It was still just water, but with the gift of the Holy Spirit it made all the difference.
If you want to be a part of God’s family, it is not about how good you are. It is not whether you are worthy or not. It is not how much you can give or how little. It isn’t about what you can do or how well you can do it. God calls you to receive his Son and have faith in him. In baptism we let go of the things we want and take hold of the things that Jesus wants for us. In baptism we are born again in the love of Jesus. When we came up out of the water of our baptism, God claims us as his children. Even as God declared Jesus to be his Son, God declares us to be a part of his family. When we look to God, he claims us as his children, forgives and renews us, and empowers us to live a life as a Child of God.
As we prepare to close with prayer, I would like us to do something special. Let us unite our hearts and each of us place a hand in the bowl of water as I pray.
Prayer: Gracious Jesus, in the water of baptism you release your Holy Spirit that we might truly be forgiven and claimed as children of God. Send a fresh anointing of your Spirit upon us now, and may the waters of our baptisms flow renewing and empowering us to live in faith. Jesus, claim us and proclaim us as a part of your family to your glory and honor. Amen.
The Lesson: Good morning, girls and boys. It is a joy for me to have you share this time together. Thank you. Today I brought with me a bowl of water. (show the bowl of water) It is an ordinary glass bowl, and the water came from a facet in the church. But when it is used as a sign of baptism, it becomes special. The only thing that changes is what it is used for. To me that means it is God’s presence that makes all the difference. That is what John the Baptism was saying when he said that Jesus will come and baptize with the power of Holy Spirit and with fire.
John was in the wilderness calling people to get ready for the Savior was coming, to ask for the forgiveness he preached. Those who desired repentance were baptized in the Jordan River. But there was a greater baptism to come. Jesus would bring it. It was still just water, but with the gift of the Holy Spirit it made all the difference.
If you want to be a part of God’s family, it is not about how good you are. It is not whether you are worthy or not. It is not how much you can give or how little. It isn’t about what you can do or how well you can do it. God calls you to receive his Son and have faith in him. In baptism we let go of the things we want and take hold of the things that Jesus wants for us. In baptism we are born again in the love of Jesus. When we came up out of the water of our baptism, God claims us as his children. Even as God declared Jesus to be his Son, God declares us to be a part of his family. When we look to God, he claims us as his children, forgives and renews us, and empowers us to live a life as a Child of God.
As we prepare to close with prayer, I would like us to do something special. Let us unite our hearts and each of us place a hand in the bowl of water as I pray.
Prayer: Gracious Jesus, in the water of baptism you release your Holy Spirit that we might truly be forgiven and claimed as children of God. Send a fresh anointing of your Spirit upon us now, and may the waters of our baptisms flow renewing and empowering us to live in faith. Jesus, claim us and proclaim us as a part of your family to your glory and honor. Amen.

