Empty or full?
Children's sermon
Object:
two bottles of ketchup, one full and one almost empty; a full bottle of soda and one that is almost empty
... singing with a full voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to
receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and
blessing!" (vv. 11b-12)
Good morning, boys and girls. Christ is risen! (let them respond, then repeat it two more times) Very good, we are getting better and better singing our believers' theme. Speaking of singing, I read in the book of Revelation today about the singing that goes on in heaven. It must be wonderful. I wish we would sing in church like they sing in heaven. I want to find out what kind of singers you are today so that I will know if you are ready to join the chorus in heaven.
Let's see what I mean. When you go to the refrigerator to get the bottle of ketchup, which bottle would you choose? (show them the almost-empty ketchup bottle and the full bottle of ketchup) Most of you want the full bottle. It looks so much better, it is a rich red color and there is no old ketchup on the cap or dripping down the side. I love a full bottle of ketchup. I don't have to shake it or let it sit upside down on the counter until the little bit of ketchup that is left runs down to the cap.
I think we probably will make the same choice on the second group of bottles that I have with me. I brought a full bottle of soda and a bottle with a little soda in it. (show the bottles of soda) Which would you choose, the full bottle or the bottle with a little in it? (let them answer) We would all choose the full bottle of soda.
Let me ask you one other question. Do you ever watch the people in church when they sing? (let them answer) Some of the people look like the full bottle and some look like they have very little left inside of them. How do you think they sing in heaven? Do they sing with a full voice or an empty voice? (let them answer) That's right, they sing like they have full voices.
As a matter of fact, in the scripture we read today from the book of Revelation it says that the angels, the living creatures, and the elders that number in the thousands sing with full voices and they praise God with every song they sing.
What a choir. How would our church sound if every person sang with a full voice and praised God? (let them answer) That's right, we would probably raise the roof a few inches. The next time you think about heaven and you wonder what it sounds like when the angels, the living creatures, and the elders get together to praise God, please think of every one of them singing with a full voice.
And the next time you see a full bottle of ketchup or soda you can think about how our church would sound if we all sang praises to God with full voices. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. Christ is risen! (let them respond, then repeat it two more times) Very good, we are getting better and better singing our believers' theme. Speaking of singing, I read in the book of Revelation today about the singing that goes on in heaven. It must be wonderful. I wish we would sing in church like they sing in heaven. I want to find out what kind of singers you are today so that I will know if you are ready to join the chorus in heaven.
Let's see what I mean. When you go to the refrigerator to get the bottle of ketchup, which bottle would you choose? (show them the almost-empty ketchup bottle and the full bottle of ketchup) Most of you want the full bottle. It looks so much better, it is a rich red color and there is no old ketchup on the cap or dripping down the side. I love a full bottle of ketchup. I don't have to shake it or let it sit upside down on the counter until the little bit of ketchup that is left runs down to the cap.
I think we probably will make the same choice on the second group of bottles that I have with me. I brought a full bottle of soda and a bottle with a little soda in it. (show the bottles of soda) Which would you choose, the full bottle or the bottle with a little in it? (let them answer) We would all choose the full bottle of soda.
Let me ask you one other question. Do you ever watch the people in church when they sing? (let them answer) Some of the people look like the full bottle and some look like they have very little left inside of them. How do you think they sing in heaven? Do they sing with a full voice or an empty voice? (let them answer) That's right, they sing like they have full voices.
As a matter of fact, in the scripture we read today from the book of Revelation it says that the angels, the living creatures, and the elders that number in the thousands sing with full voices and they praise God with every song they sing.
What a choir. How would our church sound if every person sang with a full voice and praised God? (let them answer) That's right, we would probably raise the roof a few inches. The next time you think about heaven and you wonder what it sounds like when the angels, the living creatures, and the elders get together to praise God, please think of every one of them singing with a full voice.
And the next time you see a full bottle of ketchup or soda you can think about how our church would sound if we all sang praises to God with full voices. Amen.
