The end!
Children's sermon
Object:
An apple core, a book, a 1996 calendar, a Bible
Two weeks ago we talked about beginnings. Our reading was
from the first chapter of Mark and it talked about the beginning
of Jesus' good news. Today we hear about endings. Today's reading
is the last words of a letter in the Bible. Does anyone remember
who the letter was written to? (Let them answer.) The letter was
written to the people at Rome. We call the letter "Romans."
When we write letters we end them with words like "Yours truly," or "Sincerely." But when this letter writer, whose name was Paul, gets to the end of his letter, he makes a very long ending. And the last word he uses is a word we often use in church. Does anybody remember the very last word? (Let them answer.) The very last word Paul uses in his letter is the word "Amen."
I brought with me an apple core, a book, a 1996 calendar, and a Bible. Let's take one at a time. What do we usually do with an apple core? (Let them answer.) We usually throw it away. The apple has been eaten and we are through with it now.
When you finish reading a book and come to "The End" on the last page, what do you do with it? (Let them answer.) You return it to the library. You have finished with it. What happens to an old calendar? In just a week and a half, this calendar will be old and we will need a new one. What will we do with this one?
Usually when we have finished something, we throw it away or get rid of it. I also have here with me a Bible. What do we do when we are through reading it? (Let them answer.) We keep on reading it some more!
It's a funny thing about the Bible: you can read it and read it again and still it has something to tell us. Even when Paul finished his letter to the Romans and said "Amen" at the end, it was not the end because we read that letter here in church quite often.
The Bible is different because it has good news in it that never ends. The good news is the story of Jesus and how he was born, lived, taught, died, and rose from the dead. It's the same story, the same good news, but it's the good news we want and need to hear.
Dear God: Thank you for the good news of Jesus. Amen.
When we write letters we end them with words like "Yours truly," or "Sincerely." But when this letter writer, whose name was Paul, gets to the end of his letter, he makes a very long ending. And the last word he uses is a word we often use in church. Does anybody remember the very last word? (Let them answer.) The very last word Paul uses in his letter is the word "Amen."
I brought with me an apple core, a book, a 1996 calendar, and a Bible. Let's take one at a time. What do we usually do with an apple core? (Let them answer.) We usually throw it away. The apple has been eaten and we are through with it now.
When you finish reading a book and come to "The End" on the last page, what do you do with it? (Let them answer.) You return it to the library. You have finished with it. What happens to an old calendar? In just a week and a half, this calendar will be old and we will need a new one. What will we do with this one?
Usually when we have finished something, we throw it away or get rid of it. I also have here with me a Bible. What do we do when we are through reading it? (Let them answer.) We keep on reading it some more!
It's a funny thing about the Bible: you can read it and read it again and still it has something to tell us. Even when Paul finished his letter to the Romans and said "Amen" at the end, it was not the end because we read that letter here in church quite often.
The Bible is different because it has good news in it that never ends. The good news is the story of Jesus and how he was born, lived, taught, died, and rose from the dead. It's the same story, the same good news, but it's the good news we want and need to hear.
Dear God: Thank you for the good news of Jesus. Amen.
