By God's grace
Children's sermon
Object:
a picture of yourself
Good morning! I want to see if any of you can tell me who
this is. (Show the picture and let them answer.) Yes, that's a
picture of me. Now, I've been around in this world a lot longer
than any of you, and I am many different things. Some of the
things that I am today came about by my own choice, and some I
had no control over. Now as we look at the picture, let's see if
we can identify which is which. Obviously, I am a man and not a
woman. Was that a choice I made or was it God's? (Let them
answer.) Yes, that was God's decision, not mine. Some of us are
male and some female. We don't choose which we will be. Okay, now
look at what I am wearing in the picture. Was that my choice?
(Let them answer.) Yes, I made that decision. What about how tall
I am? I am _______________ tall. Was that my decision or God's?
(Let them answer.) Of course that was God's decision. I have no
control over my height. And what about the way my hair is cut?
Was that my decision? (Let them answer.) Yes, I do decide how my
hair should be cut.
Now, one final thing. I know you can't tell by looking at
the picture, but you should know the answer anyway. This person
in the picture is a Christian. Was that my decision or God's?
(Let them answer.) The truth is that it is by God's grace that we
are Christians. He empowers us to be Christians through His holy
word. We do not decide to be Christians. God calls us by His word
and makes us His people. It is His work, not ours. Let's say a
prayer right now thanking God for making us what we are today.
Dear God: We know that we are what we are today through Your
grace and by the power of Your holy word. We thank You for making
us Christians, and we pray that You will help us hold on to our
faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ, for all of our life. Amen.
this is. (Show the picture and let them answer.) Yes, that's a
picture of me. Now, I've been around in this world a lot longer
than any of you, and I am many different things. Some of the
things that I am today came about by my own choice, and some I
had no control over. Now as we look at the picture, let's see if
we can identify which is which. Obviously, I am a man and not a
woman. Was that a choice I made or was it God's? (Let them
answer.) Yes, that was God's decision, not mine. Some of us are
male and some female. We don't choose which we will be. Okay, now
look at what I am wearing in the picture. Was that my choice?
(Let them answer.) Yes, I made that decision. What about how tall
I am? I am _______________ tall. Was that my decision or God's?
(Let them answer.) Of course that was God's decision. I have no
control over my height. And what about the way my hair is cut?
Was that my decision? (Let them answer.) Yes, I do decide how my
hair should be cut.
Now, one final thing. I know you can't tell by looking at
the picture, but you should know the answer anyway. This person
in the picture is a Christian. Was that my decision or God's?
(Let them answer.) The truth is that it is by God's grace that we
are Christians. He empowers us to be Christians through His holy
word. We do not decide to be Christians. God calls us by His word
and makes us His people. It is His work, not ours. Let's say a
prayer right now thanking God for making us what we are today.
Dear God: We know that we are what we are today through Your
grace and by the power of Your holy word. We thank You for making
us Christians, and we pray that You will help us hold on to our
faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ, for all of our life. Amen.
