God's Son
Children's sermon
Object:
a grade school textbook or grade school test sheet
The Point: Jesus wants us to understand who he is and why he came to earth.
The Lesson: Good morning boys and girls. Thank you for coming up and sharing this time together.
I brought with me a school textbook (or test sheet). Do you have one in your school? (let children answer) Textbooks help us to learn the things that we will need in life. Math books teach us how to add and subtract, multiply and divide. From spelling books we learn how to spell words and what those words mean. There are geography books, English books, history books, and many others books that help us to learn. Why do you read books in school? (let children answer) Yes, so that we can learn about our world. And as we go through the process of learning, teachers test us. We are asked about what we have learned. Your answers to the test questions help the teacher know if you are learning and understanding what you are being taught.
In our reading from Matthew today Jesus gives his disciples, his close followers, a test. Jesus asks them who he is. For nearly three years Jesus has been teaching them about the kingdom of God and who he is. Jesus taught by reading the Old Testament and revealing its meaning. Jesus preached about God's love for all his creation. Jesus revealed the power of God's word as he healed the sick people and as he fed thousands of people with just a few fish and loaves of bread. Jesus often took the disciples aside to give them a deeper understanding into the meaning of his stories. Now it was time to find out if they really understood all that Jesus had revealed. "Who do you say I am?" Jesus asked.
Jesus is more than just a carpenter from Nazareth. He is more than an exceptional preacher. Jesus is beyond his power to perform miracles. Jesus is not only a compassionate, grace-filled, God-centered man. Peter gets the answer right: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Each and every one of us must answer that question too. Just like no one can take a test for you in school so you too must answer who Jesus is.
Learn from Peter. Jesus is the very Son of God who has come to teach us about the Father's love and the way that we can become a part of God's family.
The next time you spell a word, do a math problem, tell someone what you have learned, or hold your Bible in your hand remember the answer to the most important question in all life: Jesus is God's Son whose love brings us to the family of God.
Closing Prayer: Let us pray: Jesus helps us to learn the things that we need to know so that we can be wise and helpful in life. Thank you for our parents and teachers and all who give of themselves that we might learn and grow. Jesus, you are the Son of God and you are our Savior. Jesus, bless your children and make them wise in the kingdom of God. Amen.
The Lesson: Good morning boys and girls. Thank you for coming up and sharing this time together.
I brought with me a school textbook (or test sheet). Do you have one in your school? (let children answer) Textbooks help us to learn the things that we will need in life. Math books teach us how to add and subtract, multiply and divide. From spelling books we learn how to spell words and what those words mean. There are geography books, English books, history books, and many others books that help us to learn. Why do you read books in school? (let children answer) Yes, so that we can learn about our world. And as we go through the process of learning, teachers test us. We are asked about what we have learned. Your answers to the test questions help the teacher know if you are learning and understanding what you are being taught.
In our reading from Matthew today Jesus gives his disciples, his close followers, a test. Jesus asks them who he is. For nearly three years Jesus has been teaching them about the kingdom of God and who he is. Jesus taught by reading the Old Testament and revealing its meaning. Jesus preached about God's love for all his creation. Jesus revealed the power of God's word as he healed the sick people and as he fed thousands of people with just a few fish and loaves of bread. Jesus often took the disciples aside to give them a deeper understanding into the meaning of his stories. Now it was time to find out if they really understood all that Jesus had revealed. "Who do you say I am?" Jesus asked.
Jesus is more than just a carpenter from Nazareth. He is more than an exceptional preacher. Jesus is beyond his power to perform miracles. Jesus is not only a compassionate, grace-filled, God-centered man. Peter gets the answer right: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Each and every one of us must answer that question too. Just like no one can take a test for you in school so you too must answer who Jesus is.
Learn from Peter. Jesus is the very Son of God who has come to teach us about the Father's love and the way that we can become a part of God's family.
The next time you spell a word, do a math problem, tell someone what you have learned, or hold your Bible in your hand remember the answer to the most important question in all life: Jesus is God's Son whose love brings us to the family of God.
Closing Prayer: Let us pray: Jesus helps us to learn the things that we need to know so that we can be wise and helpful in life. Thank you for our parents and teachers and all who give of themselves that we might learn and grow. Jesus, you are the Son of God and you are our Savior. Jesus, bless your children and make them wise in the kingdom of God. Amen.
