Matthew 17:1-9
Children's sermon
Object:
a Walkman-type portable radio with headphones
Our reading today is really a neat story. One day Peter, James and John were walking with Jesus. Jesus took them up a mountain to be alone with him. When they got there, Jesus suddenly began to glow with the light of heaven. The Bible says that "his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white." A bright cloud appeared and a voice spoke from the cloud. It was the voice of God, saying, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" What an amazing experience that must have been for Peter, James and John. Listen to him! If a voice came out of the sky telling me to do something, I'd do it. Wouldn't you?
Peter, James and John were with Jesus, so they could hear God's voice just like you can hear me. It's a little different for you and me. What does Jesus sound like? How do you think we can hear Jesus? (get the children's ideas) Maybe. There are probably lots of ways that Jesus speaks to us every day.
There's a lot of noise in the world. If we are going to hear Jesus speaking, we have to learn to tune in to him, just like you'd tune in to a radio station. (hold up the Walkman) When I put on my Walkman, I can hear the music through my headphones. I can still hear some of the other noises around me, but the music from my radio is the loudest to me. I think that listening to Jesus is like listening to a Walkman. If we practice, we can begin to hear his voice the loudest and most clearly.
How does that happen? The best way to start listening for Jesus is to spend time with him. Pray and talk with him. If we do this enough, we will begin to know what his voice sounds like. He will become more familiar to us and we'll begin hearing what he has to say.
Prayer: Jesus, help us know the sound of your voice. Amen.
Peter, James and John were with Jesus, so they could hear God's voice just like you can hear me. It's a little different for you and me. What does Jesus sound like? How do you think we can hear Jesus? (get the children's ideas) Maybe. There are probably lots of ways that Jesus speaks to us every day.
There's a lot of noise in the world. If we are going to hear Jesus speaking, we have to learn to tune in to him, just like you'd tune in to a radio station. (hold up the Walkman) When I put on my Walkman, I can hear the music through my headphones. I can still hear some of the other noises around me, but the music from my radio is the loudest to me. I think that listening to Jesus is like listening to a Walkman. If we practice, we can begin to hear his voice the loudest and most clearly.
How does that happen? The best way to start listening for Jesus is to spend time with him. Pray and talk with him. If we do this enough, we will begin to know what his voice sounds like. He will become more familiar to us and we'll begin hearing what he has to say.
Prayer: Jesus, help us know the sound of your voice. Amen.
