The rock of Jesus
Children's sermon
Object:
words like "hear" and "here" or "hare" and "hair" written on index cards
Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever thought about how blessed you are to be able to speak words? (let them answer) You don't whistle or grunt, you don't bark or meow, instead you say words and other people understand you. Our language is called English, and it is made up of thousands of words. With those words you can ask questions, tell a story, get directions, praise God, and many other things.
Our language has some funny words that sound the same but are completely different. For instance we have the word "hear" and "here." (hold up the cards and indicate listening for "hear" and a place for "here") Do you know what "hear" and "here" mean? (let them answer) Very good, one word describes listening while the other word tells you where something is. We also have the words "hare" and "hair." (show cards) Can you tell me what a "hair" is? (let them answer) It is something that grows on our body, most of it on the top of our head. What does the other "hare" speak about? (let them answer) That's right, it is a rabbit.
There is something like this going on in the Bible today when Jesus was talking with his disciples. Jesus asked the disciples what people were saying about him? One said that people thought he was John the Baptist. Another disciple said that Jesus reminded him of the prophets Elijah or Jeremiah. Then he asked the disciples who they thought he was. Peter said, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!"
Jesus told Peter that he was blessed. No other human being could have told Peter this answer. Instead Jesus said that the Father in heaven had revealed the words to Peter. Then Jesus said he was going to build a church on this rock. The name "Peter" in Greek is spelled petros and a rock in Greek is spelled petra. It sounded like the same word. Some people thought Jesus said, "Peter, on this Peter I am going to build my church."
What Jesus meant was that Peter's words about Jesus would be the rock that Jesus would build his church upon. Jesus did not build his church on the faith of one man but on the faith that made Peter speak those words.
Remember, Jesus said that Peter got these words from the Father in heaven. Today, we are the church of Jesus Christ and we answer the same question in the way that Peter heard it from God. When people ask us who Jesus is, we answer, "He is the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
Our language has some funny words that sound the same but are completely different. For instance we have the word "hear" and "here." (hold up the cards and indicate listening for "hear" and a place for "here") Do you know what "hear" and "here" mean? (let them answer) Very good, one word describes listening while the other word tells you where something is. We also have the words "hare" and "hair." (show cards) Can you tell me what a "hair" is? (let them answer) It is something that grows on our body, most of it on the top of our head. What does the other "hare" speak about? (let them answer) That's right, it is a rabbit.
There is something like this going on in the Bible today when Jesus was talking with his disciples. Jesus asked the disciples what people were saying about him? One said that people thought he was John the Baptist. Another disciple said that Jesus reminded him of the prophets Elijah or Jeremiah. Then he asked the disciples who they thought he was. Peter said, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!"
Jesus told Peter that he was blessed. No other human being could have told Peter this answer. Instead Jesus said that the Father in heaven had revealed the words to Peter. Then Jesus said he was going to build a church on this rock. The name "Peter" in Greek is spelled petros and a rock in Greek is spelled petra. It sounded like the same word. Some people thought Jesus said, "Peter, on this Peter I am going to build my church."
What Jesus meant was that Peter's words about Jesus would be the rock that Jesus would build his church upon. Jesus did not build his church on the faith of one man but on the faith that made Peter speak those words.
Remember, Jesus said that Peter got these words from the Father in heaven. Today, we are the church of Jesus Christ and we answer the same question in the way that Peter heard it from God. When people ask us who Jesus is, we answer, "He is the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
