Sad clowns
Children's sermon
Object:
clowns, sad clowns (this is a great opportunity to use some youth who would like to costume for this presentation
Greetings, boys and girls. Today is the beginning of the Lenten season. Do you know what we call the special day that begins Lent? (let them answer) Very good, we call it Ash Wednesday. Lent is a time when we follow Jesus to the cross, and we try to think about how God forgives our sin.
Today we have a wonderful lesson. Jesus was a people watcher. Do you enjoy watching people? (let them answer) Sometimes I like to sit on a bench in the mall and just watch people when they walk by. In my mind, I can just see Jesus watching people walk by him on their way to worship. One day he talked about the people he watched.
I brought with me today some special dolls. Do you know what we call them? (let them answer) That's right; clowns! How many of you have ever seen a real clown? (let them answer) I want you to look at these clowns and tell me what you see. Look at their faces and tell me how the clowns feel. (let them answer) Very good! These are sad clowns.
The reason that I wanted you to see these clowns is because Jesus saw certain people who were supposed to be very religious and they looked awful. Their faces told everyone that they were doing something that must have really hurt. Do you know what they were doing? (let them answer) They were fasting as a sign of their obedience to God. Fasting means not eating food on certain days or for several days in a row. Have any of you ever fasted? (let them answer) Probably not, but many Christians do not eat on certain days, like Ash Wednesday or Good Friday. Instead of eating, they pray, read scripture, and worship God. Jesus said this can be a good thing, but don't tell everyone by making a bad face. Don't draw attention to yourself. This, Jesus says, is not worshiping God but telling everyone who will watch that you are being religious falsely. You look and act like a clown.
Jesus says that when we practice our religion, we should do it in private.
The next time you see a clown with a sad face, think about Jesus and how he watched people and what he said about people that looked like clowns so that everyone would know they were religious. Then go home and very privately say your prayers or read your Bibles. This is what Jesus teaches and it is a good thing to remember.
Today we have a wonderful lesson. Jesus was a people watcher. Do you enjoy watching people? (let them answer) Sometimes I like to sit on a bench in the mall and just watch people when they walk by. In my mind, I can just see Jesus watching people walk by him on their way to worship. One day he talked about the people he watched.
I brought with me today some special dolls. Do you know what we call them? (let them answer) That's right; clowns! How many of you have ever seen a real clown? (let them answer) I want you to look at these clowns and tell me what you see. Look at their faces and tell me how the clowns feel. (let them answer) Very good! These are sad clowns.
The reason that I wanted you to see these clowns is because Jesus saw certain people who were supposed to be very religious and they looked awful. Their faces told everyone that they were doing something that must have really hurt. Do you know what they were doing? (let them answer) They were fasting as a sign of their obedience to God. Fasting means not eating food on certain days or for several days in a row. Have any of you ever fasted? (let them answer) Probably not, but many Christians do not eat on certain days, like Ash Wednesday or Good Friday. Instead of eating, they pray, read scripture, and worship God. Jesus said this can be a good thing, but don't tell everyone by making a bad face. Don't draw attention to yourself. This, Jesus says, is not worshiping God but telling everyone who will watch that you are being religious falsely. You look and act like a clown.
Jesus says that when we practice our religion, we should do it in private.
The next time you see a clown with a sad face, think about Jesus and how he watched people and what he said about people that looked like clowns so that everyone would know they were religious. Then go home and very privately say your prayers or read your Bibles. This is what Jesus teaches and it is a good thing to remember.
