Childrens Sermon Service

When you look at a seed, it looks dead. It's all dried up and there appears to be no life in that seed. But if the seed is buried in the ground and receives the proper moisture, it sprouts. A tiny seed may become a giant tree over 100 feet tall. One tiny seed may produce thousands of other seeds as the plant matures. Sometimes seeds that are hundreds of years old are found. When they are planted, they spring to life. It seems like the seed was dead and then came to life. For this reason, a seed is a lot like the Christian's promise in death.

We die. The body is buried in the earth -- like a seed. Yet, even though we die, we live. Jesus rose from the dead. He was buried, like a seed, in the earth. Then he rose from the grave and because he rose, we also shall live.

I don't understand exactly how we live after we die, but I know that Jesus' promise is sure. Are there people you know who have died? (Let them answer.) Isn't it wonderful to know that we shall see loved ones again?

Dear Jesus: You are our hope of life. Thank you for dying and rising again. Amen.

Alternative: Using the shortest verse in the Bible ("Jesus began to weep" [v. 35]), talk about the reality of loss that death brings. Retell the story of Lazarus who died and then was raised to life again by the power of Jesus. Point out that death is real and loss hurts, but that the end of the story is a good one because God raises all who believe to eternal life.