Welcome
Children's sermon
Object:
a welcome mat
Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the
one who sent me. (Matthew 10:40)
Good morning, boys and girls. Does anyone have a welcome mat at his or her house? (show them the welcome mat) It may not look exactly like this, but it is usually on the steps or the front porch of a house at the front door. Do you have that kind of mat at your house? (let them answer) What do you think a mat like this is for? (let them answer)
I think it is for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that it is a place for people who are visiting your house to wipe off the bottoms of their shoes. If they have been walking in the rain or snow, this is a good place to get rid of the wetness on their shoes. If they have been in mud, it is a good place to get rid of the mud. A welcome mat makes people feel good that they are not tracking dirt into your house.
But really there is even a more important reason. What do you think is the real reason for a welcome mat? (let them answer) That's right, it is there to make your guests feel welcome. Being welcome means you are happy to have visitors and old friends come over to your house. Even before you have a chance to say, "Welcome," they can read the word "welcome" and it makes them feel good.
Jesus told his disciples that it is good to be welcomed by strangers who have never heard about him or his father. Jesus said that you should tell them you want to visit them. You should tell them about our loving God. If they welcome you into their house then it means not only you are welcome but so is Jesus.
It doesn't really end there. When Jesus is welcomed into a house, so are all of the people who love God, like prophets and believers. Jesus says someone who gives a small child a cup of cold water to drink is also welcoming Jesus into his or her life.
It doesn't seem like a big thing but being welcomed into a friend's home to talk about Jesus is a wonderful thing. Not only do you go to your friend's house, but also Jesus goes with you and he blesses the house that you are visiting. I love to visit members of our church and to talk about Jesus to friends who do not belong to our church. Jesus fills a house with love and joy. The next time you have a visitor, I hope you will welcome them in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. Does anyone have a welcome mat at his or her house? (show them the welcome mat) It may not look exactly like this, but it is usually on the steps or the front porch of a house at the front door. Do you have that kind of mat at your house? (let them answer) What do you think a mat like this is for? (let them answer)
I think it is for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that it is a place for people who are visiting your house to wipe off the bottoms of their shoes. If they have been walking in the rain or snow, this is a good place to get rid of the wetness on their shoes. If they have been in mud, it is a good place to get rid of the mud. A welcome mat makes people feel good that they are not tracking dirt into your house.
But really there is even a more important reason. What do you think is the real reason for a welcome mat? (let them answer) That's right, it is there to make your guests feel welcome. Being welcome means you are happy to have visitors and old friends come over to your house. Even before you have a chance to say, "Welcome," they can read the word "welcome" and it makes them feel good.
Jesus told his disciples that it is good to be welcomed by strangers who have never heard about him or his father. Jesus said that you should tell them you want to visit them. You should tell them about our loving God. If they welcome you into their house then it means not only you are welcome but so is Jesus.
It doesn't really end there. When Jesus is welcomed into a house, so are all of the people who love God, like prophets and believers. Jesus says someone who gives a small child a cup of cold water to drink is also welcoming Jesus into his or her life.
It doesn't seem like a big thing but being welcomed into a friend's home to talk about Jesus is a wonderful thing. Not only do you go to your friend's house, but also Jesus goes with you and he blesses the house that you are visiting. I love to visit members of our church and to talk about Jesus to friends who do not belong to our church. Jesus fills a house with love and joy. The next time you have a visitor, I hope you will welcome them in the name of Jesus. Amen.
