We're GREAT!
Children's sermon
John the Baptist is humbled by Jesus’ request to baptize him. John sees himself as the stand in place holder until Jesus arrives. Once he does John is more than happy to hand over the ministry. Jesus, however, wants John to use his expertise and experience to serve Jesus’s ministry. Baptism is what John is good at after all, it’s right there in his name. He has spent his ministry baptizing others. He probably has a super awesome liturgy and Jesus wants to be a part of that. This story teaches us that God calls us to use what we are good at to help Jesus’ ministry.
In your message say something like:
Raise your hand if you know who Thomas the Train Engine is. How about Bob the Builder?These cartoon friends have pretty normal names, Thomas and Bob, but then they have these ending names, train engine and builder. The ending of their name tells us something about them. It helps us know them better and know what they are good at, Thomas is a great train engine, and Bob is a great builder.
How many of you know who Dora is? What is her name ending that we know her by? The Explorer, right. Because she explores things! She is really good at exploring too. She has a map and a backpack and other gear to help her explore. She has been exploring for a long time and has a plan to help her look.
In the Bible story today,there is a person named John the Baptist. We have talked about him before when he was born. He was Jesus’ cousin! If his name was John the Baptist he must be good at what? Baptizing! And he was! He would teach people about God and when they believed what he said John would baptize them.
One day Jesus visitedJohn and asked to be baptized. This seemed good since John was so good at baptizing in his name, but John got confused. John knews that Jesus was God here with us and since baptism brings us into God’s family John doid not think Jesus needed to be baptized. In fact John wanted to be baptized by Jesus!
Jesus told John the reason he wanted to be baptized by him was because it was what John wasgood at. Jesus wanted John to use his gifts and experience to help Jesus show the world God loved them.
We all have things we are good at. It could be we are great listeners, r great at including everyone in playground games,we might be great at tying shoelaces, or sharing a smile with someone else. Jesus wants us to use what we are good at to help Jesus teach the world about God’s love. Let’s say a prayer to help us find the gifts we can use to help.
God, thank you for making us great at things. Help us find ways to use what we are great at to show your love. Amen.
In your message say something like:
Raise your hand if you know who Thomas the Train Engine is. How about Bob the Builder?These cartoon friends have pretty normal names, Thomas and Bob, but then they have these ending names, train engine and builder. The ending of their name tells us something about them. It helps us know them better and know what they are good at, Thomas is a great train engine, and Bob is a great builder.
How many of you know who Dora is? What is her name ending that we know her by? The Explorer, right. Because she explores things! She is really good at exploring too. She has a map and a backpack and other gear to help her explore. She has been exploring for a long time and has a plan to help her look.
In the Bible story today,there is a person named John the Baptist. We have talked about him before when he was born. He was Jesus’ cousin! If his name was John the Baptist he must be good at what? Baptizing! And he was! He would teach people about God and when they believed what he said John would baptize them.
One day Jesus visitedJohn and asked to be baptized. This seemed good since John was so good at baptizing in his name, but John got confused. John knews that Jesus was God here with us and since baptism brings us into God’s family John doid not think Jesus needed to be baptized. In fact John wanted to be baptized by Jesus!
Jesus told John the reason he wanted to be baptized by him was because it was what John wasgood at. Jesus wanted John to use his gifts and experience to help Jesus show the world God loved them.
We all have things we are good at. It could be we are great listeners, r great at including everyone in playground games,we might be great at tying shoelaces, or sharing a smile with someone else. Jesus wants us to use what we are good at to help Jesus teach the world about God’s love. Let’s say a prayer to help us find the gifts we can use to help.
God, thank you for making us great at things. Help us find ways to use what we are great at to show your love. Amen.
