We're welcome here!
Children's sermon
Object:
car keys and driver's license
Do any of you have a car -- a real car that you can drive
down the street? (Let them answer.) I didn't think you would
because cars belong to people who are old enough to drive them.
They cost lots of money and you have to be a certain age before
you can even try to drive a car. Furthermore, you have to have a
license. A license says that you are old enough and know enough
to drive a car safely and the state will allow you to drive a
car.
If you walked into a car dealer's showroom -- the place where they sell new cars -- would you be welcomed? (Let them answer.) Probably not. They know you cannot drive a car because you are too small. They know you do not have a license. They know that you probably don't have enough money either. I doubt that they would want you to be around the showroom long unless you were with your parents or some other adults who possibly would be interested in a new car.
How about church? Do you feel like you are welcome here? (Let them answer. This can backfire if your church is not child friendly.) I would hope that every one of you would know that this is your church family and that you are not only welcomed, but very much loved. We love you because you are each God's child. God loves you, and we love all those people God loves.
The church doesn't expect you to give lots of money and the church doesn't expect you do to many things adults do, like preach the sermon or play the organ. The church wants you because we love you!
Dear God: Thank you for loving us and giving us a loving church family. Amen.
If you walked into a car dealer's showroom -- the place where they sell new cars -- would you be welcomed? (Let them answer.) Probably not. They know you cannot drive a car because you are too small. They know you do not have a license. They know that you probably don't have enough money either. I doubt that they would want you to be around the showroom long unless you were with your parents or some other adults who possibly would be interested in a new car.
How about church? Do you feel like you are welcome here? (Let them answer. This can backfire if your church is not child friendly.) I would hope that every one of you would know that this is your church family and that you are not only welcomed, but very much loved. We love you because you are each God's child. God loves you, and we love all those people God loves.
The church doesn't expect you to give lots of money and the church doesn't expect you do to many things adults do, like preach the sermon or play the organ. The church wants you because we love you!
Dear God: Thank you for loving us and giving us a loving church family. Amen.
