Working together
Children's sermon
Object:
some birthday candles and a hand candlelighter
We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right,
because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one
another is increasing. (v. 3)
Good morning, boys and girls. I would like for you to look at the grown-ups sitting behind you. Have you ever seen these people before? (let them answer) Most of them are here in church almost every Sunday. I want you to take a look at each other. Do you know most of the other boys and girls here today? (let them answer) That's great. We all come to church to learn and worship God. We listen to stories about Jesus and share them with our friends. Being together makes our church strong.
I want to show you something that you have all seen before. (hold up a birthday candle) What is this? (let them answer) That's right, it is a candle. What do candles do? (let them answer) They make light. I want to show you something. First, I am going to light just one candle and show you what a pretty light this small candle makes. (light one candle) Now, I am going to light two candles. (light the two candles) Now the light is twice as bright.
What kind of light do you think I will get when I light all of these candles at the same time? (let them answer, then light all of the candles that you can hold in one hand) All of the candles together make a wonderful light. Each candle is small, but when they are brought together they make a very big light.
Paul had friends in Thessalonica who were Christians. Paul noticed something really different and wonderful about them. They had great love for God and they also really loved each other. They came together and worked hard to make each other strong in their belief about Jesus. They were close together and they served each other. No one was left to be poor or left alone when they were sick. There were no failures. Everybody made the other person's life easier.
That's what happens in churches that love Jesus and love each other. When someone is sick in our congregation, we take care of him or her. When someone needs a friend to watch their children while they go away, they ask a friend in church. This brings us close together. As you grow up in the church, you will find out that you will like to help your friends and they will like to help you.
The next time you think about how we all work together, think about how small candles can make a big light when they work together. That will remind you to help your friends and show them the love that Jesus has given you to share. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. I would like for you to look at the grown-ups sitting behind you. Have you ever seen these people before? (let them answer) Most of them are here in church almost every Sunday. I want you to take a look at each other. Do you know most of the other boys and girls here today? (let them answer) That's great. We all come to church to learn and worship God. We listen to stories about Jesus and share them with our friends. Being together makes our church strong.
I want to show you something that you have all seen before. (hold up a birthday candle) What is this? (let them answer) That's right, it is a candle. What do candles do? (let them answer) They make light. I want to show you something. First, I am going to light just one candle and show you what a pretty light this small candle makes. (light one candle) Now, I am going to light two candles. (light the two candles) Now the light is twice as bright.
What kind of light do you think I will get when I light all of these candles at the same time? (let them answer, then light all of the candles that you can hold in one hand) All of the candles together make a wonderful light. Each candle is small, but when they are brought together they make a very big light.
Paul had friends in Thessalonica who were Christians. Paul noticed something really different and wonderful about them. They had great love for God and they also really loved each other. They came together and worked hard to make each other strong in their belief about Jesus. They were close together and they served each other. No one was left to be poor or left alone when they were sick. There were no failures. Everybody made the other person's life easier.
That's what happens in churches that love Jesus and love each other. When someone is sick in our congregation, we take care of him or her. When someone needs a friend to watch their children while they go away, they ask a friend in church. This brings us close together. As you grow up in the church, you will find out that you will like to help your friends and they will like to help you.
The next time you think about how we all work together, think about how small candles can make a big light when they work together. That will remind you to help your friends and show them the love that Jesus has given you to share. Amen.
