Emphasis Preaching Journal

On Epiphany Sunday, the pastor at a church we were visiting invited the children forward for the children's sermon. He began talking about the Wise Men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus. First he held up a gold ring, and asked why the Wise Men might have brought gold. One child volunteered that it was because Jesus was a king. Gold for a king, was right.

Next, he moved to frankincense. He had some on a dish, and with a match he lit it. The children saw the smoke rising and smelled the aroma. The pastor talked about the "aroma" of good deeds and prayers that rise to heaven.