What's in a box?
Children's sermon
Object:
a plain cardboard box wrapped beautifully
... who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as
something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being
born in human likeness. (vv. 6-7)
Good morning, boys and girls. If you were God, what do you think you would want to look like? (let them answer) Would you like to be tall, handsome, or beautiful, with great looking muscles or a pretty figure? What kind of clothes would you wear? (let them answer)
I want to tell you a short story. Most of the time when I receive a gift it comes in a beautifully wrapped package. I don't know what is inside the package but I know it is special because of the wrapping and the bows. I love beautiful-looking gifts but what I really want to know is what is inside the package.
In a matter of seconds I take off the wrapping paper and I come to a plain old cardboard box. (unwrap the cardboard box) I open the box and inside of the box is the gift. It could be a television or a shirt. It could be a computer or a new coat. I thank the person that gave it to me and I hook it up or try it on.
But what happens to the empty box? Sometimes I put it in the garage or take it to the basement and put it on a shelf. Sometimes I think this is just the right box for me to pack my books or some clothes that I want to take on vacation. Many times I use the box in my workshop. The gift that I received is used once in a while, but the box keeps on working. Many times I have the box longer than I do the gift that came in it. The box becomes very important to me.
God came to us as a gift in the form of Jesus. Most of you would compare Jesus to the precious and beautiful gift that comes in a box. Jesus would then be like the television or computer. He could be a coat, a shirt, or a hat. But that is not the way the gift was given. Jesus is the box, the empty box. He did not come to live like a god with super power that would make it rain on certain days, grow food in the desert, or make playgrounds out of the oceans. Jesus came like you and me and grew up in the world just like us. He worked hard like your father and mother. Jesus lived like every other man. His feet got dirty, he hurt when he fell down, he liked a good joke, and he enjoyed eating fish and bread. Jesus was like the empty box. He was here for everyone -- not just for the rich and powerful but also for the beggar and the blind person. Jesus was one of us when he lived on earth. The big difference is that he did not just die, but he died for us.
The next time you see an empty box I want you to think about how Jesus was one of us and how he was used to bring us eternal life. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. If you were God, what do you think you would want to look like? (let them answer) Would you like to be tall, handsome, or beautiful, with great looking muscles or a pretty figure? What kind of clothes would you wear? (let them answer)
I want to tell you a short story. Most of the time when I receive a gift it comes in a beautifully wrapped package. I don't know what is inside the package but I know it is special because of the wrapping and the bows. I love beautiful-looking gifts but what I really want to know is what is inside the package.
In a matter of seconds I take off the wrapping paper and I come to a plain old cardboard box. (unwrap the cardboard box) I open the box and inside of the box is the gift. It could be a television or a shirt. It could be a computer or a new coat. I thank the person that gave it to me and I hook it up or try it on.
But what happens to the empty box? Sometimes I put it in the garage or take it to the basement and put it on a shelf. Sometimes I think this is just the right box for me to pack my books or some clothes that I want to take on vacation. Many times I use the box in my workshop. The gift that I received is used once in a while, but the box keeps on working. Many times I have the box longer than I do the gift that came in it. The box becomes very important to me.
God came to us as a gift in the form of Jesus. Most of you would compare Jesus to the precious and beautiful gift that comes in a box. Jesus would then be like the television or computer. He could be a coat, a shirt, or a hat. But that is not the way the gift was given. Jesus is the box, the empty box. He did not come to live like a god with super power that would make it rain on certain days, grow food in the desert, or make playgrounds out of the oceans. Jesus came like you and me and grew up in the world just like us. He worked hard like your father and mother. Jesus lived like every other man. His feet got dirty, he hurt when he fell down, he liked a good joke, and he enjoyed eating fish and bread. Jesus was like the empty box. He was here for everyone -- not just for the rich and powerful but also for the beggar and the blind person. Jesus was one of us when he lived on earth. The big difference is that he did not just die, but he died for us.
The next time you see an empty box I want you to think about how Jesus was one of us and how he was used to bring us eternal life. Amen.
