A thousand pennies
Children's sermon
Object:
1,000 pennies in a bowl or big jar, and a $10 bill
Good morning! We are already into the second week of Advent. Seven days of our new year are already gone. That means we only have 358 more days before this year is over.
How many days has it been since Jesus was born? (let them answer) I think it has been about 730,730 days. Maybe it has been a few more than 730,730 days or a few less than 730,730 days. Sounds like a long time, doesn't it? But just think, you have just lived seven of those days. Some people say that God is slow about sending Jesus back to our earth. Other people who are still thinking about some sinning they are doing worry that Jesus will get back too soon.
How about you? Do you think God is working too hard and too fast? If you think God is working too hard, hold up your hand. (count the vote) If you think God is working too easy and is a little slow, hold up your hands. (count the vote) How many of you think God is working just right? Hold up your hands. (count the vote) We have some differing opinions.
The Bible says God has a schedule. It says that one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like one day. According to that schedule we have really only seen about 730 days according to God. That could be a little or a lot depending on how you feel.
Let me show you. I brought 1,000 pennies. Do you know what 1,000 pennies look like? (run your hands through the pennies and make some noise) A thousand pennies is a lot of pennies, isn't it? (let them answer) But all of these pennies are only worth one $10 bill. (hold up the bill) That's it; one $10 bill is the same as those 1,000 pennies. I couldn't hold 1,000 pennies in my hands. But I can hold this $10 bill in two fingers.
That's what the Bible says about time. To some of us a thousand years seems like forever, but to God it is like one day. To many of us it seems like Jesus was born a million years ago, but to God it may only be like 73 days. God makes big things seem small and small things seem big. That's why God is God and we are his people.
So God knows the right time to send Jesus for the second time, just like he knew the right time to send him the first time. We must trust God to know when the time is right and be ready for Jesus when God sends him.
How many days has it been since Jesus was born? (let them answer) I think it has been about 730,730 days. Maybe it has been a few more than 730,730 days or a few less than 730,730 days. Sounds like a long time, doesn't it? But just think, you have just lived seven of those days. Some people say that God is slow about sending Jesus back to our earth. Other people who are still thinking about some sinning they are doing worry that Jesus will get back too soon.
How about you? Do you think God is working too hard and too fast? If you think God is working too hard, hold up your hand. (count the vote) If you think God is working too easy and is a little slow, hold up your hands. (count the vote) How many of you think God is working just right? Hold up your hands. (count the vote) We have some differing opinions.
The Bible says God has a schedule. It says that one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like one day. According to that schedule we have really only seen about 730 days according to God. That could be a little or a lot depending on how you feel.
Let me show you. I brought 1,000 pennies. Do you know what 1,000 pennies look like? (run your hands through the pennies and make some noise) A thousand pennies is a lot of pennies, isn't it? (let them answer) But all of these pennies are only worth one $10 bill. (hold up the bill) That's it; one $10 bill is the same as those 1,000 pennies. I couldn't hold 1,000 pennies in my hands. But I can hold this $10 bill in two fingers.
That's what the Bible says about time. To some of us a thousand years seems like forever, but to God it is like one day. To many of us it seems like Jesus was born a million years ago, but to God it may only be like 73 days. God makes big things seem small and small things seem big. That's why God is God and we are his people.
So God knows the right time to send Jesus for the second time, just like he knew the right time to send him the first time. We must trust God to know when the time is right and be ready for Jesus when God sends him.
