Understanding comes from God
Children's sermon
Object:
a Greek Bible or any book in another language that you
can read
Good morning! How many of you can read? (Let them answer.)
Well, good. Will one of you read this for me? (Open the book and
let a child try to read it.) What's the matter? You said you
could read. Why can't you read this? (Let them answer.) Of
course, you can't read it because it's not printed in English.
This book is printed in Greek (or whatever language you are
using). You can read English, but not this.
Now, if you really wanted to know what this book says, how
could you find out? (Let them answer.) Yes, you could go to
someone who can read this language and ask him or her to help
you. In this case, I can read this language, so let me tell you
what it says. (Translate a sentence or two.)
A lot of people have trouble understanding the Bible even
when it is printed in English. The disciples of Jesus had their
Bible printed in their own language, but they still didn't
understand all that it said about how Jesus had to suffer and die
to pay for the sins of all people. After he was raised from the
dead, Jesus appeared to them and he made it all clear to them so
that they did understand it. Now, what about us? If we don't
understand what the Bible is telling us, what should we do? (Let
them answer.) We can use all kinds of helps from other people and
from books, but the most important thing we can do is ask God to
help us understand. Just as Jesus helped the disciples to
understand, he will also help us understand if we pray for his
help. Do you think it's a good idea to ask God to help us
understand what the Bible says? (Let them answer.) Yes, of course
it is. I've had a lot of schooling on the Bible, but I still ask
God to help me understand. Let's do that now.
Dear God: We really want to understand all that You have caused
to be written in the Bible. Please help us to understand it, just
as Jesus helped his own disciples to understand. Amen.
Well, good. Will one of you read this for me? (Open the book and
let a child try to read it.) What's the matter? You said you
could read. Why can't you read this? (Let them answer.) Of
course, you can't read it because it's not printed in English.
This book is printed in Greek (or whatever language you are
using). You can read English, but not this.
Now, if you really wanted to know what this book says, how
could you find out? (Let them answer.) Yes, you could go to
someone who can read this language and ask him or her to help
you. In this case, I can read this language, so let me tell you
what it says. (Translate a sentence or two.)
A lot of people have trouble understanding the Bible even
when it is printed in English. The disciples of Jesus had their
Bible printed in their own language, but they still didn't
understand all that it said about how Jesus had to suffer and die
to pay for the sins of all people. After he was raised from the
dead, Jesus appeared to them and he made it all clear to them so
that they did understand it. Now, what about us? If we don't
understand what the Bible is telling us, what should we do? (Let
them answer.) We can use all kinds of helps from other people and
from books, but the most important thing we can do is ask God to
help us understand. Just as Jesus helped the disciples to
understand, he will also help us understand if we pray for his
help. Do you think it's a good idea to ask God to help us
understand what the Bible says? (Let them answer.) Yes, of course
it is. I've had a lot of schooling on the Bible, but I still ask
God to help me understand. Let's do that now.
Dear God: We really want to understand all that You have caused
to be written in the Bible. Please help us to understand it, just
as Jesus helped his own disciples to understand. Amen.
