I don't understand!
Children's sermon
Object:
a fancy weaved basket
Have you ever noticed how fancy baskets are? (Hold the basket
so that every child can see it.) The basket maker weaved the
basket around and around, in and out, and came up with this
basket. I wonder: How did the basket maker know how to start the
basket? What did the weaver do next? How did this craftsperson
complete it? How did the artist keep everything in place while it
was being made? I don't understand. It is my basket, but I don't
understand how the basket maker made my basket. I am glad I don't
have to make all my own baskets.
I know that you and I are even fancier than baskets. We are harder to understand. Exactly how did God make me? How do I work? What makes me feel the way I feel? Why do I think what I think? What makes you feel the way you feel and think the way you think? It is hard to understand all this. In fact, I DON'T UNDERSTAND!
I don't understand how sometimes I can want to do what is right and yet not do anything! I don't understand how I can want to keep from doing what is wrong and still do it! I am much fancier than this basket weave. When God made me, God weaved a hard-to-understand person.
Sometimes I feel dense because I don't do want I want to do. Sometimes I feel bad because I do the wrong things I don't want to do. But I read in the Bible that others have had the same problem I have. It's good to know that others often feel this way also. A long time ago, the apostle Paul wondered about himself. He couldn't understand how he could want to do the right thing and still do the wrong thing! He was puzzled at his own actions. Yet, even though he did not understand, the apostle Paul found comfort in knowing that God understands and forgives when we do wrong. That is nice to know, isn't it? (Let them answer.)
Paul put it like this: "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (v. 25). I think we can say the same thing this morning.
Dear God: Thank you for knowing and understanding us even when we don't even always know or understand ourselves. Thank you for loving us anyway. Amen.
I know that you and I are even fancier than baskets. We are harder to understand. Exactly how did God make me? How do I work? What makes me feel the way I feel? Why do I think what I think? What makes you feel the way you feel and think the way you think? It is hard to understand all this. In fact, I DON'T UNDERSTAND!
I don't understand how sometimes I can want to do what is right and yet not do anything! I don't understand how I can want to keep from doing what is wrong and still do it! I am much fancier than this basket weave. When God made me, God weaved a hard-to-understand person.
Sometimes I feel dense because I don't do want I want to do. Sometimes I feel bad because I do the wrong things I don't want to do. But I read in the Bible that others have had the same problem I have. It's good to know that others often feel this way also. A long time ago, the apostle Paul wondered about himself. He couldn't understand how he could want to do the right thing and still do the wrong thing! He was puzzled at his own actions. Yet, even though he did not understand, the apostle Paul found comfort in knowing that God understands and forgives when we do wrong. That is nice to know, isn't it? (Let them answer.)
Paul put it like this: "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (v. 25). I think we can say the same thing this morning.
Dear God: Thank you for knowing and understanding us even when we don't even always know or understand ourselves. Thank you for loving us anyway. Amen.
