People first
Children's sermon
Object:
Thick gloves and a small object
Can you imagine me picking up this (small object like a
needle) with these gloves on my hands? It would be difficult --
in fact -- impossible. The only way I'm going to be able to pick
up this needle is to take the gloves off. But let's imagine that
the gloves are my handicap. Everybody has some kind of handicap.
A handicap is something we are born with that limits us in some
way or another. Let's say I was born with hands like gloves -- I
was unable to pick up small items because of the thickness of my
fingers and the lack of flexibility.
Life would be hard with such a handicap. I could not button or zip clothing very easily. I would not be able to write very easily because I would have difficulty holding a pencil. What are some other things that would be difficult for me? (Let them answer.)
One day Jesus met a woman who had a handicap. She was bent over and that must have caused her all kinds of problems. She was like this for 18 years! That's a long time. But when Jesus saw her and her handicap, he had compassion for her and he healed her. (Take the gloves off.) Now she was free! It must have been a wonderful thing for her and all those who loved her.
But not everyone was happy. Some people were very upset because Jesus did this on the Sabbath day. They didn't care about this woman -- they cared more about the rules. Jesus cared more about the woman. He said that people must be more important than rules. We still believe and try to practice that as Christians today. People are first!
Life would be hard with such a handicap. I could not button or zip clothing very easily. I would not be able to write very easily because I would have difficulty holding a pencil. What are some other things that would be difficult for me? (Let them answer.)
One day Jesus met a woman who had a handicap. She was bent over and that must have caused her all kinds of problems. She was like this for 18 years! That's a long time. But when Jesus saw her and her handicap, he had compassion for her and he healed her. (Take the gloves off.) Now she was free! It must have been a wonderful thing for her and all those who loved her.
But not everyone was happy. Some people were very upset because Jesus did this on the Sabbath day. They didn't care about this woman -- they cared more about the rules. Jesus cared more about the woman. He said that people must be more important than rules. We still believe and try to practice that as Christians today. People are first!
