Growing Up In God
Children's sermon
The Night Before
Two Christmas Eve Services with Children's Sermons
Object:
Growing Up In God
Boys and girls, it is Christmas Eve. We are all here tonight to worship Jesus, the Christ and the Son of God. Isn't that special? (let them answer) If someone told you that the Christ was born somewhere near us, where would you go to look for him? (let them answer) Would you look in your guest room at home? You know the room I am talking about -- the one that is kept very nice and no one sleeps in unless your grandparents come to visit or you have a special guest. Would this be a nice place for Jesus to be born in tonight? (let them answer)
Of course, you don't have many animals stay in your guest bedroom, do you? (let them answer) Maybe the garage would be a better place? We could just move out the cars and some of the garden tools and I am sure the holy family could fit and there would be extra places for the animals. How does your garage sound to you? (let them answer)
When people come to my house, we almost always end up in the kitchen. The adults drink coffee and may even eat some chips and dip. The children usually have some kind of fruit drink and some snacks. I think we could make a place for Jesus in our kitchen. We would just move the table and chairs into a corner and bring in a cot and some baby blankets and I think it would work. We would leave a lot of milk in the refrigerator and have lots of things we could fix in the microwave. Of course, I don't know how we would get all of the angels in to sing their heavenly songs. How does the kitchen sound to you? (let them answer)
Maybe we should look next door at the neighbor's house. They have a swimming pool and it has a fence around it so it would be a little more private. The only problem is that it is at the back of the house and the shepherds are kind of shy people. I don't know if they would know how to start looking in people's backyards. But it would be a nice place for Joseph to stretch out and relax and occasionally take a dip. What do you think? (let them answer)
Have you picked out a favorite place at your house where Jesus could be born? (let them answer) My children suggested the holy family stay in the television room with them. The children spend most of their time in this room. They think Joseph and Mary would enjoy the cartoons. They even gave their beanbag chair for Jesus to sleep in if he wanted. What do you think about the television room? (let them answer) Personally, I don't know if Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are into television.
Well, I think it is time to pick where you think Jesus would be born if he was born tonight in our town. Have you thought about where Jesus would be born in our town or in your neighborhood? (let them answer) By the way, you remember that each Wise Man brought Jesus a special gift. What kind of special gift would you give to Jesus if you were present the night when Jesus was born? (let them answer)
These are some of the things I think about when I read the Bible about the birth of Jesus. When you go home tonight, before you go to bed, ask your mom or dad to read you the story of the birth of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke. God bless you, and may all of your days be spent with the Christmas child. Amen.
Boys and girls, it is Christmas Eve. We are all here tonight to worship Jesus, the Christ and the Son of God. Isn't that special? (let them answer) If someone told you that the Christ was born somewhere near us, where would you go to look for him? (let them answer) Would you look in your guest room at home? You know the room I am talking about -- the one that is kept very nice and no one sleeps in unless your grandparents come to visit or you have a special guest. Would this be a nice place for Jesus to be born in tonight? (let them answer)
Of course, you don't have many animals stay in your guest bedroom, do you? (let them answer) Maybe the garage would be a better place? We could just move out the cars and some of the garden tools and I am sure the holy family could fit and there would be extra places for the animals. How does your garage sound to you? (let them answer)
When people come to my house, we almost always end up in the kitchen. The adults drink coffee and may even eat some chips and dip. The children usually have some kind of fruit drink and some snacks. I think we could make a place for Jesus in our kitchen. We would just move the table and chairs into a corner and bring in a cot and some baby blankets and I think it would work. We would leave a lot of milk in the refrigerator and have lots of things we could fix in the microwave. Of course, I don't know how we would get all of the angels in to sing their heavenly songs. How does the kitchen sound to you? (let them answer)
Maybe we should look next door at the neighbor's house. They have a swimming pool and it has a fence around it so it would be a little more private. The only problem is that it is at the back of the house and the shepherds are kind of shy people. I don't know if they would know how to start looking in people's backyards. But it would be a nice place for Joseph to stretch out and relax and occasionally take a dip. What do you think? (let them answer)
Have you picked out a favorite place at your house where Jesus could be born? (let them answer) My children suggested the holy family stay in the television room with them. The children spend most of their time in this room. They think Joseph and Mary would enjoy the cartoons. They even gave their beanbag chair for Jesus to sleep in if he wanted. What do you think about the television room? (let them answer) Personally, I don't know if Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are into television.
Well, I think it is time to pick where you think Jesus would be born if he was born tonight in our town. Have you thought about where Jesus would be born in our town or in your neighborhood? (let them answer) By the way, you remember that each Wise Man brought Jesus a special gift. What kind of special gift would you give to Jesus if you were present the night when Jesus was born? (let them answer)
These are some of the things I think about when I read the Bible about the birth of Jesus. When you go home tonight, before you go to bed, ask your mom or dad to read you the story of the birth of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke. God bless you, and may all of your days be spent with the Christmas child. Amen.
