Paul Shipwrecked
Children's sermon
The Giant Book Of Children's Sermons
Matthew To Revelation
Object: some broken boards and a torn piece of canvas
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you like adventure? (let them answer) Have any of you had an adventure? (let them answer) Some adventures are exciting and others are kind of exciting and scary. Have you ever been on an adventure that is exciting and scary? (let them answer)
I want to tell you about an adventure that Paul had as a servant of the Lord. Paul wanted to go to Rome and share his teachings of Jesus with the most powerful people on earth, including the emperor. Paul was a prisoner and sometimes he looked like a prisoner. He had chains around his feet and hands. He was kept in a jail and he ate prison food and slept on a prison bed. But Paul didn't act like he was in prison because he thanked God for every day of his life. He taught his jailers about Jesus and even baptized the jailer's family.
But finally he got his wish to go to Rome. He was going to tell the world about Jesus. But in order to travel that far, he would have to be put on a ship with other prisoners going to Rome. It was a big ship and there were 276 people on the ship. When they got out to sea, the weather turned frightful. First there was wind and then there was rain. The waves were terrible and the sailors were unable to change the direction of the ship. Everyone thought they were going to die. Everyone, except Paul, was afraid.
But Paul heard the voice of God that told him what to do to save the ship. First they had to throw the cargo, all the boxes and packages, into the sea. Then they had to put up the sails and change directions. Soon the ship was going too fast and heading for the rocks. They pulled down the sails and dropped the anchors. Finally, when men were thinking about jumping overboard to save their lives, Paul told the soldiers to make sure that everyone stayed on board or they would die. The soldiers made everyone sit down and wait for God to bring them to a safe place where they could come on shore. But first, before they found safety, the boat crashed into the rocks and came apart. But no one died and everyone found safety. Then God brought them to a place with friendly people and the people shared their food and clothing and everything that they had.
After the ship was repaired, the 276 people boarded it and sailed to Rome. God was with them. It was a great adventure and Paul was a great hero to almost everyone on board the ship. But Paul knew it was not he that made them safe but God, his God of love and courage. Other people learned from Paul and also became believers.
Sometimes things look really bad. We think it is going to be a fun adventure but life changes. The only things we are left with are some broken boards and tears. But if we are like Paul, we will always know there is a God who is with us.
You may not be in a shipwreck or airplane crash but you will have some very sad times. God is with you when you have those tears. He will love you and share with you his love and his protection. The next time you hear about a plane crash or something awful, remember God was with those people where they were just like he is with you today.
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you like adventure? (let them answer) Have any of you had an adventure? (let them answer) Some adventures are exciting and others are kind of exciting and scary. Have you ever been on an adventure that is exciting and scary? (let them answer)
I want to tell you about an adventure that Paul had as a servant of the Lord. Paul wanted to go to Rome and share his teachings of Jesus with the most powerful people on earth, including the emperor. Paul was a prisoner and sometimes he looked like a prisoner. He had chains around his feet and hands. He was kept in a jail and he ate prison food and slept on a prison bed. But Paul didn't act like he was in prison because he thanked God for every day of his life. He taught his jailers about Jesus and even baptized the jailer's family.
But finally he got his wish to go to Rome. He was going to tell the world about Jesus. But in order to travel that far, he would have to be put on a ship with other prisoners going to Rome. It was a big ship and there were 276 people on the ship. When they got out to sea, the weather turned frightful. First there was wind and then there was rain. The waves were terrible and the sailors were unable to change the direction of the ship. Everyone thought they were going to die. Everyone, except Paul, was afraid.
But Paul heard the voice of God that told him what to do to save the ship. First they had to throw the cargo, all the boxes and packages, into the sea. Then they had to put up the sails and change directions. Soon the ship was going too fast and heading for the rocks. They pulled down the sails and dropped the anchors. Finally, when men were thinking about jumping overboard to save their lives, Paul told the soldiers to make sure that everyone stayed on board or they would die. The soldiers made everyone sit down and wait for God to bring them to a safe place where they could come on shore. But first, before they found safety, the boat crashed into the rocks and came apart. But no one died and everyone found safety. Then God brought them to a place with friendly people and the people shared their food and clothing and everything that they had.
After the ship was repaired, the 276 people boarded it and sailed to Rome. God was with them. It was a great adventure and Paul was a great hero to almost everyone on board the ship. But Paul knew it was not he that made them safe but God, his God of love and courage. Other people learned from Paul and also became believers.
Sometimes things look really bad. We think it is going to be a fun adventure but life changes. The only things we are left with are some broken boards and tears. But if we are like Paul, we will always know there is a God who is with us.
You may not be in a shipwreck or airplane crash but you will have some very sad times. God is with you when you have those tears. He will love you and share with you his love and his protection. The next time you hear about a plane crash or something awful, remember God was with those people where they were just like he is with you today.
