Children's Messages
Open Up!
by Mary Gruell
Theme: God's Word opens the truth of His love for us which He demonstrated by sending Jesus to die for our sins. God uses us to open His truths to those who still don't know Him and to make His Word available to people in all the world's language groups.
Bible Text: Romans 10:13-15
Materials:
- A bag with five things in it:
- a can opener
- a key
- a letter opener (you might want to have an envelope along to demonstrate how a letter opener works)
- a Bible
- a picture of a missionary
- a shallow box or basket
- large paper keys (one for each child that comes up front and ideally one each for those in the pews) with a Bible verse (John 3:16) written on them (ideally both in English and in another language) and possibly a Hershey's Kiss attached (God's Word is the key to opening people's hearts to His love.)
Message: Let's see what's in this bag. (Pull out each object and place it in the box or basket.) Here's a can opener, a key, and a letter opener. These things are all the same in one way. Can you tell me what that is? Yes, they are all used to open things. A can opener might open a can of Spaghetti O's; a key could be used to open your house or car door, and a letter opener can make opening a letter easier (might demonstrate how).
Okay! We have a group of 3 objects that open other things. We're going to add another one. (Hold up the Bible.) What is this? (A Bible) How does this Bible belong with the can opener, the key, and the letter opener? (Give time for a few answers.)
Good! The Bible does belong in our group. In God's Word, the Bible, the truth of God's love is opened up for us. It shows us that God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to suffer on the cross and die for us. He rose from the dead so that we can live for Him now and with Him forever in heaven. God can use His Word to open our hearts to believe in Him and to love Jesus more and more each day.
We now have 4 items in our box of things that open other objects. I have one more thing to add to it. (Pull the picture of the missionary out of your bag). This is a picture of a missionary from ____________. Why would his/her picture belong in this group? (Accept answers.) Great answers! (or, you might need to say, "Okay, you're waiting for me to tell you, so I will.") A missionary goes to others to tell them about Jesus. Romans 10: 13-15 makes it very clear that in order for people to be able to believe in Jesus, someone needs to open up the truths of God's Word to them. (Read those verses). Some people don't have the Bible written in their language and missionaries help to write the Bible in that language so that people can really understand what God is saying in His Word. Missionaries "open up" God's Word to others by making it possible for them to read it and understand it. Then the Holy Spirit works in the peoples' hearts so they can believe in Jesus.
Do you think you belong in this box with the can opener, the key, the letter opener, the Bible and the picture of the missionary? Let's find out. Can you help "open" the message of God's love to your friends so that God can work faith in their hearts? Can you pray for those who still don't believe in Jesus and for those who don't have the Bible in their language? Can you give your offerings to help send missionaries to people all over the world? (After all the "yes" answers, say:) Okay, you can all climb in the box.. (Let them react to that.) You won't all fit, but you can each take one of these keys with a Bible verse and a Hershey's kiss on it to help you remember that God can use you to help open His truths and His love to those who still don't know Him. (Hand out the keys).Thank you for your help this morning. You may go back to your seats.
bit.ly
