Children's Sermon: April, 1997

Children's Sermon of the Month

April, 1998 Title: "Behind Closed Doors"

Materials Needed: Lock and key, or door handle with key

Point of Lesson: Nothing can keep us from God's love

Scripture Basis: John 20:19-20

Welcome the children. Ask them what they did for Easter. Ask if anyone knows what happened after Easter, after Jesus's followers knew He was alive.

"Girls and boys, Jesus visited with his followers several times after God raised him from the dead. One time his followers were fearful of those people who had put Jesus to death, and his followers were hiding behind a locked door on Easter night. They thought they could keep anyone out by locking the door and hiding. But boys and girls, that lock didn't keep out Jesus! The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus was suddenly in the room with them He comforted His followers and told them to spread the wonderful news that God had raised Jesus from the dead."

"Now, boys and girls, not all of the followers of Jesus were there that Easter night. One who was not was the discipline Thomas. Thomas just couldn't believe the story; he said that if he didn't see and touch Jesus himself. A week later, the followers of Jesus were together again. And Thomas was there. Suddenly, so was Jesus! He told Thomas to touch him; now Thomas believed. And Jesus told him "Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed." Today, we believe, even though we have not seen. And God blesses us. And God is always with us, just like Jesus was with His followers, even when we try to hide behind closed doors." Close with prayer.

Maturity check: Children ask questions, too, and may be just as skeptical as Thomas. This story is an important reminder of the role of faith, not just in believing a story, but in seeing God at work in the world, even behind closed, locked doors. Remind the children that nothing can ever separate them from God's love.

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