ASK (a.k.a The On-Ramp)
- [Hold up the two sports bottles] Can you tell me what I have in my hands? (two water
bottles!)
- And what do we use sports bottles like these for? (a way to store liquid to then
drink during a sporting event)
- What two ways can you get the drink out of the bottle? (using the nozzle or taking
the cap off and pouring the drink out)
- Now, if I want to get drink INTO the bottle, can I use those same two ways of getting
drink OUT of the bottle to also get the drink back into the bottle? (Uhh….no?)
- Let’s find out! Here I have one bottle with the cap on and the nozzle open and I
have the other bottle with the lid off -- if I pour water into both of them, do you
think they will fill up with the same amount of water? (Yes! No!)
- Let's see what happens when we try with both the bottles [pour water from pitcher
into the bottle with no lid on top and then pour water into the open nozzle of the
other bottle -- try to avoid too much splashing]
- [Show the insides of the bottles to the kids]
- Well -- what do you think -- which one was filled up with more water? (the one with
the lid open!)
- [Put the pitcher and bucket/tray behind you so that kids don't get distracted by
the water while you talk]
TELL (a.k.a. The Freeway)
- To help us think about today's scripture story, let's pretend these two bottles are
like towns.
- The first town we hear about in today's story is Jesus' hometown.
- Let's pretend this bottle that had the lid on [put lid back on the empty bottle and
then lift up that bottle] is Jesus' hometown.
- In the story, we hear that Jesus' hometown wasn't very excited about him. And, because
they weren't very excited about him, Jesus was not able to pour very much of God's
love, hope, and healing into the town.
- It's like Jesus' hometown was closed off and just didn't want to be refilled very
much.
- [put first bottle down and pick up second bottle]
- And then, later in the story, we hear there are all these other towns that Jesus'
disciples visited.
- In those towns, we hear that Jesus' disciples were able to pour a lot of God's love,
hope, and healing into those places.
- Those towns were like this other bottle, that had the lid off. Those towns were opened
up and ready to be refilled.
SHARE the Good News (a.k.a. The Destination)
- Now, if you think about the two bottles, they are the same type of bottle -- the
only thing that is different about them is the choice to have the lid open or closed.
- And, today's story reminds us that the choice of being open or closed to receiving
God's love, hope, and healing is something that we help each other choose.
- I say this because it wasn't one person who was open or closed to God's love, hope,
and healing. It was towns of people that were open or closed to God’s love, hope,
and healing.
- Even though we are not a town, I want to tell you that I am very thankful to be part
of this congregation, where every week we gather together and remind each other that
we want to be like this bottle – [hold up bottle with the lid off]. – that we want
to be open to God's love, hope, and healing and be filled up with God's hope, love,
and healing.
- Because, when we are filled up with God's love, hope, and healing [close lid and
open nozzle of filled bottle], we then have that love, hope, and healing to share
with others.
- Anyone want a drink!? [squirt water into a few of the kid's mouths if they say yes]
- And that’s the good news for today. Let’s pray.
CLOSING Prayer
- This is a repeat-after-me prayer.
Dear God,
Dear God,
Thank you for Jesus and his disciples...
Thank you for Jesus and his disciples...
...who kept offering your love and healing.
...who kept offering your love and healing.
...to all who would receive it.
...to all who would receive it.
…so that we can then share…
…so that we can then share…
your love and healing with others.
your love and healing with others.
Thank you and amen
Originally posted June 17, 2018
Updated on June 7, 2021
Written and edited by Nathanael Vissia
View more children’s sermons here
This material is the copyrighted property of rfour.org and Nathanael Vissia. It is
also free. Please use, improve and share this material. But you may not sell it or
require any personal information for it.
Supplies: Two sports bottles (with nozzles) that look similar (consider visiting
the dollar store if you don't have matching bottles); a pitcher with water in it,
and a large pan (like an aluminum oven tray) or bucket that ensures no water will
be spilled.
Related message(s): N/A