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Children’s Sermon

John 14:23-29


How To Be God’s Home


May 22, 2022

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Lectionary Year C


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ASK    (a.k.a The On-Ramp)

  • Good morning!
  • Have you ever had toast?
  • Do you like to put butter or honey or jelly or something else on your toast?
  • Yeah? And, do you put that stuff on the toast before or after you eat the toast? (Before!)
  • Before!? Are you sure? (Yes!)
  • So you’re telling me that you have NEVER put butter, jelly, or honey on toast AFTER you ate the toast? (Yes!)
  • Hmm – can you tell me why? (Because you can’t put the stuff on the toast after the toast is gone! Where would you put the stuff?)
  • Oh – I think I get what you’re saying.  You’re saying I have to do certain things before other certain things because otherwise it makes no sense. (Yes!)
  • You know, what you just described about when to put things on your toast is what we often call a “process.”
  • A process is when certain things need to happen at certain times so that the ending can turn out the right way.


TELL    (a.k.a. The Freeway)

  • It so happens, that in today's scripture story, we see Jesus telling his disciples about a process.
  • Jesus is telling them about a process where they can help God build a home in their lives.
  • Jesus is pretty clear about how this process works.
  • First, because of their time together, there is a bond, a trust, that has been built between Jesus and his disciples
  • Second, because of this bond, the disciples do what Jesus teaches them to do.
  • Third, because the disciples listen to what Jesus says to do, then the disciples are ready to be a home to God’s Holy Spirit.
  • In other words, once the disciples follow Jesus, learn from him, and trust him, then their lives will be like a home to God that is filled with God’s Holy Spirit.
  • That's pretty exciting, right?
  • But remember, the disciples’ would not know how to be a home to God’s Holy Spirit if they did not first follow Jesus, trust Jesus, and learn from him – just like you can't butter your toast after you've already eaten it.


SHARE the Good News   (a.k.a. The Destination)

  • Even though Jesus was teaching his disciples this process a long, long time ago, we, too, can live this same process.
  • We, too, can listen to and follow what Jesus taught, and in so doing, we can get to know Jesus better – all of which helps us to be ready to receive God’s Holy Spirit.
  • This is good for us, it’s good for God, and it's also good for the people around us.
  • Because, when our lives become a home for God, that means God’s peace and love is within us.
  • When God’s love and peace is within us, then we have that love and peace to share with those who are around us.
  • 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…

Thank you for Jesus…


...who teaches us...

...who teaches us...


...how to be your  home.

...how to be your  home.


Please help us to be your home so that…

Please help us to be your home so that…


...we can share your peace and love with others.

...we can share your peace and love with others.


Thank you and Amen



Originally posted April 7, 2013
Updated on April  25, 2022
Written and edited by Nathanael Vissia



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