Children’s Sermon

Acts 11:1-18

One Spirit for All

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Acts 11:1-18

One Spirit for All

By Lois Parker Edstrom

Object suggested: Needle, thread, needlework project; hammer, nails, woodworking project.

Can you think of two things that are very different, but work together well? Let’s see if we can come up with examples.

How about a needle and a thread? The needle is made of steel. It is strong and sharp while thread is made of cotton fibers and is easily broken. These two things, which are so different, work well together. In fact, the needle is not very useful without the thread and vice versa. Together they stitch through cloth to make useful and beautiful clothing, quilts, and even art to hang on the wall.

Another example is that of a hammer and a nail. They have very different shapes and are of a different size. How could a nail hold boards together with being driven in by the hammer? Together they build houses, tables, chairs, boats, and fences.

You can probably think of many other examples.

In the Bible we read a story in which Peter, one Jesus’ disciples, traveled to be with people who had “received the word of God” (11:1).

The other disciples asked Peter why he would go to be with people who were so different from themselves.

Peter answered that God’s Spirit told him not to make a distinction between people. This means that he was not to pay attention to the differences of people. The story goes on to tell us that God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, is given to all who accept God’s love.

We can think of many ways we are different: We have different colored hair, live in different places, speak different languages, go to different schools, we have different dreams and talents…..

Today’s story teaches us that none of this matters. When we accept God’s love we are all filled with the same Spirit – God’s Holy Spirit. We learn from each other and work well together to build a better world.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible

Copyright 2010, Richard Niell Donovan