Children’s Sermon

Luke 3:7-18

Spreading the Good News

By Lois Parker Edstrom

Object suggested: Cones, especially fir, spruce or hemlock cones, if available.

Squirrels are active, energetic animals and they really know how to prepare for winter. They like to eat the seeds that are held inside cones. Squirrels climb up tall evergreen trees and bite the stems of cones so they fall to the ground. Then they gather the cones and hid them in a cache. A cache is like a squirrel’s treasure chest. Cones protect the seeds that are held inside so the seeds will last until the squirrels need food later.

Evergreen trees provide squirrels with food for winter, but the squirrels also help the trees. When cones are carried to different locations and then hidden in holes in the ground, some of the seeds inside are released and have a chance to grow. Squirrels also collect tree pollen on their fur and spread it to the seed cones. This encourages a new tree to grow. We can think of squirrels as being like little tree planters.

The Bible tells us that a man named John prepared the people for the coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ. John traveled here and there preaching “good news to the people” (3:18). He planted the seeds of God’s love. He spread the good news far and wide.

During this special season as we decorate our homes and churches, let the evergreen cones remind us to prepare our hearts for the good news of Christmas. Plant the seeds of God’s love in your heart and spread those seeds of love far and wide.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible

Copyright 2008, Richard Niell Donovan