Children’s Sermon

John 20:19-31

The Things We Can’t See

 

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John 20:19-31

The Things We Can’t See

 

By Dr. Dan Wuori

(Note: This week’s sermon makes use of a can of compressed air. Compressed air is sold at office and photo supply stores for blowing dust off of computer and photo equipment.)

I bought something special at the store. It’s a can of air.

Air seems like kind of a funny thing to buy, doesn’t it? But sometimes you need to make sure that certain things are very clean – like the parts inside your computer. This can blows clean air to help move dust and dirt off of things you don’t want to touch with your fingers or scratch with a cloth.

Watch, I’m going to let some of the air out. (Release into an open space, away from anyone or anything.)

Did you see it? Hmm. I didn’t either.

If we can’t see the air, how do we know its there? You don’t think they sold me an empty can, do you?!

Let’s try again. (Release air toward your own palm.)

Wait. Something happened that time! I still couldn’t see the air. But I could feel it! It blew on my hand!

Who would like to feel this for themselves? (Blast each child with a quick burst onto his/her palm.)

Some things we just can’t see. But we know they’re there anyway. Like the air.

In this week’s Gospel story, Jesus comes back to visit his disciples after his death. But when this happens, Thomas – one of the disciples – isn’t there. When the others tell him what happened, he doesn’t believe them. He wants to see Jesus with his very own eyes! Eventually Jesus comes back again – and Thomas does believe. But Jesus reminds him of something very important.

Sometimes we just have to believe in things that we can’t see. We have a special name for that. We call it “faith.”

God’s love is sort of like the air, isn’t it? It fills us up – and even though we can’t see it – we can feel it in our hearts.

Will you pray with me?

Dear God,

Sometimes its hard to believe in things that we can’t see. But like the air, we know that you surround us with your presence and your love. Help us to live faithful lives, now and forever.

Amen

Copyright 2008, Dr. Dan Wuori. Used by permission.