Children’s Sermon

John 6:24-35

Two Kinds of Food

Check out these helpful resources
Biblical Commentary
Sermons
Children’s Sermons
Hymn Lists

John 6:24-35

Two Kinds of Food

By Lois Parker Edstrom

OBJECTS SUGGESTED:

Ice cream maker, if available. Serve ice cream to children if setting and situation permits.

Picture of old fashioned ice cream maker available at:
http://www.fotosearch.com/PHD425/90017/

Let’s talk about ice cream. What’s your favorite flavor? Mine is Swiss Chocolate Cherry.

Oh, it’s so good!

Have you ever made ice cream? It takes a lot of time and hard work to make ice cream, especially the old fashioned way. Here is a picture of an old fashioned ice cream maker. Cream, sugar, and vanilla are poured into the metal container. Other things may be added such as chocolate, strawberries, or peaches. Then ice and salt are packed around the outside of the ice cream container and the hard work begins. The crank must be rotated until the cream thickens and becomes ice cream. Usually people take turns working the crank. The last step is to pack more ice around the ice cream container, cover it with a towel and leave it for a while so it will freeze.

These days we mostly go to the store and buy ice cream, but either way, ice cream is a treat. The unfortunate thing about ice cream is that it doesn’t last very long. It must be eaten quickly, especially on a warm day. Sometimes we wish for more.

As we read the words of Jesus we learn that he offers to give us food that lasts forever. He says, “Don’t work for the food which perishes, but for the food which remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you” (6:27).

This doesn’t mean that you are not to enjoy ice cream; it means that there is food that we eat to nourish our bodies and there is food for our soul. The soul is the part of us that longs to be with God. We feed our soul by faith, believing that Jesus is the Son of God. This type of food gives us eternal life – life that endures forever.

Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” (6:35).

Let’s make sure we enjoy both kinds of food – food for our bodies and food for our souls.

Scripture quotations by the World English Bible

Copyright 2007, Richard Niell Donovan