The Children's Sermon.com

John 17:11

¹¹And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

(Sung) Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

Do you know that song? It's called Jesus Loves Me. And he does. Jesus loves me. And he loves you too. We are all special people - all by ourselves. We have our own bodies. We have our own names, and Jesus knows and loves every one of us.

There's only one of you. But even then, you are also part of some special groups that come together as "one."

You are a part of one family and one school. And while you're there you're a part of one special classroom, aren't you? That's kind of a funny thought, isn't it - that groups of people can come together as "one?" Even very big groups!

In today's Gospel story, Jesus explains that he and God are "one." They are joined together in a very special way. So special that you can't have one without the other.

And before he leaves the world and returns to heaven, he makes a special wish for us. He asks God to protect us and to make us one with them.

And just look at us! Jesus' wish has come true!

We are here together - at our one church - all for the very same reason: to celebrate being a part of God's one family. It's the reason that coming to church each week is so special. It's a place for coming together as one.

Will you pray with me?

Dear God,

We know that you love us - each and every one. But we are so lucky to be members of your larger family as well. Thank you for the chance to be one with you. 

Amen.

Copyright 2008 - The Children's Sermon.Com

Acts 1:6-14

⁶So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ⁹When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. ¹¹They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

¹²Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
 

Psalm 68: 1-10, 32-35

¹Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him.
²As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God.
³But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy.
⁴Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds—his name is the Lord— be exultant before him.
⁵Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
⁶God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.
⁷O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
⁸the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
⁹Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage when it languished;
¹⁰your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

³²Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord, Selah
³³O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens; listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
³⁴Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel; and whose power is in the skies.
³⁵Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
 

1 Peter 4:12 - 5:11

¹²Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. ¹⁵But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker. ¹⁶Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name. ¹⁷For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸And “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinners?” ¹⁹Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.

5Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you ²to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it—not for sordid gain but eagerly. ³Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. ⁴And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away.

⁵In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” ⁶Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.

⁸Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.

¹⁰And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.
 

John 17:1-11

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, ²since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. ³And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ⁴I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. ⁵So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

⁶”I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; ⁸for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. ⁹I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. ¹⁰All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.

¹¹And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.