This Children’s sermon was written for the third Sunday in Advent, December 16, 2018. The minister’s sermon was about Mary as a prophet, based on the first chapter of Luke, and this was written to accompany it.
Good morning girls and boys. Did you notice what parts of our nativity set we brought to God’s table today? It’s Mary and the angel. Today we’re getting ready for Christmas by celebrating the part of the story about Mary’s joy and the song she sings at Elizabeth’s house about how much she loves God and how happy she is about baby Jesus.
She talks about what God does and what God is like. She might be talking about what her baby will be like when he grows up.
As I was reading the powerful words that she said about God to Elizabeth, it reminded me of this book I just found that I love based on a true story that happened in New York. It’s called An Invisible Thread Christmas Story, by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski. One of the main characters is a lady who must be trying to live like God, because she does many of the things that Mary sings about God doing. I’m going to tell you again the words Mary says, and then I’m going to tell you the story of the book. Listen, and be ready to tell me how the lady, Laura, is being like God, according to Mary? Here are some of the things she says, from The Message, a different translation than what was read earlier in the service.
His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him. He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud. The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel; he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high. It’s exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now.
Now, I’ll share what happens in The Invisible Thread Christmas Story. (Tell the story- it’s too long to read it.)
Did you notice the way that Laura is behaving the way that Mary said God does?
Mary wasn’t just talking to Elizabeth. She was talking to us too, saying this is who God is. I think she was saying this is who Jesus is going to be- and how we can be if we follow Him.
Let’s pray: Dear God, thank you for giving us Mary, for telling us more about who God is. And thank you for giving us Jesus, who showed us God by living his life. We love you, God. Amen.
