Bible Passage: Acts 11:1-19
Lesson: All are welcome to Christ
Acquire many small magnets and one large magnet. Magnets are available at hardware stores, though if you can find them looking like rocks, it is better. If not, use the word “chips” instead of “rocks.”
I am going to give each one of you a little rock. This is your rock and it represents you.
Now please put the rock in front of you. (You will obviously change the following names to be applicable to the Children in your group) Now, Mary and Bobby are sister and brother, so obviously, they belong together. (As you say this, pick up Mary’s rock and use it to pick up Bobby’s rock (magnet). They are now together. (Put that down and do the same as you proceed).
Mahlia and Parker both go to pre-school, so they belong together. And David and Damon play soccer, so they belong together. But here is Karlo. Let’s pretend Karlo doesn’t belong to any of these groups and he’s all by himself. Except he isn’t. Because just like Peter learned in our Bible story, we all belong to a greater group.
This (holding the larger magnet) is God’s Great Love found in Jesus. The love of Jesus will bring everyone together who is seeking something extraordinary in their life. So you see, the Love of Jesus includes (begin picking up the rocks with the large magnet) Karlo, Damon, David, Parker, Mahlia, Bobby and Mary.
But what about people who aren’t in church with us? (Spread rocks around you) What about the people next door or our teachers in school or person who drives the bus or makes our pizza or … well, you get the idea.
What is so wonderful about Jesus’ love is that it is there for the asking. Anyone who wants to have it will get it. The neighbors (begin picking up the rocks with the magnet), the teachers, the bus drivers, the pizza makers (show the magnet loaded with “people”) ANYONE and EVERYONE who wants this precious gift can have it. And just like I am going to share these rocks with you, so can you share the Good News we learn in Church – That We Are Loved!
Close in prayer
Presented on April 28, 2013 at Parkside Congregational Church. A video of this is available at Christ is Attractive to All