Children's Sermon: Getting Ready

I decided to do something different this morning. I will put the Bible aside [I put the Bible aside] and teach you a math lesson [I showed them a math textbook].

But first I have to make sure you're ready for the math lesson. Can you count from 1 to 10? Good. Can you count from 1 to 100? Very good. Can you add numbers? Can you subtract numbers? Can you multiply numbers? Can you divide numbers? Can you figure out square roots? Can you do algebra? And can you read German, because this is a German textbook? Hmm, maybe you're not ready for this.

Does anyone here have a driver's license? Nobody? Good. We're going to practice driving this morning. So everybody, ask your parents for the car keys and meet me in the parking lot. Maybe you're not ready for that, either.

So that's two plans down the drain. So we can always go back to the Bible. That happens sometimes - you try to put the Bible aside and end up having to go back to it.

In today's scripture, Jesus tells his followers that he has told them many things, and he still has many things to tell them. But they aren't ready to hear those things. Not yet. What do we have to do to get ready? Sometimes we have to study and learn, like with the math lesson. When it comes to driving, we need to study, but we also need to do something else - we need to grow and experience life. Sometimes we get ourselves ready, and sometimes getting ready happens to us.

God has told us many things, but not everything that God has to tell us is in the Bible. This is what the United Church of Christ believes - God is still speaking. God is still speaking to many people and through many people. We need to get ourselves ready for the things God wants to tell us.