Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three…Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning everyone! Is it still, Easter, Pastor?

Pastor: Yes, it is still the Easter season, Sammy.

Sammy: Oh good! I just love Easter.

Pastor: Me too, Sammy. The Easter message is very special to us as believers in Jesus.

Sammy: Why is that?

Pastor: Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again after three days. These events are important because Jesus paid the price for our sins with his blood.

Sammy: You know, Pastor, I noticed that even though Jesus talks a lot about his death on the cross and how he will rise again after three days, a lot of people were not paying attention.

Pastor: Yes a lot of people either were not paying attention or they heard the message and they didn’t understand. 

Sammy: Just like Mr. and Mrs. Cleopas.

Pastor: Mr. and Mrs. Cleopas?

Sammy: You know? From the Gospel reading today? There was a man walking to a place called Emmaus.

Pastor: Yes that’s Cleopas.

Sammy: Mr. Cleopas. And the other person was his wife. Mrs. Cleopas.

Pastor: That’s a good theory, Sammy. The second person with Cleopas isn’t mentioned by name, so there are a lot of guess about who it could be.

Sammy: Well, I like Mr. and Mrs. Cleopas. But you know, I don’t understand what happened. How come they didn’t recognize Jesus until he broke bread and blessed the bread?

Pastor: That’s a really good question. Jesus breaks bread with many people all throughout the Gospels. He eats with his disciples, with tax collectors, and with over five thousand people, on two separate occasions. That’s a lot of people.

Sammy: And all of those people saw Jesus bless and break the bread before they ate it with him.

Pastor: That’s right. So Jesus talked to Mr. and Mrs. Cleopas a long time, but they didn’t truly see who he was until he blessed and broke the bread. And then he disappeared.

Sammy: He did?

Pastor: Yes, but he appeared to many others. 

Sammy: I just love Easter. I love that we can find Jesus in unexpected places.

Pastor: Yes we can. Boys and girls, will you please pray with me? Will you please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, Thank you for Easter. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Thank you for rising to life so that we may have life in you. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three…Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning everyone!

[Enter Bartholomew (we use a bunny puppet)]

Bartholomew: Good morning!

Sammy: Hello, Bartholomew! Happy Easter! 

Bartholomew: Happy Easter, Sammy! Hi Pastor! Happy Easter!

Pastor: How are you holding up, Bartholomew?

Bartholomew: I’m doing great. Last weekend was so much fun. I got to hide eggs for boys and girls all over the place. Did you all find some eggs? What did you find inside the eggs?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: These are great answers.

Bartholomew: I hid a lot of eggs–you guys found some really good ones. I wonder–did any of the adults find leftover eggs with the lawnmower? I try to leave some eggs in extra-challenging places so the moms and dads can have fun finding them too.

Pastor: I found a few lying around here and there. You are definitely good at your job, Bartholomew.

Sammy: Pastor, why does Bartholomew hide eggs? I mean, chickens lay eggs, not bunnies.

Pastor: That’s a great question, Sammy. Bartholomew is a bunny, and bunnies are symbols of new life. Eggs are symbols of new life, too.

Bartholomew: That’s right! And each Easter, I hide eggs around to remind boys and girls that Easter is not about the Easter bunny or eggs or chocolate. Easter is about Jesus. Jesus is risen, and we get to celebrate new life in him.

Sammy: I missed seeing you last week, Bartholomew. I wish you could have been here for worship on Easter. It was a beautiful day.

Bartholomew: You know, Sammy, Easter is more than just one week. We have an entire season in the church year dedicated to Easter. It is fifty days long.

Pastor: Get knowledge, Bartholomew. Easter begins on Easter Sunday and ends on Pentecost.

Bartholomew: When you are as old as I am Pastor, you know a few things.

Sammy: How old are you, Bartholomew? 

Bartholomew: I think I have been hiding eggs for children for about four hundred years now.

Pastor: You are definitely older than me, then.

Sammy: Me too.

Pastor: Let’s say a prayer together. Dear Jesus, thank you for the season of Easter. Help us to deepen our faith in you. Thank you for new life. Amen.

Sammy and Bartholomew: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three…Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning everyone! It’s almost, Easter, Pastor!

Pastor: Yes it is, Sammy. 

Sammy: I cannot wait to see all of the kids looking for Easter eggs. 

Pastor: It’s a great time of year for hunting for eggs, Sammy, but that’s not what Easter is about.

Sammy: That’s right. It’s about celebrating the return of chocolate eggs and bunnies to the store. I just love chocolate eggs, chocolate bunnies, cream eggs, and all of the different Easter treats.

Pastor: That’s not what Easter is about, Sammy.

Sammy: Oh. Well I guess it’s about the Easter bunny, right? Seeing the Easter bunny at the mall or at our church.

Pastor: No, Sammy. That’s not what Easter is about, either. Boys and girls, do you know what Easter is about?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: Oh I get it! Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus from the grave. He died on the cross and rose again after three days. That’s what Easter is all about. Easter is all about Jesus.

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy. Easter bunnies and chocolates are wonderful, but they are not the reason for Easter. Easter is all about Jesus, God’s Son. 

Sammy: So what is going to be special about Easter at church?

Pastor: Easter is a time of baptism, renewal, and joy. We are going to have bells, trumpets, special music, and a special Gospel reading.

Sammy: You know, Pastor, I really like Jesus’ promise to us in this reading today. 

Pastor: I do too, Sammy. Jesus says, 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

Sammy: Jesus shows us exactly this with Lazarus and with how he raises from the dead, too.

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy. One day, all of us will live with Jesus in Heaven forever. Let’s pray: can everyone please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, thank you for Easter. Thank you for creating us. Thank you for being our God. We love you. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

In Ten Years? 

Who is going to be sitting in the pews in ten years’ time?  Ryan Burge, a Baptist pastor and professor, does statistical analysis about religion in America.¹ The research he does shows that 40% of Generation Z, ages 18 to 30, have no professed religious faith. “In 1972, about 2/3 of folks who were raised in a non-religious household switched to a religious affiliation in adulthood.”² Today nearly 80% of young adults who grew up in non-religious households remain without religious affiliation. This means that when the GenZ have kids they will be raising atheists. So a growing number of unbelievers will be raising more unbelievers which will decrease the number of Christians in our society.

On the other hand, as the older generations go onto the Church Triumphant this will also decrease the number of Christians in our society. The Church in the United States has been in a lull for about a decade where congregations are declining but still able to conduct their ministry. But this won’t be the case in another 10 years because very quickly many, many congregations will so diminish in size they will not have the numbers of people necessary to conduct evangelistic ministry. The language Ryan Burges uses to describe the inevitable decline of most Protestant denominations is “free fall”.³ Now, St. John’s has been blessed so we have a better distribution of ages than many congregations. But still . . . .

Who Sets the Agenda?

The question for your church and many other congregations is, “Do we feel compelled enough for our continued existence and for the sake of the Gospel to get out of our comfort zone to reach the unchurched?” 

Admittedly, the selfish motivation of reaching new people for the purpose of a congregation’s continued existence is not particularly inspired and actually comes across as manipulative. But maybe, the fear of our decline might cause us to look Jesus’ way.

Jesus would tell us that a more compelling motivation for reaching new people and raising up disciples is that Jesus is for sinners. In other words, the whole purpose of Jesus’ ministry is to reach and save sinners.⁴ The supply of those never runs out.

The first challenge for every congregation is who owns the church and gets to set the direction of the church. Congregations fight about this all the time. The strange truth, however, is that this question has been settled. Jesus asserts over and over again that he is Lord and sets the agenda.

He tells Peter that He Jesus will build the church and that the church will be able to take down demonic barriers.⁵ Paul repeatedly reminds us that Jesus Christ is the head of the Church.⁶  Until one of us dies on the cross and is raised from the dead, the church is bought and paid for by Christ. Even more, Christ and His Spirit sustain the Church. So we can claim no ownership.

Rather we are servants of the most high Lord. Jesus doesn’t ask nicely if we want to do his work. He commands. “Follow me.” “I will make you fish for people.” “Go and make disciples.”  Jesus doesn’t ask “please?”  He is Lord of the Church and he commands us. “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”⁷

“I Am Going to Send You”

We do not have to worry though because Jesus our Lord doesn’t send us empty handed or even to rely upon ourselves. Consider this passage from Luke 24.

⁴⁴ He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” ⁵⁰ When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. ⁵¹ While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. ⁵² Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.⁵³ And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.⁸

We learn:

• That Jesus is the fulfillment of all of God’s promises and that God continues to fulfill the promises in Christ in and through His Church.
• That the LORD opens up our minds so we may understand the Scriptures and faith be born in us. This should encourage us to pray the LORD will open the minds of new people to see Christ is their Savior through the Word.
• That God works in people through the proclamation of the Word to produce repentance and gives the forgiveness of sins that implants new life.
• That Jesus commands his disciples to spread this gospel to all people, not just where they are comfortable, like in Jerusalem.
• That He has clothed his Church with power from on High as the Father promised. We have received the Holy Spirit to carry out this mission.
• That the Ascended Lord blesses his Church as he reigns in heaven over all of creation.
• That we his earthly Church are to worship and praise God with great joy.

The challenge for us is to take Christ Jesus at his word. To follow and obey him. To rely on His Word and His Spirit to do this mission. To see the Ascended Lord as our savior and master. To devote our lives to joyfully worship and praise God with our every breath.

Jesus has promised if we will live according to his Word, he will grow his church. If we will live joyfully worshipping and relying on the LORD we will have something to share with this sin-soaked society.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you all a spirit of unity with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 15:5-6)

Your servant in the Gospel, Pastor Douglas

Citations:
¹ https://substack.com/@ryanburge
²  Burge, Ryan, https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1F6QCKT6CD/
³  Burge, Ryan, “When Are Half Your Members Going to be Dead?: The tipping point for many denominations is not that far away.” https://substack.com/home/post/p-180956489
⁴ Mark 2:17, John 3:17, 1 Tim 1:15
⁵ Matt 16:18
⁶ Eph 5:23-26, Eph 4:15, Col 1:18, Eph 1:22, Col 2:16-23
⁷ John 20:21
⁸ Luke 24:44–53

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Script: 

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three…Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning everyone! Hey, Pastor! Guess what?

Pastor: Oh boy. Here we go.

Sammy: Guess what!

Pastor: What happened, Sammy?

Sammy: There are new babies coming to our farm!

Pastor: There are? That’s great news!

Sammy: I found out from Farmer John that we have lambs, baby goats, chicks, piglets, and foals coming soon.

Pastor: That’s a lot of babies.

Sammy: Yes it is. I am excited but a little nervous, too. It’s been a while since I’ve been around little baby animals. What do you think I could do to help with the new babies? You guys seem like you know how to take care of animal and human babies.

Pastor: Boys and girls, what is it like to have a new baby around? What are some things Sammy can do to help with the new babies on the farm?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: These are great answers. I am going to try my best to help Farmer John with the new animal babies on the farm. I cannot wait to meet them–they are going to be so cute!

Pastor: Sammy, speaking of babies, Jesus is talking in the Gospel today about being born again.

Sammy: That’s silly, Pastor. We can only be born once.

Pastor: Not according to Jesus.

Sammy: He knows better than me, but can you please explain how someone can be born again?

Pastor: Well, first we are born as babies. Our mamas give birth to us. And then we are born again when we are baptized into the family of God.

Sammy: Oh so it’s like we are born two times!

Pastor: Exactly! We are born to our mamas, and then we are born by the Spirit.

Sammy: Why do we need to be born again by the Spirit?

Pastor: God loved us so much that he sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we could be saved. We all sin, but Jesus didn’t come to tell us we are bad, he came to earth to rescue us because he loves us. When we say we believe in Jesus and we are baptized into Jesus’s family, we are born again by the Spirit.

Sammy: That’s a gift, Pastor.

Pastor: Yes it is, Sammy. Let’s pray together. Can everyone please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, thank you for baptism. Thank you for new life in you. Thank you for rescuing us. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Matthew 4:1-11

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three…Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning everyone!

Pastor: Hey Sammy, how are you doing?

Sammy: I am ready for Spring, Pastor.

Pastor: I am, too, but we still have several more weeks of Winter. 

Sammy: We do. I know.

Pastor: Wouldn’t it be great if we could just melt all the snow?

Sammy: Yes it would.

Pastor: And wouldn’t it be great if we could just have warm spring breezes and sunshine?

Sammy: I would really like that. And fresh grass, too! But you, know, Pastor, winter has a purpose and the seasons are a part of God’s plan for creation.

Pastor: That’s right, Sammy. 

Sammy: I mean, as much as I would love to have new spring grass and feel the warm sun on my wool, I am going to try my best to enjoy the last few weeks of winter.

Pastor: Great perspective, Sammy. It’s tempting, though–to just think about willing winter away. 

Sammy: What does tempting mean?

Pastor: Tempting means that you feel pressure to do something that you shouldn’t do.

Sammy: Oh you mean like eat extra oats out of the oat bin?

Pastor: Yes.

Sammy: Or go in the Pastor’s office and hide somewhere and yell, “Surprise!”

Pastor: Definitely.

Sammy: Or let a whole bunch of mice in the church?

Pastor: Sammy, let’s focus. You know, Jesus was tempted, too.

Sammy: Did he want spring to come, too?

Pastor: No, Sammy. Jesus is fully God and fully man, and he felt hungry, just like we do.

Sammy: I understand that. I’m always hungry. 

Pastor: Being hungry is okay, but because Jesus is the Son of God, he was tempted to make his own food.

Sammy: Well, there’s nothing wrong with that. Men can make food, too, Pastor. I know you can cook–I’ve been to your house. 

Pastor: That’s not what I mean, Sammy. Jesus was tempted to turn stones into bread.

Sammy: Stones? Like rocks on the ground?

Pastor: Yes.

Sammy: That’s silly. Why would he do that?

Pastor: Jesus is God–he is Lord of Creation and can do anything. But he was asked by someone to turn stones into bread so he could prove who he is. 

Sammy: Why would Jesus need to prove he is God? All throughout scripture, people who encounter him just know by the power of the Holy Spirit. They trust him, and they believe.

Pastor: And that’s what we are called to do today, too. We are called to believe in Jesus. 

Sammy: How did Jesus stop being tempted?

Pastor: That’s a great question, Sammy. We all are tempted to do wrong things. Jesus gave us a great example of how to resist temptation: He quoted scripture. 

Sammy: That’s why it’s important to know your Bible verses.

Pastor: Indeed it is. Boys and girls, will you please fold your hands and bow your heads to pray with me? Dear Jesus, thank you for coming to earth to rescue us. We praise you and we love you. Thank you for helping us stay strong when we are tempted to do wrong. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three…Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning everyone! Pastor, I have a question.

Pastor: Okay Sammy. Go ahead. 

Sammy: So the apostles go up the mountain with Jesus right? 

Pastor: Yes they do Sammy.

Sammy: And when they get to where Jesus was, they saw Jesus in all his glory with Moses and Elijah. 

Pastor: You are on track so far. 

Sammy: And then they hear the voice of God. 

Pastor: Sammy, are you just going to recite the passage we just read or are you going to ask me your question?

Sammy: Excuse me pastor, but I said I had a question.

Pastor: I’ll be quiet now Sammy. 

Sammy: If the apostles saw Jesus in all of his glory. Why were they afraid of Jesus? 

Pastor: Well Sammy, Seeing God is quite the scary thing. 

Sammy: It is? 

Pastor: Yes it is, even when Angels come to see people on earth. The first thing they tell them is be not afraid. 

Sammy: Why is that. 

Pastor: Because just seeing an angel is very different than anything else in this world. Seeing God is even scarier. When Israel reached Mt. Siani, God set a whole mountain on fire, and blew trumpets. As said anyone that approached him on the mountain, without being called up like Moses was, would die from the sight of God. Once the apostles heard God’s voice. They thought their life was in danger. 

Sammy: But why would they be afraid of dying just by seeing God? I thought that would be a good thing. 

Pastor: It would be a good thing, but because we sin and do bad things. We can’t look at God. We can’t even approach him. Because sinners cannot approach God. 

Sammy: But how do we approach God then?

Pastor: Because Jesus died and rose again Sammy. Jesus died to forgive our sins so we could be with God again. Just like our first parents were: Adam and Eve. 

Sammy: Oh I see pastor. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection was all about reconciling God and humanity. And because Jesus died and rose from the dead. We don’t have to be afraid. 

Pastor: Exactly Sammy. I hope I answered your question Sammy. 

Sammy: You did Pastor.  

Pastor: Let’s pray everyone. Dear Jesus, thank you for coming down from heaven and living on earth. Thank you for revealing yourself to us so we can approach God without fear. We love you. Amen. 

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three…Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning everyone!

Pastor: Sammy, today we have scripture from the Gospel of Matthew.

Sammy: Yes, it’s one of my favorites: The Bee-Attitudes.

Pastor: The what?

Sammy: The Bee-Attitudes. You know, like honey bees, and bumblebees, and carpenter bees, and not like wasps or hornets or yellow jackets or anything like that.

Pastor: Here we go again.

Sammy: All right everyone! Can everyone help me with the Bee-Attitudes? Can you buzz like a bee? 

[Allow children time to buzz like bees]

Sammy: That was really good. But let’s do that again, but louder. Ready?

[Allow children to buzz like bees]

Sammy: Great job! That’s just the warm-up!

Pastor: Sammy, I don’t think you understand what Jesus is talking about.

Sammy: Of course I do, Pastor! We just had to warm up. Okay everyone! Are you ready for the next part?

Pastor: I can only imagine…

Sammy: Repeat after me: Be comforted. Be filled. Be merciful. Be pure. Be peaceful. Let’s try again. Ready? Be comforted. Be filled. Be merciful. Be pure. Be peaceful. Great job! See, Pastor. These are the Bee Attitudes.

Pastor: Oh I get it. The Beatitudes. Jesus is teaching us about who is and what he does. He is merciful in his forgiveness. He mourns over our sins and comforts us in our guilt. He is pure in heart and he makes peace between us and God.  What he is saying helps us to know how much he loves us. Even though we fall short of his love. People hearing these words for the first time would be surprised. 

Sammy: Why’s that? 

Pastor: Jesus says that those who are sad will be comforted. The meek will inherit the earth. The pure in heart will see God.

Sammy: These are big promises.

Pastor: Yes they are. They are promises that are filled by Jesus. He loves each one of us, and his love is a gift.

Sammy: The Bee-Attitudes are fun. Can everyone buzz with me one more time?

Pastor: Great job, little bees. Let’s say a prayer and then you can buzz like a bee back to your seats. Let’s fold our hands and bow our heads. Dear Jesus, Thank you for teaching us how to live. Thank you for helping us with our Bee-Attitudes. We love you and praise your name. Amen.

Sammy: Buzzzzzz.

“I don’t want to offend anyone or lose my friends.” That was the reason one of my church council members gave as to why she holds back from talking to her close friends about faith.

Her response came from a discussion we were having about the importance of building intentional relationships with friends and neighbors with whom we can talk about what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. It’s reasonable to understand her hesitancy. Yet, simultaneously, sadly, this is an excuse many believers fall back on because they don’t know how. Admittedly, I have not been exempt from using it myself, that was until one day, I was moved to change.

I had been invited as a guest to attend an NALC Regional Convocation. During one of the breaks, I had an engaging conversation with four individuals from the same church, who were attending as a group. They had asked me about my seminary experience. Up to that point, I had had difficulties with the ELCA candidacy process and I was contemplating leaving to join the NALC.

Throughout our exchange, I noticed how easy it was to talk to them. Even though I was a fish out of water, so to speak, they never made me feel uncomfortable. Their questions were genuine, not attacking or forceful, all while respectful. As we neared the end of the break, they asked if they could pray for me. As I told them that I would appreciate it if they would, they did something quite unexpected; rather than going on their way, they surrounded me, each placing a hand on my shoulder or arm, and began to pray for me, right then and there. It caught me by surprise because I had never had someone not only offer to pray for me but to do it! Over the next few minutes, each of them took a turn praying over something they had picked up on as they listened in, praying for God to give me the insight I needed to make my decision, whatever it was to be, for strength and guidance to go wherever He called me. As they ended, I opened my eyes to find that there were no longer four people surrounding me; passersby had also stopped to pray, placing their hands on those around me.

That day, I witnessed a group of believers demonstrate what following Jesus looks like, and I saw that conversations about life and faith don’t have to be divisive, inspiring me to do the same.

When our Lord encountered someone who was spiritually and/or physically hurting, he didn’t attack them. He didn’t simply offer to pray for them and then continue on his way. Instead, he stopped and prayed over them at that moment.

In the years since, I have stepped out of my comfort zone and offered to pray for strangers—even even someone who struck up a conversation with me on a flight home from Texas.

The feeling I have after praying for someone is that of joy. Doing so reminds me of Luke’s Gospel, where Jesus sends out his disciples ahead of him. As Christ told his disciples (I’m paraphrasing), “If you meet someone receptive to the Word, have a conversation; if they are not, don’t force it and go on your way.” However, I have never encountered anyone who refused my offer of, ‘Can I pray for you?’

Yet, encouraging her and telling her how to do it—based on scripture—only goes so far. While I have had such a positive experience, I find myself asking how I can help empower my councilwoman to set aside her fear and step out in faith.

Her fear is reminiscent of the disciples when Jesus told them to feed the five thousand. They had no clue how, and they certainly didn’t believe they had what it took to get the job done until their shepherd showed them the way. Their reaction was evident; they needed more time to be equipped and empowered.

After they had spent some time watching and learning how Jesus ministered to others, he released his disciples to try it for themselves. That’s when he instructed them how to minister to those receptive to the Word of God and to those who are not. When they came back to him, they reported incredible joy. As her earthly Shepherd, I can see how God has prepared her to spend time with me to learn how to follow Jesus.

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three…Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning everyone! Pastor, today in the Gospel, I heard some things that I would like to know more about.

Pastor: Well, you are in the right place, Sammy. In church, we get to learn more about Jesus.

Sammy: Yes we do. And I have a question about Jesus. 

Pastor: Go for it, Sammy.

Sammy: Why is John calling him a sheep?

Pastor: He’s not a sheep.

Sammy: Exactly. So John is confused. Really confused. Jesus isn’t a sheep. He’s fully God and fully man.

Pastor: You know, for a little lamb, you understand so much.

Sammy: And yet I know so little.

Pastor: That’s okay. We are all on a journey to learning more about Jesus. John was calling Jesus the Lamb of God because Jesus is the Savior of the world. In the Old Testament, we read about how people had to get their sins forgiven.

Sammy: How did people ask for forgiveness of their sins?

Pastor: When people sinned, or disobeyed God, they had to ask their dad to sacrifice an animal. The animal stood in the place of the person who sinned.

Sammy: You mean to tell me–wait don’t tell me. You really mean people did that to innocent lambs?

Pastor: Yes, Sammy. The lambs stood in the place of the people to pay for sin. When we sin, there is a cost. 

Sammy: What’s the cost?

Pastor: The wages of sin is death.

Sammy: Yikes that is scary.

Pastor: Well, for all of us who believe in Jesus, it’s not scary. Jesus is the Lamb of God, and he willingly laid down his life as a sacrifice for us. He took away our sin and opened Heaven’s gates to us. All we have to do is be baptized and believe in him. 

Sammy: You know, I am glad that Jesus was willing to lay down his life for me. He truly is the Lamb of God.

Pastor: Let’s say a pray together. Can everyone please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, thank you for taking our sins. Thank you for letting us be a part of your family. We love you. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!