October 7 – “Only one good solution”

The Kids’ Sermon at church yesterday was another interesting one.  We are still on the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 people.  This time I had the kids come up right at the beginning of the service.  They all sat on the floor and I gave them the scenario that some aliens were coming to visit the earth.  These aliens were a very curious sort, and they wanted to know everything there was to know about us earthlings, even down to what we ate.  It was our job to show them the kinds of things we like to eat.  I gave them some crayons and some cans of play dough and told them to make some food that we could show the aliens.  And then I went back to making announcements and connecting with the adults. 

The kids instantly jumped into action.  They entered their own little world (or maybe kitchen would be a better word), laughing and talking and creating some truly alien-pleasing dishes.  It got interesting a time or two when what appeared to be peas began making their way mysteriously from one point of the circle to other points and beyond.  I’m sure they just wanted to assure that everyone in the room had opportunity to share in the fantastically fun church experience.  It also made for a truly family-like, rather loud time of discussion for the rest of us.  No one seemed to mind, though. 

I returned to the kids and asked them to share their creations with the rest of us.  It became immediately apparent that the food of choice to display to the aliens was pizza.  Pepperoni.  Even one of those cheese–filled crust pizzas.  Of course this one had red cheese, which looked kind of strange, but what would the aliens know about the proper color for cheese?  All in all it was quite creative and incredibly entertaining.  I think the best food to show the aliens, though, would have been some real food, don’t you agree? 

It led well into the introduction of the story.  Jesus’ disciples were challenged to solve a problem: “We have 5,000 hungry people here.  What should we do?”  They came up with some solutions all right.  They just weren’t the best ones.  The best way to feed the people was with real food, and Jesus had the only good solution to that problem. 

Psalms 115:2-3 says, “Why do the nations say, "Where is their God?" Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.”

Father, thank you for being truly amazing in the way you solve problems.  Amen.