Children's Sermon "What it means to be a Christian?"

Good Morning. How is everyone feeling? Are their any prayer requests? Let's Pray.

Can anyone tell me what we were supposed to do when we left church last sunday?

Sing "I am a C"

What it means to be a christian?

Can anyone tell me what it means to be a christian? (wait for answers). 

Let's look at what the Bible says...THe Bible uses the term Christian 3 times(Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16) and it comes from the the greek 'Christianos' which means Follower of Christ. Hmm, so according to the definitions in the dictionary about "follow" being a Christian is about being somebody who comes behind, supports, imitates, obeys and even takes over for --meaning carry on the ministry of Jesus. It is a an awesome responsibility and the universe's greatest gift, but where does your journey as a Follower of Christ start? Let's see what Jesus said..... in (1)  John 3:3 that we have to be "Born Again" or accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior believing with all your heart (make playdoh heart) that Jesus died on a cross for your sins (make playdoh cross)  . God's word tells us in (2) 2 corinthians 5:17 that when we are born again we become a new creature. How can he make us new all over? 

First Quote "God know our heart..."

Let me show you with this play-doh. What color is this heart? okay red. We are going to use this red heart to represent us or our spirit...each of us is born with a spirit. It's what makes us a living person with life, feelings and emotions. What color is this cross? Okay Blue. We are going to let the cross represent God's spirit.

second quote "God sent his son..."

third quote "now look what happens..."

 (quotes have been taken from www.childrensermons.com/sermons/creature.htm)

Any questions? If anyone wants to talk about being born again and starting on their journey of being a christian, after we pray come and talk to me or _____ and we would love to talk and pray with you.

Strawberry Pizza

Ingredients:

Favorite sugar cookie recipe or store bought sugar cookie dough 

Strawberries--about a half gallon

8 oz (1 package) cream cheese

confectioners sugar

whipped topping or whipped cream

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Use a round pizza pan

Cover with foil

(Spray with non-stick spray)

put cookie dough on pan

place wax paper on top of the dough

Either smooth down the dough with hand or use a rolling pin to make cookie dough cover the pizza pan ala pizza dough

remove wax paper

-Cook in accordance with cookie dough recipe/instructions. Perform a and b while cookie is in the oven

a. Sweeten cream cheese to desired taste by adding powdered sugar to preferred taste...if unsure start with 1 cup blend in using mixer on medium speed 

b. Hull/remove the green of the strawberries 

cut tops and bottom off strawberries--to be used in 'pizza sauce'. These pieces will be crushed to look like sauce. I used my onion chopper. 

slice strawberries for the 'pepperoni' put aside

1. When giant cookie/'pizza' crust comes out of the oven, spread a thin layer of sweetened cream cheese (scc). Let cookie cool and the sweetened cream cheese harden.

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2. Using the tops and bottoms of the strawberries, crush strawberries to make 'pizza' sauce.

Spread the strawberry sauce on the hardened sweetened cream cheese. 

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3. I used a cake decorating bag, but this can be done using a ziploc bag or other inventive way to add the sweetened cream cheese. 

Zig-zag the sweetened cream cheese across the strawberry sauce.

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4.  Starting from the middle of the 'pizza', spiral the whip cream (from a bag or the can) to the outside of the pizza

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5.  Garnish with strawberry slices (to look like pepperoni)

Ta-Da Strawberry Pizza!

My tip--To add sausages (or for a red-white-and blue look)--just toss on some blueberries!

Expanding Family

I just wanted to share the news that my family has grown.... Introducing... "Hunter Pumpkin Johnson" This boy moved in under my porch and adopted my family more than a month ago. The neighborhood kids and I named the stray Hunter. To our surprise he had a 'owner', and his name was Gus, but he didn't seem to want to live with them or be named Gus. An incident happened that was blown WAY out of proportion and the law was called on the mostly lab with a touch of lazy howling hound by the so-called owner; the officer was quick to notice that the puppy was far from aggressive and quickly left without the dog. My husband made the decision that we would adopt the creature that had already moved in. After officially having him for a couple of days and after getting the collar, leash, flea treatment, chain, etc., Amelia decided he needed a full name and by her word she added Pumpkin Johnson. :) This member came first. I am pleased to announce Country Kitty Johnson. 

She was living by herself in a dilapidated tobacco barn that's being held up by the weeds and Ivy that encompass it. Hubby's great Aunt has a strawberry farm and everytime they walked passed the area they heard a young faint meow. There was a 'mama cat' deceased on the highway in front of the farm. They asked me to see if I could get it because it wouldn't come out or go to them. I went back to the approximate spot of the baby and just meowed for it, and me being the cat whisperer that I am, she just walked right out, let me pick her up, and I walked back to the strawberry farm. I took her over to another house where I knew a mama cat was and tried to initiate an adoption, but the mama didn't want anything to do with a new baby. Poor Kitty was desperately after the milk from the mama cat, but without success. We took her home to restore her to health and doubled her weight with-in 1.5 days. We are not supposed to have indoor pets, but kitty just doesn't like the outside....especially after Hunter moved in. I wanted to name her Sergeant Fuzzypants, but I was out voted.