Sermon

Good morning! I’m so glad to see you because I was thinking about all of us this week and I wonder if we have more similarities than differences. Let’s test it out. I’ll list some things about myself and you raise your hand for each one that is the same for you, okay?

I like pepperoni pizza.
My favorite book is The Very Busy Spider.
My family has a black car.
I like cats more than dogs. I love coming to church!
Substitute these for facts about yourself and give a moment after each one for hands to raise.

So cool! Did that seem like a lot or a little that were the same? Now this time I need you to tell me something about yourself and we’ll have the whole church raise their hand if they share that trait too. Ready church?

Let the kids tell you facts about themselves as the congregation raises hands on ones that they share. If kids are too shy to share, substitute with a few more facts about yourself.

Wow! That was a lot more hands raised than the first time!

We all share a lot in common but I noticed something, there were some things that were special to just some of us. Like our favorite book or how many pets we have. Do you think the differences between us are important, or just the similarities? Give time for the kids to think and answer.

In our Scripture today, Jesus is praying to God the Father and he asks that we (all of us) should be one, just like Jesus and the Father are one. Now that’s kind of tricky, because are Jesus and God the Father exactly the same? We’ll avoid deep theological answers today, but the short answer is no, not exactly.

So what does that mean for us?

Maybe it means that it’s not just the similarities between us that are important, but the differences too. We can be different and yet still be united. Like how in your family you might all like different foods but still you all sit down together to share a meal.

When we bring all of our special and individual selves together, we can be one. And that is good news! It means that who we are is important to God and important to the church. When we bring our whole selves to this community, we are doing exactly what Jesus wanted, we are being one.

Prayer

God, thank you for all the special and unique people here today. Show us how our similarities and differences make Your church stronger. Teach us to be one together, one in You. Amen.

Between the Sundays

Family Activities and Conversation Starters

Make a Venn diagram of similarities and differences in your family members.
- Which of the shared traits or preferences can we lean into this week?
- Which of the unique traits or preferences makes you feel most special
Hold hands and try all walking in opposite directions.
- What happened when we all went different ways?
- How could we help each other get where we want to go?