Sermon

The Savior's Happy Meal

Theme

Communion

Object

A McDonald's "Happy Meal" and the bread and juice used in the Communion service.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

I'm sure that everyone here this morning will know what this is! That's right! It is a McDonald's Happy Meal. Have you ever had a Happy Meal? What's your favorite part of a Happy Meal? For most children, their favorite part of the Happy Meal is the toy. Let's look and see what kind of a toy we got in our Happy Meal. (Open the toy and show it to the children.)

I will have to be honest with you, I'm not too happy about the toy in this Happy Meal. It looks pretty cheap and I doubt that it will last very long. Even if it does last, it doesn't do much of anything and I'm sure it won't keep me happy for very long. I will admit that I was pretty happy about the fries, but as good as they were, when they were gone, I wasn't really satisfied. I still wanted more. That's the trouble with a McDonald's Happy Meal -- the happiness just doesn't last.

Did you know that our church has a happy meal? Well, we do -- and we are going to have a happy meal right here in this worship service this morning. This is what our happy meal looks like. It is a small piece of bread and a little glass of juice.

The bread represents the body of Jesus and the juice represents his blood. When we eat this Happy Meal, we are reminded that Jesus loved us so much that he died on the cross so that you and I could have everlasting life in heaven with him. Now, that is something to be happy about!

I have a poem that might help you to remember the meaning of our Happy Meal.

The Savior's Happy Meal

This Happy Meal doesn't look like much,
And it doesn't come with a toy.
It may not fill my stomach,
But it fills my heart with joy!
The bread and juice remind me of
The Savior's love for me;
When he died upon a rugged cross
On a hill called Calvary.
There is no way I can describe
The gratitude I feel
Each and every time I eat
The Savior's Happy Meal!

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for Jesus' death and resurrection. Thank you also for the Happy Meal we will eat today as a reminder of what Jesus has done for us. Amen.