Filled With the Holy Spirit

Children's Sermon: Filled With the Holy Spirit - Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21)

Hand each child an un-inflated balloon. Explain that they are to wait for instructions to see what they will do with their balloon. You’ll need an uninflated round balloon.

As you see, we have balloons today. You can have a lot of fun with a balloon. Hold up your balloon if you have a long, skinny one. (Pause.) I’ve seen some people who can take a long, skinny balloon and make it into the shape of different animals. Have you ever tried that? Hold up your balloon if you have a round one. (Pause.) I’ve played a game where we toss round balloons up into the air to see how long we can keep it up without it hitting the ground. That’s a lot of fun.

Look at the balloon I’m holding. I think it’s a very nice balloon. It’s a pretty color, and by looking at the shape of it, I think it would be a very nice round balloon. There seems to be something lacking in the balloon. Can anyone tell me what this balloon needs? (Pause for children to answer.) You’re right. It needs to be filled with air! Before a balloon can fulfill its purpose, someone must breathe some life into it.

I think this balloon can help us learn something about the church. Today is a very special day we call Pentecost. It was the day that God sent His Holy Spirit to breathe life into His church so the church would be all that God intended for it to be.  (Inflate the balloon a little and stop.) Before God sent His Holy Spirit, the church was lifeless--like this balloon. The church was not witnessing and telling people about Jesus. After the Holy Spirit breathed life into the church, people began telling everyone they saw about Jesus. (Inflate the balloon a little and stop.) It didn't even matter if they spoke the same language. (Inflate the balloon a little and stop.) Everyone they told about Jesus understood what they were saying. Thousands of people were added to the church. (Inflate the balloon a little and stop.) The church became alive and was doing the things God had commanded. (Finish inflating the balloon and tie it off.)

Breathe life into your balloon, and remember that just as the balloon needs to be filled to be what it was intended to be, you and I need the Holy Spirit to fill us so we can be all that God wants us to be. (Allow children to inflate their balloons. Then help them tie off their balloons.)

We thank You, God, for sending Your Holy Spirit. We thank You for breathing life into the church and we thank You for giving Your Holy Spirit to all who believe in Jesus. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.