Children’s Sermon

Acts 2:14a, 22-32

The Real Thing

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Acts 2:14a, 22-32

The Real Thing

By Lois Parker Edstrom

Object suggested: A piece of silver jewelry or a silver dish with a hallmark stamped on it. (This is not essential to the lesson.)

Pictures of hallmarks available at:
http://www.925-1000.com/platemarks.html

Today we are going to talk about a word that might be new to you. The word is “hallmark.” A hallmark is a mark that is pressed or stamped into a piece of silver jewelry or a silver dish. It may be a number, a letter, or a picture of an animal or bird. (Show pictures of hallmarks.)

A hallmark is like a promise that the silver used to make a dish or a piece of jewelry is fine and pure. It lets you know that this is the real thing. It is authentic silver.

All silver objects have a tiny bit of another metal mixed in to make it stronger, usually copper. If there is too much copper mixed with the silver, silver jewelry, such as a ring, may turn your finger green. A silver dish may become dark––tarnish more easily. (Show a tarnished piece of silver, if available.)

When you see a hallmark you know the silver is of good quality––the real thing.

Peter, a disciple of Jesus, speaks to the other disciples about how to decide if something is real. He wants them to know that Jesus is who he claims to be ––the Son of God.

Peter says, “Hear these words! (2:22). He tells the disciples that Jesus was sent by God and God gave Jesus “mighty works and wonders and signs” (2:22). The miracles that Jesus performed are like hallmarks to let us know his love is authentic––the real thing.

Peter reminds the other disciples, “This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses” (2:32).

All who were with Jesus saw the wonderful miracles he performed and believed he was the Son of God. These signs and wonders are hallmarks, a promise of God’s love.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible

Copyright 2011, Richard Niell Donovan