Super powers

A Childrens' Sermon for 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Do any of you like superheros?  What superheros do you like?
Most superheros have special powers, don’t they?  What kind of powers does Super Man/Captain America/Spiderman have?

Do you want to have super powers?  What kind of power do you wish you had?

Today we heard a part of a letter that Saint Paul sent to a church in Corinth.
The people in Corinth really wanted super powers – sort of churchy superpowers, like being able to talk in lots of foreign languages about God, or prophesy, or make miracles.  But Paul told them that to be a loving person was better than having a showy superpower, because Love has LOTS of super power.
We hear about “Love” a lot in February because of Valentine’s Day, and we hear what Paul said about love at weddings.  We think about it then because God reminds us that the mushy, romantic kind of love only works if you have super power love of the kind Paul is talking about.  And we hear it in church today because super power love is for everyone, even people who don’t like mushy romantic love.

So, who here wants to meet a super hero??

Superhero jumps up from a pew, cape swirling:
My name is Love, and one of my super powers is Patience.  When other people are upset or annoying, I can take deep, slow breaths, and listen to them without getting upset myself.  And when something very exciting is going to happen a long time from now (like a vacation, or getting a driver’s license), I can help people enjoy waiting because thinking about how much fun it will be makes every day happier.

Do you know any people who has the super power of Patience?
I wonder if they are Super Hero Love in disguise?

You know, that’s not the only power Love has.
A second superhero appears:

 My name is Love, and one of my super powers is Kindness.  When I see a friend or a new kid who seems sad or lonely, I try to do things that will help them smile and feel happy.  This super power also helps me take care of my pets and other animals.  I also use this super power to be polite to people I think are boring, and to my grandparents, other kids at school, and especially to the people in my family who I live with every day.

Do you know any people who have that kind of power?
Do you think they are heroes in disguise??

Love has even more powers than that, though!

A third and fourth superhero appear:
My name is Love, and two of my super powers are Truth and Justice.  These powers help me do the right thing always.  They help me stand up for someone when other people are telling lies.  Truth and Justice help me work to make sure all people are treated equally.

My name is Love, and I also have super powers of Hope and Trust.  These powers help me find good news when bad things are happening.  They help me to believe in God, and to know God is good.  Hope and trust help me act like it’s a sunny day when it’s wet and cold.  These powers also make it possible for me to forgive other people, and not to worry about what anyone owes me.

Do you know any people who are like that? 
Can you do any of these things?   

Actually, you can do all these things.  Because Love is a super hero that all of us can be.  We don’t get these super powers from another planet or a super accident, we just have to practice using these super powers: at school, and at home, and when we’re at soccer or dance or where ever we go.
Paul says that these are the very best super powers anyone can have – and you know what? – these super powers do help people and save the world all the time.

So who wants to be a super hero?
Remember – use your powers for good!!