Show and tell is a common thing in lower elementary school classrooms. Children love to bring favorite toys, books, objects, and even newborn siblings to show to their teachers and classmates and tell them all about them. It is a great way to get kids used to the idea of addressing a group of people in a cozy, comfortable environment. They won’t all grow up to be public speakers, but this is a first step in training children in how to participate in class. I used to do a “brown bag children’s sermon” in the summer where children brought me something in a brown bag and were allowed to tell about the object. Then I had to come up with a Bible story or Scripture that corresponded to the contents of the bag. It was a challenge to think fast on my feet! I had one rule: no live or previously living thing could be in the bag. We had a lot of fun with it.

When you think about it, most of the Gospel is a show and tell experience. The people of the time saw Jesus and his ministry and then were encouraged to go and tell others. From the shepherds and the wisemen, to the eye witnesses of the feeding miracles, to the woman at the well, it’s all one big show and tell moment.

John 1 (Common English Bible)

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!³⁰ This is the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is really greater than me because he existed before me.’ ³¹ Even I didn’t recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be made known to Israel.” ³² John testified, “I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and it rested on him. ³³ Even I didn’t recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit coming down and resting is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ I have seen and testified that this one is God’s Son.”

John’s early show and tell defined who Jesus was. He was the Lamb of God. He was the savior who would take away the world’s sins. He was the one who received the Holy Spirit in the baptismal waters of the Jordan river. He was God’s Son.

Friends, today is a reminder that we are invited to the show and tell party as well. What has Jesus done for you? Who is he to you? Can you share a word of testimony about the Son of God today?

People won’t recognize Jesus until we do.

Well Played, Southwest