What’s Your Hat? One Teen’s First Sermon Illustration

“I have my hat. On the inside, I have written all the places I have taken it with me. It has been a lot of places with me. It has been through many things: It is bleached from the sun and stained with my sweat. It is a representation of my soul. It still looks like a nice hat. I still look like me on the outside. But I have changed for the worse, because I have sinned.

“My hat looks different than a brand-new one of the same style. It has been through a lot, just like I have sinned a lot. It might not look like it, because I am happy and standing here sharing with you far from my home. But I am not perfect, which is what God needs in order for us to stay with him forever, in paradise, in heaven.

“We have all sinned, and therefore fall short of God’s glory, that’s what Jesus tells us. But Jesus can save us from our sin. He already did when he came to earth and died to pay the price for our sin. God raised him back to life on the third day so he lives to be with us. And he says if we confess our sins, and believe that God raised him from the dead, we will all be saved, and get to be with him in paradise. When Jesus was on the cross, a criminal was hanging next to him. The criminal decided to believe that Jesus would forgive him, and Jesus told him, ‘Today I will see you in paradise.’

“Jesus really does save. You just have to believe. Nothing can fix my hat, but Jesus has saved me. What does your hat look like, and where has it been or done? Maybe you have a messed up hat, maybe you have sins that need to be forgiven. Jesus can forgive them and save your life. Do you want to be saved?”