Children’s Sunday Sermon
March 2, 2014
Good morning boys and girls. Today I would like to start out with a story about a boy who was always worrying. He was looking at his test paper that his teacher had just graded. “I worried about this test all night,” he said. “I worried and worried and worried.” The little girl next to him asked, “So what happened?” “I got an A. I guess wasted a good worry!”
In our Bible Lesson today we read about something really important that Jesus does not want us to do. He says, “I am telling you not to worry about your life.” Why would He say this, boys and girls? Jesus is telling us that the best way for us not to worry, the way we can get rid of all of our extra worries is to put our trust in God.
Of course all of us — parents, teachers, adults and all of you children will experience some tough times in life. This is part of growing up and becoming responsible adults. This is part of learning to get along with others, having good feelings in your family, and meeting nice friends. This is part of making your way through your school and Bible Lessons and planning for your future after your school years. And when you are an adult and have your own family, there will be new responsibilities and challenges. But Jesus tells us in our Lesson today that if we have trust in God, we can leave the big worries to him. Jesus is not telling us that we don’t have to be responsible for things that are expected of us as loyal followers. But He is saying, if we spend all of our time worrying about the little things, the constant worrying can get in the way of us becoming the persons God wants us to be.
Boys and girls it is not possible for us to be just like Jesus. But we can follow His great examples instead of worrying about the little things. It is not possible for us to be able to teach just like Jesus, but we can share His teaching with our brothers and sisters in our faith community. It is not possible for us to heal like Jesus, but we can send around the healing love that He asked us to share with our neighbors. And now boys and girls I hope that this week you all do a little less worrying and a little more practicing the Lessons we have learned in our Bibles. The Lessons from the Greatest Teacher ever!
Children’s Sunday Sermon
March 9, 2014
Good morning boys and girls. In the old “Bugs Bunny” cartoons, “Daffy Duck” often tries to trick Bugs into going someplace or doing something that would be harmful to him. Rabbits love carrots and “Daffy” would put a carrot on a stick and get Bugs to run after it without caring about where it was taking him. And this always got him into trouble. In these scenes, Bugs is being tempted by the carrot to do something he shouldn’t be doing. And this reminds us of what happens to us very often. Not “Daffy Duck” but the devil himself is always trying to trick us or tempt us into doing something we shouldn’t. He doesn’t use a carrot or a stick to tempt us, but he uses many other kinds of tricks. But whatever trick he uses, his purpose is always the same. He wants to get us to do something that God doesn’t want us to do. He wants us to lie or cheat or disobey. He wants us to be selfish and unkind. He wants us to be hurtful rather than loving toward other persons. “Do what I ask,” he whispers in our ears, “and you will be more popular. Do as I ask and I’ll see that you get all the goodies. Be good only to yourself and forget all these others and you’ll be a real winner.”
Actually, when the devil tempted Jesus, he said, “Forget about God and worship me and I’ll give you everything in the world.” Jesus, of course said “No!” to the devil. “God alone do I worship,” He told the devil. “So you can keep all your goodies!”
There are two things you can do when the devil waves a carrot on a stick before you. You can say “No” to the devil and you can say “Yes” to God. “Yes God, I will do as You ask. I will be the kind of giving person you want me to be.” Send the devil on his way and you’ll be a real winner!
Children’s Sunday Sermon
March 16, 2014
Boys and girls, I think you all know a little something about mystery stories. Sometimes these stories are called “Whodunits?” It’s a short way of saying that somebody did something but we don’t know who. As such stories go on, we are given clues about who that somebody might be. A clue puts your mind to work on the problem, and the more clues you get, the closer you get to solving the mystery.
Into each of our lives comes mystery. The perfect example, of course is God. Who is this God who created the Universe. Who is this God who created me? We ask these questions and we look for clues. And the best clue of all comes from the Lord Jesus. He begins by telling us that God is Love. Then comes the clue: If you want to get the best idea of all about who the God of Love is, you must try to imitate God. He loves us so much that He wants us to share in His life of love forever and He wants us to share this Good News with others.
When you share in this way you get a a little peek into he mystery of what God’s life is like. And it will give you joy. It will make you happy. And you will have a clue to what Heaven is like, because, in Heaven, you wont need any more clues. In Heaven, the Mystery of God in no longer a Mystery. In Heaven you will see God in all His glory!
Children’s Sunday Sermon
March 23, 2014
Good morning boys and girls. Can anyone name some of the things that are necessary for all human beings to live? That’s right, we all need air to breathe and food to eat. What else? Of course, we all need water to live. Did you know that the human body contains more than 70% water? Isn’t that amazing? You see, all of the tiny little cells in our bodies are made up mostly of water. And that’s why water is so important for us to live. Do you know what scientists look for first, when they explore distant planets? That’s right. They look to see if there is any water there, because if there is, then there might be living things present, like plant life — and that would be an amazing discovery! You see boys and girls water is a necessary building block for all living creatures. Without water there can be no life.
Boys and girls today we read in our Bibles that Jesus said, “Anyone who drinks the water that I shall give will never be thirsty anymore. The water I give will turn to a spring inside, welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). What do you suppose Jesus meant when He said this? Do you think He was talking about giving someone a cup of water to drink? We know that Jesus did give food to the hungry and drink to the thirsty but He is talking about something far more important here. When Jesus talks about the water building up inside like a spring, He is talking about the Love of God being inside of us. And He said the water inside will build up to eternal life. And eternal life means to be with God, always. So now you know boys and girls just how important water is for all living creatures. But even more important, as loyal followers of Jesus we need to keep filling ourselves up with the Love of God. Now let’s all show God that we have been drinking from the spring of His living water by doing the good works that He expects of us!
Children’s Sunday Sermon
March 30, 2014
Good morning girls and boys. Today we read in our Bibles that Jesus said, “I must carry out the work of the One that sent Me” (John 9:4). Of course Jesus is talking about the work that God sent Him to do here on earth. And like Jesus, we also must carry out the Work that is expected of each one of His loyal followers. We know that we must always be doing the good works that Jesus has assigned to us in the greatest instruction book ever written for living a happy life – our Holy Bible.
As one of Jesus’ loyal followers, you can be a good worker, helping to spread the healing power of God to people who need it most. You can do this good work by listening to to others with your heart, by sharing with those who have less, by being kind to someone who is feeling bad. Those are just some of the good works you know are expected of you. You know boys and girls that as students, you have certain work that you must do in school Monday through Friday, throughout the school day — and then some homework at night! And you know that your parents who work at their jobs have certain things that are expected of them during their work day, or maybe they have a job that requires them to work at night. But no matter if it’s a 25 hour school week, or a 40 hour work week, when the work day is over there is free time to spend doing other things. But it is not so, for the work that God has in mind for us. No. God’s assignment for us is a seven-day-a week, twenty-four-hour a day job! That’s right! 24-7! And you have heard over-and-over again what the most important work of all is — and that is to Love One Another! Now let’s all get to work!
