Children’s Sunday Sermon
February 7, 2016
Good morning boys and girls. This morning I’d like to begin with a little “fish story.” One day, two men went ice fishing. They chopped holes in the ice, put worms on their hooks and dropped their lines in the water and, three hours later, they had caught nothing! They repeated the process two more times with the same result! After a Full day of fishing they hadn’t caught even one fish!
Then a young boy came along and seemed to do the same thing. He cut hole in the ice, put a worm on his hook, dropped the line in the water and bam! He pulled a big fish out of the water! He did this again, and then again and in just a few minutes he had caught more than a dozen fish!
The older fishermen couldn’t believe their eyes so one of them went over to the boy and asked, “What’s your secret? How is it that have you been able to catch so many fish when we haven’t caught a single one?” The boy mumbled something which angered the man so he said to the boy, “Take the bubble gum out of your mouth. I can’t understand a word you’re saying.” “It’s not bubble gum,” the boy said as he spit something out of his mouth. “You see, that’s the secret. You have to keep the worms warm!”
That’s kind of gross, boys and girls – keeping worms in your mouth! But I guess it works!
Today we read in our Bible about three fishing partners named Simon Peter, James and John who caught so many fish that their nets almost broke. What was their secret? Jesus was there! Jesus told them to put their nets out in deep water. And even though they had not caught any fish all day they listened to Jesus and they did what He told them to do.
Boys and girls, its no secret. If you follow the instructions that Jesus has given in your Bible then you will be doing the work that is expected of you. And it’s certainly no secret what the number one thing that is expected of us is. It’s simple: “Love one another.”
Children’s Sunday Sermon
February 14, 2016
Good morning girls and boys! Today I’d like to begin with a story about a very special dog. As the story goes, an old hunter used to like to go into the woods with his dog to teach him how to retrieve sticks. One day, the old man threw a stick and it fell into a river. The dog immediately ran after it, picked it up, returned on top of the water, and then dropped the stick at the old man’s feet. The old hunter couldn’t believe his eyes so he tried it again. He threw the stick in the water and again, the dog retrieved it by walking on top of the water.
Amazed by the dog’s behavior, the hunter invited a friend out the next morning so he could show off his dog. The hunter’s friend picked up a stick and it threw into the river. The dog ran down to the river bank, walked on top of the water, picked up the stick and brought it back to him. With that the old hunter turned and asked, “do you notice anything different about my old dog?”
His friend thought for a moment and then said, “I’ve got it! That old dog can’t swim!”
Boys and girls, that friend sure had a funny way of looking at things, didn’t he?
Some people might say that about us loyal followers of Jesus. They might think that we have a funny way of looking at things.
For example, some people might say that it’s better to get things than to give things.
As loyal followers of Jesus we say, “No. it’s better to give than to receive.”
Some people might say, “Always make yourself number one.”
As loyal followers of Jesus we say, “No, Jesus teachers us, the first shall be last and the last shall be first.”
As loyal followers of Jesus, we can see most clearly in the bright shining light of God’s Love for each and every one of us. And that truly is the best way to look at things!”
Children’s Sunday Sermon
February 21, 2016
Good morning girls and boys. One of the most precious gifts we have received from God is the gift of sight. Of all of our senses, this is probably our most important. Just think how different our world would be if we didn’t have the gift of sight. Of course there are people who do not have sight, and they have learned to adapt to make better use of their other senses, such as the gifts of hearing and touching. But for most of us, our sense of sight is our greatest connection to the world around us. Now let’s try an experiment. I need a volunteer who will come to the front of the room and put on this blindfold. Now try to find your way back to your seat. Don’t worry, I’m right beside you to help you on your way. Now just think how tough that would have been if I wasn’t here to guide you!
Boys and girls, you may not want to admit it, but I’m sure many of you were afraid of the dark when you were little. Even adults are sometimes afraid when they are alone in the dark. For little children, it can be frightening at night when they can’t see past their bedroom door. And then comes a wonderful sight! In walks their mother or father to tuck them in, or to read them a bedtime story.
Boys and girls, for all of us, children and adults too, there are times when everything seems dark — times when things seem especially difficult. At those times, even if it is daylight outside it may seem dark inside. It is at those times that we need a wonderful sight. It is at those times that we need someone right beside us to help guide us on our way. And you know that your parents can’t always be right beside you, and neither can I. But don’t worry, boys and girls. Jesus is always right there beside you to help guide you on your way. Jesus is always there to shine His bright light into the dark places inside.
We read in our Bibles today that Jesus went up to a mountain to pray with some of His followers. And when He began to pray, His face changed and His clothing became as bright as lightening. Jesus was shining His bright light for all to see! The next time you are afraid boys and girls remember, you are never alone! Jesus is right there bedside you to light the way!
Children’s Sunday Sermon
February 28, 2016
Good morning boys and girls. Do you ever make lists of important things that you must remember to do? Maybe a list of your chores, like clearing the table after meals or taking out the garbage. Maybe you keep a “to do” list of your homework assignments. “To do” lists are a very good way to remember things and to stay organized. This morning, I have a list from the greatest book ever written:
Do you remember to give things to people who have less than you? (Lk.6:30)
Do you remember to do good deeds for people who say they hate you? (Lk.6:27)
Do you remember to love your enemies? (Lk.6:27)
Do you remember to feel for other people? (Lk.6:36)
When you see a friend who is in need, do you remember to think of Jesus? (Mt.26:31-46)
I don’t think any of us here this morning can answer YES to all of those questions, all of the time. But guess what boys and girls? Those are all things that should be on our “to do” list. Those are all printed in the greatest “to do” list ever written, our Holy Bible. Those are all instructions for being a loyal follower of Jesus. That’s a tall order, isn’t it boys and girls?
Today we read in our Bible that “unless we repent, we will perish.” We’ve talked about the word “repentance,” before. That’s right – REPENTANCE means we feel sorry for something that we did wrong, and we promise not to do that wrong thing ever again. As members of our Christian community we have certain responsibilities, certain things on our “to do” lists as God’s disciples. And if we are not doing all of these things we need to repent – we need to do better. This week, let’s all think about our “to do” list. And just like any “to do” lists, the more often we look at it, the better we will be at getting things done!
