Children’s Sunday Sermon
October 3, 2016
Good morning boys and girls. Today I want to talk about faith. But what exactly is faith boys and girls? A famous man of God has explained it this way: “Faith means to believe in something that you cannot see — and your reward for having faith is to one day see what you have believed.” In other words boys and girls, we loyal followers of Jesus who have faith, who believe that God is always right there with us, will one day be rewarded when we see Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. It means that as loyal followers, we believe all of the lessons that Jesus has taught right here in our Bibles. Because we have faith, we believe in the promises that Jesus has made to us if we follow His examples and do the work that is expected of us here on earth. What has our faith taught us boys and girls?
If we think of others first, God will be pleased. If we love one another, we will be rewarded with eternal life with God, in the Kingdom of Heaven. If we help those who need us, are a friend to those who are lonely, share with those who have less, and listen with our hearts, then we will be doing the work of God here on earth.
This reminds me of a story about a little girl who had done something to displease her mother and was sent to the corner of the kitchen. “You will sit there until your father comes home,” the mother said. “I’ll stand in the corner, but I won’t sit,” the girl said. So the mother put her hands on the child’s shoulders and told her to sit down. With a big frown on her face, the little girl finally did what her mother asked and she sat down. When the little girl’s father came home he asked her what she was doing over in the corner of the kitchen. She said, “Daddy, my head tells me I’m sitting here, but my heart tells me I’m still standing.”
Boys and girls, that’s exactly like our Christian faith. Sometimes it’s natural for our head to be telling us something different, especially those times when it is hard to have faith. But if you’ve really been listening to your Bible lessons, if you’ve really been practicing your faith, then your heart will tell you that if you keep on practicing, one day you will see what you believe!
Children’s Sunday Sermon
October 10, 2016
Good morning girls and boys. Today we read in our Bibles that as Jesus was traveling along a road, He met ten Lepers and he cured all ten of their disease. Now before we go further, let me explain that in Jesus’ time, Lepers were people who had certain diseases of the skin, some serious and some not so serious. Some only had a problem that caused them to have white patches on their skin. Even though that particular disease wasn’t very serious, people who saw them on the street would try to avoid them. In fact, these people were not allowed to come close to anyone who didn’t have the disease. They were treated very unfairly until they were cured of their disease.
As I said, we learn in our lesson today that Jesus saw ten people who had a disease and he cured all ten. That’s awesome. But you know what boys and girls? Even though Jesus had given them this wonderful miracle, a miracle that would allow them one day to be members of their community again, only one of the ten came to thank Jesus. The other nine ran off to church without even thanking Him. So Jesus, asks, “The other nine, where are they? It seems no one has come back to give thanks to God, except this one man.”
Boys and girls, even though ten people received the miracle of Jesus’ healing, only one of the ten were ready to accept it and give thanks to God. This is an important lesson boys and girls. Just like when we say thank you to someone when they help us with something, we must always also be ready to give thanks to God for all of the wonderful miracles he has worked in our lives. What are some of these things boys and girls?
Look around you. Take a look at a seed and then think about the wonderful miracle of that seed sprouting into a beautiful flower, or a delicious fruit to eat. Now say “Thank you, God.”
Look at the mountains and the oceans and the beautiful blue sky – all miracles of God’s creation. Now say, “Thank you, God.”
Look at all of the wonderful creatures in the world – your pets at home, the animals in the jungle, the birds in the sky – all are God’s miracles of creation. Now say “Thank you, God.”
Now look in the mirror and what do you see? One of God’s greatest creations – one of God’s greatest miracles! The miracle of you! Think about it – in all of time – of all of the people ever born, there has never been someone exactly like you! What a miracle! Now say, “Thank you, God!”
Children’s Sunday Sermon
October 17, 2016
Good morning boys and girls. Let’s start today’s lesson with a prayer.
Our Father who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done
On earth as it is in Heaven.
You know the rest of the Lord’s Prayer boys and girls. This is something followers of Jesus recite all of the time. I know that most of you say other prayers too – like at bedtime. God bless Mommy, and Daddy, and sister, and brother, and teacher, and my pets. I’m sure you can think of a million things to pray about. These are all wonderful prayers. But you know what boys and girls, as we get a little older and begin college, or start a new job and begin to raise our own families, our responsibilities and sometimes our troubles seem to get a lot bigger. And it is at that time when people turn to prayer and begin asking God to help them through the tough times. And that’s okay. But we must be careful that we don’t always expect God to fix all of our troubles. We must be careful that we don’t pray only when we need something. Sometimes, instead of asking for things, we should be listening to God – listening with our hearts to the things that we know God wants of us. It’s all right here in our Bibles. God has already given us all of the lessons and all of the answers to our prayers right here in the greatest recipe book ever written – our Holy Bible.
And you already know boys and girls, these are things we need to practice not just when things get tough. These are things that we need to be practicing every day. Every day we need to exercise our faith and believe that if we do the work of God here on earth, if we follow the examples of Jesus, then we will one day see what we believe when we join God in Heaven for all time. What a miracle!
Let’s all listen as I read this prayer:
Father in Heaven, we pray that we can do better practicing our faith.
We pray the we can open our ears to the Lessons we have learned in our Bible.
We pray that we can open or hearts to those who need us.
We pray that can open our minds to those who are different.
We pray that we are always thankful for Your awesome goodness! Amen!
Children’s Sunday Sermon
October 23, 2016
Good morning boys and girls. I’m sure you’ve all seen someone on television or maybe in real life who claims to be the best at everything. This person says he has the best car, the best house, the best job. Or maybe she says she is stronger than everyone else, or prettier, or richer. Maybe this person thinks he’s smarter than everyone, or funnier, or faster, or better looking. I’m sure you’ve heard it all.
What do you think when you hear someone like that? I agree – it doesn’t sound very nice, does it, to brag like that? Well you know what boys and girls, we read in our Bible that there were men who felt that way about their religion. They claimed to be holier than everyone else. They went to church, and obeyed all of the religious laws, and as a result, they thought they were better than their neighbors. Now that doesn’t sound so good either, does it boys and girls? A person who thinks he is better than everyone else because he thinks he always does the right thing, is said to be self-righteous. He thinks everyone else is a sinner but not him. Well you know what? Every one of God’s children is a sinner, and the person who says he doesn’t sin isn’t being honest. Jesus’ examples teach us not only to resist sin, but He also teaches us not to be self-righteous.
Boys and girls, none of us are perfect – not you, not me, not anyone! But if we follow the wonderful examples of Jesus that we read in our Bibles – if we love one another, instead of always criticizing one another, then God will be pleased. And remember, God is the final judge – not the self-righteous man!
Children’s Sunday Sermon
October 30, 2016
Good morning girls and boys! Today I want to talk about a word we read in our Bibles. The word is SALVATION.
If you went to the pool or to the beach this summer you probably noticed there were some lifeguards there. If a boy or girl gets into some trouble in the water, the lifeguard is right there to help save them. And isn’t it nice to know that whenever you are out swimming the lifeguards are right there ready to save you? You are not alone.
What if there is a fire at a building you are in. As soon as you smell smoke you would call 911 and before you know it the fire engines come racing in with sirens blaring to save the building and the people in it. And isn’t nice to know that the firemen and women are always right there, just a phone call away, ready to save you? You are not alone. What if you need some kind of help in your home? Maybe all you need is some help with your homework? Isn’t it nice to know that your mother or father are there to help you with your studies and to help save you from getting a bad grade. You are not alone.
Boys and girls it is the same with Jesus, who offers all of His followers salvation. Jesus is always right there by your side. With Jesus you are never alone.The salvation, the saving that Jesus has for us is to forgive of us of our sins. And just like the help we ask from our lifeguards, or rescue workers and our parents, the salvation Jesus has for us is ready and waiting for us. All we have to do is ask! Remember, you are not alone!
