Children’s Sunday Sermon
April 7, 2013
Good morning girls and boys! There’s an old expression that you may have heard before that says “seeing is believing.” What does that mean? That’s right, if you can see something with your own eyes then you can believe it. If someone just tells you something that sounds unbelievable, unless you see it for yourself you won’t believe it.
In today’s Bible Lesson we learn about a man named Thomas. After Jesus has risen from the dead that first Easter Sunday he appears to all of his closest disciples except one – the Apostle Thomas. And later, when the others tell Thomas about it he says that he won’t believe that Jesus has risen from the dead unless he sees Him with his own eyes. In other words, the Apostle Thomas had no faith in the Resurrection of Jesus. Then Jesus appeared again and this time Thomas is there to see Him. And when this happens Thomas cries out to Jesus, “My Lord and My God.” And Jesus answers, “Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.”
Boys and girls Thomas chose to use his eyes and not his faith. And even though we can’t see the Risen Jesus with our own eyes, we still believe. This is the most important part of our Christian faith – that Jesus gave up His life for us on the Cross so we may be forgiven of our sins, and have eternal life with God.
Boys and girls there’s another expression you may have heard that says, “Oh you’re such a doubting Thomas.” And now you know what that means. And you also know that being loyal followers of Christ our King means that you are not doubting Thomas’s, but instead, true believers!
Children’s Sunday Sermon
April 14, 2013
Good morning boys and girls.When people have trouble falling asleep at night they sometimes try counting sheep. That’s just a way to get their mind off the troubles of the day. It’s their worries that are probably keeping them awake. Someone once came up with a better idea. Instead of counting sheep he said he “listens to the shepherd.” What does that mean? Well you know that in our Bibles Jesus calls Himself “The Good Shepherd.” That’s because just like a shepherd who takes extra special care of his flock, Jesus takes special care of us, each member of His flock. Church members are even sometimes called “the flock.”
If one a shepherd’s sheep gets in trouble and is lost, the shepherd will search and search until he finds it and brings it back to the rest of the flock. It’s the same way when we are lost in our troubles. That’s when it’s time, like the man said, to “listen to the shepherd.” And we read in our Bibles today that Jesus asked His disciple Peter if He loved Him. When Peter said “Yes,” Jesus told him then he must go out and become a good shepherd. And that’s the same thing He asks of each of us who love Him. In other words, when one of our flock is in trouble, it’s good shepherd time for us!
Children’s Sunday Sermon
April 21, 2013
Good morning boys and girls. Today we read in our Bibles that Jesus said, “the sheep that belong to Me listen to My Voice. I know them and they follow Me.”
We’ve talked many time before about how Jesus teaches us through parables. Parable is just another name for a story that Jesus tells us so we can better understand the Lesson He is teaching. What is He saying to us in today’s parable? Is He talking about sheep, or is He talking about us? That’s right, He is talking about us. Jesus has been called the Good Shepherd and His followers are sometimes called His flock. He is telling us that as members of His loyal family of followers, as members of His flock, we listen to Him and we follow Him. And that’s just what it means to be a member of our Christian community — we listen to and follow the Voice of Jesus.
When we listen, what do we hear Him saying?
Be caring and kind with one another.
Help one another.
Share with one another.
Open up your heart to one another.
These are the things that the Good Shepherd is saying, and these are the commands that we must follow, as loyal disciples of Jesus.
Jesus said, “The sheep that belong to Me listen to My Voice. I know them and they follow Me.” In other words, Jesus knows everything about us and we listen to Him. That is why we follow Him.
Children’s Sunday Sermon
April 28, 2013
Good morning boys and girls. I want all of you to take a minute now to think of someone you really like or admire. Maybe it’s a brother or sister. Maybe it’s a best friend at school. Okay, is everyone thinking of that person? Good! Now let’s think about the qualities that person has that makes them an especially good friend, or an especially good brother or sister. What are some of those things? That’s right. Kindness, caring, sharing, even a sense of humor. These are the kinds of qualities they should see in us.
We read in our Bibles today that Jesus said, “By the love that you have for each other, everyone will know that you are My disciples.” You see boys and girls it’s not enough to say that you believe in Jesus and His teachings. The important question is do you do the things that He is asking of you. Do you practice the things that He is teaching you? When a friend needs your help do you act like a loyal follower of Jesus?
When a family member is sick, or lonely or sad, do you act like a loyal follower of Jesus?
When you see a boy or girl at school being picked on or ridiculed, do you act like a loyal follower of Jesus?
Through the loving things we do for each other, God will know us as a loyal disciples of Jesus.
