Children’s Sunday Sermon
December 1, 2013
Good morning girls and boys! Is everyone awake? Good, because I want to start with a funny story and I don’t want you to miss any of it. A mother and her son were arguing about whether or not the son would go to school that day. “I don’t care what you say, I’m not going to school today,” the son said to his mother. “I don’t want to stay awake. I want to go back to sleep!” “Wake up, you must go,” said the mother. “You don’t understand, mother,” said the son, “the kids don’t like me; the teachers don’t like me. The bus driver hates me. The custodians have it in for me. And the superintendent wants to transfer me.” “Now you listen to me” replied the mother. “You must get out of bed and go to school. You have a lot to learn and you have a lot to offer. Besides, you are forty-five years old and you’re the principal” Isn’t that a funny story boys and girls? I’ll bet you didn’t guess it was going to be about a principal who didn’t want to stay awake!
Did you know that the Bible tells us to “Stay awake?” That’s right! It doesn’t mean that we should stay up past our bedtime and then be too grumpy in the morning to go to school like that principal. No, instead it means that we should be alert— just like you are after a good night’s sleep and you are ready to learn your school lessons. Yes, the Bible tells us that we need to stay awake. In other words we should always be alert and ready to practice our faith. We must always be alert and ready to do the good works that are expected of us as loyal follower of Jesus.
Children’s Sunday Sermon
December 8, 2013
Good morning girls and boys! Repentance! That’s a word we have talked about before. Can anyone tell me today what it means? That’s right. When we repent, we first admit that we have done something wrong, something that we know God would not want us to do. And once we admit that we have done wrong we must try to do better. We must try to change.
There is a story about a man who had done some bad things in his life and wanted to start over. He wanted to try to change and do better. He wanted to repent. This is how he wished he could change things. He said, “I wish life was like a notebook. I wish that it was just like in school when you would tear out the page—the part where you made all the mistakes. And then you could start all over again with a page that is fresh and clean. Well you know what boys and girls? It really can be that way when we repent for our sins—when we admit the things that we have done wrong and then try to make them right. Like if you took something that didn’t belong to you. First you must admit that you did it, and then you must say you are sorry. But it doesn’t end there. Besides giving back the thing that you took you must also decide that you won’t do it again in the future. That’s what repentance means.
And Jesus told us that when we repent, He will forgive us for the things we have done wrong. It’s like getting a clean sheet of paper in your notebook. The mistakes are all gone and you can start fresh and new. But you can’t just ask for the new piece of paper. You must earn it by repenting—admitting that you have done wrong—saying that you are sorry for doing it, and then promising to do better. And when you do, God will give you that clean sheet of paper. In fact He has all of the notebooks in the world full of paper ready for anyone who repents! Isn’t that awesome, boys and girls?
Children’s Sunday Sermon
December 15, 2013
Good morning girls and boys! Is everyone happy today? Even if you all raised your hand today we know we don’t always think of ourselves as happy. Let’s talk about what makes you happy. That’s right, when you are playing with your friends that’s a happy time. How about when you have a birthday party and everyone brings you presents, that’s a happy time, isn’t it? Vacations are fun and certainly should be a time when you are happy. And I’m guessing some of you are happy when the school bell finally rings at the end of the day. I’ll bet some of you will be happy when we finish our Sunday lesson today! Today we read in our Bible: “Happy is the man who does not lose faith.” What does this mean boys and girls?
As loyal followers of Jesus, we believe that God has reserved a place for us in the Kingdom of Heaven. We believe that He is always right here by our side watching over us. We believe that if we do the good works that are expected of us then we will be rewarded with eternal life. That’s what it means to have faith, boys and girls. And that is the true meaning of happiness for members of our Christian community. If we have faith then we will be happy!
This month we have many wonderful things to look forward to as Christmas and New Year are near. Those can be happy holiday times to spend with our families. But remember. As loyal followers of Jesus, we can make every day, a happy day! Happiness is doing what God’s wants us to do!
Children’s Sunday Sermon
December 22, 2013
Good morning girls and boys! Christmas is coming! I know all of you are very excited about Christmas Day, especially about opening presents under the Christmas tree. It really is a special time to share with family and friends. It is a wonderful time to thank your parents and relatives for all of the wonderful gifts that they have given you. And it’s a time for you to give wonderful gifts in exchange. What gifts did you give this year? Before you answer, let me make clear that I’m not talking about toys or books or video games. What I’m talking about is the greatest gift that you could give this year—and every year. The gift of yourself. Wow! What does that mean boys and girls? You already know the answer. It’s right here in the greatest recipe book for happiness ever—our Holy Bible. To give ourselves means to . . .
Share with one another
Laugh with one another
Give to one another
Help one another
Listen to one another
And best of all . .
LOVE one another.
Boys and girls. LOVE is the gift for every day!
Children’s Sunday Sermon
December 25, 2004
Good morning boys and girls! I want to wish each and every one of you a very merry and a very blessed Christmas.
I know many of you found a lot of nice things under the Christmas tree this morning and I know that you are thankful for all of the gifts you have received and for your wonderful family and friends today. You may have noticed that each year at this time you will see stories on the evening news about people who volunteer their time to help others. They serve meals and visit homeless shelters and nursing homes, and other places where people are in need. It’s very nice boys and girls to see people trying to help others, especially on Christmas day, isn’t it? But do you know what? It’s not enough to be a good Christian just on Christmas Day or Thanksgiving Day.
No, boys and girls, Jesus has taught us that we need to be kind and compassionate to our brothers and sisters every day of the year. This year I hope you will think about that. Being a good Christian is a 24-hour a-day, 7 day-a-week, 52 week-per-year job! Now let’s get to work!
Children’s Sunday Sermon
December 29, 2004
Good morning girls and boys! Have you ever heard someone say, “We are all children of God?” They’re not just talking about little children, but everyone on earth. Boys and girls, mothers and fathers, all of us are God’s children. Each person is special, and all are part of one big human family of God. Jesus and Mary and Joseph were also a family—The Holy Family. Each one of us, the children of God here on earth, know that He will take care of us, just like your parents take care of you.
At home, in your family, you have certain responsibilities, certain things that your parents want you to do. They want you to be polite and kind, to share with others, to do your chores and keep up with your homework. Those are some of your responsibilities at home.
As members of our Christian family, the family of God, we also have certain responsibilities. Jesus tells us in the Bible: “Give food to those who are hungry, give drink to those who are thirsty, and as a child of God, love all the children of God as I have loved you.” In other words, share things with those who have less than you, and try to treat them the way Jesus would treat you. What a wonderful family we would have if everyone treated all the other children of God this way!
Boys and girls, each one of you has special talents and abilities that God has given you. Some of you are good at sports. Some are good at art. Some like math, others like science. Perhaps some of you like music best. Whatever you like to do, whatever you are good at, each one of you, each child of God is special. Because you are you!
