Children’s Sunday Sermon
March 3, 2013
Good morning boys and girls. How many of you have seen the reruns of the old television program called the “Dick Van Dyke Show?” Well if you haven’t, Dick Van Dyke was a famous TV comedian who was very popular during the 1960s. Mr. Van Dyke once interviewed some boys and girls about how they say their prayers. “What do you pray for?” he asked a little girl. She said, “I pray for all those people who have the ‘blahs.’” She was talking about when people are not feeling very good about some of the things going on in their lives. Praying for people who have the “blahs” is a good, warm hearted idea. And, an even better idea is for you to listen to God to figure out how you might be able to help them feel better. You see boys and girls, when someone has the “blahs,” they need our help. They need one of God’s Chosen People to help them get over that blah feeling. And when you pray for them and really listen to God, He will let you know exactly how to make them feel better. When you pray, and really listen to God, you will hear Him saying, “follow the example of the Greatest Teacher there ever was.” Follow the example of Jesus who tells us to love each other just as He loves us. And when you do that, I promise you will be doing your part to make them feel better, changing the “blahs,” into “ahhhhhhs.”
Children’s Sunday Sermon
March 10, 2013
Good morning boys and girls. Have you ever heard someone called a “know-it-all?” Know-it-alls think that they always know what’s best for them. Know-it-alls think that there is nothing new for them to learn. For example, know-it-alls might be young boys or girls who think they know better than their parents, or their teachers! (I know none of you here today feel that way!)
But as those know-it-alls go through life, they begin to realize that they aren’t so smart, after all.
In our Gospel Lesson, Jesus tells the story of a young man who thought he really knew it all. He ran away from home when his wise and good father had tried to teach him to do things the right way. But because he had a know-it-all attitude, the young man did everything wrong. And because he did everything the wrong way, he soon ran out of money, out of food and out of a good place to live. Things were so bad that he was forced to live with the pigs in a pig-pen, and eat what they ate. Obviously, boys and girls this young man did not know it all! Obviously boys and girls he should have listened to his good and wise father. Obviously boys and girls he should have stayed at home to do what was expected of him at his father’s house. And you know what? When the young man finally decided to return to his father’s house, his father was so happy that he had returned that he had a big celebration. His father was so happy that he had finally decided to do good, instead of doing bad.
And that’s the way it is with us, and God, our Father. He above all others knows it all. He knows what we should do and how we should live our lives. When we do wrong, we are like the young man who turned his back on his father. When we think we know-it-all and do bad, then we are turning our backs on God our Father. But you know boys and girls, jut like the young man who finally decided to do good and was welcomed back by his father, God welcomes us back when we decide to change from know-it-alls to loyal followers of Jesus. And when you do that, God will celebrate, because He is happy that you have returned!
Children’s Sunday Sermon
March 17, 2013
Good morning boys and girls. There is an old story about a man who committed a terrible sin that no one knew about. But even after many years had gone by, it still bothered him very much. He just couldn’t forget his past sin. One day the man decided to visit a woman who claimed to have had frequent visions of God where He spoke to her. The man asked her to talk to God to see if He knew about the terrible sin that he had committed many years before. The woman agreed and a few days later she met with the man. The man was now very worried. He thought, “If God knows about my sin, maybe He won’t forgive me.” Nervously, he asked the woman, “Did you speak to God about me?” She replied “Yes, I did speak to Him.” “Did you ask Him what terrible sin I committed years ago?” “Yes,” she answered.” Then tell me quickly, what did He say?” “He said, ‘I don’t remember.’”
Boys and girls even though that is not a true story, it makes a good point about something that is true. God does not hold grudges. God does not stay angry with us forever. No, just the opposite. We all sin but when we do wrong and promise to do better, God will forgive us. When we decide to become more warm-hearted and change from one of God’s frozen people , to one of God’s chosen people He will not only forgive, but He will forget. In other words boys and girls God is always ready to forgive us. All we have to do is ask. And that’s no story, that is the Gospel Truth!
Children’s Sunday Sermon
March 24, 2013
Good morning boys and girls. Almost three hundred years ago a great funeral was held for a great king of France named Louis the XIV. At that time in history the king was the most powerful of all people. At his funeral service, the Bishop of Paris was to preach the eulogy. Many thousands of people had come to the huge Cathedral, and others lined up outside as far as the eye could see. All had come to honor their great king. When it was time for the bishop to go up into the pulpit, the people expected him to speak about what a great king he was and all of the great things that he had done. Instead, the Bishop spoke just four words. He said, “ONLY GOD IS GREAT!”
We learn in our bibles today that on the Sunday before the first Easter, Jesus was being called a great King — the great Messiah sent to help His people to defeat their enemies. But Jesus was not sent to earth to fight wars. Jesus was not sent here to be an earthly king. No, Jesus was sent to earth to tell us that the way to live good lives is to put our absolute trust in the Greatness of God. Jesus our King of Kings was sent here to tell us that only God is great!
Boys and girls, as loyal followers of Jesus we live in the Kingdom of God, ruled by the Greatest King there ever was. Christ our King is not a warrior king. He is a merciful, forgiving and loving King who opens His arms and welcomes us into His life of love, forever and ever!
Children’s Sunday Sermon
March 27, 2013
Good morning boys and girls. How many of you have been to the restaurant called T.G.I.F? Well even if you haven’t been there I think you know what those letters stand for. That’s right, T.G.I.F. stands for “Thank God it’s Friday!” For most people it means the end of the work week and time for relaxation! And I’m sure you all feel the same way about the school week! So we say “Thanks to God for bringing us these days of rest after a long week of work.”
Today, we come here not in a restaurant, but in our classroom. We are here, not to say, “Thank God it’s Friday,” but “Thank God it’s GOOD FRIDAY!”
Thank God for the day on which Jesus Christ showed us how much he loves us. Today, we can almost hear Him saying from the Cross where He gave up His life, “Now do you see how much I love you?”
Children’s Sunday Sermon
March 31, 2013
Good morning boys and girls. Happy Easter! Today I want to share a true story about what happened one year when some children went on an Easter egg hunt. As I read you this story, I want you think about the real story of Easter, the most special day of the year.
A little boy named Philip, was having a hard time with his Sunday School lessons and some of his classmates were making fun of him. On Easter Sunday the teacher gave each child a plastic container that looked like a giant Easter egg. It was a beautiful spring day and all the children were told to go outside to find symbols for New Life, put them in their eggs, and return to the classroom. Then they would share what they found with each other. When all the children had returned, the teacher put all the eggs on the table.
She opened one, and there was a lovely flower. The children “oohed” and “aahed.” She opened another, and there was a colorful little butterfly. She opened another, and there was a shiny rock! Some of the kids said, “That’s crazy! How’s a rock supposed to be like new life?” But a smart little boy spoke up: “That’s mine. I knew you’d all get flowers and buds and leaves and butterflies and stuff like that; so I got a rock to be different.” The students all laughed but the teacher didn’t. Then she opened Philip’s egg — and there was nothing inside. One of the children said, “that’s not fair! That’s stupid! Somebody didn’t do it right.” About that time, the teacher felt a tug on her hand, and she looked down and saw Philip standing beside her. “It’s mine,” Philip said, “it’s mine!” And the children said, “You don’t ever do things right, Philip. There’s nothing there.” “I did do it right,” Philip said. “It’s empty! The tomb is empty!” And a miracle took place that Easter morning when, for the first time, Philip’s classmates accepted him as a full-fledged member of the group. Now tell me boys and girls, who do you think was really listening to his Bible lessons?
