Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

 A House Or Home

The large house down the block was a model home, open for inspection, and some of the neighborhood girls decided to take the tour.  Back home, Sabrina told her mother all about it.  "You ought to see the place!" she began excitedly.  "It's got four bedrooms and four baths.  And you should see the living room!  There's a huge fireplace!"  Sabrina paused.  "It sure makes our house look like a hole in the wall."

    Mother looked up from her work.  "A hole in the wall?" she repeated.  "Well, then it's a beautiful hole, as far as I'm concerned."  She smiled.  "I think the place you just toured is even more different from ours than you realize.  I think it's a house, and our place is a home."

    Sabrina wasn't sure she understood what her mother was saying.  "What's the difference?" she asked.

    "A house is a building," explained Mother.  "Maybe it has a lot of things people will need; perhaps it has almost everything.  But. . . ."

    "Oh, this one does," Sabrina broke in.  "It has everything!"

    "No, I don't think so," her mother countered.  "It doesn't have a family where the people love each other.  It's an empty building, needing to be filled with people who want the best for each other.  That's what we have here."

    Sabrina thought about what her mother was saying.  In their home, her folks showed lots of love and affection.  Besides that, each member of her family had accepted the Lord.  Suddenly Sabrina began to realize how fortunate she was to live in a home -- a Christian home.  Maybe it wasn't as big as the house down the block, but it was filled with love.  That was much more important.

    "Okay, you win," agreed Sabrina.  Then she grinned at her mother.  "But see. . .if we lived in that big house, it would be a home, too."  She smiled as she headed for her room.  Yes, a "home" was a whole lot better than any "house."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you sometimes compare what you have with what other people have?  Does it make you feel dissatisfied?  Jealous?  Unhappy?  Critical?  Stop, and thank God for your home, your parents, your family.  Ask Him to help you to do your part to make your "house" a "home "!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Col 3:18  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Col 3:19  Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Col 3:20  Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Watch Your Step

Hi, Kenny.  What are you doing?  The big, booming voice startled Kenny, and he glanced up to find his uncle standing next to him.  Quickly, Kenny put the magazine he was reading behind his back.

    "Ooohhh, Uncle Walter!  I. . .I didn't hear you coming," he said.

    Uncle Walter raised his eyebrows.  "So I noticed.  Would you like to go with me to the construction site of the new bank?  I have some business with the contractor."

    "Oh, cool!"  Kenny jumped up.  "Let me ask Mom."

    "I already did.  It's fine with her."  Uncle Walter turned toward the car.   "Let's go."

    Kenny started to follow him, then remembered the magazine in his hand.  "Ahhh, Uncle Walter, wait a minute.  I've. . .I've. . .ahhhh, I'm thirsty."  Quickly, he slipped into the house.  After hiding the magazine under the pillow on his bed, he stopped in the kitchen for a drink. . .after all, he had said he was thirsty.

    Later, at the construction site, Kenny and his uncle put on hard hats.  Shielding his eyes, Kenny looked up. . .up. . .up at the tall steel frame.  "Wow!" he exclaimed.  "Look, Uncle Walter.  See those men working way up there!  That looks scary!"

    "It is," Uncle Walter agreed.  "You'll never see a steel worker running or turning flip-flops or doing gymnastics on his job."

    "I guess not!"  Kenny couldn't keep his eyes off the men above him.  "They have to watch every step."

    "When I see these steel workers way up there, it reminds me of a Bible verse.  It says, 'See then that ye walk circumspectly.'  That means to be very, very careful to please God in the way we live," Uncle Walter explained.  "The verse ends by saying, '. . .not as fools, but as wise.'  It would be foolish for those workers not to walk carefully, and it's just as foolish for Christians not to live carefully."

    Kenny slowly lowered his gaze and saw that Uncle Walter was watching him closely.  Kenny's face turned red.  "I know what's coming," he said.  "You saw the magazine I was reading.  I can't hide anything from you."

    "Or from God," Uncle Walter reminded him.

    Slowly, Kenny nodded.  "Or from God," he repeated softly.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
When the Bible talks about your "walk," it is often referring to your life.  As a Christian, you should walk -- or live -- very carefully.  Careless Christians stumble and fall into sin.  Remember: one wrong step can get you into lots of trouble.  Watch your steps -- your reading material, your habits, your language, your friends, every part of your life!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Eph 5:15  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

[Soldier4Christ]

 Do It

When Mrs. Brown asked Paul to distribute invitations to the after-school Bible club in her home, he agreed readily.  "I'd like these passed out today," explained Mrs. Brown.  "The club starts the day after tomorrow."

    "No problem," said Paul, and he took several invitations.  "I can easily do it tonight."

    Mrs. Brown looked grateful.  "This really helps me out."

    When he got home, Paul showed the invitations to his mother.  "I'm going to pass these out for Mrs. Brown," he said.  Then he laid them on a table and went out to play.  After supper he did his homework and worked on a model car, completely forgetting about the invitations.  The next day while dusting the furniture, Mother found them.

    After school that day, Paul came bursting into the house.  Not noticing the stern look on Mother's face, he began to tell her his problem.  "That Jay!" he exploded angrily.  "He told me he'd return a book to the library for me, and he didn't do it!  Now I have to pay a fine.  I think he should. . . ."  His voice trailed off when he saw the invitations in Mother's hand.  Before she could say a word, he murmured, "But, Mom, I forgot."

    "Paul, I'm disappointed that you didn't do the job you said you'd do," said Mother.  "I think your experience with Jay today is a good lesson on the importance of doing what you promise.  If you can't or don't want to help, say so right away.  Don't say you'll do something, causing someone to depend on you, and then fail him or her.  When you do that, you're failing God, too."

    "Should I still take these around the neighborhood after my snack?" asked Paul.

    "I think the time to do it is before your snack," said Mother.  "What do you think?"  Solemnly, Paul nodded and reached for the invitations.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you faithful to do whatever you say you'll do?  It's easy to make quick promises, but not so easy to carry them out.  Make sure you follow through on promises made to others.  God always keeps His promises, and He wants you to keep yours, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

3Jn 1:5  Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Pruning

Mom, what are you doing? cried Melissa in dismay as she saw her mother clipping away branch after branch from each of the rose bushes.  "These roses were so pretty, and they had grown so much!  Why are you cutting their branches all off?" asked Melissa.

    Mom looked up from where she was kneeling in the rose garden.  "Why, Melissa, don't you remember?" she asked in surprise.  "I do this every year.  It's called, 'pruning.'  Roses have to be pruned, or the flowers won't be large and pretty when spring comes."

    "It doesn't hurt the plants?" Melissa asked as she reached out to touch one of the branches.

    Mom smiled.  "No."  She paused.  "Did you know that God prunes us?  When He does that, it may hurt a little right when it happens, but it improves us -- it makes us a lot better."  Melissa's eyes widened.  "Sometimes," Mom added, "hard things happen in our lives and we hurt a great deal, but. . . ."

    "Like when Grandma got sick?" interrupted Melissa.  "And when our dog got run over?"

    "Yes," Mom answered.  "God was giving us a chance to ask Him for help.  And we found out how good He is at giving peace and comfort.  We learned that we can trust Him even when things look dark.  Going through those experiences taught us to depend on Jesus more than ever."

    Melissa was thoughtful.  "Then I guess it's worth it to be pruned, right?"

    "More than worth it!" Mom said as she continued snipping away.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Everyone has times when life seems especially hard.  But if you have given your life to Jesus, He wants to "prune" you by using those hard times to draw you closer to Himself and make you stronger spiritually.  So even though you don't like the hard times, remember that Jesus is working out something beautiful in you.  Remembering that and trusting Him helps to make you feel better, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Joh 15:2  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Weight Watchers

May I have another piece of cake? asked Brian.

    Mother nodded.  "Is something bothering you?" she asked as she cut the cake.  "You've been unusually quiet this evening."

    "I came in third in our track meet today," Brian blurted out.  "I was always first last year.  I don't know what's the matter with me."

    "I do," said Stephanie.  "You're too fat."

    "Stephanie!" Dad reprimanded.  "That was not kind."

    "Is she ever kind?" Brian asked sarcastically.

    "That's enough!" scolded Mother.  "You are both wrong -- and right." She sighed.  "It's wrong to say hateful things about one another, but it's true that you have gained weight, Brian.  And Stephanie, I'm afraid you're not the kind, sweet girl you used to be."

    "Yes," Dad agreed, "you've changed in the last couple of months, Stephanie.  I think you may be letting bitterness defeat you.  I've noticed that you still seem to be resentful that Jill was chosen as captain of the sixth grade basketball team."

    "But she's new in town," wailed Stephanie.  "If it weren't for her sneaky ways, I'd be the captain.  She stole all my friends, too.  It's not fair."

    "I suspect it's your bitter attitude that has affected your friendships," said Mother softly.

    "Stephanie, just like Brian needs to take off weight to run well, you need to lay aside that weight of bitterness," said Dad.  "It's hindering you from being a winner in your life as a Christian.  A diet of praise and thanksgiving would be good for you -- in fact, good for all of us."

    "Let's go on a diet," Mother suggested.  "Let's all be 'weight watchers' -- both physically and spiritually."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you carrying "weights" that hinder your Christian race -- a bad attitude, a sharp tongue, a bitter or rebellious spirit?  These are things that bring defeat into the life of a Christian.  Anything that keeps you from praying, reading your Bible, overcoming sin, or serving God needs to be "laid aside."  Check your life now for "weights. "


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

[Soldier4Christ]

 False Labels

Katie's Sunday school class was having a slumber party at the Gordon's cottage.  "Sleep well," said Mrs. Gordon, the teacher, "and be sure to bring your Bibles to breakfast tomorrow.  We'll start the day with some spiritual food."

    It was a sleepy-looking bunch of girls that assembled in the dining room the next morning.  Their eyes opened wider, however, as they surveyed the table.  "Pickles?  For breakfast?" Sonja spoke for them all.   

    "Oh, no," replied Mrs. Gordon.  "Right after devotions we'll have bacon and eggs, cereal, sweet rolls -- quite a variety this morning.  And be sure to try some of my own luscious strawberry jam!"  She picked up a huge jar from the table and held it high for all to see.

    "Jam!" exclaimed Katie.  "That's a jar of pickles!"

    Mrs. Gordon looked surprised.  Ignoring the green pickles which they all could clearly see, she pointed to the label.  "Right here it says 'strawberry jam,'" she insisted.

    Chris spoke up.  "I don't care what the label says.  What's inside is what counts, and I see pickles!"

    Mrs. Gordon smiled.  "You're right, of course.  In order for this label to be correct, we would have to take out the pickles, wash the jar carefully, and fill it with strawberry jam."  She looked at the girls around the table.  "I hope none of you are like this 'jar' -- wearing a false label.  Most of you girls wear the label 'Christian.'  In many ways you walk and talk like a Christian, and that's good.  However, just as a jar of strawberry jam must have jam inside, a Christian must have Christ."

    Mrs. Gordon picked up her Bible.  "Turn with me to First John, chapter five," she said.  When pages had stopped rustling, she asked Katie to read verses nine through thirteen.  After they finished reading, Mrs. Gordon spoke again.  "This passage tells us that if we do not have the Son, Jesus Christ, we do not have life.  We can look inside this jar and see what's there.  We can't look inside one another, but God can.  Does He see Christ?"  She paused for a moment.  "You'll be leaving for your homes right after breakfast, but if anyone here is wearing a false label, please see me before you go.  I'd like to help you make sure the inside matches the label."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Many people call themselves Christians -- do you?  Saying you're a Christian does not make you one.  To be a Christian, you must admit that you are a sinner and believe on Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Believe that He died for you, that He rose again, and that He will forgive your sins.  Ask Him to give you eternal life.  He will.  (See last page.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

1Jn 5:12  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Hungry People

The church of the Open Bible, read Cody as Dad pulled up to the curb.  The Davis family was on a skiing trip to Colorado, and they had decided the day before that the name of this church indicated that the Word of God would be preached there.  When they went inside, however, they discovered they were the only ones who even had their Bibles with them -- and there were none in the church pews, either.  The message was more about voting for a new mayor than it was about the Lord.  It wasn't at all the type of Bible study they were used to hearing.

    As they drove along the highway the next day, they became very hungry and thirsty around noon, but all they saw were snowy, white hills -- and no places to eat.  Cheri looked at the map.  "There's a town up the road," she reported.  "They must have a restaurant there."

    "How far away is it?" Cody asked.

    "About fifteen miles, I think," said Cheri.  Together they counted off the miles, all the while thinking about the food that would be waiting for them.  Finally, they could see a sign in the distance -- the kind that told whether gas, food, and lodging would be available.

    "Oh, no."  Mother groaned as they drove closer.  "That sign says 'no services.'  This town must be made up of just a few houses."

    Cheri and Cody groaned, too.  A few minutes later, Cheri began singing a silly little song they had learned at camp, and Cody joined in.  "Here we sit like birds in the wilderness. . .waiting to be fed," they sang.

    Dad grinned.  "We're not doing so good lately, are we?" he asked.  "Yesterday we sat in church like 'birds in the wilderness' waiting to be fed spiritual food, but we weren't given any.  Now we've come to a town with no place for us to eat."

    Mother nodded.  "It seems to me that people who attend that church would starve spiritually, just as we would starve physically if we depended on this town to feed us.  And those church people probably don't even realize that they're missing spiritual food."

    Cody sat up straight.  "Hey, look!" he said.  "I see a bunch of signs up ahead advertising restaurants in the next town!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you ever had to skip a meal?  Did you feel hungry?  How about your spiritual food?  Do you often think of other things to do when it's time to go to church or to study your Bible?  It's important to get spiritual food, just as it's important to get physical food.  Don't neglect your spiritual life.  Keep it healthy!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

1Pe 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

[Soldier4Christ]

 Sharpening Tools

Melissa could hear her parents talking in the kitchen.  "Oh, Frank," complained Mother, "this knife will barely slice butter!"

    Dad laughed.  "I don't think it can possibly be that bad."

    "Well, look!" Mother exclaimed.  "I can hardly cut things with it anymore."

    "Hmmmm -- it is pretty dull," Dad answered.  "Put it in my lunch pail, and I'll sharpen it tomorrow at work."

    Later that evening, Melissa approached her father.  "Dad, I'm stuck on this math problem.  Can you help me?"

    "I'll try," agreed Dad, taking her paper and looking it over.  "Melissa!" Dad exclaimed.  "Don't you know how to use a pencil sharpener?  This paper is very hard to read because you're using a dull pencil.  How about sharpening it for me?"  Melissa quickly sharpened the pencil, and Dad helped her see what she had been doing wrong on the problem.

    When the family gathered for devotions, Dad read a few verses from Ephesians.  "I chose this Scripture because of the dull knife and dull pencil," he said.  Melissa looked at him in surprise.  Dad smiled.  "Your mother's knives and your pencils become dull and need to be sharpened often," Dad explained, "but God's Word -- the 'Sword of the Spirit' mentioned in these verses -- is never dull.  It's always sharp and powerful.  Of course, we must get it out and use it.  Who knows how we do that?"

    "Well. . .I guess we use it when we talk to other people about Jesus," suggested Melissa.

    "Yes," said Mother, "and God often uses His Word to speak to us, too.  That's one reason it's important for us to read it ourselves."

    Dad nodded.  "Good.  And let's be sure to use the rest of the armor God has given us, too," he added. 




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you using your "sword"?  Open your Bible and read it daily.  You'll find that God has given you everything you need to live daily for Him, to defend yourself against temptation, and to win others to Jesus.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Old And Honorable

Mom, I was just reading the strangest story in this book, Anne said one day.  "It's about a man and his wife.  The man's father lived with them.  He was old and kind of sick, and his hands shook.  When he ate, he sometimes knocked things over, so the wife told her husband to make a wooden bowl for him so he wouldn't break the good dishes.  After that, the man got tired of seeing his father spill food at the table, and he made his father take the wooden bowl and sit in the corner behind the stove to eat.  That still wasn't good enough.  They got tired of cleaning up food, so they made the old man eat out of the kind of grain bin that the animals used."

    "Dear me!" exclaimed Mother.

    "Here's the strangest part," Anne continued.  "The couple had a little boy, and one day they saw him whittling -- hollowing out a log.  The father asked what he was doing.  'I'm making a trough so it will be ready for you when you're old and come to live with me,' said the boy."  Anne paused a moment.  "Do you think that's a true story?" she asked.

    "I'm sure it isn't, but it makes a good point," said Mother.  "It shows the importance of respecting elderly parents and grandparents.  Many people don't do that."

    Anne nodded.  "Cassie's grandma lives with them, and that poor old woman isn't allowed to come out of her room when they have company.  Cassie says it's because she's had a stroke and talks real funny."

    "That's very sad."  Mother sighed.  "God's Word instructs children to honor their parents, no matter how old they might be.  It's important to start showing them respect and honor when you're young.  Then it will become a habit, and it will be natural for you to show them love and care when they get old, too."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you honor your parents?  Do you show respect to your grandparents?  To all old people?  Do you treat them the way you want to be treated when you grow old?  God says you are to respect and honor your parents all your life.  Start while you're young, and it will be easier to do when you're older.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

1Ti 5:4  But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Leftovers

Can I have a kitten?  Please?  Please? Jessica begged.  A big sign in their neighbor's front yard said, "Free Kittens," and Jessica persistently pleaded with her mother to let her have one.  Finally, Mother reluctantly agreed, and Jessica hurried off to claim her prize.

    When Jessica returned, she was carrying a very small kitten.  "I took the littlest one," she informed her mother.  "His name is Runt."

    A few weeks later, Mom and Jessica took Runt for his first visit to the veterinarian.  "Hmmmm," murmured the vet, after checking Runt.  "This kitten is a bit scrawny.  What have you been feeding him?" 

    "Leftovers," said Jessica promptly.

    Mother nodded.  "That's true -- most of what he gets is leftover scraps from our meals."

    "That may be the problem," said the vet.  "Your leftovers don't have the right nutrients to help Runt grow properly.  If you'll feed him food made especially for kittens, he should soon be healthy and strong."  So on the way home, Jessica and her mother stopped at a store to buy the special food the veterinarian had suggested for the kitten.

    "No more leftovers for Runt," Jessica told her dad that evening.  "Only good, healthy food."

    "All right!" exclaimed Dad with a grin.  "I'm sure Runt will appreciate that."  After a moment he added, "And do you know Who else shouldn't get leftovers?"

    "You?" asked Jessica.

    "Well, I didn't mean me," said Dad.  "I was thinking of God.  Instead of giving leftover time or love or effort, we should give our best to God in whatever we do."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you giving your best to God? Or do you spend the day doing the things you want to do?  Do you read your Bible and pray only of there's a little leftover time at the end of the day?  Do you give God leftover money -- whatever spare change you might have in your pocket after you buy what you want?  How about leftover energy?  Have you had the opportunity to help someone, but you were too tired from doing everything you wanted to do first?  Try giving God your best.  He told His people long ago to bring their firstfruits -- their best -- to Him.  That's what He wants from you, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Exo 23:19  The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Drive It Deep

When Robb and his dad arrived at their camp site, Robb quickly got the tackle box and his rod and reel out of the trunk.  "C'mon, Dad," he said as he started for the lake.

    "Hey!" Dad called after him.  "We've got work to do before we go fishing.  We've got to get the tent up."

    "Aw, can't we fish a little first?"  But Robb already knew the answer.

    Dad shook his head.  "Fun follows work," he said with a smile.  "It doesn't come first."

    Robb reluctantly put down his fishing gear, and together he and Dad stretched out the tent and began to pound the stakes into the ground.  Robb finished before Dad, but soon they were both ready to go.

    During the next couple of hours they pulled in several good-sized fish.  Suddenly the wind came up, and when a light rain began to fall, Robb and his dad hurried back to the tent.  Much to their surprise, one side had collapsed -- the side that Robb had worked on.  "What happened?" he asked, looking first at the tent and then at his father.

    Dad stooped over and picked up a stake that was lying on the ground.  "See this?" he said pointing to the ground.  "You didn't pound it deep enough.  One blast of wind and rain took it down."  Robb was embarrassed.  He knew he had been in too big a hurry.

    Putting up the tent was more uncomfortable this time, because they had to work in the rain.  Robb knew it was his fault.  "Sorry, Dad," he apologized.

    As they cooked the fish later, Robb grinned at Dad.  "We studied some verses in Sunday school," said Robb.  "Something about being rooted in Christ and established in our faith.  Our teacher said if our spiritual stakes go deep and we are well rooted in Christ and in God's Word, we won't be tossed about by 'winds' of false doctrine or by difficult circumstances.  I guess we wouldn't collapse like this tent did."

    Robb's father smiled broadly.  "Well," he said, "you may not be too great at pounding in a tent stake, but if you continue listening and learning as well as you did last Sunday, I don't think I'll have to worry about your spiritual stakes."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you easily swayed if someone tries to tell you that something in the Bible is not true?  Do doubts come quickly?  Are you soon discouraged when troubles come?  Perhaps you have failed to firmly establish your faith.  Perhaps you know Christ as Savior but have learned little else about Him or about the Word of God.  You need to pound your spiritual stakes more deeply by reading God's Word, listening well in church and Sunday school, and studying your Bible lessons.  You need to be "built up in Him. "


TODAY'S KEY VERSE

Col 2:7  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

[Soldier4Christ]

 In Your Head

I think you've got a bite! Blake pointed excitedly.

    "Oh, you're right!" exclaimed Dad.  He quickly raised the line and brought up a fish.  The boat bobbed gently in the breeze as he took the fish off the hook and put it into the bucket.

    "You almost lost him, Dad," Blake said.  "I guess you were daydreaming, huh?"

    Dad smiled.  "Well, I wasn't exactly daydreaming.  I was just thinking about a Bible verse I memorized this morning," he explained.  "I don't want to forget it."

    "I thought only us kids had to memorize verses," said Blake in surprise.  "I guess I figured once a person could read well, he wouldn't have to memorize verses anymore."

    Dad shook his head.  "It's important to memorize verses all your life, Blake.  Knowing God's Word by heart lets you think about it when your hands are busy -- like right now, while we're out here in the boat."

    Blake grinned.  "I guess it would be kind of hard to hold a fishing pole and read the Bible at the same time."

    Dad laughed.  "That's right.  Another thing I like about memorizing Scripture is that it will come to your mind over and over.  For instance, when I was pulling up that fish, I suddenly thought of a verse in Matthew -- 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.'  And when your mind is full of Scripture, there isn't much room for unkind thoughts and ungodly ideas."

    Blake was thoughtful.  "There's lots more to memorizing Scripture than just winning contests, isn't there?"

    "Yes, there is," agreed Dad.  "Take every opportunity to learn verses in Sunday school, camp, Bible club -- and keep on reviewing.  You can never learn too much Scripture."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you ever wondered what you would do if you had no Bible to read?  Or have you needed to know Scripture when you didn't have a Bible with you?  What do you understand best -- something you have read once or twice, or something you know by heart?  If you have God's Word in your head, it will also go deeper and deeper into your heart and life, and will be there when you need it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Jos 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Nobody's Perfect

Oh, well!  Nobody's perfect!  Megan laughed as she missed her basketball shot, and the other girls laughed with her.  "Nobody's perfect" was one of Megan's favorite phrases, and the girls almost knew ahead of time when they would hear it again.

    Later that day, Megan went with her friend Marissa to an after-school Bible class.  She enjoyed it, but she certainly did not agree with what the Bible teacher said.  "No matter how good you are," said Mrs. Gates, "you're not good enough for heaven.  You're a sinner, but Jesus took the punishment for your sins.  The only way you can get into heaven is to believe that and accept Jesus as your Savior."

    Megan discussed it with Marissa as the girls walked home.  "That's ridiculous!" insisted Megan.  "She makes it sound like everybody's such a terrible sinner.  I'm not all that bad!"

    "You may be a pretty decent kid," replied Marissa, "but I know of some things you've done that are wrong.  I remember the time you and I sneaked. . . ."

    Megan laughed.  "Okay, okay," she said.  "But even that wasn't so awful bad.  And what about people like my Uncle Joe?  He's always helping others.  He gives lots of money to places like the cancer society and the city mission -- even the church.  And last year when his neighbor's house was on fire, he rushed in himself to get the baby out.  He could have been killed!  Besides, he always. . . ."  Suddenly she stopped.  "Oh, I'm so busy talking, I'm not paying attention!  We just passed my street, and I forgot to turn.  How dumb can you be!  Oh, well!  Nobody's perfect!"

    "You said it," replied Marissa.  "I didn't.  But you know what?  God said it, too.  He said we've all sinned, even the best of us -- and no sin can enter heaven.  No matter how much good you or your uncle do, you still have to get rid of your sin.  Only Jesus can take it away.  Think about that."

    Megan did think about it as she turned and slowly headed back toward her own street.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you fit for heaven?  No lying, disobedience, cheating, gossip -- nor any other sin -- is allowed to enter heaven.  Today's Scripture tells of two men.  One had done many very good things.  The other admitted his sin and his need.  Jesus says the one who asked for God's mercy is the one who was saved.  Which of these men are you like?  Confess your sin, and ask Jesus to forgive you and save you.  (See last page.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Broken Thumb

Shelly enjoyed meeting with the other members of her youth group planning committee.  It was fun to share ideas and think of ways to make their meetings interesting.   But she frowned a little as she thought about the suggestion one of the members had just offered.  "How about planning a missions program," he had said.  "Let's give everyone in the youth group something to do -- you know, get everyone involved."

    Their leader seemed to like the idea.  "Sounds good," Mr. Craig agreed.  "And it will fit in nicely with the Bible study I'm planning for the next several weeks, too."

    "But what about the kids who can't do anything?" objected Shelly.  "I mean -- let's face it, there are some kids in our group who probably won't be able to help with anything at all."

    "Let me ask you something, Shelly," replied Mr. Craig.  "How important is your thumb?"

    "My thumb?" asked Shelly in surprise.  She laughed as she looked down at her bandaged thumb.  She had broken it just a few days before.  "Well, if you had asked me last week, I'd probably have said I could easily live without it," she said.  "But now that it's broken, I see how much I really need it.  What does that have to do with our program?"

    "God says that's exactly how it is with His Body, the Church," explained Mr. Craig.  "In fact, that's what our Bible study is going to be about.  The Bible often refers to believers as members of the 'Body of Christ.'  Each one is important for the Body to function properly."

    Shelly looked at her thumb.  "You're right," she said with a grin.  "We can find something for everybody to do."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever feel that you don't amount to much in God's family?  You shouldn't feel that way, because each Christian is an important member of the "Body of Christ" -- the Church.  Can you show concern for others?  Give of your time?  Organize?  Make a card to encourage someone?  Discover what you can do, and then do your part.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

1Co 12:27  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Does It Pay?

As Brandon dragged his snow shovel toward home, the cold air seemed to go right through to his bones.  Shoveling Mrs. Walker's driveway and front walk had been a big job -- especially since he'd had to do it alone!

    Brandon was glad to find that his mom had a cup of hot chocolate waiting for him when he got home.  "Mmmm. . .thanks," he said with a sigh as he slumped into a kitchen chair.  "Mom, it just doesn't seem fair.  Sometimes I wonder if doing right really pays."

    Mother looked surprised.  "What makes you say that?" she asked.

    "Well, Chad and Alex and I all agreed to shovel Mrs. Walker's driveway after school today," Brandon explained, "but then Mr. Wilbert offered to pay anyone who would come and help clear his long driveway.  Of course, that sounded good to Chad and Alex, so they went and did that instead.  Not only did they break their promise, but they also got paid for it!"

    "That doesn't seem fair," agreed Mother.  "You know, Brandon, it often seems to us that people benefit from doing what is wrong.  However, the Bible tells us not to envy those who seem to be rewarded for wrong doing, because the day will come when they'll get what they really deserve."

    Dad had been listening from the living room.  Now he entered the kitchen with a smile on his face.  "I'm proud of what you did today, Son," he said.  "I'm sorry to say that I regularly encounter businessmen who seem to benefit by being dishonest or breaking promises, and it sometimes doesn't seem fair to me, either.  But it helps to remember that God is fair.  We're accountable to Him, and one day we'll be rewarded for continuing to do what is right."

    After talking with his parents, Brandon began to feel better about the situation.  He knew God had seen his actions and one day would reward him for doing what was right.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Does it seem like others benefit from doing what is wrong?  Do you know kids who seem to get away with cheating?  Stealing?  Lying?  God tells you not to get tired of doing what you know is right.  He will reward you for it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Psa 37:3  Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.