Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

 It's Catching

The new guy across the street is cool! Jason told his mother.  "His name is Tim and he's got a couple bird dogs and some hamsters."

    "I've noticed that Sam Wellman is often there," observed Mother.  "Is Tim anything like Sam?  I know Sam has often been in trouble at school.  His reputation isn't very good."

    "Oh, Mom!"  Jason sighed.  "He's okay."

    As the weeks passed, Jason and Tim spent more and more time together.  Mother was concerned.  "I'm glad you're friendly with Tim, but your really close friends should be Christian friends," she said.

    "Awwww, Mom," objected Jason.  "I don't do anything wrong when I'm with Tim.  I know what's right and what's wrong.  You treat me like a baby."  He reached down and scratched his dog's ears.  "Tim offered to take care of Midget while we're gone next week," he said.  "That way she won't have to go to a kennel.  Okay?"

    "I guess so," agreed Mother.

    When they returned from their trip the following week, Jason brought Midget home.  As he came in the door, he stubbed his toe.  Mother was shocked when she heard what he said.  "Do you think that kind of language is pleasing to the Lord?" she asked.

    Jason hopped around on one foot, holding his toe.  "I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to say that, but my toe hurt so bad.  Tim says it all the time, and I guess I just picked it up."

    "Then I suggest you put it down!"  Mother was upset.

    That evening, Midget scratched and scratched.  Dad looked up.  "Has that dog got fleas?" he asked.

    "I don't think so,"  said Jason.  He began combing Midget's hair with his fingers.  "Oh, look!  She does have fleas!  There are lots of them."

    "Give her a bath immediately," Mother ordered.   "And use some flea powder or something.  She must have gotten those fleas from Tim's dogs."  As Jason got up to take care of the dog, Mother added, "And that, Jason, is why I have been so concerned about your close friendship with Tim."

    "You were afraid I'd get fleas?"  asked Jason.

    "No, not fleas," replied Mother, "but sin is contagious, too.  For instance, you can pick up things like bad words without even realizing it -- until they slip out."

    "Oh!"  Jason was quiet for a minute.  "I guess that's even worse than fleas, huh?  I guess Midget and I had better be more choosy about who we spend time with."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you associating with the wrong crowd?  Be careful.  Your friends influence you by their talk and actions whether you realize it or not.  Make sure they're the kind of friends whose influence makes you a better person, pleasing to your parents and to God.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

1Co 15:33  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

[Soldier4Christ]

 War

As soon as Matt walked in the door, his mother knew something was wrong.  He was quiet and thoughtful -- not his usual, happy self.  "How was school, Matt?" she asked.  "Did something unusual happen?"

    "Well, not really."  Matt hesitated.  "We did have a discussion in social studies class, though.  One of the kids started talking about nuclear war and how the whole world was going to end.  Mr. Morgan agreed with him."

    "What do you think, Matt?" asked Mother.

    Matt gave his mother a little smile.  "I think it's sort of scary.  We talk about war at school, and there are shows about it on TV.  Even Uncle Bill was talking about it when we were at his house last week."  Matt paused.  "Aren't you afraid, too, Mom?"

    "Matt, this world is a messed up place," answered Mother, "but when people tell scary stories about nuclear war -- I take time to thank the Lord that my future is in His hands.  As Christians, we know that the Lord loves and cares for us.  He is still in control.  Only what He allows will happen, and we can trust Him to allow only what is best for us."

    "Our teacher says if everyone would stop making nuclear weapons, the world would be peaceful and no one would fight," offered Matt.

    "That sounds good, Matt," answered Mother, "but it's not going to happen.  Nations want to be powerful and will do anything to gain that power.  It's unrealistic to think that all nations will suddenly decide to stop fighting.  The Bible says there will always be war.  Again, we must remember to put our trust in the Lord."

    Matt thought about it for a moment.  Then he grinned at his mother.  "It's good to be a Christian, huh, Mom -- and to trust the Lord to know what's best for us!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you frightened when you hear stories about nuclear war?  Do you become scared thinking about what would happen if a bomb would drop?  Those are scary thoughts, but as a Christian, you don't have to be afraid.  The Lord says that your future is in His hands.  Whatever that future holds, He will be with you and help you through it.  And isn't it nice to look forward to a wonderful future life in heaven?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Fog Lights

As Kyle and his family traveled home, Dad slowed down and even stopped a few times because of thick fog.  "At this rate it will take a long time to get home," said Mother.  She sighed heavily as she remembered the court case they had gone to witness that afternoon.  "I still can't believe my little brother would do such a thing," she added, and in his mind, Kyle could still hear the judge sentence his Uncle Vernon to twenty years in prison.

    Dad took Mother's hand in his.  "One of life's greatest mysteries is how children raised in the same home can turn out so differently," he said.  "You're a good home-maker and community worker; your older brother, Carl, is  a respected doctor. . . ."

    "And my baby brother, Vernon, is a convicted criminal."   Mother brushed the tears from her cheeks.  "Vernon never would listen to anyone," she said sadly.  "He was always very stubborn and selfish and determined to have his own way."  She recounted time after time when Vernon had broken the rules.  "He refused to obey God's laws, too," she said.  "He rebelled against our parents, against the church, and against all authority."

    Dad leaned forward and turned on the windshield wipers.  "This fog is so thick I can barely see twenty feet in front of us," he said.  At that moment a large semi-truck passed them.  "Good," said Dad, and he drove faster.  "He has fog lights.  We can safely follow him."

    "You know," said Mom thoughtfully, "Vernon sure could have saved himself a lot of trouble if he had followed Jesus, the light of the world.  Instead he's been stumbling around all these years in the fog of sin."

    Dad nodded.  "Perhaps he'll see now that he can't make it through this dark world on his own," he said.  "We'll continue to pray that he'll come to the Light."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you stumbling around in the "fog" of sin?  You're not able to make it through this dark world without a light to guide you.  Obey the light of God's Word.  It will lead you home to heaven.  (See last page.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Joh 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Two Camera's

My new camera says 'automatic focus.'  What does that mean? Jessica asked.

    "It means that no matter how close or far you are from your subject, you won't have to adjust anything to make each picture come out clearly," Dad told her.  "The camera will adjust automatically.  And there's a little mechanism at the front of this camera which 'reads' how light it is, too.  It automatically opens or closes the shutter to let in more or less light."

    "Oh, good!" exclaimed Jessica.  "I bet I'll take much better pictures now."  She held her camera up to her eye and looked through it.  "You know what?" she asked.  "My science teacher says our eyes work a lot like a camera does.  She says the colored part of the eye is like the shutter.  It's called the iris, and when the light is real bright, it makes the pupil get smaller.  When it's dark, the iris opens up wide to let more light through the pupil."

    "That's interesting, isn't it," said Mom.  "I read somewhere that the eye also has a lens that allows things far away to be in focus, as well as things close up."

    "The eyes God has given us are very unique," added Dad.  "They do take pictures for us -- and like a camera, they also record the pictures they take.  The pictures you take with your camera are recorded on a film, and the pictures taken by your eyes are recorded on your brain.  That's why your mother and I don't allow you to read certain books or watch many TV programs.  We want your brain to be imprinted with better things."

    "Wow!  I never thought about the eyes recording a picture on my brain," said Jessica.  "I guess we should be careful to use the cameras in our heads to record good pictures, shouldn't we?"

    "That's right," said Mother with a smile, "and let's be sure to thank God for our eyes and the wonderful way they work."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
What are your eyes seeing?  Do you appreciate your sight and thank God for it?  You can thank Him best by using your eyes to look at things that are good and wholesome and pure!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Psa 101:3  I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Right Sounds

As Nate turned the dial of his new transistor radio, he counted the stations it could pick up.  "Dad, how can there be so many stations inside my radio?" Nate asked.  "I counted thirty."

    "I'm sure you know the stations aren't actually inside your radio," said Dad with a smile, "but sound waves from all those stations are right here in this room.  Your radio is simply a 'receiver.'  It picks out the various sound waves and then makes it possible for you to hear them."

    "The man who invented the radio must have been pretty smart," Nate said thoughtfully.

    "Yes," agreed Dad, "but God, the One Who made your ear to hear the sounds, is even smarter.  Just think about the ear and how wonderfully it works.  It receives sound waves, too.  And since you have two ears, you can even tell what direction a sound is coming from and also about how far away it is!"

    "So the ear is something like a radio," said Nate.

    Dad nodded.  "Your radio can be tuned to receive all kinds of sounds from different stations, and your ears can receive all sorts of different sounds, too."  He paused, then added with a stern look, "I don't think your ears have always been treated to the right kind of sounds lately.  I've spoken to you about this before."  Nate blushed.  He remembered some programs and jokes he had listened to with his friends.  "Nate," continued Dad, "be careful that you don't allow the sounds of the world to drown out God's voice.  Let Him speak to you.  What He has to say is very important."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you using your ears to listen to the right kinds of things?  Does the music you choose honor God?  Do the jokes, stories, and programs you listen to please Him?  Thank God right now for your hearing, and promise Him you'll use your ears to listen to good things!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Pro 20:12  The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

[Soldier4Christ]

 I Want It

Let's look in the department store first, suggested Mother as she and Erin entered the shopping mall.  They were looking for a birthday present for Erin's cousin, Heidi.

    Erin followed her mother into the store.  "Oh, Mom, look at that blue sweater with hearts!  I want one of those!" she exclaimed.

    Mother smiled and said, "We're looking for something for Heidi, remember?  Not for you, Erin."

    "Oh, but it's. . . ."  Erin's voice trailed off as she spotted the jewelry counter.  "Oh!  I want a bracelet like that one!"

    "Come on, Erin.  We don't have much time."  Mother was looking at the rack of clothes.  "I don't see anything here.  Let's go to the toy store in the center of the mall."

    The toy store was also filled with a lot of nice things, and Erin immediately spotted a doll that she wanted.  But she forgot about it as she followed her mother to the game section.  "Mom, there's that new game I want."  Erin pointed to a game on the shelf.

    Mother sighed.  "Well, here's a game that Heidi's mother told me Heidi would like.  Let's buy it and get out of here before your 'I want it' develops into a serious disease."

    "What do you mean?" asked Erin.

    "Erin, you've seen all kinds of things this morning that you want," Mother answered.  "The Bible tells us to be content with what we have, and my desire for you is that you would be a contented, joyful Christian -- a girl who is thankful for what the Lord has given you instead of always wanting more."

    Erin frowned for a moment.  Then she suddenly laughed.  "You know what?  I can't even remember most of the things I told you I wanted.  But I better keep my eyes straight ahead on the way out."

    "Good thinking," said Mother.  "I'll do that, too.  Let's both ask the Lord to help us not to be greedy."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
When you go shopping, do you greedily ask for everything you see?  Sure, it's nice to have toys and pretty clothes, but it's wrong to selfishly desire them.  Thank the Lord for the many things you do have.  Get out of the habit of constantly asking for more.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Too Quick To Judge

We've got a new guy at school, Brad announced.  "His name is Dan, and he's a sissy!  He wears big thick glasses.  He doesn't play football, but guess what he does play?"  Brad paused a moment, then exclaimed, "The piano!"

    "Well, if he just started school today, you don't really know him do you?  You don't know he's a sissy; you just think he is," Dad corrected.  "That reminds me of something I read.  A couple was traveling through the country when they saw an old man sitting in a chair, hoeing his garden.  'That's the height of laziness,' the wife declared.  'No, it isn't,' argued her husband.  'Look closer.'  When she did, she saw a pair of crutches beside the chair.  The man was working in spite of his handicap. He wasn't lazy; he was just the opposite."

    Mother nodded.  "When we judge a situation or person too quickly, we're often wrong," she said.  "We need to remember that God tells us not to judge one another."

    When Brad arrived at school the next day, the students were excitedly talking about an accident involving a schoolbus.  The buzz of talk continued as the students went to their rooms.  "Take your seats," Mrs. Harper said firmly.  "We'll be getting information about the accident as soon as it's available."

    Just before noon, the principal made an announcement.  "A lady ran a stop sign," he said.  "Three students and the bus driver are in serious condition, but they are expected to recover.  The others are being treated and released.  One of our new students, Dan Martin, has been credited with saving several lives.  The bus caught fire, but Dan ignored his own injuries and pulled at least two unconscious students to safety.  In doing so, he was severely burned."

    "Wow!" exclaimed Brad's friend, Mark.  "Who would have thought that guy had it in him?  He sure looked like a sissy to me!"

    Brad nodded wisely.  "I guess we have to learn not to judge too quickly," he said.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you guilty of judging those you don't know?  Do you pin labels on them at sight?  Be careful.  God doesn't want you to do that.  Besides, you could be wrong.  The Bible says the way you judge others is the way you will be judged.  And, of course, you want fair judgment.  Ask God to help you to be fair, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Mat 7:1  Judge not, that ye be not judged.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Something Beautiful

Nothing was going right anymore! First, Mother got sick, and no one knew
if she would ever get well again. Now, Rob had been sent to stay with an uncle
and aunt while Dad took Mom to a special doctor in a far-away city. There had
been a lot of talk about how God knows best, but Rob sure couldn't see how the
things that were happening could possibly be best for anybody. His thoughts were
gloomy as he passed the church on his way to school.
 

    "Mornin', young fellow."  Old Mr. Barry, the church janitor, was gazing up at the stained glass window which faced the street in front of the church.  "I never cease to marvel at the skill of the man who created that window."

    Rob looked up.  He'd never noticed the window before, and he wasn't impressed now.  It was made up of a lot of dark, dull little pieces of glass and it wasn't at all pretty.  Seeing his frown, Mr. Barry spoke again.  "Bet you never saw that window with the sun shining through.  Tell you what -- stop by after school and I'll show you something beautiful.  Okay?"  Numbly, Rob nodded.

    As he approached the church on his way home that afternoon, he saw that Mr. Barry was busily raking the church lawn.  With a smile, the janitor greeted Rob and a few minutes later led him into the church sanctuary.  "Look!"  He turned Rob around to face the stained glass window.  It was dazzlingly beautiful as the sun shone brightly through the colored glass, revealing a picture of Jesus with the children.  "Quite a change when you see it from this side, isn't there?" continued Mr. Barry.  He rubbed his chin.  "You know, I sometimes think life is like that.  From our point of view, it can seem dark and dull, especially when we're going through bad times.  But from God's point of view, each little part fits together just right to make a beautiful picture."

    Rob stared at the window.  He saw that even the dark pieces, such as those used for Jesus' eyes and a child's curly hair, had a beautiful gleam.  The artist knew what he was doing when he used each piece.  Some day maybe I'll be able to see what God was doing with my life, too, thought Rob.  Until then, I'll just have to trust Him.






HOW ABOUT YOU?
Does life look dull to you?  Is it dark and dreary?  Perhaps there has been sickness or death in your family.  Perhaps your best friend has moved away.  Perhaps your parents are separating.  What makes up the dark pieces of your life?  Try to realize that if you could see it as God does, you would see that there is a reason and a purpose for those hard things.  You may not understand, but God truly is working for your best.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Way To Give

Do you think she'll be okay?  Ryan turned to his Mom anxiously.

    "I think so, but we'll just have to wait and see," Mom replied.  Their dog Bubba had broken her leg, and the veterinarian was setting it.

     "I'll help pay for the vet," offered Ryan.  "You can use all the money I've saved."  Things had been pretty tough on the farm lately.  He knew this visit would be expensive.

    Mom smiled and put her arm around Ryan's shoulders.  "Thank you, Son, but don't worry.  We can pay for it," she said.  "I appreciate your willing heart, though."  Mom was thoughtful.  "Remember a few days ago when we were talking about tithing?" she asked.

    "And I would have had enough money for a game I want only if I didn't tithe?" Ryan asked.

    "Yes." Mom nodded.  "It was a little hard for you to be a cheerful giver right then.  But now you didn't hesitate to offer your whole savings to help Bubba."

    Ryan swallowed.  "No, but Bubba is. . .I'd give anything to make her all right, Mom."

    "I know," Mom said.  "When we really love someone, we give eagerly.  That's how God wants us to give to Him -- because we love Him so much."

    "I really want to give to God like that," Ryan said wistfully, "but it's hard sometimes."

    "That's true, but God will help you," Mom said.  "Ask Him to give you a willing heart."

    The vet came into the waiting room.  "Your dog will be fine," he said with a smile.  "It was a clean break, and she'll heal in no time."

    Ryan blinked rapidly.  "God heard our prayers, didn't He, Mom!"

    "Yes.  And He'll hear your prayer about giving, also!" Mom replied.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Did you know that God wants you to give Him part of your income?  But He wants you to do it willingly.  It's easy to say you love God, but it's harder to prove it by giving!  If you know you haven't given cheerfully, but would like to, just ask God to help you.  He will always answer your prayer.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

1Co 9:7  Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

[Soldier4Christ]

 Ragamuffin Part 1

Rick and Sandy were helping their dad in his meat shop.  Part of their job was to take the trash out to the big bin behind the store.  Together they carried out empty boxes and wastepaper.  Rick lifted the trash bin cover, then slammed it back down quickly.  "Sandy, there's something in there," he gasped.  "I saw it move!"

    Sandy laughed.  "Yeah, right," she said.  "You're just trying to scare me."

    "I'm telling the truth," persisted Rick.  Bravely he pulled up the lid and poked at the rubbish with a stick.  A loud moan jarred the air, and Sandy screamed.

    Dad rushed outside.  "What's wrong?" he asked in alarm.  The children pointed to the trash bin.  Looking doubtful, Dad approached it and looked inside.  "Why, it's a puppy!" he exclaimed.  "Let's see if we can help him."  He lifted the little dog from the bin.

    "Ohhhh!  Can we take him home, Dad?" Rick begged.  "He looks like a stray."

    "Ugh!"  Sandy pulled a face.  "He smells!  I bet Mom won't want him in the house."

    "He's a mess all right," agreed Dad.  "We'll clean him up and see if we can find him a home."

 `   When they arrived home, the children told their mother all about the puppy.  At her suggestion, they named him Ragamuffin.  "You know, kids," said Mother as she looked at the bedraggled pup, "Ragamuffin will make a good illustration for my Sunday school lesson tomorrow.  What you did for him, God did for us -- and even more!  God found us spiritually dirty, lost, and trapped in our sins.  Yet, He reached down to rescue us.  He loved us when there was nothing lovable about us."

    Ragamuffin barked, and Sandy laughed.  "He agrees with you, Mom.  I think Ragamuffin is glad he's been found!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you been "found"?  Sinful though you are, God loves you.  He sent Jesus to rescue you from the penalty of sin -- but you remain lost in sin unless you repent and trust Him as Savior.  Have you done that?  (See last page.)


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Rom 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Ragamuffin Part 2

Rick and Sandy enjoyed romping with Ragamuffin, the stray puppy they had adopted.  They taught him tricks, and took him on walks.  They were delighted that no one answered the newspaper ad seeking Ragamuffin's owners.  But not everything was pleasant.  Ragamuffin frequently got into trouble.  Sometimes he tracked mud into the house or knocked things over and broke them.  Sometimes he chewed slippers and hid shoes.  Though Rick and Sandy were patient, it seemed the puppy often had to be scolded or punished for misbehavior.

    The children occasionally worried that Ragamuffin might not like them when they punished him, but he was always loyal.  He ran to meet them, wagging his tail and jumping up and down with excitement.  He followed them around and constantly wanted to be with them.  He treated them as if they were the best thing that ever happened to him.  "Ragamuffin makes us feel like we're really important to him," observed Rick one day.

    "Well, you are," Mother said.  "You rescued him, and you take care of him.  Ragamuffin knows that and he loves you in return."

    "He's more appreciative than we often seem to be," observed Dad.  Seeing the children's puzzled looks, he continued.  "Our Heavenly Father loves us, He saved us, and He provides for us.  Sometimes we sin, and He has to punish us to make us obey.  But I wonder if we praise Him enough or show Him much admiration for all He's done for us.  Do we show God He's important to us?"

    "I never thought of it like that," Sandy said.  "I guess I sometimes act mad when God doesn't let things work out the way I want them to."

    "And sometimes I get impatient when God doesn't answer my prayers right away," admitted Rick.

    Mother nodded.  "I'm afraid we're all guilty," she said.  "We all need to learn to give to God the kind of unconditional devotion that Ragamuffin gives to you."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is God important to you?  Do you give Him your time?  Your love?  Your obedience?  Your service?  Do you praise Him with your lips and your life?  Do you love and help others as He told you to?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

1Jn 4:19  We love him, because he first loved us.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Alive Again

As Bobby listened to the TV newscaster talk about the fire at a local restaurant, he shuddered.  Two people had died!  "Dad," he said, "it's one thing to picture in my mind Jesus being raised from the dead after only three days, but I just can't see how bodies that have been burned, or have been dead a long time, could ever be raised up again."

    Dad nodded.  "I think God must have realized that we might wonder about this," he said, "so He left an example of the resurrection for us to see.  Come with me."  Bobby followed Dad out to the garage.  "Hand me that jar over there," instructed Dad.

    "Aren't these the marigold seeds Mom saved from the old, dried up flowers last fall?" Bobby asked as he passed the jar to Dad.

    "That's right," said Dad.  He dropped some seeds into a pot full of dirt.  "Here.  Cover them up with a little dirt.  Bury them."

    Bobby smiled as it suddenly occurred to him just what his father was trying to tell him.  "Bury them, just like bodies are buried, right?" he asked.

    Several weeks later, a pot full of bright yellow marigolds was standing in a sunbeam on the kitchen windowsill.  I don't know how those dead-looking, little, brown seeds turned into beautiful marigolds, Bobby thought to himself, but I'm sure it wasn't any problem to God!




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you wonder how bodies could possibly be raised to life -- especially those that have turned to ashes or have been dead for thousands of years and have turned to dust?  It's no greater problem to God than turning seeds into plants.  In other words, it's no problem to Him at all.  He made us from dust, and He is able to raise us up from dust and to make our bodies even more wonderful than before.  We can't understand it, but God can do it, and He will!


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Can Right Be Wrong?

Chad burst into the room. "Mom, guess what happened at Bible Club!" he
exclaimed. "Mark accepted Jesus as his Savior!"
 

    "That's wonderful!" responded. Mother.  "I'm afraid he won't get much encouragement at home, though.  His dad is an alcoholic and doesn't have much respect for God or the church."

    "I'll help Mark," Chad said eagerly.  "I'll be glad to."

    But a few weeks later, Chad wasn't so sure about that.  "I asked Mark to go with me to Don's house to play pool," he grumbled, "but you know what he said?  He said, 'Chad, I thought you were a Christian!'  Then he walked away!  I've been a Christian longer than him.  Who does he think he is?  What's wrong with playing pool?"

    Mother, who was holding Baby Jonathan on her lap, was thoughtful.  "Maybe Mark's father plays a lot of pool in the bars, so Mark associates playing pool with drinking, wasting money, and being away from home too much," she suggested.  "He probably doesn't understand that a quiet game of pool in somebody's basement can be okay.  Chad, maybe you should give up playing pool for a while yourself."      "I don't see why," objected Chad.

    As Chad spoke, Jonathan reached for a banana from a bowl on the table.  "No, no, Jonathan," said Mother.  "You're too little for that."  She took the banana away and moved it to a place high up and out of Jonathan's reach as she thought for a moment.  "You know, Chad, there's nothing wrong with this banana," she said.  "but Jonathan would try to eat the whole thing -- skin and all.  It's a temptation to him, so we keep it out of the way, right?"  Chad nodded.  "Well," continued Mother, "Mark's a baby Christian.  He may not understand that playing the game itself can be separated from the bad things he associates with it.  And seeing you do something he considers wrong might hurt him spiritually.  Joining you might lead him to play pool in the wrong place.  As he grows in his Christian life, he'll learn how to handle his actions.  But right now, pool playing is a problem for him, and if you play, it might cause you to be a stumbling block to him."

    Chad sighed  "We had a Sunday school lesson about that, too," he said.  "I didn't think anything I did would ever make anybody stumble in 

 his faith, but it looks like maybe I was wrong."






HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are there things you think are okay to do, but they bother other people?  Remember, a Christian doesn't live for himself.  His actions influence others.  Do your activities draw people to Christ or turn them away?  Refuse to be a "stumbling block," even if it means you have to give up something you enjoy.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

1Co 8:9  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Like A Donkey

Are you smarter than a donkey? asked Mr. Jim, the leader of the children's church.  All the kids laughed.  "If you are," continued Mr. Jim, "you can serve Jesus."

    I don't see how, thought Mary Lou.  She knew that some kids brought money to Sunday school, but she didn't have any money of her own to give.  Some kids sang in the junior choir, but Mary Lou was sure she didn't have a good voice.  Some kids gave testimonies on Sunday nights, but she just knew she'd stutter if she tried to do that.  There's really nothing I can do to serve Jesus, Mary Lou thought sadly.  But she listened closely as Mr. Jim continued the lesson.

    Mr. Jim went on to explain how a donkey was once a perfect picture of a servant.  (See today's Scripture reading.)  "First of all," said Mr. Jim, "he was where God wanted him to be -- he was available."

    Hmmmm, thought Mary Lou.  Well, I'm available, too.  I really would like God to be able to use me.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is there something in your life that has to be loosened?  Perhaps you're afraid to try to serve Jesus.  Maybe you need to let Him untie your fears."  Now Mary Lou knew that this lesson was just for her.  She had to admit that she was afraid to try to sing or witness for Jesus.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

[Soldier4Christ]

 A "CO-PE-SE-TIC" Day

Hello, Ryan, said Grandpa Thompson.  "Is everything copesetic with my grandson today?"

    "Cope. . .setic?  What does that mean, Grandpa?" asked Ryan, but he knew his grandfather wouldn't tell him.  He'd make Ryan look it up in the dictionary.

    Sure enough, Grandfather smiled and said, "That's what dictionaries are for, Ryan!"

    Ryan quickly looked up the word "copesetic" and read that it meant "very satisfying."  He was just closing the dictionary when his older brother (who was in high school and liked to think he was very smart) walked in the door.

    "Hi, Bruce," Ryan greeted.  "Everything copesetic?"

    Bruce looked at Ryan.  "What are you talking about?" he asked.  "What does that word mean anyway?"

    Ryan looked at his grandfather and winked.  "Look it up, Bruce," he said.  "That's what dictionaries are for!"

    While Bruce was flipping through the dictionary, Ryan went and sat down next to his grandfather on the couch.  "You sure like using new words, don't you, Grandpa?"

    Grandpa put an arm around Ryan.  "Yes, I do," he agreed.  "The way I look at it, the use of words is a gift from God.  He gave man the ability to develop languages and write words that express ideas and inventions.  Communication is a vital part of life.  Man can take that God-given ability and abuse it, or he can use it for good."

    "Hmmm, I never thought about that before.  I'm going to remember to thank the Lord for giving us the ability to use words," Ryan said as he got up to go to his room.  "And, Grandpa, I hope you have a copesetic day!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you ever thought about the importance of words?  Without words, there would be no books, no conversations, or radio programs!  Are the words that come from your mouth pleasing to God?  They should be.  Thank God for words and the ability to communicate.  Make sure what you communicate is for the good of others and the glory of God