Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

"When you get the garage floor swept we'll be able to set up the tables for Mom's garage sale," Joey's father told him.

"Okay," said Joey. He pointed toward a shelf. "Mom already brought that box out here. I wonder what's in it."

His father took the box down and set it on the floor. "Looks like some of your old toys," said Dad when they opened it. 

"Oh, good," said Joey. "I told Mom I want to get rid of them -- they clutter up my closet. I need the space for better stuff." Joey reached for an old baseball.

"I remember that ball," said his father, taking it from Joey. "I still can hear Mr. Will's window breaking." He put the baseball back into the box.

"Well . . . maybe I should keep it," Joey said. He took the ball out and set it aside. "It'll be good to get rid of the rest of this junk," he added, peering into the box. He took out an old mitt. "I think I'll keep this, too."

"You have better balls, and that mitt is way too small for you now, Joey," said Dad. He reached over and put them into the box. "You remind me of the way some people change their habit patterns. God expects us to get rid of old, bad habits. People often say they want to do that, but they still hang on to old habits that cause nothing but problems." 

"This old ball won't cause problems," Joey said, taking the baseball and mitt back out.

"Yep," said Dad. "That's just the kind of thing people say when they want to keep habits they should give up. They need to let go of their old habits so that they can develop new, more rewarding ones." He grinned at Joey as he added, "Keep the old ball and mitt if you want to, but do get rid of bad habits."

Joey grinned back. Then he reached out his hand and let the ball fall into the box. He looked at the mitt and then put it back in the box, too.


HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you have a habit of lying, cheating, losing your temper, or stealing? Do you have some other bad habits? If you're a Christian, your desire should be to please God. Ask Him for strength to do that. Follow His command to put away the things that displease Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Colossians 3:5)
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth.

[Soldier4Christ]

Jillian woke up with a start and lay trembling in her bed. What's that noise? she wondered as she pulled the blankets closer around her. Then she remembered something, and she quickly reached over to her bedside table and felt around for her little white ceramic cross. Picking it up, she felt a sense of relief, and she held it close. Now I'm safe. Nothing can hurt me when I hold my cross, she thought. Jillian relaxed and happily went back to sleep.

At breakfast the next morning, Jillian told her mother what had happened. "I sure am glad Aunt Jenny gave me that cross for my birthday!" she finished.

"Well, honey, I'm glad you were comforted when you held that cross," said Mom, "but you do know that your little ceramic cross doesn't really protect you, don't you?"

"It doesn't?" asked Jill.

Mom shook her head. "Do you know what the cross stands for?" she asked.

"Sure." Jillian nodded. "Jesus died on the cross for my sins," she said.

"That's right," said Mom. "The cross should remind you of what God did for you, but it's only a symbol. When you see it, remember that Jesus is always with you. When you're afraid or in trouble, He will comfort and help you. I'm glad you understand the importance of Jesus dying on a cross, but if you trust in the cross itself, you're really making it an idol."

Slowly Jill nodded. "Okay," she said with a smile, "but it would be okay to look at my cross just to remind myself that Jesus is with me, wouldn't it?"

"Only if you're sure you're putting your trust in Jesus, not in the symbol," said Mom. "Let it remind you that Jesus died for you, but remember that He's alive today. The cross can't help you or take care of you, but Jesus can."


HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you feel like there's something special about a cross? Don't forget that it's only a symbol. Let it remind you that Jesus died for your sins, but remember that He's alive now. He loves you and is always with you. He wants you to come to Him with your fears and allow Him to comfort you and give you His peace.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 56:3)
What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.

[Soldier4Christ]

Scott banged the back door shut and slammed his books on the table. "Is something wrong?" asked Mom as she bounced Baby Mindy on her knee.

"It's Chad," replied Scott. "You know . . . the kid who's been going to Bible club with me. He became a Christian a few weeks ago, and it really did seem like he changed. Well, today I saw him peek in his desk twice during our spelling test. He cheated!"

Mom put Mindy down on the floor. "Did you talk to him about it?" Mom asked.
 
Scott nodded. "He admitted that he looked at the words," he said as he watched Mindy reach for some blocks on the floor. She knocked the blocks together, then crawled to a chair and pulled herself up. Scott chuckled, for the moment forgetting his anger toward Chad. "I think you're showing off," he said to Mindy.

Mindy held onto the chair and took a few steps around it. She looked at Mom and smiled. Mom held out her hands, and Mindy left the chair and took two shaky steps before falling into Mom's arms. Scott clapped his hands. "All right, Mindy!" he exclaimed. "You took your first step! Can you walk to me?" He held out his arms.

Mom stood Mindy in front of her and let go. Mindy reached out, took one small step, and fell to the floor. She looked startled for a moment, and then her whole face puckered up. "Don't cry, Mindy," said Scott as he picked her up. "They're just your first steps." He stood her on her feet again. "Everything new takes a little practice," he added.

"Like being a Christian," said Mom. "Don't forget that we all stumble and fall sometimes -- and in the beginning, it's especially easy to do that. Remember that your friend Chad is taking his first steps as a Christian." She paused and gave Scott time to think about what she had said. "Maybe you could give Chad a helping hand," suggested Mom as Scott reached out to help Mindy, who was taking another step. "Let him know you're praying for him, and if he needs help with spelling, perhaps the two of you could study together."


HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you know kids who claim to be Christians but their actions don't show it? Instead of being critical, pray for them. Encourage them to spend time with other Christians. Be a good example, and include them in your activities.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Galatians 6:1)
If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Grandma, this is the most wonderful flower garden in the whole world!" exclaimed Tara enthusiastically.

Grandma looked up from her weeding and smiled. "I'm glad you like it," she said. "I enjoy it, too. In nice weather, I spend some time out here almost every day hoeing, watering, weeding, or transplanting."

"Do you like to do all that stuff?" asked Tara.

"Yes, I do," said Grandma. "It's a lot of work, but it's worth it -- and it always reminds me of my life as a Christian."

"It does?" asked Tara. "Why?"

"For one thing, weeds in my life grow as quickly as weeds in my flower bed," replied Grandma, "but just like I can hoe . . ."

"Weeds in your life?" Tara interrupted her grandma. "Do you mean things like problems?"

"Not exactly," said Grandma. "Let's think about it -- what are some of the problems people face?"
"Sometimes people are nasty to us," said Tara promptly, "or we might get sick or . . . or something. Sometimes a pet -- or even someone we love -- dies. All kinds of things we don't like can happen."

"That's right," said Grandma, "and if we're not careful, we can become angry, bitter, and unforgiving. Those attitudes are some of the things that remind me of weeds with very long roots. The weeds in my garden would just take over if I'd let them, and the weeds in my life would, too."

"How do you get rid of them?" asked Tara.

"I picture the time I spend with God as His weeding and watering time for my life," replied Grandma. 
"So . . . you have to spend time every day in your garden to keep it really nice," said Tara thoughtfully, "and that's sort of like we should spend time every day reading our Bibles and praying and stuff."

Grandma nodded. "Right," she said, "and sometimes that seems like work because we really feel like doing something else. Other times it's pure joy. It's always worth any effort it takes, and it produces the 'fruit' of God's Spirit in our lives."


HOW ABOUT YOU?

What standard are you using as you live the Christian life? Some people say you should accept all lifestyles and all religions. Some say there are no absolutes when it comes to right and wrong. That's not what God says. Use only His standard, the Bible, to determine how you should live.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 119:33)
Teach me, O Lord, the way of Thy statutes.

[Soldier4Christ]

As Bryan and his dad walked through the mall, Bryan talked about the witnessing project his Sunday school class had begun. "I gathered my courage and offered Mr. Martin a tract today, but he wouldn't take it," Bryan reported. "He said he didn't even believe I was a Christian!"

"Hmmm," murmured Dad. "That's too bad. Have you done or said anything around Mr. Martin that would make him feel that way?"

"I don't think so," Bryan answered. But then he remembered something. Maybe Mr. Martin knows I'm the one who knocked a ball through his window, he thought. I was going to tell him, but the other guys said I shouldn't. They said he'd never know who did it. "Nothing much anyway," added Bryan as he noticed Dad looking at him. Dad frowned.

Just then, they arrived at a sporting goods store. Pointing to a football displayed in the window, Bryan exclaimed, "Look! There's the ball I want. Can we go in and see how much it costs?" 

"How do you know they sell that kind of football here?" Dad asked.

Bryan gave his dad a questioning look. "Anybody knows that the stuff you see in the window is stuff they sell in the store," he said.

Dad nodded. "What we see out here is what we believe we'll find inside," he agreed. "That's pretty much the way it is with people, too. What they see in our actions is what they believe us to be like inside."   Bryan stood for a moment, looking down. "Well, let's go in and see if you can afford that ball," suggested Dad.

Bryan hesitated. Then, haltingly, he told Dad about the broken window. "I'm not going to buy a football now, Dad," he said. "I need my money to pay Mr. Martin for that window."


HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you know where you'll go when you die? You can know. Invite Jesus into your life. He'll come in and be with you now, every day. Then when you die -- or when He comes again -- He will take you to live in heaven, in the place He has made especially for you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (John 14:2)
I go to prepare a place for you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Tyler lay flat on his back in the cool green grass, watching the puffy clouds floating across the sky above him. When he turned his head and glanced over at the tall trellis, which was covered with Grandma's rambling roses, he noticed that it reached nearly to the open window of his bedroom. Tyler scrambled to his feet and darted toward the house. I bet I can climb up to my room, he thought. He put his foot on a low trellis slat, pushed away a few roses, and climbed. He stretched his arms, caught the window sill, and swung himself up. Suddenly he was falling! He screamed, and he had a blurry vision of big pink roses zipping by as he fell to the ground.

"Tyler, can you open your eyes now?" asked a voice from far away. "Can you hear me?"

Tyler blinked and slowly sat up. "What happened?" he whispered.

"You had a bad fall," said Grandpa. 

When Tyler was feeling better, he felt foolish about what he had done. "I wanted to climb through the window to get into my bedroom," he said sheepishly when Grandma asked him about it. "It sounded like more fun than just going in at the door, but it didn't turn out to be much fun after all! I'm sorry."
 
That evening, Grandpa turned to the tenth chapter of John. "These verses say Jesus is the door to heaven," said Grandpa when he had finished reading. "I've known people who think they can get to heaven by going to church or Sunday school, helping neighbors, giving money to charity, keeping free of drugs and alcohol, being kind to animals -- doing all sorts of 'good' things. But just like you couldn't get into your bedroom by way of the rose trellis and window, people won't get into heaven by way of their own good works."

Grandma shook her head. "They can get into heaven only through the Door, and that's Jesus." She turned to Tyler. "Are you sure you're trusting Jesus as your Savior?" she asked. "Are you sure you've accepted Him as the only door to heaven?"

With a big grin, Tyler nodded. "I'm sure," he said.


HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you think you're too young to be a good witness or to lead someone to Christ? Don't underestimate what God can do through you. He can use anyone who is willing to be used by Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 20:11)
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and . . . right.

[Soldier4Christ]

"I wonder why geese always fly in a V formation," said Sam as he and his father trudged through the tall grass around Grandpa's pond. Overhead, a flock of geese honked their way southward in the cloudless fall sky.

"When I was a boy out here on the farm, I used to wonder about that, too," replied Dad. "Do you see how closely they fly together? I've read that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird following it, and that by flying in this V formation, the whole flock has about a seventy percent greater flying range than if each one flew alone."

"Hey, that's cool!" exclaimed Sam. "Smart birds!"

The next evening, there was a special meeting at church for the young people in Sam's age group. "Are you ready to go to your meeting?" asked Mom.

"Oh, no! I forgot all about it," said Sam. "Joey and I planned to work with his new chemistry set tonight."

"I think," said Mom, "that you'll have to call Joey and tell him you can't come."

Sam groaned. "Do I have to?" he asked. "Our church group is going to finish plans for our next service project, and I already know what I'm supposed to do for that."

Dad put down the newspaper. "Sam, remember the geese we saw yesterday -- and how they cooperated with one another by flying in formation?" Sam nodded. "Their cooperation helped all of them," continued Dad. "We need that kind of cooperation in Christian circles, too. You're one of the 'flock' that makes up your youth group, so even if you don't need the group tonight, they need you." He paused, then added, "But actually, you need each other."
 
"Well, I suppose I better go then," said Sam with a sigh. A moment later, he grinned as he added, "Each of us birds has to do his part."


HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you realize that regular attendance at church activities is very important? Your commitment to "the flock" could very well inspire others to learn and work better and accomplish more than if each one tries to work alone.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ecclesiastes 4:9)
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

[Soldier4Christ]

"Oh, please, Mom," begged Danielle. "Can't I watch the television program that Erika keeps telling me about?"

"No, you can't," replied Mom as she stirred the cake batter. "It isn't a good program -- it's not acceptable for a Christian."

"I'd watch it just this once," whined Danielle. "Erika says it's going to be really exciting this week." She glanced at her mother. "Erika says you should let me watch a few things like that. She thinks I have such old?fashioned ideas. She said this program gives her a taste of reality." When her mother still didn't say anything, Danielle added, "Besides, this program isn't so bad. Erika says some of the others are a lot worse."

"Would you like to get a scoop of the dirt from the flower pot over there and put it into this cake batter?" asked Mom, holding out the sugar scoop.

Danielle looked at her mother in amazement. She could not believe her ears. "You don't really want me to put that filthy dirt in the cake!" she exclaimed.

"Oh, no! Wait a minute," said Mom. "Instead, get a scoop of that nice, white sand from Ben's sandbox. That's new, so it's not so very dirty."

Danielle continued to stare at her mother. "But dirt is still dirt!" exclaimed Danielle.

"And you don't want any dirt in this cake?" asked Mom. "Not even 'clean' dirt -- just to give it a taste of reality?"

Danielle saw the twinkle in her mother's eyes. "Okay, Mom," she said. "I get the point."

"Good," said Mom. "The recipe for this cake -- the list of things that should go into it -- does not include dirt of any kind. Our 'recipe for life' -- the things we should put into our lives -- should not include any kind of 'dirt,' either. We should do our best to make sure that the things we see and hear are pleasing to God -- because everything we see and hear does affect us, whether we think so or not."


HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you think some things that aren't good are still acceptable just because other things are worse? Keep busy with things that would please the Lord. Remember that "dirt is dirt," and avoid all sin.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Psalm 101:3)
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside.

[Soldier4Christ]

"My English report is due tomorrow, and I'm going to have the best report in the class," announced Jonathan as he and his father got ready to play a game of ping pong. "I must be the smartest guy in my grade. I got the top score on our spelling tests for three weeks running. Math is so simple, it's pathetic. And most of the kids write the dumbest essays you've ever seen!" Dad frowned as Jonathan bragged about his schoolwork. "Let's start," said Jonathan as he bounced the ball on the table. "I'll soon have you begging for mercy with my alley slam shot!"

Dad grinned. "Well, you might, Jon," he said, "and then again, you might find you have bitten off more than you can chew. By the way, I know just the thing you should write about for your next report."

"What's that?" asked Jonathan.

"The sinking of the Titanic," replied Dad.

"That big ship?" asked Jonathan. "I read about it. It was one of the greatest transatlantic passenger ships of all time!"

Dad nodded. "It was elegant -- crystal chandeliers, velvet curtains, fine china, even a ballroom with its own orchestra. You might say it was the pride of its era. Everyone thought the ship was unsinkable. Only problem was . . ." Dad let his voice trail off.

"It sank." Jonathan finished the sentence for him. "Why do you think that's such a good topic for me?"

"You remind me of the Titanic, Jon. In some ways, I'm afraid you're a little like it," said Dad. He twirled his paddle. "It's a good thing to strive for excellence, but you need to be careful. An iceberg tore a hole in the Titanic, and pride can be like that iceberg. It can shipwreck you. God is the source of all our talents and abilities. When we get puffed up and put others down, we're heading for trouble."

"I . . . I guess I see what you mean," Jon admitted slowly. Then he grinned as he added, "But I still can't resist an alley slam shot!" He slammed the ball toward Dad's side of the net, and the battle was on!


HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you strive to be the best, not caring whose feelings you hurt? Do you take the credit for every good grade, every victory, every prize you win? God is the source of all good gifts. Give Him the glory, and ask Him to help you use your talents for Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Proverbs 11:2)
When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

[Soldier4Christ]

Pete tried to stay out of the way of the movers as they carried furniture into the apartment. He hated moving, and it showed in his expression. "Why the long face?" asked one of the men who was helping.

"I don't like this apartment," said Pete. "It doesn't have a yard for me to play in." He didn't add that he didn't know anybody in the neighborhood and would have to go to a new school.

The man nodded. "Well," he said, "if life hands you a lemon, Son, make lemonade. In other words, make the best of what comes to you. It may seem like a sour lemon, but it can turn into something sweet. You'll see." Pete sighed. He sounds like Mom. She's always quoting that verse about God working things out for good, he thought.

As Pete sat down on the back steps, he noticed a boy sitting on the back steps of the next apartment. The boy had black hair and brown skin. Curious, Pete got up and sauntered over to talk to him. "Hi," said Pete, and the boy glanced up. He looked as if he had been crying. "What's wrong?" asked Pete.
 
"I no like it here," replied the boy softly. "In my country, the soldiers kill my father. My mother and sister and me -- we come to America, but I no like. I no can speak good English. American boys at school laugh when I talk."

Pete wasn't sure how to answer, but he was busy thinking. Did God send me here to help this boy? Is this how God wants me to make lemonade out of my lemons? he wondered. He sat down on the step beside his new neighbor. "I will help you learn English," said Pete. "We will go to school together. I will play with you."

The boy looked at Pete. After a moment, he smiled. "I get ball," he said. He ran into his apartment.
 
Pete felt good inside as he waited for his new friend to come back. I guess God is turning our move here into something good after all!
he thought.



HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is there a "lemon" in your life -- something that is hard or unpleasant? Trust God to use that thing to work for your good. Ask Him to help you accept it and to see what good He wants to bring from it.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 8:28)
All things work together for good to them that love God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Rick, who was spending a couple of weeks with his grandfather, was helping Grandpa hoe the garden. This ground sure is stony, thought Rick as his hoe hit something hard. It glistened in the morning sun, and Rick picked it up. "Grandpa," he called, "come and look at this. I never saw a stone this shape before." He wiped the dirt from the pointed stone and handed it to his grandpa.

"Oh, ho!" Grandpa exclaimed. "This is interesting! You just dug up an arrowhead."

"Cool! We talked about arrowheads in history class," said Rick. "Native Americans used them to hunt game."

"Yes," said Grandpa, "and that was many years ago. Just think -- this one was hidden in the ground for a long time -- possibly a hundred years or even more."

"I'll show this to my history teacher," said Rick as Grandpa handed the arrowhead back to him.
As Rick continued hoeing, he was more interested in his task than he had been earlier. Maybe I'll find another arrowhead, he thought as his eyes carefully searched the ground. But there were no more to be found that day.


After supper, Grandpa reached for his Bible. "We'll read from the seventeenth chapter of Acts tonight," he said, handing the Bible to Rick. "How about reading verses ten through fifteen aloud?" Rick found the verses and began reading. When he reached the eleventh verse, which says that the Bereans "searched the Scriptures daily," Grandpa smiled. "That verse reminds me of the way we dug around in the garden today," he said.

"The garden?" asked Rick. "What does the garden have to do with the Bible?"

"Well, I've dug in that garden many times, but never found the arrowhead you dug up. Who knows? Maybe we'll find more another day. I've also 'dug' into God's Word many times. It contains valuable treasures -- we can find many important instructions and promises and much wisdom as we search the Scriptures," explained Grandpa. "We'll miss a great deal if we don't keep searching."


HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you feel like you know all there is to learn from familiar Bible stories? You don't! Keep on "digging." Read the Bible for yourself, and listen when your pastor, Sunday school teacher, or parents talk about it. Get to know God better and see what treasures He has for you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Colossians 2:3)
In whom(God) are hid all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge.

[Soldier4Christ]

 Bought Back

"There's a game I want to get, but I don't have enough money," Brett told his friend Travis. "I wish I could think of a way to make extra cash."

"Why not sell me the tires from your old bike?" asked Travis. "I told you I wanted to buy them, and my dad said it was okay."

"Oh, that's right! I forgot," said Brett. "My dad okayed it, too, so it's a deal!"

The transaction took place-Travis paid Brett for the tires, and Brett used part of the money to buy the game he wanted. For a while, the boys played the game almost every day, so Travis enjoyed it almost as much as Brett did.

As the weather turned warmer, Brett and Travis played less indoors. They began to take long bike rides-and then one day, Brett ran over a broken bottle and slashed his front tire. "Oh, no!" he exclaimed. "This whole tire is ruined! Now what am I going to do?" He frowned. "I guess I should have kept those bike tires I sold to you."

"Well, I only used one, so I'll sell the other back to you," offered Travis. "I don't need it."

"Really?" asked Brett. "Cool!" So the boys got the tire and went to Brett's house to put it on the bike.

"What's up?" asked Brett's dad when he came home and saw the boys at work.

"My tire got ruined, so I bought this one back from Travis," explained Brett.

Dad smiled. "You redeemed it," he said. "That word is used often in the Bible. What you did with the bike tire is a good example of the meaning of the word. 'Redeemed' simply means 'bought back.'"

"But . . . why is that word used in the Bible?" asked Travis.

"God created people, so they belonged to Him," began Dad. "However, Satan came and tempted man to sin-and he did. Now all of us are sinners-we might say we belong to Satan because we're his followers. But when Jesus died on the cross for us, He paid the price to buy us back. When we trust in Him, we are no longer followers of Satan, but of God."

Travis grinned as he looked at the tire on Brett's bike. "I'm gonna give my mom a riddle," he said. "I'll ask her what your bike tire and I have in common."

Brett laughed. "I know the answer-you and the tire have both been redeemed!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you been redeemed? If not, sin continues to separate you from God. Jesus said that whoever commits sin-that's you-is a slave to sin (John 8:34). A great price had to be paid to buy you back out of that slavery. It's only through the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ that you can be bought back-be redeemed-from the curse of sin and the power of Satan. Will you take Jesus at His word and trust Him as your Savior today?


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (1 Peter 1:18-19)
You were not redeemed with corruptible things . . . but with the precious blood of Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

 One-Way Window

"Mom, it's almost time to go pick up Brianna, isn't it?" asked Chloe. She had the day off from school because of teacher conferences, and she enjoyed these rare opportunities to go along to get her little sister from preschool. "Can we go early today and watch a little while?" asked Chloe. The school had a large, one-way, mirrored window where parents could observe the activities in the classroom, but the children could not see them. On their side of the window, it looked like a mirror.

"Okay," agreed Mom, picking up her car keys. "We'd better go now then."

"Can I have a piece of candy, Mom?" asked Chloe as she got her coat.

"No. It's too close to lunch time," said Mom. "Let's go." But after Mom went out the door, Chloe grabbed a piece of candy and popped it into her mouth. She got into the car, sure that Mom would never know.

When they arrived at the school, they stood at the window and watched. "I see that Brianna gets to do the weather chart today," observed Mom as Brianna took the "cloudy" sticker up to the calendar.

"She'll be happy about that," said Chloe. "Oh, look at that boy next to the teacher! He's poking the girl in the pink outfit. She looks like she's ready to slug him." Chloe laughed. "If that were Brianna getting poked, she definitely would slug him."

Mom glanced at Chloe. "Why is your tongue green?" asked Mom.

"I . . . I . . ." Chloe didn't know what to say as Mom looked at her sternly. "I had . . . I had a piece of candy," admitted Chloe.

Mom nodded. "And you thought I'd never know, didn't you?" she asked. "Even if I had never found out, God knew. You disobeyed me, and that disappoints Him. I don't see everything you do, but God does." Mom motioned toward the window. "It's like this one-way mirrored window," she added. "We can see Brianna and her teacher and the boy poking the little girl, but they can't see us. We can see everything that goes on in that room, good and bad. And God sees all that happens here on earth. We can't hide anything we do from Him."

"I'm sorry," said Chloe soberly.

 Mom nodded. "All right, but no more candy all week," she said sternly.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you ever tempted to do wrong things when you're sure no one will see? If you can get away with it, will you cheat on a test or a homework assignment, or will you steal a pack of gum or some other object from a store? Will you treat someone rudely? Perhaps you've already done something like that, and no one caught you. Well, someone did see-God did. Next time you think nobody is watching, remember that God sees everything you do. You can hide nothing from Him.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. Psalm 33:13

[Soldier4Christ]

"All right!" exclaimed Brent when they arrived at their campsite. "It's going to be fun camping here for a whole week!"

 

"It sure is," agreed Leslie. "Let's get our camp set up!" She turned to her mother. "Can Amy and I get firewood?"

 

"Sure," agreed Mom. "I'll help you. We'll get some water, too."

 

"I'll help you with the tent, Dad. Okay?" offered Brent. Dad nodded, and soon everyone was busy working.

 

"The girls can't do this hard stuff like I can," bragged Brent as he helped Dad with tent poles and stakes. "Good thing there are easy jobs for them to do -- like carrying wood and getting water."

 

"Don't let them hear you," warned Dad. "I doubt they'd agree that those jobs are any easier, and even if they are, you have to remember that they're younger than you. Besides, every family member's job is important. What do you think supper would be like without firewood and water?"

 

Brent thought about it. "Well," he said, "without firewood, we couldn't cook anything." He grinned. "If we're having hot dogs, it might not be so bad -- they taste pretty good cold. I wouldn't like raw hamburgers, though."

 

"And what would you drink if nobody got the water?" asked Dad.

 

"Hot chocola . . . " began Brent. He laughed. "Oops! Without water and firewood, there'd be no hot chocolate! You're right, Dad. Everybody's job is important."

 

Dad nodded. "Everyone working cheerfully is what makes a family run smoothly." After a moment, he added -- mostly to himself -- "That's true in God's church, too. Each one, and each job, is important."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you think only certain people in the church are important -- like the church board or the Sunday school teachers? Not so! The Bible says every Christian is a member of God's family, and each family member is needed.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Romans 12:5)
So we, being many, are one in Christ, and every one members one of another.

[Soldier4Christ]

Amy and her brother walked along the creek, one on either side. They pushed sticks into the current, pretending they were boats. Soon they heard Mother calling for them to come back to the campsite for lunch. "Let's go, Amy," said Brent. "I'm hungry."

 

Amy looked at the wide stream of water in front of her. She looked back toward a bridge she had used to get to that side of the creek. "I can't get over to you!" she exclaimed. "The creek is too wide, and it will take me a long time to walk all the way back to the bridge."

 

As Brent gazed about him, he spied a large, fallen log. He dragged it to the creek and managed to place it so that it reached across the water. "You can cross on this, Amy," he said.

 

Amy hesitated. "I'm scared I'll fall in," she whimpered.

 

"Here . . . I'll meet you and hold your hand," offered Brent. He stepped out onto the log and edged along it until he could reach Amy's outstretched hand. Then he carefully guided her to the other bank.

 

Soon they were back at camp, munching on hot dogs and baked beans. Amy told her parents all about their adventures. "When Mom called, I couldn't get across the creek, but Brent made a bridge for me," she said.

 

Dad nodded. "That's something like the illustration Pastor Phillips gave us last week, isn't it?" he said. "Pastor pointed out that we couldn't reach God on our own. He said that sin is like a wide gulf between us and God, and that God provided Jesus to be the bridge by which we can be reunited with God. It's possible that Amy could have gotten across the creek some other way, but when it comes to us and God, the only way we can be brought together is through Jesus."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you come to God through Jesus? Admit that you're a sinner and can't get to heaven on your own. Trust in Jesus, who lived and died for you. Ask Him today to come into your life and be your bridge to God.

TODAY'S KEY VERSE: (Ephesians 2:13)
Ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.