Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

Andrew, who had recently gotten his driver's license, was taking his younger brother to a ball game. "So you're going to be the pitcher today, right, Noah?" asked Andrew with a grin.

"I sure am!" exclaimed Noah. He kept up a constant chatter about the upcoming game. "I know I can strike all those guys out," he boasted.

Andrew smiled. "Don't be so sure," he cautioned. "That team creamed you guys last year."

"Yeah, but our coach worked us hard all summer," replied Noah. "He taught us a lot and says we're a much better team now. We'll win this time."

As Noah continued to talk, Andrew nodded his head in agreement from time to time. "I hope I get good enough to play in the big leagues some day! Wouldn't that be great?" asked Noah, eagerly turning to look at his big brother. Noah frowned. "Hey, Andrew, you're not paying attention," he complained. "You never look at me when I'm talking to you."

"I'm listening all right," Andrew assured him, "but Dad gave me some pretty heavy instructions before letting me take the car. He said I should be sure to keep my eyes on the road at all times. I trust Dad's advice." Andrew laughed as he added, "Besides-this is his car, so if I want to drive it anymore, I better take care of it." He carefully pulled into a parking space at the ball field. "Dad says driving is sort of like living for Jesus-it requires focus," added Andrew. "He said people have wrecked their cars by letting their eyes stray from the highway, and people have wrecked their lives by letting their eyes stray from Jesus."

"What does that mean?" asked Noah.

"He said just like we're saved by faith in Jesus, we're to live daily by faith in Him," replied Andrew. "That's keeping your eyes on Jesus."

Noah grabbed his mitt from the floor and opened the car
door. "Now in baseball, you have to keep your eyes on the ball," he said. He
grinned at Andrew. "But I won't forget-I'm gonna keep my eyes on Jesus,
too."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you "keep your eyes on Jesus"? When you have a bad day, do you go to Jesus for comfort? When you have a need, do you trust Jesus to meet that need? You're saved by faith in Jesus, and you are to live daily by faith in Him. As you go down life's "highway," keep your life focused on Him. Fill you mind and life with things that please Jesus.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." Hebrews 12:2

[Soldier4Christ]

There was much excitement as Jase and several family members watched a plane taxi to a stop at the gate. His Uncle Dan and Aunt Mary were returning to the States after their first mission term. Everyone was eager to see their little son, Benjamin, who had been born in Africa.

When they finally appeared, Jase watched while the grownups hugged and kissed one another. Then Uncle Dan turned toward him. "And this must be little Jase," said Uncle Dan, "but you're not so little anymore, are you?" He grinned. "I see you have your father's eyes."

"I'm six years old," Jase proudly told Uncle Dan.

Jase's mother pointed to the little boy Aunt Mary was holding. "Your son looks just like you, Dan," observed Mom.

"Yes." Uncle Dan laughed joyfully. "He's my boy!"

Driving home that night, Jase was full of questions. "How did I get Dad's eyes, and why does Benjamin look like Uncle Dan?" he asked.

"Children inherit certain things from their parents-like their size or the color of their hair and eyes," his older sister, Meg, replied. "Benjamin inherited his father's curly hair, and you inherited your father's brown eyes. And we can inherit other kinds of things, too-like a talent for music or an interest in building things. Right, Dad?"

"Right. And something we all inherit is Adam's sinful nature," said Dad, "because we're all descendants of Adam, the first man God created."

"That's why we all sin, isn't it?" asked Meg, and Dad nodded.

"Oh, that's not good, is it?" said Jase. He knew that to sin meant to do something wrong.

"No," agreed Dad, "but because Jesus lived a perfect
life and died to take the punishment for our sins, we can have them forgiven. If
we accept Jesus as Savior, we become children of God-we're part of His family,
and we become more and more like Him as we follow His
teaching."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Did you know you inherited a sinful nature? You received it through Adam, who is your ancestor. You had no choice in that-and as a result, you have sinned. But salvation is a definite choice. Have you accepted Christ as your Savior? If not, do so today, and you'll be part of God's family forever!

TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"By one man's (Adam's) disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's (Jesus') obedience many will be made righteous." Romans 5:19

[Soldier4Christ]

"Oh, no!" Kayla moaned. "I have to turn in my Bible-reading chart this morning, and it's blank. Do I have to go to Sunday school today?"

"Why, Kayla!" exclaimed Mom. "Of course you need to go to Sunday school and church."

When they returned home from church, Kayla didn't chatter as happily as usual. When Mom asked if something was bothering her, Kayla sighed. "In Sunday school, I saved a seat for Sarah, but I guess she just didn't want to sit with me," she said. "She sat way over on the other side of the room and wouldn't even look at me." Kayla's eyes filled with tears. "She's been kind of ignoring me lately. I don't think she likes me anymore."

"Oh, now, honey," said Mom, "don't jump to that conclusion. Give her a call after lunch and see if you can't straighten this out, okay?"

"Okay," agreed Kayla, but she still felt sad.

"You know," said Mom as she began to prepare lunch, "it's good for all of us to occassionally think about how it feels to be neglected by someone we love."

"What do you mean?" asked Kayla.

"Jesus loves us so much, and it's easy to say we love Him, too. But sometimes we don't act as if we do," explained Mom. "I guess I'm feeling a little guilty because when I was asked to substitute for the first grade Sunday school teacher this week, I decided I had more important things to do than study a lesson-things like making kitchen curtains."

As Mom spoke, Kayla remembered grumbling about going to church. She also realized she hadn't talked to God or read her Bible all week. "I guess I don't always act like I love Him, either," she admitted. After a moment, she added, "I really do, though. And I'm going to start showing it."

Mom gave her a hug. "Me, too," she agreed. "With God's
help, me, too."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you say you love Jesus? Do your actions prove it? Do you enjoy meeting with other Christians and worshipping and learning together? Do you spend time learning from God's Word what pleases Him-and then do it? Do you serve Him by showing His love to others? Saying you love Him is good, but showing it by your actions is far better.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." 1 John 3:18

[Soldier4Christ]

Zahkia had promised to take daily walks with her grandfather, but it was several weeks before she actually started doing it. When she finally began, she was surprised at how much she enjoyed the brisk walk. "I missed some good times by not joining you sooner," she said one day. "I knew walking would be good for me and being with you would be fun, but it was so hard to get started."

"I understand," Grandpa assured her. "I've had that kind of problem myself."

"You didn't start walking as soon as you should have?" asked Zahkia.

Grandpa smiled. "Actually, I was thinking of the way I used to be about reading my Bible," he said.

Zahkia stopped and looked at her grandfather. "Reading your Bible?" she asked in disbelief. "I've seen you read it so often! I think you've read your Bible every day as long as I can remember!"

Grandpa nodded. "But I did have a hard time getting myself to read it regularly," he said, "though I've always known I should. After I finally made it a part of each day's activities, it became a natural and important part of my life-almost like breathing or eating."

Zahkia sighed. "I don't do very well at daily Bible reading," she confessed. "I plan to read it-and I've even started more than once, but then I seem to forget."

"How did you read it?" asked Grandpa. Zahkia looked
puzzled. "Did you try to see how many chapters you could read at one sitting?"
continued Grandpa. "Or did you take a bit at a time to see what you could get
out of it?" Zahkia admitted she hadn't wanted her older brother to get ahead of
her, so she had tried to read as much as he did. "Try it again, but this time
start slowly-read just a little at first," Grandpa suggested. "It's like walking
or jogging. You don't go three miles the first day. You start slowly, do it
regularly, and add the miles-or extra verses-gradually."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you set a time for reading the Bible? Why not start with reading the short passage given with each Keys for Kids story? Read it again after you read the story. What is God saying to you? Think about it throughout the day. Make God's Word a normal part of your everyday life.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." Psalm 119:97

[Soldier4Christ]

"Is this a clock you've already fixed?" asked Kyle, pointing at a large clock standing on the counter. He always enjoyed visiting Uncle Ramon's shop-especially when his uncle was repairing clocks. "This one seems to be ticking all right."

Kyle's uncle laughed pleasantly. "Yes," he agreed, "it's ticking all right, but that's all it's doing."

Kyle looked at the clock more closely. "Oh-it doesn't have any hands on it," he remarked, feeling embarrassed at not having noticed that.

"That's right." Uncle Ramon nodded. "So even though the clock is ticking, it isn't doing its job-it isn't giving the correct time, is it?"

Kyle shook his head. "Not without the hands it isn't."

"I use my clocks as illustrations when I teach Sunday school," Uncle Ramon told Kyle. "The inside of a clock is made up of all kinds of different parts, and each one is needed. But you can have all of those parts clean and running good, and the clock still doesn't give you the time. Or you can pick up the hands or face of the clock and look at them closely, but you won't learn the time of day that way, either."

"Get all the parts of a clock working together, and you've got it made, right?" asked Kyle. He frowned. "What does that have to do with Sunday school?"

Uncle Ramon smiled. "The clocks show that it takes a lot
of different pieces working together to get the job done. That's the way it is
in the Lord's work, too," explained Uncle Ramon. "Sometimes kids-or adults-think
they're the important ones in a project. They seem to think they can handle
things by themselves. But pastors, Sunday school teachers, musicians, nursery
workers, janitors-all are important. To do the best job and accomplish the most,
all those working on a project need to work together as each one depends on the
Lord."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you sometimes try to be the "whole clock" in your youth group or Sunday school class? Or do you go to the opposite extreme and decide that your small part is not important? Remember, it takes many parts to complete the job. Do your part faithfully and allow each other member of the group to do his. Work together for the Lord.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"You are the body of Christ, and members individually." 1 Corinthians 12:27

[Soldier4Christ]

"Where are we going, Dad?" asked Kevin as his father turned a corner.

"Wait and see," Dad said with a wink.

"Madame Margarite, Spiritualist Reader," Kevin read aloud as they drove past a new sign being put up on Main Street. "Have your fortune told here."

"I'd like to know the future," said sixteen-year-old Laura. "Like . . . will Brad ask me to the youth banquet?"

"Yeah, it would be cool to know what's going to happen," agreed Kevin. "I'd like to know if I'll pass my math test tomorrow."

Dad shook his head. "Fortune tellers don't have the answers," he said. "The Bible warns against going to them. Besides, not knowing what will happen is often a blessing."

"Why?" Laura and Kevin spoke in unison.

"Well . . . suppose we had known last Christmas that Grandma was going to have a stroke the next week. Would you have enjoyed the day?" Dad asked.

"No, it would have been awful," answered Laura slowly.

"I read about one young man who was told he would die at age sixty-five," Dad said, "so he began living very dangerously-driving like a maniac and taking various kinds of crazy risks. At twenty-eight, he was killed in a car crash."

"Then the fortune teller was wrong!" Kevin exclaimed.

"Very often they are, but many people base their lives on the false predictions of fortune tellers or horoscopes. That's dangerous," Dad warned.

"Would going to a fortune teller be walking 'in the counsel of the ungodly'?" asked Laura. "That's in a Psalm I learned."

Dad nodded as he pulled the car into the parking lot and
pointed to a sign: Joe's Ice Cream Parlor-Grand Opening! "God wants us to trust
Him," said Dad, "just like you trusted me today when you didn't know where I
would take you. God wisely hides sorrows and hurts from us, and He lovingly
provides many beautiful surprises."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you remember the future is in God's control? Horoscopes, ouija boards, and all forms of fortune telling are tools of Satan and are condemned by God. Trust Him and don't worry about what will happen in the future. He's the only one who knows, and He has everything under control.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly." Psalm 1:1

[Soldier4Christ]

Jeff was spending summer vacation with his cousin Robby, and every day was action-packed. Jeff loved it-except for the time each evening when Uncle Philip called them together for family devotions. "You don't really believe all that religious stuff, do you?" Jeff asked Robby one night after they were in bed.

"Sure I do-and it's not 'religious stuff'!" retorted Robby.

Jeff shrugged. "Well, I don't see how anyone could believe some of those Bible stories. Imagine men walking in fire and not being burned. Or a man walking on water, or people crossing a sea and not getting wet," mocked Jeff.

As they drove into town the next day, Robby read a bumper sticker: "If God said it, I believe it, and it's so."

"It should just say, 'If God said it, it's so,'" commented Robby's dad. "It's so, whether I believe it or not." Robby nodded, but Jeff acted as if he hadn't heard.

A few days later, Uncle Philip took the boys canoeing. "This water's not very deep," said Jeff as they floated peacefully downstream. "I can see the bottom."

Uncle Philip chuckled. "It's deeper than it looks, Jeff," he said. "I'm sure it's over your head."

"Ahhh, I don't believe it," scoffed Jeff.

They ducked suddenly as they went under a low-hanging branch. The canoe tipped, spilling them all into the water. They came up spitting and sputtering. "Stand up, Jeff," called Robby.

"I can't!" Jeff called back. "I can't touch the bottom." He swam toward the overturned canoe. "It's deeper than I thought."

Soon they were again paddling downstream. "The water was deep whether you believed it or not, Jeff," observed Uncle Philip. "Not believing it doesn't change it. The same is true of God's Word."

Jeff grinned sheepishly as Robby repeated, "So if God
said it, it's so!"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you believe all of the Word of God-the Bible? Do you believe what it says about Jesus? Your unbelief will not change the truth, but it will change your life. God says if you do not believe on Jesus, you are "condemned already," but if you will believe, you are no longer condemned. Believe on Jesus. Ask Him to save you today.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"What if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not!" Romans 3:3-4

[Soldier4Christ]

Jen dug her paddle into the water with powerful, even strokes. "Dad! Look over there!" she exclaimed as their canoe reached a rough stretch of water. Up ahead, an over-turned canoe drifted downstream, and a woman desperately clung to a tree that had fallen partially across the river.

"Help me!" the woman cried in fright as Jen and Dad approached.

"Jen, if we get too close to her, she might panic and grab our canoe," Dad warned. "We need to maneuver around and get downstream from her." With Jen's rapid strokes providing forward momentum, Dad expertly turned their canoe around the tree and just beyond the stranded woman. "Let go of the tree limb and let the river take you downstream!" Dad shouted. "We'll pick you up."

"I can't," replied the woman fearfully. "The current will pull me under."

"Your life jacket will keep your head above water," Dad assured her. He finally persuaded the young woman to release her hold from the tree, and she floated downstream to safety.

Later that afternoon, Jen couldn't stop talking about what had happened. "That lady was so scared, Mom," she said. "She was hanging onto that tree like her life depended on it. But the tree couldn't get her to safety. She had to let go of it and trust her life jacket. Seems like she should have known it would keep her afloat. When she gave it a chance, it took her right out of that strong current to calm water."

"She was relying on the wrong thing for help, wasn't
she?" said Mom. After a moment she added, "I do that myself sometimes, don't
you?" Jen looked at her mother in surprise. "When things go wrong, I sometimes
rely on my own ability to take care of a situation, or upon our pastor,"
explained Mom. She laughed as she added, "Or on your dad-he's good at a lot of
things, but there are many things he can't handle." Mom shook her head.
"Sometimes I don't ask God for help until everything else I try has failed. He
should be my first resort, not my last. He's the one who can direct me to the
help I need."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Is God the one you turn to when you have a problem? Or do you first try everything else you can think of? Do you depend on hard work, athletic ability, or intelligence? Do you figure your parents, teacher, or friend will take care of your problem? God is the one you need to depend on. Call on Him and trust Him to show you where to find the help you need.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust." Psalm 16:1

[Soldier4Christ]

Matt felt a little nervous. He was on his way to return some books his dad had borrowed from Pastor Baker. Matt's family hadn't attended any church until recently, but now he would have to talk with the pastor! What can we talk about? he wondered.

Matt parked his bike in the pastor's driveway and slowly walked to the door. Timidly, he rang the bell. "Hey, there, Matt! Come on in," Pastor Baker greeted him, taking the books. Matt followed the pastor into the house. "My wife just took some of her famous chocolate chip cookies from the oven. Are you hungry?" Matt never could turn down a chocolate chip cookie!

As he greeted Mrs. Baker in the kitchen, Matt heard the sound of a ball game on TV-the same game he had been listening to back home. "You listen to baseball games?" Matt asked in surprise.

Pastor Baker laughed. "Sure. I've been a baseball fan ever since I was your age." He picked up a small pail. "Would you like to listen, or would you like to come out to the berry patch with me? I was just going out to pick some raspberries when I heard the doorbell. Why not come along and pick some for your mom? Maybe she'll make a raspberry pie."

"Sounds good," said Matt with a grin. And that's how he came to be in a berry patch, talking to Pastor Baker about school and ball games and all kinds of things.

"I didn't know pastors did . . . ah . . . regular things," Matt said after a while.

Pastor Baker grinned. "Some people seem to think pastors study and read the Bible all the time," he said. "In order to teach God's Word to the congregation, we do have to study more than most people. But we need to learn all those lessons ourselves, too. We're really just like anybody else."

The next Sunday, Matt listened to the sermon more
attentively than usual. Knowing that Pastor Baker liked baseball and chocolate
chip cookies and gardens made it easier to listen.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you wondered what a pastor does when he's not preaching? Ask him. He'll be glad to tell you. Have you ever thought about being a pastor or a church leader when you get older? It's an occupation the Lord calls a "good work." Pray for your pastor and other church leaders, and be willing and available if God calls you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop (pastor), he desires a good work." 1 Timothy 3:1

[Soldier4Christ]

Tammy carefully placed a small cardboard box in her desk at school. It contained an art project she had done at home. With just a little help from Grandma, it had turned out very nice, and she had brought it to show the class.

When Mrs. Sims finally called on Tammy, she took the box out of her desk, carried it to the front of the room, and set it on the table. She opened the lid and carefully lifted the contents out of the box. "This is a cocoon," she said. "I made it out of paper mache."

"It sure is ugly!" one of the boys called out.

"Well, cocoons are ugly," replied Tammy, "but you haven't seen all of my project yet." She tore open the back side of the cocoon and brought out a tiny, white and yellow, ceramic butterfly.

"Hey! Cool! That's really pretty!" one of the girls exclaimed.

"Nice job, Tammy," approved her teacher. "The beautiful butterfly that develops inside the cocoon is a good reminder to us that outer appearance isn't as important as what's inside."

That afternoon Tammy walked home from school with her friend Sarah. "What do you think of the new girl in our class?" Sarah asked.

"Carrie?" asked Tammy. She shrugged. "I talked to her for only a few minutes at recess, but she seemed nice to me."

"She sure dresses funny," observed Sarah, "and those glasses she wears are a weird shape-they make her look so goofy."

Tammy frowned. "Well, I guess it's like Mrs. Sims said when I showed my art project-appearance isn't the most important thing. We talked about that in Sunday school, too, remember? We learned God looks at our hearts and not at our outward appearance."

"Well . . . I . . . ah, sure," murmured Sarah. "I'm
sorry. I guess I need to work on not looking at what people wear and instead
look for what God sees."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
How do you judge people? By the way they look? God wants you to accept everyone and show respect, no matter how they look. Talk with them and get to know them. Don't make hasty judgments.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." John 7:24

[Soldier4Christ]

Mr. Brock's van was packed full of kids-his own children plus several of their friends. They were on their way to Bible Club, and the noise level in the car was at its usual high pitch. Mr. Brock listened to the chatter good-naturedly until he pulled onto Route 40. "Okay, kids," he said then, "I'm going to ask you to settle down and be quiet for the next few miles. The road is under construction here, and driving needs my complete concentration."

"Your dad says that every week," Mandy whispered to Jake.

"Well, it's not easy driving through here," Jake defended his dad.

For a while the kids were quiet. Then one of the boys playfully punched another boy, who punched him back. Before long, a book went flying through the car, hitting Mr. Brock on the back of the head. He jerked the steering wheel, and the van gave a crazy turn toward the oncoming lane of traffic. "Watch out!" someone screamed.

Mr. Brock gripped the wheel and pulled off on the side of the road. "Thank You, Lord," he breathed. Then he turned and solemnly talked to the children about how important it was for them to sit quietly.

When they arrived at Bible Club, they told their teacher all about what had happened. Mrs. Grady shook her head. "Driving a car full of boys and girls is a huge responsibility," she said. "Mr. Brock accepts it as a ministry-a way to serve God. You can help him and share with him in his ministry."

"We can?" asked one of the girls. "How?"

"By sitting quietly," said Mrs. Grady. "When the Apostle
Paul wrote to Titus, he said one of the characteristics of a maturing young
person is soberness, or self-control. In your situation, that involves talking
softly and not fighting or yelling while Mr. Brock is driving. Why not help him
in his ministry by encouraging all the kids to show self-control and be
quiet?"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ride on a school bus? Do your parents or a friend's parents drive you different places? How do you act? Do you show self-control? Or do you goof off and fight or yell? It's difficult to drive when kids are noisy. When you're in a bus or car, be courteous and talk quietly. Encourage other riders to show self-control, too.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous." 1 Peter 3:8

[Soldier4Christ]

"I told Pastor Blake we'd be glad to have the Whitlocks stay with us," said Mom on the way home from church.

"That's good news and bad news," Chelsea piped up. "It's good news because it's fun to talk with missionaries, but it's bad news because I'll have to clean my room."

"And that'll take a lo-o-ong time," teased her brother Chris. Chelsea's room was used for the guest room whenever the family had overnight company.

The following week, Chelsea worked very hard to get her room ready. After school each day, she spent some time cleaning her closet, dresser drawers, and desk. On Saturday morning, her mom helped her put clean sheets on the bed and wash the windows. "Can you think of some little things to make your guests comfortable?" asked Mom.

"Um . . . flowers!" exclaimed Chelsea, so she went out and picked a bouquet. She also set out a candle for the guests and used her markers to make a "Welcome to our home" sign. "My room is ready!" she declared happily.

Soon after supper, the Whitlocks arrived, and they spent the next three nights in Chelsea's home. She enjoyed talking with them-and after they were gone, she found they had left her something special. On her bed was a note addressed to her. "Thank you for your hospitality," she read. "It's a good habit to learn early in life, and you have a special gift for making guests feel welcome. God bless you!" There was also a beautiful necklace that had been made in Africa.

"Cool! Next time I think I'll have them stay in my room," teased her brother.

Chelsea grinned at him. "I don't think this necklace
would look very good on you," she retorted. "It was fun having them here. It was
worth all the work, even without the necklace."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you cheerfully tackle the extra work required when your parents invite guests? The next time company is coming, remember that God wants you to welcome guests and make them feel comfortable. Demonstrate God's love by preparing for their arrival and meeting their needs whenever possible.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality." Romans 12:13

[Soldier4Christ]

"Look at this!" Isaac held the newspaper in front of his mother's face. She backed away a few inches and saw the headline: "Thousands Attend Rally for Self-Proclaimed Christ." Isaac spoke again. "How can anybody believe that?" he asked. "Everyone knows that Jesus is the only Savior."

Mom reached for her sweater as they prepared to leave for the mall. "No, Isaac," she said. "Many people have no idea who Jesus is."

Their first stop was at the bank. As they waited in line, they heard the conversation between a teller and a customer. "Mr. Pell, do you know where you got this?" asked the teller as he held out a twenty dollar bill.

"Why, no," replied Mr. Pell. "At my store we take them in every day. Is something wrong with that one?"

"I think there may be," replied the teller. "We've been warned that counterfeit bills are being circulated in this area. Our manager will need to check this."

When Isaac and his mother got up to the counter, Isaac spoke to the teller. "How did you know that was a counterfeit bill?"

The teller smiled at him. "Well, part of our training is to study bills, and I've handled and examined them for years," he said. "When you're well acquainted with the real ones, it's easier to spot the counterfeits."

When they left the bank, Isaac was thoughtful as he studied a dollar bill. Then he snapped his fingers. "I've got it!" He turned to his mother. "People are fooled by men claiming to be the Savior because they don't know the real Savior."

"You're right." Mom nodded. "If we've become well acquainted with the real Savior through studying His Word and talking with Him, we're less likely to be led astray by false christs and false teachers."

Isaac continued to look at the dollar bill in his hand.
A twinkle came to his eye, and he turned to his mother with a grin. "I sure wish
I had a five dollar bill to study so I could avoid ever taking a counterfeit
one. Could you help me out?"




HOW ABOUT YOU?
How well do you know Jesus? He's the only Savior of the world. Start today to learn more about Him. Read His Word. Talk with Him. Get to know Him well. Then you won't be easily fooled by teachers who present counterfeit christs-teachers who tell you there is a way to heaven other than through faith in Jesus.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no Savior." Isaiah 43:11

[Soldier4Christ]

"Aunt Kim, do you have any funny stories for us today?" Isabel asked one evening when her aunt and uncle were over for dinner.

Aunt Kim, who was a kindergarten teacher, smiled. "Well, my class has been learning the first verse of 'America the Beautiful,'" she replied. "It refers to the 'fruited plain' of our country. One little girl has an uncle who is a pilot, and she asked if the 'fruited plane' was owned by United Airlines." Everyone chuckled.

"That reminds me of myself," said Uncle Don. "I must have been at least ten years old before I realized the true meaning of the hymn 'In the Garden.' The chorus says, 'And He walks with me, and He talks with me.' I always thought it said, 'Andy walks with me.' To me, that meant the old church janitor whose name was Andy. He always talked with us kids."

Dad nodded. "I remember him well," he said. "You know, it's kind of sad to think of kids-or even adults-not really knowing what they're singing about in church."

"But some songs have hard words," said Isabel timidly. "Like one we sang last week about raising an Ebenezer. What does that mean? What's an Ebenezer?"

Dad smiled and reached for the family Bible. "The word literally means 'stone of help,'" he explained. "The prophet Samuel built a stone monument and named it 'Ebenezer' because, as he said, the Lord had helped them win a battle. We read about it in First Samuel." Dad turned to the passage and read some verses (see 1 Samuel 7:7-12). "So, Isabel, to raise an Ebenezer means to declare the Lord is our helper," continued Dad. "Does that make sense to you?"

Isabel nodded. She was glad she had
asked.




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you understand the words you sing in your church? Perhaps you sing some of the old hymns. They're great, but some may have words you don't often hear anymore-and new songs may also have words you don't understand. For example, do you know what it means to be standing on "holy ground"? If you wonder what any word means, don't be afraid to ask.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"Sing praises with understanding." Psalm 47:7

[Soldier4Christ]

As Brittany and her friend Shannon walked through the dining room, Brittany pointed to the shelves that held her mother's prized cup collection. "Mom uses these only when she has company," said Brittany. "Otherwise no one is supposed to handle them. I'll show you my favorite one." She took a cup and held it out to her friend. But Shannon backed away, shaking her head. Thinking Shannon would take the cup, Brittany let it go. It fell to the table, and the handle broke off. Both girls gasped in horror.

"I . . . I didn't do that," Shannon said quickly. "You took it off the shelf."

Brittany looked at the break. "I can fix this," she said. "Dad has some glue he says works like magic. I'll fix it right now before Mom gets home."

Several days later, Brittany's mother hosted a group of ladies who were planning a school event. Brittany recognized Mrs. Clarke, an antique store manager. "You have a lovely cup collection," Mrs. Clarke said with a smile. "I'm something of an expert when it comes to these." She examined Brittany's favorite cup-the one she had repaired. "This one is special," declared Mrs. Clarke, "even though the handle has been glued on."

"Glued on?" asked Mom.

"Why, yes. Hadn't you noticed it?" Mrs. Clarke showed Mom a tiny crack at the bottom of the handle. Brittany blushed and quickly left the room when her mother glanced at her. She knows I did it, thought Brittany.

After the ladies left, Brittany and her mother talked
about the cup. "The broken cup isn't the serious problem," said Mom. "Your
disobedience and trying to hide it is." She held up the cup. "The flaw in it was
hidden from us, but not from someone who knows more about them." She handed the
cup to Brittany. "Keep it," said Mom, "and let it remind you that even if you
can hide sin from people, God knows all about it. It damages your relationship
with Him, and often with others, too. You've apologized, and I do forgive you.
God stands ready to forgive, too, when you repent and confess your
sin."




HOW ABOUT YOU?
Have you tried to hide or cover some sin? Maybe Mom and Dad or your teachers don't know about a wrong thing you've done, but there is no way you can hide it from God. He sees everything. Confess your sin and then thank Him for forgiving you. The Lord wants you to be honest with Him and others.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
"O God, You know my foolishness; and my sins are not hidden from You." Psalm 69:5