Sermons4Kids

[Soldier4Christ]

All We Like Sheep

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 (KJV)

If you could be any kind of animal, what animal would you like to be?  Why? (Give the children time to respond.)  Well, one animal some of you might choose to be is a sheep.  Do you know very much about sheep?  I found some very interesting facts about sheep.  For example, did you know that...

• A grown female sheep is called a ewe.

• A grown male sheep is called a ram.

• Baby sheep are called lambs.

• There are more than 1000 different breeds of sheep worldwide.

• In the country of New Zealand, there are more sheep than people (10 to 1).

• Sheep have no front top teeth.

• A lamb can find its mother by the sound of her bleat.

• Every sheep looks different, and even though we humans sometimes can't tell them apart, the sheep can.

• Did you know that sheep are mentioned more times in the Bible than any other animal?  Sheep and lambs are mentioned about 400 times in the Bible!

The Children of God are referred to as sheep throughout the Bible.  Why?  For one thing, raising sheep has been an important way for people to make a living for thousands of years.  People in Bible times knew a lot about sheep, so they were a good object to use in teaching.  Another reason is because we humans have so much in common with sheep.

For example, sheep aren't very smart.  If a sheep tries to go through a hole in the fence, and the hole is too small, he will just keep on trying to go through the hole instead of backing out.  Like sheep, we aren't very smart either.  We keep on doing the same things over and over and expect different results.

Sheep are followers.  If one sheep moves, the others will follow even though it may not be a good decision.  If the lead sheep jumps over a cliff, the others are likely to follow.  Sometimes we are followers too.  We follow what other people are doing, even though it may be harmful to us.

Sheep sometimes wander. They graze without paying attention to where they are going. They may be unable to find their way home even when it's within sight.  We sometimes wander too.  We stray away from what God has taught us to do.  Like the sheep, we sometimes can't find the way home even when it is in plain sight.

Fortunately for the sheep, the shepherd is there to rescue them and bring them home to the sheep fold.  Fortunately for us, we also have a Shepherd to rescue us and lead us home.  In our Bible lesson today, the prophet Isaiah said, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."  He was foretelling that Jesus was coming to rescue the straying sheep.

All of us like sheep have gone astray.  Fortunately, we have a shepherd to lead us home.  Jesus is that Shepherd.

Dear Father, we thank you for sending your Son to save us, your lost and straying sheep.  Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

Learning from a Flock of Geese

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)

You have probably heard someone call another person who has done something foolish, "A silly goose!" Well, I can tell you that geese are not silly! We can learn a lot from the goose. For example, I am sure that most of you probably know that when geese fly, they fly in a "V" formation. Have you ever wondered why the geese fly in a "V" formatiom?

Recent scientific studies have given us the answer. It has been learned that as each goose flaps its wings, it gives a lift to the one immediately following. It has been determined that flying this way gives the geese about 70% more flying range.

Of course, that means that the lead goose is working harder. When the lead goose gets tired, he falls back into the formation and another takes his place. Now, that's team work!

If you have ever seen a flock of geese flying, you have also noticed that all the time they are flying, the geese are "honking." They do this to encourage one another. It is always easier to do something difficult when you know you aren't flying alone, isn't it?

Sometimes, a goose becomes sick or is injured and falls to the ground. When that happens, two other geese go down and stay with it until it is well. If it dies, they join another formation and continue on their journey.

Do you think the geese are silly? It sounds to me like they are pretty smart! What lessons do you think we could learn from the geese?

We could learn that it is important for all church members to share the responsibility within the church rather than letting the same loyal ones work until they drop!

We could learn that it is important to "honk" encouragement to other workers in the church.

We could learn that it is important for us to look after those who are sick or in need.

There is a lot that we can learn from the goose, isn't there?

Dear Jesus, help us to use the gifts that you have given us to serve and encourage others. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

How Much Are We Worth?

This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:10 (NLT)

In my hand, I have 3 dollars: one Sacajawea gold dollar, one Susan B. Anthony dollar, and a Washington paper dollar. Which one is worth the most? Why? What makes one more special than another?

But aren’t they all worth $1.00? Yes, they are all worth the same. They each look different, but all have the same value when we try to spend them.

People are just like that in God’s sight. We all come in different sizes, heights, weight, have different hair & eye color, some are smarter, some are prettier, etc. But when it all comes down, we all have the same value to God. He gave His precious Son Jesus for our sins so that we could be close to God. He sent Jesus to die for our sins. To me, that makes me feel very valuable to God--worth more than anything money could ever buy.

Dear Father, we are thankful that though we are all different, you love us all the same. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Cheater Finds a Friend


Hi kids.  Hey, do you kids like parades?  Have you ever been to a really exciting parade, maybe at Disneyworld or right here in our town? You wanted to see everything that was happening but maybe there were just too many bigger people in front of you and you had trouble seeing?  Maybe your Dad lifted you up on his shoulders so you could see?

I have a story today that happened when Jesus was living on earth, wearing a human body of skin and bones, like ours, so he could only be in one place at a time, like you and me.  Jesus was going from place to place telling everyone about our Father God. Jesus was so full of love and was healing sick people, so everyone in town was rushing to the street just to see him as he walked through their town, just like a parade.

One man was so short, that he couldn’t see a thing! He name was Zacchaeus, but, I’m sure his mother and friends would have called him Zach, only, well, he didn’t have any friends!  No friends!  You see, he was a cheater; he wanted to have more money than anyone else, so at his job, he cheated people and took more of their money than he should have.  People didn’t like that, and they didn’t like Zacchaeus. When he couldn’t see what was happening in the street, no one moved over to let him get to the front. No one offered to boost him up on their shoulders. Zacchaeus had an idea. He ran down the street and climbed up into a big tree right above the street.  “Now,” he thought, “I’ve got a better view than anybody!”

Jesus came down the street with everyone in town calling out to him with great excitement.  Suddenly, Jesus stopped...He looked straight up into the tree where Zacchaeus sat, and looked at him and said, “Zack! Hurry Down! Today I’d like to stay at your house.”  Zacchaeus wondered, “How does Jesus know my name? And, why did he call me Zach, like he was my friend?”

But some of the people from the town said, “What!! We have other people in town with nice houses!  That guy is a cheater!  Jesus, you don’t want to stay at his house!”

Suddenly Zach knew that more than anything in the world, he wanted Jesus to come to his house!  He wanted to hear Jesus call him Zach! He wanted to know Jesus as his friend. Zacchaeus scrambled down out of the tree.  He said, “Lord Jesus, I give away half of all I have to the poor, and to all those I have cheated, I will pay them back – four times each!”

Jesus knew that Zacchaeus meant what he said.  Jesus did go to Zach’s house and cleaned his heart from the sin of cheating and being selfish.  And best of all, he called him Zach, and was his friend.

How about you?  Have some of you asked Jesus to be your friend?  Oh, we can’t see Jesus walking down the street, wearing skin. But now, because Jesus wears his spirit body, he can come to your house, and my house, and to the homes of people all over the world, at the same time!  He can come into the hearts of people all over the world, at the same time.  And if you ask him to, he will come into your heart and be your friend, and spend the whole day with you!!  Would you like that?  Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes, and pray to Jesus, and ask him to do that.  Are you ready?

“Dear Jesus, I want to be your friend... I want you to clean my heart...I want to hear you call my name...I want to spend the day with you... Come into my heart to stay... Amen.”

[Soldier4Christ]

My Invisible Friend

Colossians 1:15-28

Good Morning! How are you? I'm glad you are here today.

This morning I would like to introduce you to my invisible friend. Can any you tell everyone in the church what he looks like? (Answer.) Well of course not. After all he is invisible. But you know what, I know what he looks like. Not because I have ever seen him, but because he looks just like my dad.

Now that you know my friend looks just like my dad. Can you tell everyone here what my friend looks like? (Answer.) No!? Why not? He looks just like my dad. Oh that's right, you don't know what my dad looks like. Well he looks a lot like me, only he doesn't have as much hair, and his beard is different from mine. But over all he looks a lot like me.

Now can you tell the church what my friend looks like? (Answer.) Very good! You know that was the same problem Paul had when he was trying to tell the Colossians about God. You see the Colossians were Greek Christians, and although they had heard a lot about Jesus they didn't know much about the God of Israel.

So when Paul wanted to tell them about God. He told them that Jesus was the Image of the Invisible God. He knew that if they knew about Jesus then they would know all about God. If there is ever anything you want to know about God. Then remember to look at Jesus and you will find out all about what God is like.

[Soldier4Christ]

Etch-a-Sketch

Having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:14 (NIV)

How many of you have ever played with an Etch A Sketch? You can draw pictures by turning the knobs. I could sit for hours on end drawing pictures. The best thing about an Etch A Sketch is that when you mess up all you have to do is turn it upside down, shake it and then you can start all over again because the mistakes have been erased.

We are like this Etch A Sketch. We do OK for a while and then we mess up. But if we tell God that we messed up and that we are truly sorry, it like he takes us turns us upside down and shakes us. When God forgives our sins he totally erases them and we get to start all over again.

Col 2:14 says that Jesus cancelled the written code and forgives us of our sins

[Soldier4Christ]

Forgiven

All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. Acts 10:43 (NIV)

Football season has started now, and everyone who plays football must play by the rules. When a player breaks a rule in a football game, the referee will throw a penalty flag. The player cannot ask for forgiveness from the referee or say, "I'm sorry, I will do better next time."  A penalty is given and there is no forgiveness.

When we break a rule in life, it is called a sin. The Bible says that God is willing to forgive us of our sins.  How do we get forgiveness for our sins?  By believing in Jesus and asking for forgiveness with a willing heart.  Jesus is waiting to forgive us of all of our sins.

Jesus, thank you for your love and for your forgiveness of our sins. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

I Want to See Jesus

"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." Mark 10:51 (NIV)

Isn't this a beautiful bouquet of flowers? Can you imagine what it must be like to be blind and never see the beauty of things such as these beautiful flowers? The gift of sight is one of the most precious of all of God's gifts.

There is a story in the Bible of a man named Bartimaeus. He had never seen the beauty of a bouquet of flowers, because Bartimaeus was blind. One day as he sat begging beside the road, he heard the sound of a large crowd of people coming his way. He asked someone what was happening and they told him that Jesus was passing by.  Bartimaeus had heard of Jesus and about how he had healed many who were blind. He began to call out to Jesus. Others in the crowd tried to get Bartimaeus to be quiet, but he would not be silent.

Jesus heard the voice of Bartimaeus calling out to him and he stopped and asked, "What do you want me to do for you?"

"Teacher, I want to see!" said Bartimaeus.

"Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." The Bible tells us that immediately, Bartimaeus received his sight.

That is a wonderful story, isn't it? Unfortunately, stories about the blind don't always end that way. There are many blind people who want to see, and yet they are never healed. Fanny Crosby was one of those people.

When Fanny was only six weeks old, she was left blind by an illness. Even though she was blind for the rest of her life, Fanny was never bitter or complaining. Instead she made the most of her life by using the other gifts that God had given her. She had a wonderful gift for writing poetry and during her lifetime, she wrote over 8000 poems. Some of her poems were set to music and many of them are still in our hymnals today.

One day a well-meaning minister said to Fanny, "I think it is a great pity that the Master did not give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you."

"Oh no!" Fanny replied. "If I could have only one request, it would be to be born blind."

"Why?" asked the surprised minister.

"Because," answered Fanny, "when I get to heaven, the first face that these blind eyes will ever see is the face of Jesus, my Savior."

Some, like Bartimaeus, receive the gift of sight. Some, like Fanny Crosby, are blind their entire life. One thing is certain, when we get to heaven, we will all see Jesus.

Dear Father, we thank you for the gift of sight, but more than that, we thank you that one day we will see you in heaven. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

Integrity - Who You Are

The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out. Proverbs 10:9

I love to play the game of golf.  I usually get to fellowship with friends, enjoy the nice weather and have fun.  What I really enjoy about golf, is that it is a game of integrity.  Even though you are in a group, you kind of play by yourself. If you want to cheat, you can usually do so without being caught.  You keep your own score and you are also expected to follow the rules of the game by your fellow players.

Integrity is a big word. To me, it means who you are when nobody is watching you. You are honest and "square dealing" even when nobody is around. You may sneak a cookie at home when Mommy and Daddy are out of the room; and you may get by with it. You may even break something and not tell your parents; and again, you may get by with it. BUT, you know and I know that you really didn't get by with anything.

There are always at least two people who know what has happened. You and God. God wants us to be people of high integrity. Integrity is mentioned twenty-two times in the Bible.

Jesus, thank you for all you have done for me and help to make me a person of great integrity. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

Submission
(Servanthood)

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21, NIV)

Who can tell me what this number is? (Show number "1") How about this? (Show letter "I"). "I" is not just a letter but a word. when we write it out it is always a capital, big and important and it contains the number 1.

When you wake up in the morning do you think, "I'm sleepy" or "I'm hungry"? I think this is because all humans were made to automatically or instinctively think first about ourselves. And that's why "I" is big. It's even called a first person pronoun. That's how we're made; that's how our brain works; that's how we think and since God created us, that's ok.

But the bible tells us we are to be servants, to submit to others, to think about others first. That's not how we think; that's not how our brain works; that's HARD!

Who knows what word this is? (Show "you") It's called a second person pronoun. It's the same if I mean one other person or a bunch of other people. It's harder to write; it's more than one letter; it's not "I"; it's not about "me."

God know its hard for us and that's why he sent Jesus to be an example of how we should be. Jesus told us the most important lesson is to put God first and to think about other people as often as we think about ourselves.

God you created us; you know that we think first of ourselves. Yet you do not get angry when we forget you and others. You love us still. You sent Jesus to be our example. Strengthen us God, to be better people, to think of others and not just ourselves. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Temptation of Christ

Matthew 4:1-11

This morning I am going to give each of you a piece of candy, but no matter what I say or do, don't eat your candy!

(Begin to slowly unwrap a full size candy bar and take a bite. Regardless of what your mother taught you, talk with the candy in your mouth. Talk to the kids about what temptation means, how they are sometimes tempted by their friends to do things that they know aren't right.)

Now Jesus had been in the desert for 40 days without anything to eat. And he was very hungry! The devil came to talk to him and try and lead him away from God. (Take another bite of your candy bar) The devil said to Jesus, "If you really are God's Son, turn these stones into bread." This was a big temptation because Jesus was really hungry. But Jesus refused to give into the temptation.

Why aren't you eating your candy bar, they're really good! (Give that statement time to tempt them.) What are some ways that God can help you when you are tempted? (allow some time for the kids to respond.) Boy this candy bar sure is good, are you sure you don't want to try yours? What am I doing besides being mean? (trying to tempt you to do something you were told not to do.)

The next time that happens to you remember Jesus understands temptation and He will help you resist it.

Let us pray:

Gracious God, we thank you that you understand the things we go through in our life. Remind us to always turn to you when we need help. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

 True Love

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18 (NIV)

 

Today I hold in my hand a very valuable gift. Several years ago, a dear friend of mine gave this to me for my birthday. On the outside, it just looks like an old envelope with my name written on it in crayon. On the inside, it just looks like a tattered old piece of paper with some scribbling on the inside. There's also a dollar enclosed.

To the average person, this would be worthless--except for the dollar. To me, this gift is priceless because it was given in love. By this one little homemade gift, a small boy who has remained my friend through the years showed me that he loved "Big Chris" and just wanted to give him something special for his birthday.

Did you know that you can say that you love someone without really meaning it? The Bible says that it is by our actions that we show our love. (Read 1 John 3:18)

So how do we show people that we love them? By how we treat them. How do we show people the love of Jesus? The same way. It's only when our actions show love that people can really believe that we care about them.

Lord, help us to love with our actions and not just by empty words. May people see Your love in us as we pass that love on to others. Amen!

[Soldier4Christ]

 Duckville


So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; "THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD." Romans 10:17-18 (NASB)

 

This morning I want to tell you about a town that is different than ours. The town is Duckville and everyone that lives there is a . (duck). That's right. Everyone is a duck. The stores are duck stores. The movie theater is a duck theater. The park is a duck park. The church is a . (duck) church.

On Sunday, all of ducks waddled off to duck church to hear what kind of a preacher? (A duck preacher). In that church they didn't have a children's sermon. They had a . (duckling or baby duck) sermon.

On this particular Sunday, as the duck preacher stood at the pulpit, the duck preacher spoke eloquently of how God had given the ducks wings with which to fly. She pounded the pulpit with her beak and said, "With these wings, there is nowhere we ducks can not go! There is no God-given task we ducks cannot accomplish! With these wings we no longer need walk through life. We can soar high in the sky!"

The ducks quacked, "Amen!" throughout the duck congregation. The duck preacher concluded her message by exclaiming, "With our wings we can fly through life! WE ..... CAN .... FLY!!!!" More ducks quacked out loud "AMENS!" in response. Every duck loved the service. In fact all the ducks that were present commented on what a wonderfully convicting message they had heard from their duck preacher.

Then when the left the church they waddled all the way home. They didn't fly like the duck preacher told them they could do. They went home just like they came to church, waddling.

Sometimes we have the same kind of problem the ducks had.

When we come to church, we come to thank God for all He's done for us. We come to praise Him. We also come to learn things about God. Even though God can talk to us anywhere, we come to church to hear what God wants us to do. We want to hear God.

Too many times when God talks to us at church, we don't hear God. We aren't listening. We need to pay attention and listen for God when we are at church and when we aren't at church. God is going to help us do wonderful things. When we leave church each Sunday, we should be different than when we came to church.

Prayer. Dear God, thank you for helping us each week. Please help us to listen to you. Show us how we can be different each week. Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

 The Right Stuff

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Good morning! Can anyone here tell me what this is (holding up the basketball). That's right, it is a basketball. OK, now, who can tell me what this is (holding up the bowling ball). That right, this is a bowling ball.

Tell me, what would happen if I dropped this bowling ball right now? Would it bounce back up, or would it hit the floor with a thud? That's right, it would hit the floor and pretty much stay there wouldn't it? Bowling balls aren't very good at bouncing back up.

Now (grab the basketball) what would happen if I dropped this basketball? Would it bounce back up, or would it hit the floor and stay down? Exactly, it will bounce right back up. Maybe not quite as high, but it still bounces back when it hits the bottom.

Now, why will the basketball bounce back up and the bowling ball won't? (give the kids a chance to shout out their answers). Well those are all great answers. I am sure that there are really smart people in the church today that can explain to us that the density and composition of the basketball is key to its ability to bounce...blah blah blah The simple fact is that the basketball is made of the right stuff. The basketball has what it takes to bounce back. The bowling ball, doesn't.

God made us like that. When things aren't going too well for us we can either be the basketball or the bowling ball. We can choose to either hit the floor and stay there, or we can bounce back to where we were before. We can do that because we are made of the right stuff. God gave us the strength to overcome that which brings us down. He gave us courage when we are afraid. He gave us the ability to bounce back.

So remember this the next time you are feeling down. Next time you are sad, angry, lonely. Remember that you can bounce back. You can do it and God can help.

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the right stuff to bounce back. And we promise that the next time we are feeling down, that we will remember your gift to us and use it to get ourselves back up to where we should be. Thank you God for filling us with the right stuff. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

[Soldier4Christ]

Rules to Live By

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Mark 12:30-31 (NIV)

Do you enjoy playing games? I do. I especially enjoy getting together with family or friends and playing games. Sometimes we play card games or board games. This is one of the games I like to play. (Show the game.) Before we play, we always explain the rules so that everyone will know how to play the game.  Every game comes with its own special set of rules.  To really enjoy the game as it was intended, everyone must play by the rules.  Have you ever played a game with someone who didn't follow the rules? Do you always follow the rules?

There are rules that we must follow in the game of life too. Look, I have the rulebook right here. The Bible is the rulebook we must follow in life. To really enjoy life the way God intended, it is important to follow His rules.

The religious leaders of Jesus' day liked to sit around and discuss the law.  They would sometimes ask Jesus questions about the law to try to trick him into saying something that would cause people to turn against him.  One day they were questioning Jesus and he answered them with one good answer right after another.  A Jewish teacher of the law came in and heard that Jesus was giving good answers and he asked him, "Of all of the commandments, which is the most important?"

Jesus answered him, "The most important one is this, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

There are a lot of rules in this Book.  It may sometimes be difficult to remember all of them.  If we can just remember and obey the two commandments that Jesus said were the most important, all of the rest would follow.  Then we would enjoy life the way God intended it.

Dear Father, help each of us to love you with all our heart and to love others as we love ourself.  Amen.