Both are needed
Children's sermon
Object:
a flashlight and batteries
Good morning! I have here a flashlight and some batteries.
(Show both.) What is a flashlight supposed to do? (Let them
answer.) Yes. That's right. A flashlight is made to give light.
Now if I turn on the flashlight without the batteries inside,
what will happen? (Let them answer.) Yes, of course. Nothing will
happen because it needs the power of the batteries in order to
work. If you want light, you need both a flashlight and the
batteries. Either one, by itself, is useless.
In the letter of James we read this same thing is true of
faith and works. Either one, by itself, is useless. When God
makes us Christians, he wants us to do good works. What do you
think that means? What are good works? (Let them answer.) Yes,
good works are the things that we do that are pleasing to God:
things like coming to church, helping other people, and obeying
our parents. These are all good works. However, we can't just do
good works in life. We must do something else that is very
important. Do you know what that is? (Let them answer.) Yes, we
must believe in Jesus. When we have faith in Jesus, we will want
to be like him. And our good works show God that we want to be
like Jesus.
On the other hand, if you say that you do believe in Jesus,
but don't do any good works, are you telling the truth? (Let them
answer.) No, you aren't. People who have faith, who really
believe, will always do good works. We need both faith and good
works. Let's ask God to help us remember that.
Dear Father in Heaven: We thank You for giving us faith so that
we can believe in Jesus. Help us to remember that You want us to
do good works in the name of Jesus. Help us remember that we need
both faith and good works. Amen.
(Show both.) What is a flashlight supposed to do? (Let them
answer.) Yes. That's right. A flashlight is made to give light.
Now if I turn on the flashlight without the batteries inside,
what will happen? (Let them answer.) Yes, of course. Nothing will
happen because it needs the power of the batteries in order to
work. If you want light, you need both a flashlight and the
batteries. Either one, by itself, is useless.
In the letter of James we read this same thing is true of
faith and works. Either one, by itself, is useless. When God
makes us Christians, he wants us to do good works. What do you
think that means? What are good works? (Let them answer.) Yes,
good works are the things that we do that are pleasing to God:
things like coming to church, helping other people, and obeying
our parents. These are all good works. However, we can't just do
good works in life. We must do something else that is very
important. Do you know what that is? (Let them answer.) Yes, we
must believe in Jesus. When we have faith in Jesus, we will want
to be like him. And our good works show God that we want to be
like Jesus.
On the other hand, if you say that you do believe in Jesus,
but don't do any good works, are you telling the truth? (Let them
answer.) No, you aren't. People who have faith, who really
believe, will always do good works. We need both faith and good
works. Let's ask God to help us remember that.
Dear Father in Heaven: We thank You for giving us faith so that
we can believe in Jesus. Help us to remember that You want us to
do good works in the name of Jesus. Help us remember that we need
both faith and good works. Amen.
