Friends
Children's sermon
Object:
none
They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers. (v. 5)
Good morning, boys and girls! How are you this morning? (allow answers) How many of you have learned to stay away from strangers? (allow answers) What do your parents and teachers tell you about strangers? (allow answers)
When we are kids, we get a lot of warnings about strangers. We aren't supposed to get into cars with strangers. We aren't supposed to take candy from strangers. We aren't even supposed to talk to strangers!
But we are supposed to spread Jesus' word. If we are taught not to talk to strangers -- and if everyone else is taught not to talk to strangers -- then how can we spread Jesus' word in a way that will make others listen?
The way to do this is to make friends with people who might not go to church. In the Bible, Jesus made friends with sinners and tax collectors. Those were people that were not liked in Jesus' time. But Jesus saw that those were the people who needed his friendship and his message of love the most!
You probably know people who don't have many friends. You probably know people who are sad or lonely. These are the people who should hear God's message of hope and love! But if we are strangers to these people, they won't hear us when we talk to them about God's word. We have to reach out a hand of friendship to others before we can help them understand the Good News: that Jesus died for our sins and that God loves us like his own children! As we spread God's word through the things we say, we also have to show God's word in the things we do. By being a friend to those who need friendship, you are showing God's love.
So this week, do something nice for another person. Smile as you walk past. Help someone with a door. Use your actions to show God's love, and you just might make a friend along the way. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls! How are you this morning? (allow answers) How many of you have learned to stay away from strangers? (allow answers) What do your parents and teachers tell you about strangers? (allow answers)
When we are kids, we get a lot of warnings about strangers. We aren't supposed to get into cars with strangers. We aren't supposed to take candy from strangers. We aren't even supposed to talk to strangers!
But we are supposed to spread Jesus' word. If we are taught not to talk to strangers -- and if everyone else is taught not to talk to strangers -- then how can we spread Jesus' word in a way that will make others listen?
The way to do this is to make friends with people who might not go to church. In the Bible, Jesus made friends with sinners and tax collectors. Those were people that were not liked in Jesus' time. But Jesus saw that those were the people who needed his friendship and his message of love the most!
You probably know people who don't have many friends. You probably know people who are sad or lonely. These are the people who should hear God's message of hope and love! But if we are strangers to these people, they won't hear us when we talk to them about God's word. We have to reach out a hand of friendship to others before we can help them understand the Good News: that Jesus died for our sins and that God loves us like his own children! As we spread God's word through the things we say, we also have to show God's word in the things we do. By being a friend to those who need friendship, you are showing God's love.
So this week, do something nice for another person. Smile as you walk past. Help someone with a door. Use your actions to show God's love, and you just might make a friend along the way. Amen.
