Garbage in, garbage out
Children's sermon
Object:
a trash bag filled with trash
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you like taking out the garbage or trash? (let them answer) What happens if we don't carry out the trash? (let them answer) Can you imagine what your house would look like if you had piles and piles of garbage and trash all over the house? Soon there would not be a place to sit down or sleep or take a bath.
At least once a week we must take our trash to a place where strong men and women can pick it all up and throw it on garbage trucks. The trucks take it to a dump where big machines grind it all up or make things out of it.
James, the Bible writer, teaches us the same thing about sin. We all sin. Some of us sin a lot and our bodies, hearts, and minds just fill up with sin. It is an awful thing to see or hear someone who is filled with sin, so much sin that they can hardly breathe. What can we do when we fill up with sin? (let them answer)
Very good, we have to get rid of it just like we get rid of garbage and trash. But how do we get rid of sin? We can't put sin in a bag or throw it on a truck. But we want to stop thinking about it.
James says one of the really good ways for Christians is to tell each other about our sins and then pray about it. Have you ever told your mom or dad about something that you did that was really bad? (let them answer) Did it make them unhappy? (let them answer) After you told them about what you did wrong, did you feel better? (let them answer)
I know you felt better because your mom and dad understood how sorry you were and they helped you feel like you were forgiven. That's what happens when Christians tell each other about their sins. They feel bad about sinning and they know that it makes God feel sad. But God is listening to and he tells us we are forgiven and that we can forget about the sin and go on.
The next time you feel bad because of something you did, I want you to find a good friend or go to your mom or dad and tell them about it. Ask for forgiveness and then get rid of that awful feeling inside of you. Getting rid of sin is like getting rid of trash or garbage. Everything is better once you get rid of it and feel God's love and forgiveness.
At least once a week we must take our trash to a place where strong men and women can pick it all up and throw it on garbage trucks. The trucks take it to a dump where big machines grind it all up or make things out of it.
James, the Bible writer, teaches us the same thing about sin. We all sin. Some of us sin a lot and our bodies, hearts, and minds just fill up with sin. It is an awful thing to see or hear someone who is filled with sin, so much sin that they can hardly breathe. What can we do when we fill up with sin? (let them answer)
Very good, we have to get rid of it just like we get rid of garbage and trash. But how do we get rid of sin? We can't put sin in a bag or throw it on a truck. But we want to stop thinking about it.
James says one of the really good ways for Christians is to tell each other about our sins and then pray about it. Have you ever told your mom or dad about something that you did that was really bad? (let them answer) Did it make them unhappy? (let them answer) After you told them about what you did wrong, did you feel better? (let them answer)
I know you felt better because your mom and dad understood how sorry you were and they helped you feel like you were forgiven. That's what happens when Christians tell each other about their sins. They feel bad about sinning and they know that it makes God feel sad. But God is listening to and he tells us we are forgiven and that we can forget about the sin and go on.
The next time you feel bad because of something you did, I want you to find a good friend or go to your mom or dad and tell them about it. Ask for forgiveness and then get rid of that awful feeling inside of you. Getting rid of sin is like getting rid of trash or garbage. Everything is better once you get rid of it and feel God's love and forgiveness.
