God's BECAUSE
Children's sermon
Object:
a sign that says "IF" and another that says "BECAUSE"
The apostle Paul talks about God's grace. We hear that word
"grace" a lot in the Bible and you hear it spoken or sung at
worship. But what is grace? (You may choose to let them attempt
to define grace now.)
As I think about grace, I think it can be defined by two other words. The first one is the word "IF." (Hold up the "IF" sign.) Most of us live under the "IF" sign. Think about it: IF I am good, then people will love me. IF I misbehave, then people will be angry with me. IF I work hard, I will do well in school. IF I am a friend, I will have friends.
Many people think that the IF world we live in works with God as well. They think, IF I am a good person, then God will love me. IF I try hard, then I can be a child of God. IF I give generously, then God will give to me. Do you see what I mean when I say that many people think that God follows our IFs?
But God does not follow our IFs. God follows BECAUSE. (Show the "BECAUSE" sign.) Let me explain. God loves us BECAUSE God is love, not IF we do the right thing. God rewards us BECAUSE, not IF, we are good enough. God makes us daughters and sons BECAUSE, not IF, we try hard enough. Do you understand what I mean? God loves us BECAUSE, whereas most of the world loves us IF. We call God's BECAUSE by the word "GRACE."
The next time you hear about God's grace, perhaps you will remember that God's grace is also God's BECAUSE.
Another way to think about God's grace is to think of it as God's riches given to us. The apostle Paul says that we are made wealthy, not by money but "according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us." God's great BECAUSE makes us wealthier than the richest person alive! God's grace also makes us children of God. God's grace is everything to those of us who are Christians.
Dearest Jesus: Thank you for giving us grace just BECAUSE you love us. Amen.
As I think about grace, I think it can be defined by two other words. The first one is the word "IF." (Hold up the "IF" sign.) Most of us live under the "IF" sign. Think about it: IF I am good, then people will love me. IF I misbehave, then people will be angry with me. IF I work hard, I will do well in school. IF I am a friend, I will have friends.
Many people think that the IF world we live in works with God as well. They think, IF I am a good person, then God will love me. IF I try hard, then I can be a child of God. IF I give generously, then God will give to me. Do you see what I mean when I say that many people think that God follows our IFs?
But God does not follow our IFs. God follows BECAUSE. (Show the "BECAUSE" sign.) Let me explain. God loves us BECAUSE God is love, not IF we do the right thing. God rewards us BECAUSE, not IF, we are good enough. God makes us daughters and sons BECAUSE, not IF, we try hard enough. Do you understand what I mean? God loves us BECAUSE, whereas most of the world loves us IF. We call God's BECAUSE by the word "GRACE."
The next time you hear about God's grace, perhaps you will remember that God's grace is also God's BECAUSE.
Another way to think about God's grace is to think of it as God's riches given to us. The apostle Paul says that we are made wealthy, not by money but "according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us." God's great BECAUSE makes us wealthier than the richest person alive! God's grace also makes us children of God. God's grace is everything to those of us who are Christians.
Dearest Jesus: Thank you for giving us grace just BECAUSE you love us. Amen.
