The importance of being grateful
Children's sermon
Object:
Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? (v. 18)
Object: a bird feeder filled with seed
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you feed the birds in your yard? (let them answer) Different birds like different kinds of feed. I put a different kind of feed in each of my bird feeders so they will attract hummingbirds, blue birds, cardinals, and even woodpeckers. My backyard is filled with beautiful birds all year long.
I brought along one kind of feed today. This one attracts yellow birds called finches. I just love to watch them hang from the bird feeders and eat their fill. But, a couple of years ago, I was really disappointed. I put out the feed and the yellow birds came, but as soon as they finished they flew far away. I could never hear them sing or watch them fly around the backyard. I remember only one of them staying long enough to sing his song and perch on top of the feeder for a while. I wondered where the other birds had gone. How do you think you would feel if you fed the birds every day and they treated you like this? (let them answer) It would make you feel bad, wouldn't it?
This reminds me of a story. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem when he came to a village. As soon as he entered the village some men began to shout, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" All of these men were very sick. Jesus told them to go to the priests in the temple and show them how sick they were. While they were limping and stumbling toward the temple they began to feel better. Before they even reached the temple, they were healed. One of the men who had been very sick turned around and went back to Jesus. He praised God and fell down on the ground before Jesus and thanked him for healing him.
But where were the other men? What do you think they did? (let them answer) They ran home to tell everyone how happy they were but they never said a word of thanks to Jesus or praised God in any way. The birds in my backyard are a lot like those ungrateful men.
Does it make any difference if you thank God for all of the good things he gives you? Does it really matter if you thank God for the special things that happen in your life? (let them answer)
The sun will always rise and the rain will fall for everyone. But only the people who thank God will know how much God really loves them and cares for them.
