Just a little thing
Children's sermon
Object:
a match
Here is something only adults should touch. (Show the
match.) Why is that? (Let them answer.) That's right! We
don't touch matches because they cause fires. Fires can spread
rapidly and burn down things that are important to us. One
little match like this could burn down an entire forest!
There is another little thing I am thinking about that also is powerful. I'll give you a hint about what it is: It's in your mouth. What am I talking about? (Let them answer.) Our tongues! When the Bible talks about the tongue, it really is talking about our ability to speak. The tongue helps us talk, and the little things we say can cause a lot of good or a lot of harm.
With our tongues and our mouths we can say nice things. We can compliment people when we see something pleasant or we can say how much we like them. This would be good use of our tongues -- just like the good use of a match would be to light the candles we have at church this morning. But we can also use our mouths to say nasty things to others. We can say things that hurt other people's feelings. We can even say things against God.
The mouth is small compared to the rest of our body, but it is important and powerful because it can do so much good or it can do so much harm.
When the apostle James wrote his letter, he wanted people to watch what they say so that they might use their mouths to say helpful things instead of harmful things. Can you share with me some things that would be helpful and kind that we can say with our mouths? (Let them answer.)
I'm glad God has given us the power to use our tongues and our mouths for good things. I'm also glad that when we misuse our tongues, God forgives us and gives us a chance to start over again.
Dearest Jesus: Teach us to use our tongues to your glory. Amen.
There is another little thing I am thinking about that also is powerful. I'll give you a hint about what it is: It's in your mouth. What am I talking about? (Let them answer.) Our tongues! When the Bible talks about the tongue, it really is talking about our ability to speak. The tongue helps us talk, and the little things we say can cause a lot of good or a lot of harm.
With our tongues and our mouths we can say nice things. We can compliment people when we see something pleasant or we can say how much we like them. This would be good use of our tongues -- just like the good use of a match would be to light the candles we have at church this morning. But we can also use our mouths to say nasty things to others. We can say things that hurt other people's feelings. We can even say things against God.
The mouth is small compared to the rest of our body, but it is important and powerful because it can do so much good or it can do so much harm.
When the apostle James wrote his letter, he wanted people to watch what they say so that they might use their mouths to say helpful things instead of harmful things. Can you share with me some things that would be helpful and kind that we can say with our mouths? (Let them answer.)
I'm glad God has given us the power to use our tongues and our mouths for good things. I'm also glad that when we misuse our tongues, God forgives us and gives us a chance to start over again.
Dearest Jesus: Teach us to use our tongues to your glory. Amen.
