Just say, "No!"
Children's sermon
Object:
an easel with paper and some colored markers
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the
devil. (v. 1)
Good morning, boys and girls. I brought some colored markers so that you and I can think about the devil. What do you think the devil looks like? Do you think he has a round face or a long face? (let them answer) What kind of eyes and ears does he have? (let them answer) Does he have long arms or short arms? (let them answer) Do you think he wears a tie or a turtleneck shirt? (let them answer; continue the process until you have a picture of the devil)
Not many people want to meet the devil because he is bad. You can't trust him and he hates God. Every day the devil plans how to do really bad things to people and to God. He is the champion of all the bad people and bad angels.
This is why we were all surprised when the Spirit of God led Jesus up a mountain to be tempted by the devil. Remember, Jesus had just been baptized and God had called him his Son. Then God has his Son meet with the devil.
The wilderness is a very lonely place. There is probably very little green grass or trees. It is just a place of rocks and sand and steep sides to the mountain. Jesus began to think about his meeting with the devil and he prepared for it by fasting for forty days and forty nights. He didn't eat anything, and after those forty days and nights, he was physically very weak. But he also used the forty days and forty nights as a time of prayer and learning. His faith was very strong even if his body was very weak.
The ugly devil showed up and began to walk around Jesus. He could tell that Jesus was weak and hungry. But the devil also knew that he was challenging the Son of God. God is his enemy. The devil hated God and nothing would make him feel better than to draw Jesus away from God and make him one of his ugly people.
The devil tried. He picked up some stones and asked Jesus to turn them into bread so that he could eat and fill up his empty stomach. Jesus refused. The devil talked about how he could make all of the people follow him by jumping off the highest tower of the temple and letting the angels catch him before he crashed to the ground. Jesus looked at the devil and told him that he would not be tempted. But the devil still hasn't given up. Men want power, riches, beautiful women, and ownership of all the magnificent houses in the whole world. All Jesus had to do was bow down to the devil and those things would be given to him. But Jesus refused and commanded the devil to leave him alone. The ugly devil lost to Jesus and the Father and Spirit. When it was over, the angels came and cared for him. Just like Jesus, we need to say no to the devil. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. I brought some colored markers so that you and I can think about the devil. What do you think the devil looks like? Do you think he has a round face or a long face? (let them answer) What kind of eyes and ears does he have? (let them answer) Does he have long arms or short arms? (let them answer) Do you think he wears a tie or a turtleneck shirt? (let them answer; continue the process until you have a picture of the devil)
Not many people want to meet the devil because he is bad. You can't trust him and he hates God. Every day the devil plans how to do really bad things to people and to God. He is the champion of all the bad people and bad angels.
This is why we were all surprised when the Spirit of God led Jesus up a mountain to be tempted by the devil. Remember, Jesus had just been baptized and God had called him his Son. Then God has his Son meet with the devil.
The wilderness is a very lonely place. There is probably very little green grass or trees. It is just a place of rocks and sand and steep sides to the mountain. Jesus began to think about his meeting with the devil and he prepared for it by fasting for forty days and forty nights. He didn't eat anything, and after those forty days and nights, he was physically very weak. But he also used the forty days and forty nights as a time of prayer and learning. His faith was very strong even if his body was very weak.
The ugly devil showed up and began to walk around Jesus. He could tell that Jesus was weak and hungry. But the devil also knew that he was challenging the Son of God. God is his enemy. The devil hated God and nothing would make him feel better than to draw Jesus away from God and make him one of his ugly people.
The devil tried. He picked up some stones and asked Jesus to turn them into bread so that he could eat and fill up his empty stomach. Jesus refused. The devil talked about how he could make all of the people follow him by jumping off the highest tower of the temple and letting the angels catch him before he crashed to the ground. Jesus looked at the devil and told him that he would not be tempted. But the devil still hasn't given up. Men want power, riches, beautiful women, and ownership of all the magnificent houses in the whole world. All Jesus had to do was bow down to the devil and those things would be given to him. But Jesus refused and commanded the devil to leave him alone. The ugly devil lost to Jesus and the Father and Spirit. When it was over, the angels came and cared for him. Just like Jesus, we need to say no to the devil. Amen.
