Kind words
Children's sermon
Object:
Words that express abuse -- "I hate you" or "You are a coward" and "You are ugly" and other words that make children feel bad when said to them
Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever heard the saying, "sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me"? Is that true? (let them answer) When people call you names, does it make you feel really bad? (let them answer) Do you ever say things that you hope will hurt someone else? (let them answer) Tell me some words that really hurt. (let them answer)
I never have liked the word hate. Hate is an awful word and sometimes I hear people say, "I hate you!" Usually the person to whom that is said will say something like, "I hate you, too!" Then the fight begins. Someone always ends up hurt.
Another word that really hurts is the word ugly. When one person says the other person is ugly the other person says something bad right back, so ugly is a fighting word, too.
Have you ever heard someone called a coward? That, too, is a fighting word.
What are you supposed to do when someone calls you a bad name? (let them answer) Do you think you should fight or should you think up really bad names or find a big friend who is a couple of years older and let him beat up the other guy?
How do you think Jesus would handle it? Would he ask God to send over a big black cloud and let it rain just on the bad guy? (let them answer) Do you think Jesus might let him fall down the steps or walk in front of a car? (let them answer)
Does that sound like Jesus? (let them answer) I don't think so either. As a matter of fact, the Bible teaches us that Jesus never did bad things to people who did bad things to him.
Jesus asked the question, "Why should you be praised for doing something good to a friend who has done something good to you?" You should love your enemies and do good things to them so they become your friends. Sounds like good advice, doesn't it? (let them answer)
The next time someone says bad things to you and wants to fight, you could think of something nice to say to him or her. If someone calls you ugly, tell them how pretty or good looking they are. If someone calls you a coward, tell them how glad you are to have brave friends like they are, and if someone says, "I hate you," tell them how much you love them.
These kinds of things are part of the teaching of Jesus. When we listen to him and act like him, we are bringing peace to the world.
I never have liked the word hate. Hate is an awful word and sometimes I hear people say, "I hate you!" Usually the person to whom that is said will say something like, "I hate you, too!" Then the fight begins. Someone always ends up hurt.
Another word that really hurts is the word ugly. When one person says the other person is ugly the other person says something bad right back, so ugly is a fighting word, too.
Have you ever heard someone called a coward? That, too, is a fighting word.
What are you supposed to do when someone calls you a bad name? (let them answer) Do you think you should fight or should you think up really bad names or find a big friend who is a couple of years older and let him beat up the other guy?
How do you think Jesus would handle it? Would he ask God to send over a big black cloud and let it rain just on the bad guy? (let them answer) Do you think Jesus might let him fall down the steps or walk in front of a car? (let them answer)
Does that sound like Jesus? (let them answer) I don't think so either. As a matter of fact, the Bible teaches us that Jesus never did bad things to people who did bad things to him.
Jesus asked the question, "Why should you be praised for doing something good to a friend who has done something good to you?" You should love your enemies and do good things to them so they become your friends. Sounds like good advice, doesn't it? (let them answer)
The next time someone says bad things to you and wants to fight, you could think of something nice to say to him or her. If someone calls you ugly, tell them how pretty or good looking they are. If someone calls you a coward, tell them how glad you are to have brave friends like they are, and if someone says, "I hate you," tell them how much you love them.
These kinds of things are part of the teaching of Jesus. When we listen to him and act like him, we are bringing peace to the world.
