The little hat
Children's sermon
Object:
a very small cap or hat that will not fit the head of a child
Good morning, boys and girls. Who do you think is the smartest person here this morning? Do you think it is the choir director, the head usher, the pastor, your mom or dad -- or is it one of you? (let them answer) Being smart means that you know something about a lot of different things or a lot about one thing. But if you are smart, you don't want to brag about it, do you? (let them answer)
Have you ever heard about someone who was "too big for their britches" or about someone who had a "big head"? When someone gives you a hat about this size, they are trying to tell you that you are bragging too much. (try on the hat, and then put it on the heads of several of the children) This isn't any good, is it? You can't wear a hat that is this small. Or is the hat the right size but your head is too big? (let them answer) We hope that the answer is the hat is too small. People don't like people who brag or act too big for their pants.
A long time ago Saint Paul told the Christians to be careful. Christians were making fun of people who took food to feed the false gods. The false gods were rocks or trees or statues. Have you ever seen a rock eat? Have you ever fed a tree? Of course not! But people brought them food because they thought it made them lucky. But some Christians were acting smart. They were eating the food or laughing at the people who brought the food. It was a very sad time. The Christians were trying to show the people that the rock wasn't a god and neither was the statue a god. But this only hurt the people and made them turn away from the Christians.
Paul said that this kind of knowledge did not help anyone. That kind of knowledge hurts people's feelings and makes them sad. Those kind of Christians need to wear this kind of a hat.
You have friends who do not know Jesus. We would like you to invite them to come to church and learn about Jesus. Paul says that the wrong kind of knowledge make some Christians puff up, have a big head. But other Christians love their friends and do not make fun of them. This is called love and it builds up instead of tearing down.
The next time you try on a hat that is too small, ask yourself if you are doing everything you can do to make friends and not to make fun of friends. Then you can get rid of the cap that is too small and pick out one that really fits you.
Have you ever heard about someone who was "too big for their britches" or about someone who had a "big head"? When someone gives you a hat about this size, they are trying to tell you that you are bragging too much. (try on the hat, and then put it on the heads of several of the children) This isn't any good, is it? You can't wear a hat that is this small. Or is the hat the right size but your head is too big? (let them answer) We hope that the answer is the hat is too small. People don't like people who brag or act too big for their pants.
A long time ago Saint Paul told the Christians to be careful. Christians were making fun of people who took food to feed the false gods. The false gods were rocks or trees or statues. Have you ever seen a rock eat? Have you ever fed a tree? Of course not! But people brought them food because they thought it made them lucky. But some Christians were acting smart. They were eating the food or laughing at the people who brought the food. It was a very sad time. The Christians were trying to show the people that the rock wasn't a god and neither was the statue a god. But this only hurt the people and made them turn away from the Christians.
Paul said that this kind of knowledge did not help anyone. That kind of knowledge hurts people's feelings and makes them sad. Those kind of Christians need to wear this kind of a hat.
You have friends who do not know Jesus. We would like you to invite them to come to church and learn about Jesus. Paul says that the wrong kind of knowledge make some Christians puff up, have a big head. But other Christians love their friends and do not make fun of them. This is called love and it builds up instead of tearing down.
The next time you try on a hat that is too small, ask yourself if you are doing everything you can do to make friends and not to make fun of friends. Then you can get rid of the cap that is too small and pick out one that really fits you.
