Love
Children's sermon
Object:
a picture of Moses holding the Ten Commandments tablets
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (v. 40)
Good morning, boys and girls! How are you this morning? (allow answers) Today we are going to talk about laws. How many of you know the Bible story about Moses and the Ten Commandments? (allow answers) Moses was a great leader of God's people thousands of years ago. Moses led God's people out of Egypt, where they had been slaves to the king. One of the most important things Moses did was talk to God and receive a list of God's commandments -- God's laws. Do you know any of the Ten Commandments? (allow answers) There are a lot to remember! God's commandments say things like: "Do not kill." "Respect your parents." "Do not steal." "Do not worship anything except God."
But in our gospel lesson today, we hear Jesus give us different commandments. People asked Jesus, "What are the most important commandments?" They probably expected him to repeat some of the ten that Moses received but Jesus did not. Instead, Jesus said there are only two commandments. The first one is to love God with all your heart and mind and soul. The second one is one you have probably heard: love your neighbor as yourself.
Those aren't the commandments Moses received! In fact, the people listening to Jesus might have felt like he made those up. But he goes on to say that these two commandments -- love God and love people -- are what all the other commandments are based on. Let's think about it. In Moses' Ten Commandments, some commandments are about loving God. The commandments tell us not to worship anyone or anything except for God; they tell us to remember God's holy day and use it to praise him. Some commandments are about people. They tell us not to kill, not to steal, not to lie or cheat, and not to be jealous of what our neighbors have. In fact, what they are really saying is "love your neighbor as yourself." Would you want to be hurt, cheated, or lied to? (allow answers) Of course not! We want good things to happen for us. Just so, we should try to make good things happen for others.
Jesus' new commandments do not replace Moses' commandments. In fact, when we follow Jesus' commandments, we are following the laws of Moses. Jesus was nice enough to give us a shortcut -- we only have to remember two laws, not ten. Love God. Love others. All the rest will fall into place. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls! How are you this morning? (allow answers) Today we are going to talk about laws. How many of you know the Bible story about Moses and the Ten Commandments? (allow answers) Moses was a great leader of God's people thousands of years ago. Moses led God's people out of Egypt, where they had been slaves to the king. One of the most important things Moses did was talk to God and receive a list of God's commandments -- God's laws. Do you know any of the Ten Commandments? (allow answers) There are a lot to remember! God's commandments say things like: "Do not kill." "Respect your parents." "Do not steal." "Do not worship anything except God."
But in our gospel lesson today, we hear Jesus give us different commandments. People asked Jesus, "What are the most important commandments?" They probably expected him to repeat some of the ten that Moses received but Jesus did not. Instead, Jesus said there are only two commandments. The first one is to love God with all your heart and mind and soul. The second one is one you have probably heard: love your neighbor as yourself.
Those aren't the commandments Moses received! In fact, the people listening to Jesus might have felt like he made those up. But he goes on to say that these two commandments -- love God and love people -- are what all the other commandments are based on. Let's think about it. In Moses' Ten Commandments, some commandments are about loving God. The commandments tell us not to worship anyone or anything except for God; they tell us to remember God's holy day and use it to praise him. Some commandments are about people. They tell us not to kill, not to steal, not to lie or cheat, and not to be jealous of what our neighbors have. In fact, what they are really saying is "love your neighbor as yourself." Would you want to be hurt, cheated, or lied to? (allow answers) Of course not! We want good things to happen for us. Just so, we should try to make good things happen for others.
Jesus' new commandments do not replace Moses' commandments. In fact, when we follow Jesus' commandments, we are following the laws of Moses. Jesus was nice enough to give us a shortcut -- we only have to remember two laws, not ten. Love God. Love others. All the rest will fall into place. Amen.
