Love
Children's sermon
Object:
a globe
Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." (vv. 34-35)
Good morning, boys and girls! How are you this morning? (allow answers) How many of you know someone who looks different than you? (allow answers) How many of you know someone who speaks another language when they are at home with their family? (allow answers) How many of you know someone who has a different religion than you? (allow answers) America is often called the Melting Pot, because people have come to America from so many different countries, cultures, and backgrounds. (Have each of the children find different countries on the globe like Mexico, Europe, China, Russia, Africa, and America.)
This is normal for people from America. We're used to the idea of having people from lots of different cultures. Americans believe that everyone, no matter what language they speak or what country they are from, has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Do you know what that means? (allow answers) We think that everyone, no matter what they look like or what they believe, deserves to live in peace. They deserve fair treatment by the government. They deserve to be allowed to get jobs and housing, to attend school, to shop at businesses, and to own property.
However, Americans sometimes have trouble remembering this. During World War II, Americans were scared that the enemy Japanese would get war secrets from Japanese-Americans. Many Japanese-Americans were taken out of their homes and relocated to special camps so that the government could keep an eye on them. During World War I, when American fought against the Germans, Americans felt the same fear toward German-Americans. Many German-Americans stopped speaking German at home and only let their children speak English.
Do you know what discrimination means? (allow answers) Discrimination is when you judge a group of people. For many years, African-Americans were discriminated against by white Americans. African-Americans were not allowed to go into certain buildings, were not allowed to go to certain schools, and were not allowed to live in certain places. This discrimination is no longer legal, but it took a long time before many African-Americans gained their rights.
Today, we often hear about another group being discriminated against. This group is Muslims and Arab-Americans. On September 11, 2001, a group of terrorists from the Middle East crashed airplanes into two buildings in New York City, killing many Americans and other people of the world. Ever since then, many Americans don't trust Muslim-Americans. Do you think this is right? (allow answers) Absolutely not! Muslim-Americans are not here to kill. Muslim-Americans have the same rights to life, liberty, and happiness as everyone else in America. According to our reading today, God sees all people as equal. He sent his Son to die for everyone, no matter what color they are or where they are from. It is our job to make sure we carry out this love for all our neighbors -- no matter how similar or different they may be. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls! How are you this morning? (allow answers) How many of you know someone who looks different than you? (allow answers) How many of you know someone who speaks another language when they are at home with their family? (allow answers) How many of you know someone who has a different religion than you? (allow answers) America is often called the Melting Pot, because people have come to America from so many different countries, cultures, and backgrounds. (Have each of the children find different countries on the globe like Mexico, Europe, China, Russia, Africa, and America.)
This is normal for people from America. We're used to the idea of having people from lots of different cultures. Americans believe that everyone, no matter what language they speak or what country they are from, has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Do you know what that means? (allow answers) We think that everyone, no matter what they look like or what they believe, deserves to live in peace. They deserve fair treatment by the government. They deserve to be allowed to get jobs and housing, to attend school, to shop at businesses, and to own property.
However, Americans sometimes have trouble remembering this. During World War II, Americans were scared that the enemy Japanese would get war secrets from Japanese-Americans. Many Japanese-Americans were taken out of their homes and relocated to special camps so that the government could keep an eye on them. During World War I, when American fought against the Germans, Americans felt the same fear toward German-Americans. Many German-Americans stopped speaking German at home and only let their children speak English.
Do you know what discrimination means? (allow answers) Discrimination is when you judge a group of people. For many years, African-Americans were discriminated against by white Americans. African-Americans were not allowed to go into certain buildings, were not allowed to go to certain schools, and were not allowed to live in certain places. This discrimination is no longer legal, but it took a long time before many African-Americans gained their rights.
Today, we often hear about another group being discriminated against. This group is Muslims and Arab-Americans. On September 11, 2001, a group of terrorists from the Middle East crashed airplanes into two buildings in New York City, killing many Americans and other people of the world. Ever since then, many Americans don't trust Muslim-Americans. Do you think this is right? (allow answers) Absolutely not! Muslim-Americans are not here to kill. Muslim-Americans have the same rights to life, liberty, and happiness as everyone else in America. According to our reading today, God sees all people as equal. He sent his Son to die for everyone, no matter what color they are or where they are from. It is our job to make sure we carry out this love for all our neighbors -- no matter how similar or different they may be. Amen.
