Love not Judgment
Children's sermon
Object:
two pictures of different children (children not known by anyone present)
The Point: Jesus says we cannot tell who is in his family and who is not so treat all with love and not judgment.
The Lesson: Thank you, boys and girls for taking this moment to share with me. This morning I brought two pictures with me. Do you know these children? (let children answer) I don't know them either. I got these pictures from a magazine. (hold up one picture) Can you tell if this child is a faithful child of God? (let children answer; hold up the other picture) Can you tell if this child is a part of God's family? (let children answer) Looking at both of these pictures what can we say about these children? (let children answer) I know some things for sure. Jesus loves them both. Jesus wants them to be a part of his family of faith. I also know that Jesus would want us to treat them, if we were ever to meet them, with care and love.
Matthew tells us about a time when Jesus was teaching, and he told a story to make a point. He pointed to a wheat field. In the wheat field there were wheat stalks that weren't fully grown yet. Also there were weeds among the young wheat, but the weeds and wheat looked so alike that you couldn't tell the difference between them. Jesus said treat the field like it is all wheat because if you don't you might pull a wheat stalk up thinking it is a weed. It seems to me Jesus is saying that we should treat everyone with love and care because we cannot really know who is and is not in his family.
A person I admire very much once said that as she cares for people in need she always sees Jesus in them. (hold up both pictures) I think that is a wonderful way to see these two children. Don't you? (let children answer)
Closing Prayer: Let us unite our hearts in prayer: Lord Jesus, your love for us brought you into our midst and your grace forgave our sins uniting us as your family. Jesus, in your love for our children fill their hearts with your grace and mercy. May we always see you in the faces of those around us. Jesus, in your holy name we pray. Amen.
The Lesson: Thank you, boys and girls for taking this moment to share with me. This morning I brought two pictures with me. Do you know these children? (let children answer) I don't know them either. I got these pictures from a magazine. (hold up one picture) Can you tell if this child is a faithful child of God? (let children answer; hold up the other picture) Can you tell if this child is a part of God's family? (let children answer) Looking at both of these pictures what can we say about these children? (let children answer) I know some things for sure. Jesus loves them both. Jesus wants them to be a part of his family of faith. I also know that Jesus would want us to treat them, if we were ever to meet them, with care and love.
Matthew tells us about a time when Jesus was teaching, and he told a story to make a point. He pointed to a wheat field. In the wheat field there were wheat stalks that weren't fully grown yet. Also there were weeds among the young wheat, but the weeds and wheat looked so alike that you couldn't tell the difference between them. Jesus said treat the field like it is all wheat because if you don't you might pull a wheat stalk up thinking it is a weed. It seems to me Jesus is saying that we should treat everyone with love and care because we cannot really know who is and is not in his family.
A person I admire very much once said that as she cares for people in need she always sees Jesus in them. (hold up both pictures) I think that is a wonderful way to see these two children. Don't you? (let children answer)
Closing Prayer: Let us unite our hearts in prayer: Lord Jesus, your love for us brought you into our midst and your grace forgave our sins uniting us as your family. Jesus, in your love for our children fill their hearts with your grace and mercy. May we always see you in the faces of those around us. Jesus, in your holy name we pray. Amen.
