Paying attention to warnings
Children's sermon
Object:
He said to him, "If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." (v. 31)
Object: a crossing guard's sign and a pack of cigarettes
Good morning, boys and girls. Who knows what the word "warning" means? (let them answer) That's right, it means we should be very careful. If we don't pay attention, we may get hurt or cause someone else to get hurt. Warnings are meant to protect us. I borrowed this sign from a school crossing guard. The crossing guard's sign is a warning for traffic to stop. It is also a warning for us to wait until the guard tells us to walk. What might happen if we didn't obey the crossing guard? (let them answer) That's right, someone might get hurt.
I brought something else with me, too. Do you know what this is? (let them answer) That's right, it's a pack of cigarettes. Has anybody ever smoked a cigarette? (let them answer) I hope not. There's a warning on every pack of cigarettes. Let me read it to you. (read the warning label) This means that if you smoke, you will probably become very sick some day.
Jesus told a story about two men. One man was rich. He lived in a big house and ate wonderful foods. He always had more food than he could eat.
The other man was poor. He lived at the front gate to the rich man's house. His body was covered with sores and he was hungry most of the time. He spent his life outside the gate, hoping the rich man would give him some scraps to eat.
Both men died. The poor man, Lazarus, was welcomed into heaven by Abraham. The rich man went to hades and had to suffer the terrible heat. The rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus with cool water. But, Abraham reminded the rich man that during his lifetime, he didn't even know Lazarus' needs nor did he ever share with him. The rich man then asked Abraham to warn his brothers so they could change their evil ways. Abraham told the rich man that everyone received the same warnings from Moses and should believe them.
God has given us rules to live by and a Savior to forgive us. Moses gave us the Ten Commandments, which are the rules for living. Jesus gave his life for us so that we could believe in God's love. Jesus said we will not get another big warning.
The next time you see a crossing guard with a sign or you see someone smoking, I hope you'll think about the warnings we are given. When we see these warnings, we can also think about what Jesus taught us. He taught us to pay attention to the rules for living and the complete forgiveness he gives us.
Object: a crossing guard's sign and a pack of cigarettes
Good morning, boys and girls. Who knows what the word "warning" means? (let them answer) That's right, it means we should be very careful. If we don't pay attention, we may get hurt or cause someone else to get hurt. Warnings are meant to protect us. I borrowed this sign from a school crossing guard. The crossing guard's sign is a warning for traffic to stop. It is also a warning for us to wait until the guard tells us to walk. What might happen if we didn't obey the crossing guard? (let them answer) That's right, someone might get hurt.
I brought something else with me, too. Do you know what this is? (let them answer) That's right, it's a pack of cigarettes. Has anybody ever smoked a cigarette? (let them answer) I hope not. There's a warning on every pack of cigarettes. Let me read it to you. (read the warning label) This means that if you smoke, you will probably become very sick some day.
Jesus told a story about two men. One man was rich. He lived in a big house and ate wonderful foods. He always had more food than he could eat.
The other man was poor. He lived at the front gate to the rich man's house. His body was covered with sores and he was hungry most of the time. He spent his life outside the gate, hoping the rich man would give him some scraps to eat.
Both men died. The poor man, Lazarus, was welcomed into heaven by Abraham. The rich man went to hades and had to suffer the terrible heat. The rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus with cool water. But, Abraham reminded the rich man that during his lifetime, he didn't even know Lazarus' needs nor did he ever share with him. The rich man then asked Abraham to warn his brothers so they could change their evil ways. Abraham told the rich man that everyone received the same warnings from Moses and should believe them.
God has given us rules to live by and a Savior to forgive us. Moses gave us the Ten Commandments, which are the rules for living. Jesus gave his life for us so that we could believe in God's love. Jesus said we will not get another big warning.
The next time you see a crossing guard with a sign or you see someone smoking, I hope you'll think about the warnings we are given. When we see these warnings, we can also think about what Jesus taught us. He taught us to pay attention to the rules for living and the complete forgiveness he gives us.
