Practical Love
Children's sermon
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Object:
A sheet (put it around you like a robe)
With the sheet draped around you pretend that you are a lawyer carrying a book or gavel.
I want to tell you a story from Luke 10:25 about a very wise lawyer that came to visit Jesus. He had the right clothes and looked impressive. Don't you think I look impressive? But one question he had for Jesus was how he could have eternal life. He was wanting something for himself, maybe a bit selfish. Jesus told him that he was to:
Jesus told him a story to get to his heart and it was a story about being a good neighbor. He told him, " When the man saw the beaten man he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on him. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper."
Jesus wanted to help him understand from the heart, not just the right answers.
In order to help us understand better I want to tell you a modern day story about being a neighbor and it has to do with sheets. (Take off the sheet draped over you.)
There was a lady that everyone called Mrs. D. She was an amazing lady. Any time there was a need like a fire, a flood, a death in the community, she was there to be of help. She didn't do things to get praised but she did it so quietly. One time there was a family moving to her town and she knew they would be arriving soon and so she phoned them to ask if there was anything they needed. Guess what they needed? Yes, sheets. She was willing to take sheets of her own. In fact, she gave them five sets of sheets! She went out of her way to get them to their place and she didn't get something out of it for herself. She was truly loving others as she would love herself.
How can we apply this to our lives?
So how do you love others? Is it for what others can give back to you or is it with a genuine heart with no strings attached? Be looking for ways to love -- be like a Mrs. D -- a good neighbor! Make your love practical!
I want to tell you a story from Luke 10:25 about a very wise lawyer that came to visit Jesus. He had the right clothes and looked impressive. Don't you think I look impressive? But one question he had for Jesus was how he could have eternal life. He was wanting something for himself, maybe a bit selfish. Jesus told him that he was to:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself."
Jesus told him a story to get to his heart and it was a story about being a good neighbor. He told him, " When the man saw the beaten man he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on him. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper."
Jesus wanted to help him understand from the heart, not just the right answers.
In order to help us understand better I want to tell you a modern day story about being a neighbor and it has to do with sheets. (Take off the sheet draped over you.)
There was a lady that everyone called Mrs. D. She was an amazing lady. Any time there was a need like a fire, a flood, a death in the community, she was there to be of help. She didn't do things to get praised but she did it so quietly. One time there was a family moving to her town and she knew they would be arriving soon and so she phoned them to ask if there was anything they needed. Guess what they needed? Yes, sheets. She was willing to take sheets of her own. In fact, she gave them five sets of sheets! She went out of her way to get them to their place and she didn't get something out of it for herself. She was truly loving others as she would love herself.
How can we apply this to our lives?
So how do you love others? Is it for what others can give back to you or is it with a genuine heart with no strings attached? Be looking for ways to love -- be like a Mrs. D -- a good neighbor! Make your love practical!