Provoking others
Children's sermon
Object:
some stems of grass or wheat
And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not
neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,
and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (vv. 24-25)
Good day, boys and girls. Today I want to talk about teasing. Do you like to tease other people? (let them answer) Usually when we tease someone, we get into trouble, don't we? Our parents tell us not to start teasing our brother or sister when we are sitting beside them. Most of the time, we do it anyway. We don't know why we do it, but we do it. For instance, whenever I have a piece of grass or a long weed, I like to tickle someone's ear or cheek. (do this in a few children's ears) How did you like having this grass in your ear? (let them answer) You didn't like it because it itched or tickled you. What if I kept doing it? (let them answer) You would tell me to stop and if I did not stop, what would you do? (let them answer) I guess I had better stop.
What I am doing is provoking you. Can you say the word provoke? (let them repeat it) Provoking means to get something started. I do something and it makes you do something.
The book of Hebrews talks about provoking each other to love and do good deeds. That would be like if I did something good to you and you then did something good to one of your friends and they would then do something good to someone else. I like this kind of provoking. I like starting things that make other people do good things. Imagine what would happen if you asked your brother or sister if you could help them clean up their room? What would happen? (let them answer) You think they might faint but it would really make them happy. Suppose you volunteered to help with the dishes or did something nice for a neighbor. What do you think would happen? (let them answer) Do you think if you did nice things for other people all of the time it would cause them to do good things also? (let them answer) Being kind and helpful is a wonderful thing and it causes other people to go out of their way to be kind also.
The next time you want to start something, think about the letter to the Hebrews and how it talks about provoking people to do good. Instead of teasing them and provoking bad things, think about the kindest thing you can do and see what good things happen to you as well. Amen.
Good day, boys and girls. Today I want to talk about teasing. Do you like to tease other people? (let them answer) Usually when we tease someone, we get into trouble, don't we? Our parents tell us not to start teasing our brother or sister when we are sitting beside them. Most of the time, we do it anyway. We don't know why we do it, but we do it. For instance, whenever I have a piece of grass or a long weed, I like to tickle someone's ear or cheek. (do this in a few children's ears) How did you like having this grass in your ear? (let them answer) You didn't like it because it itched or tickled you. What if I kept doing it? (let them answer) You would tell me to stop and if I did not stop, what would you do? (let them answer) I guess I had better stop.
What I am doing is provoking you. Can you say the word provoke? (let them repeat it) Provoking means to get something started. I do something and it makes you do something.
The book of Hebrews talks about provoking each other to love and do good deeds. That would be like if I did something good to you and you then did something good to one of your friends and they would then do something good to someone else. I like this kind of provoking. I like starting things that make other people do good things. Imagine what would happen if you asked your brother or sister if you could help them clean up their room? What would happen? (let them answer) You think they might faint but it would really make them happy. Suppose you volunteered to help with the dishes or did something nice for a neighbor. What do you think would happen? (let them answer) Do you think if you did nice things for other people all of the time it would cause them to do good things also? (let them answer) Being kind and helpful is a wonderful thing and it causes other people to go out of their way to be kind also.
The next time you want to start something, think about the letter to the Hebrews and how it talks about provoking people to do good. Instead of teasing them and provoking bad things, think about the kindest thing you can do and see what good things happen to you as well. Amen.
