Shoemaker... or Elves?
Children's sermon
Object:
a shoe
"The night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light." (v. 12)
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of you have heard the story of the shoemaker and the elves? (allow answers) It's an old fairy tale that goes like this: Once upon a time, there was an old shoemaker who was running out of money. He only had enough supplies left to make one pair of shoes. He set the leather out at night, preparing everything so that on the next day he could make his last pair of shoes. During the night, however, a band of elves came into the workshop and created a beautiful pair of boots. The shoemaker was shocked to find these fine boots sitting on his workbench in the morning! When he sold the elf-made boots, he made enough money to buy leather for two new pairs. That night, the elves visited again, and the shoemaker was surprised the next morning with two more beautiful pairs of shoes.
Eventually in the story, the shoemaker and his wife stay up and watch to see who is making these beautiful shoes. They give the elves gifts of tiny clothes and shoes, thanking them for their gifts of beautiful shoes.
In the story, the elves only do their good deeds at night. Although this is good for the shoemaker and his wife, this isn't a good example for us to follow. Why should we confine our good works to nighttime? (allow answers) We should want others to know about the things we do in Jesus' name! We should do everything we can to show God's love -- and what better time to show it than during the day?
Our Bible verse seems to go with this story. It says: "The night is far gone, the day is near. Let us lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light."
The Bible wants us to do things in the light. When we do things so others can see, we take responsibility for our actions in a way that we can't if we do things at night, sneaking around. Unlike the elves in the story, we want others to know who is responsible for good deeds. This doesn't mean we should go around bragging about what we have done -- and it doesn't mean we should wait until there are a lot of people watching before we do good things -- but it means that we should not be afraid to do our work for God in the light, in front of everyone. God's work should not be confined to darkness. Put on the armor of light! Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of you have heard the story of the shoemaker and the elves? (allow answers) It's an old fairy tale that goes like this: Once upon a time, there was an old shoemaker who was running out of money. He only had enough supplies left to make one pair of shoes. He set the leather out at night, preparing everything so that on the next day he could make his last pair of shoes. During the night, however, a band of elves came into the workshop and created a beautiful pair of boots. The shoemaker was shocked to find these fine boots sitting on his workbench in the morning! When he sold the elf-made boots, he made enough money to buy leather for two new pairs. That night, the elves visited again, and the shoemaker was surprised the next morning with two more beautiful pairs of shoes.
Eventually in the story, the shoemaker and his wife stay up and watch to see who is making these beautiful shoes. They give the elves gifts of tiny clothes and shoes, thanking them for their gifts of beautiful shoes.
In the story, the elves only do their good deeds at night. Although this is good for the shoemaker and his wife, this isn't a good example for us to follow. Why should we confine our good works to nighttime? (allow answers) We should want others to know about the things we do in Jesus' name! We should do everything we can to show God's love -- and what better time to show it than during the day?
Our Bible verse seems to go with this story. It says: "The night is far gone, the day is near. Let us lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light."
The Bible wants us to do things in the light. When we do things so others can see, we take responsibility for our actions in a way that we can't if we do things at night, sneaking around. Unlike the elves in the story, we want others to know who is responsible for good deeds. This doesn't mean we should go around bragging about what we have done -- and it doesn't mean we should wait until there are a lot of people watching before we do good things -- but it means that we should not be afraid to do our work for God in the light, in front of everyone. God's work should not be confined to darkness. Put on the armor of light! Amen.
