Staying clean
Children's sermon
Object:
a can of sardines, a can of spinach, and some hot sauce
... there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the
things that come out are what defile. (v. 15)
Good morning, boys and girls. Is there anyone here who has ever eaten a hot dog or pizza with dirty hands? (let them answer) Let's suppose you are on a picnic and you have been playing on the swings, the slides, the jungle gym, or you played in a sandbox and then it was time to eat. Do you eat or do you run to a restroom and wash your hands? (let them answer)
Let's try something else. I have a can of sardines that I would like to share with you. How many of you have ever eaten sardines? You know what a sardine is, don't you? It is a little fish, a tiny fish that is packed in oil and tastes kind of fishy. How many of you want at least one? (let them answer) I also brought some great spinach. Does anyone like spinach? (let them answer) Finally, I have some hot sauce you can put on ribs or other food. Does anyone like hot sauce? (let them answer)
Let me ask you this question. If you ate with dirty hands, would you be sinning? (let them answer) If you ate the sardines, the spinach, or the hot sauce would you be committing a sin? (let them answer)
Let's talk about something else for a minute. Have any of you ever said bad words? (let them answer) Have you ever told someone that you hated him or her? (let them answer) Have you ever had a temper tantrum and cried and kicked and sat down and screamed? (let them answer) Finally, have you ever told a lie about hitting your brother or sister or friend? (let them answer)
Jesus met with a couple of people who were very upset that his disciples were eating with dirty hands. The people he met with were leaders and they were upset that the disciples were committing a sin with their dirty hands. Jesus told the leaders that they didn't have to worry about how the food from the outside got inside but instead they should worry more about the things that were inside a person.
God's people are not breaking the heart of God if they eat with dirty hands but they are breaking the heart of God when they lie and have temper tantrums and say bad words.
Washing your hands is a good idea. Being clean is always good because it keeps us healthy. But when we say bad words, and act nasty to our family and friends, then we are really hurting God and causing sin. The next time you have dirty hands and eat something that is going into your stomach remember that it is not a sin, but if you think hateful things inside then you are making God very unhappy. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. Is there anyone here who has ever eaten a hot dog or pizza with dirty hands? (let them answer) Let's suppose you are on a picnic and you have been playing on the swings, the slides, the jungle gym, or you played in a sandbox and then it was time to eat. Do you eat or do you run to a restroom and wash your hands? (let them answer)
Let's try something else. I have a can of sardines that I would like to share with you. How many of you have ever eaten sardines? You know what a sardine is, don't you? It is a little fish, a tiny fish that is packed in oil and tastes kind of fishy. How many of you want at least one? (let them answer) I also brought some great spinach. Does anyone like spinach? (let them answer) Finally, I have some hot sauce you can put on ribs or other food. Does anyone like hot sauce? (let them answer)
Let me ask you this question. If you ate with dirty hands, would you be sinning? (let them answer) If you ate the sardines, the spinach, or the hot sauce would you be committing a sin? (let them answer)
Let's talk about something else for a minute. Have any of you ever said bad words? (let them answer) Have you ever told someone that you hated him or her? (let them answer) Have you ever had a temper tantrum and cried and kicked and sat down and screamed? (let them answer) Finally, have you ever told a lie about hitting your brother or sister or friend? (let them answer)
Jesus met with a couple of people who were very upset that his disciples were eating with dirty hands. The people he met with were leaders and they were upset that the disciples were committing a sin with their dirty hands. Jesus told the leaders that they didn't have to worry about how the food from the outside got inside but instead they should worry more about the things that were inside a person.
God's people are not breaking the heart of God if they eat with dirty hands but they are breaking the heart of God when they lie and have temper tantrums and say bad words.
Washing your hands is a good idea. Being clean is always good because it keeps us healthy. But when we say bad words, and act nasty to our family and friends, then we are really hurting God and causing sin. The next time you have dirty hands and eat something that is going into your stomach remember that it is not a sin, but if you think hateful things inside then you are making God very unhappy. Amen.
