Suffering for Jesus
Children's sermon
Object:
none
Good morning! I want to tell you a story today and then ask
you a question about what you would do if you were in the same
situation as the person in the story. There was a young girl
about the same age as you who was a Christian. This girl was
regular in coming to church and Sunday school and tried hard to
be the kind of person that God wanted her to be. One day she
found out that the children who lived in the house next door did
not go to church and were not Christians. Since she played often
with these children, she began to tell them about her church and
about Jesus and encouraged them to come to church with her. When
the parents of these children heard that she was doing this, they
became very angry, and they told her that she was never again to
mention Jesus to their children. They were very rude to her and
tried to make her feel very bad. They told her that she would
never again be able to play with their children if she continued
to tell them about Jesus. What do you think she should do? (Let
them answer.)
Well, Jesus tells us in the Bible that we are blessed when
people are mean to us because we are Christians. He tells us that
we should be happy to suffer for his sake. After all, he surely
did suffer for us, didn't he? (Let them answer.) So this girl
should be willing to suffer in order to let her friends know
about Jesus. If those parents are mean to her and stop her from
playing with their children, she just has to accept that as the
price of being a Christian. But no Christian can ever stop
telling others about Jesus. No matter what we might have to
suffer, we must always be willing to stand up for what we
believe. There are people all over the world right now who are
suffering because they are Christians. Many are being killed. We
must also be ready to suffer if we have to.
Let's ask God to help us to stand up for Jesus no matter
what we have to suffer to do so.
Dear God: We know that You want us to stand up for what we
believe no matter what we might have to suffer to do so. Please
give us the courage and strength to do that. Amen.
you a question about what you would do if you were in the same
situation as the person in the story. There was a young girl
about the same age as you who was a Christian. This girl was
regular in coming to church and Sunday school and tried hard to
be the kind of person that God wanted her to be. One day she
found out that the children who lived in the house next door did
not go to church and were not Christians. Since she played often
with these children, she began to tell them about her church and
about Jesus and encouraged them to come to church with her. When
the parents of these children heard that she was doing this, they
became very angry, and they told her that she was never again to
mention Jesus to their children. They were very rude to her and
tried to make her feel very bad. They told her that she would
never again be able to play with their children if she continued
to tell them about Jesus. What do you think she should do? (Let
them answer.)
Well, Jesus tells us in the Bible that we are blessed when
people are mean to us because we are Christians. He tells us that
we should be happy to suffer for his sake. After all, he surely
did suffer for us, didn't he? (Let them answer.) So this girl
should be willing to suffer in order to let her friends know
about Jesus. If those parents are mean to her and stop her from
playing with their children, she just has to accept that as the
price of being a Christian. But no Christian can ever stop
telling others about Jesus. No matter what we might have to
suffer, we must always be willing to stand up for what we
believe. There are people all over the world right now who are
suffering because they are Christians. Many are being killed. We
must also be ready to suffer if we have to.
Let's ask God to help us to stand up for Jesus no matter
what we have to suffer to do so.
Dear God: We know that You want us to stand up for what we
believe no matter what we might have to suffer to do so. Please
give us the courage and strength to do that. Amen.
