Time For Some Weeding
Children's sermon
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Object:
Picture of a weed with the roots or an actual plant with roots and gardening gloves
It may surprise you that I have my gardening gloves on today as it isn't the time of year for growing things. But today I want to talk about gardening or growing things in our hearts. Just as in a garden you grow beautiful things but you also grow ugly things called "weeds." Has anyone ever pulled weeds out of a garden? It is easy to just cut the weeds but if you really want to get rid of them for good you have to pull them out by their roots. (Show picture or the actual roots.) If you don't, they will just keep coming back.
In our story today we hear Jesus teaching about "spiritual weeds" of murder, divorce, lawsuits, adultery (wanting someone else's wife/husband). But Jesus wanted to get to the root of each of these. For example, in Matthew 5:21-22 it says,
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ?You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.? But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment."
Most people had not murdered anyone but lots of people understand about being so angry with someone. Jesus took it deeper to the roots and how often we think evil things in our hearts.
Jesus also told the people that it was wrong to not be faithful in your marriage. But he took it deeper to the roots and said not to even look at a married person that is not yours and wish for them to belong to you in your heart.
God doesn't want us to just look good to others on the outside, but he wants to take all the sin out of our hearts and pull it out by the roots.
So how do we apply this to our lives?
You may not be a criminal but do you have so much anger in your heart for someone so much that you almost feel like hurting them? God wants you to do more than just look like you are a person. He wants you to go deeper and pull out the weed of hate in your heart. Don't let the sin weeds grow!
In our story today we hear Jesus teaching about "spiritual weeds" of murder, divorce, lawsuits, adultery (wanting someone else's wife/husband). But Jesus wanted to get to the root of each of these. For example, in Matthew 5:21-22 it says,
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ?You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.? But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment."
Most people had not murdered anyone but lots of people understand about being so angry with someone. Jesus took it deeper to the roots and how often we think evil things in our hearts.
Jesus also told the people that it was wrong to not be faithful in your marriage. But he took it deeper to the roots and said not to even look at a married person that is not yours and wish for them to belong to you in your heart.
God doesn't want us to just look good to others on the outside, but he wants to take all the sin out of our hearts and pull it out by the roots.
So how do we apply this to our lives?
You may not be a criminal but do you have so much anger in your heart for someone so much that you almost feel like hurting them? God wants you to do more than just look like you are a person. He wants you to go deeper and pull out the weed of hate in your heart. Don't let the sin weeds grow!
