Tongues of fire
Children's sermon
Object:
a book of matches or a few wooden matches
How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! (v. 5b)
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you know Smokey the Bear? (let them answer) What does Smokey do? (let them answer) That's right, Smokey reminds us not to start forest fires. What starts forest fires? (let them answer) That's right, a small fire that is not put out when you are finished with it. Matches, like these, can start a fire if they are lit and then thrown in the wrong place. A cigarette, or a cigar, that is lit and thrown away can cause a forest fire. All of these things can make a forest fire. Smokey teaches us that boys and girls, fathers and mothers, and all kinds of people really can start a fire if they are not careful with matches, cigarettes, campfires, lanterns, and many other things. Smokey teaches us how to be very careful.
James, the Bible writer, also teaches us about another kind of fire that can cause a lot of damage. It doesn't feel hot, but it is red. It doesn't burn wood, but it does hurt people. This kind of fire is called the tongue.
How many of you have a tongue? (let them answer) May I see all of your tongues to make sure that you really have something that can cause a lot of trouble? (take a close at all of the tongues) James was a great teacher and he warned people of how dangerous their tongues can be. Not many people want to start trouble, especially big trouble, but once in a while they do. For instance, some people gossip. They just stand around and talk about others and once in a while they tell something about another person that is not true. Before you know it the lie has spread like a forest fire. One person tells another person who tells four other people and they tell more people and the next thing you know the whole town or neighborhood has heard the lie. It is embarrassing and it really hurts.
Other people use their tongues to say bad words, curse words, and make people angry. People do not like to be cursed. They don't like bad things said about their family. They don't always agree with their sister but they love her and they are going to protect her even if it means someone is going to get hurt.
Sometimes it starts out as teasing but pretty soon the tongue gets mean and makes a friend very unhappy. These are all of the things a tongue can do and it really makes a kind of fire that is very hard to put out.
The next time you hear about a big fire or see one, I want you to think about your tongue and how if it is used in the wrong way it can really hurt a lot of people. Remember, don't play with matches and watch how you use your tongue. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you know Smokey the Bear? (let them answer) What does Smokey do? (let them answer) That's right, Smokey reminds us not to start forest fires. What starts forest fires? (let them answer) That's right, a small fire that is not put out when you are finished with it. Matches, like these, can start a fire if they are lit and then thrown in the wrong place. A cigarette, or a cigar, that is lit and thrown away can cause a forest fire. All of these things can make a forest fire. Smokey teaches us that boys and girls, fathers and mothers, and all kinds of people really can start a fire if they are not careful with matches, cigarettes, campfires, lanterns, and many other things. Smokey teaches us how to be very careful.
James, the Bible writer, also teaches us about another kind of fire that can cause a lot of damage. It doesn't feel hot, but it is red. It doesn't burn wood, but it does hurt people. This kind of fire is called the tongue.
How many of you have a tongue? (let them answer) May I see all of your tongues to make sure that you really have something that can cause a lot of trouble? (take a close at all of the tongues) James was a great teacher and he warned people of how dangerous their tongues can be. Not many people want to start trouble, especially big trouble, but once in a while they do. For instance, some people gossip. They just stand around and talk about others and once in a while they tell something about another person that is not true. Before you know it the lie has spread like a forest fire. One person tells another person who tells four other people and they tell more people and the next thing you know the whole town or neighborhood has heard the lie. It is embarrassing and it really hurts.
Other people use their tongues to say bad words, curse words, and make people angry. People do not like to be cursed. They don't like bad things said about their family. They don't always agree with their sister but they love her and they are going to protect her even if it means someone is going to get hurt.
Sometimes it starts out as teasing but pretty soon the tongue gets mean and makes a friend very unhappy. These are all of the things a tongue can do and it really makes a kind of fire that is very hard to put out.
The next time you hear about a big fire or see one, I want you to think about your tongue and how if it is used in the wrong way it can really hurt a lot of people. Remember, don't play with matches and watch how you use your tongue. Amen.
