Childrens Sermon Service

Good morning, boys and girls. Has anyone ever told you that you look like your mother or your father? (let them answer) Do you have any friends that look alike? (let them answer) Sometimes people like to wear the same clothes or have their hair fixed the same way. They want to be like each other. This is fun and we all do it.

Sometimes people really want to fool you and make you think they are someone they are not. I have some pictures here of people who want you to think they are someone else. (show them the pictures of Elvis impersonators) Who is this? (let them answer) Elvis! These people dress like him and try to sing like him, but they are not the real Elvis. Sometimes this is also for fun, but sometimes people do this because they really want to trick you and do you harm. These are the kind of people you have to be careful around.

Once while in Jerusalem Jesus told the disciples that there would be people who would come in his name and try to lead them in a different direction. They would say they were with Jesus, but they would not teach love and forgiveness. They would not teach the same things, but they would say that they were there in place of Jesus. This would cause a lot of trouble.

And what Jesus said was true. Many people have tried to get people to follow them in the name of Jesus. They were not honest. They used the name of Jesus to make money, gain power, and cause trouble. People who use the name of Jesus to help themselves are bad people and they cannot be trusted. And they don't do it for fun like people do when they say they are Elvis. The people who teach hate in the name of Jesus are dangerous people.

So Jesus warned his disciples always to be careful. Make sure that when someone uses Jesus' name they are teaching love, helping others, always willing to forgive, loving their enemies, and sharing the gifts that God gave them.

So the next time you see someone pretending to be someone that they are not, ask if this is for fun or for some other reason. If it is just for fun, then enjoy them and have a good time. But if they are pretending to be someone else or use the name of Jesus and are not filled with the love of God, then be afraid of them and ask them to leave you alone.

Jesus is the real thing. He is always with us.