Weeds in our garden
Children's sermon
Object:
a seed packet for a garden
Good morning! I think it is interesting that Jesus always told
stories like we do to get his point across. One day he talked
about the kingdom of heaven. He said it is like a farmer who had
seeds to plant in his field. He planted the seeds and they came
up. It's like we were going to plant a garden with these seeds.
In the springtime I would till the soil and get it soft and free
of weeds, and then I would bury this seed in the soil and water
it.
When we talk about heaven in our Sunday school classes or worship services, it's very much like planting a garden. We are not in heaven yet -- but we have planted the seeds of heaven in our minds, hearts, and souls. In Sunday school classes, in worship, at home, in our Bible readings, and in our conversations with each other -- such as here today -- we plant the seeds of heaven.
Then Jesus said that weeds came up in the field. Do you think that if we planted these seeds in the soil weeds might come up in our flower bed? (Let them answer.) I suspect so, too. Weeds do come up. Jesus said that the weeds in the farmer's soil (or our flower bed) are like the temptations of the devil. They hinder our growth as Christians. Sometimes television seems more important than worship, or playing with a friend seems more important than our prayer time with God. There are many ways that things come between us and God. Can you think of some things that might be like weeds in our garden God plants in us -- things that keep us from God? (Let them answer.) Temptations are like weeds. We don't like them, but they come anyway. We don't want anything to come between us and God, but, like weeds, the devil puts things in our lives that tempt us to forget God.
Dear God: Thank you for planting in us the thoughts and hope of heaven. We know there are temptations that keep us from thinking about heaven and we pray for your help in overcoming the temptations in our lives. Amen.
When we talk about heaven in our Sunday school classes or worship services, it's very much like planting a garden. We are not in heaven yet -- but we have planted the seeds of heaven in our minds, hearts, and souls. In Sunday school classes, in worship, at home, in our Bible readings, and in our conversations with each other -- such as here today -- we plant the seeds of heaven.
Then Jesus said that weeds came up in the field. Do you think that if we planted these seeds in the soil weeds might come up in our flower bed? (Let them answer.) I suspect so, too. Weeds do come up. Jesus said that the weeds in the farmer's soil (or our flower bed) are like the temptations of the devil. They hinder our growth as Christians. Sometimes television seems more important than worship, or playing with a friend seems more important than our prayer time with God. There are many ways that things come between us and God. Can you think of some things that might be like weeds in our garden God plants in us -- things that keep us from God? (Let them answer.) Temptations are like weeds. We don't like them, but they come anyway. We don't want anything to come between us and God, but, like weeds, the devil puts things in our lives that tempt us to forget God.
Dear God: Thank you for planting in us the thoughts and hope of heaven. We know there are temptations that keep us from thinking about heaven and we pray for your help in overcoming the temptations in our lives. Amen.
