Who is on the Lord's side?
Children's sermon
Object:
a shirt or jacket with the name or logo of a school that you did not attend
Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever seen anyone wear a shirt or jacket with a school name on it? (hold up your jersey or jacket) If you saw me wearing this jacket, would you think that I went to this school? (let them answer) The fact is I did not go to this school, but I can still wear the jacket. However, if I wear this jacket, I probably like the school.
The disciples of Jesus found some people one day healing people in the name of Jesus. These people were not part of their group. The disciples didn't like it that these people were using the name of Jesus and they tried to get them to stop it. But the people kept on doing it because people were being healed. How do you think these strangers felt about Jesus? (let them answer) They liked him even if they did not know him. Jesus told the disciples not to pick on these people. God was working with the strangers and they were coming closer to Jesus even if they did not know him.
Sometimes we find ourselves feeling funny about people who go to other churches. There are Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and many other churches. Why don't they come to our church? Are we the best church? Why do they have different kinds of songs, prayers, and other parts of worship? Why don't their pastors dress like our pastor? Why do they worship on different days, at different times? Those are all very good questions. But if they believe Jesus is the Savior and that he forgives us for our sins and died on the cross to save us, we should be happy that they are serving God and Jesus.
Jesus said to his disciples that if people were not against us they were for us! We may not play on the same team, but we can play the same game. We may not say the same words, but if we all believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he loves us and shares his life with us, then we are all Christians.
The next time you see someone wearing a school jacket or a shirt, ask him/her if they go to that school. If they say no, they don't go to that school, then ask them if they like the school and the people that go there. I think they will tell you they like the school. The next time you see someone going to a different church, ask him or her if they love Jesus. I think they will tell you that they do and they hope you do also.
The disciples of Jesus found some people one day healing people in the name of Jesus. These people were not part of their group. The disciples didn't like it that these people were using the name of Jesus and they tried to get them to stop it. But the people kept on doing it because people were being healed. How do you think these strangers felt about Jesus? (let them answer) They liked him even if they did not know him. Jesus told the disciples not to pick on these people. God was working with the strangers and they were coming closer to Jesus even if they did not know him.
Sometimes we find ourselves feeling funny about people who go to other churches. There are Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and many other churches. Why don't they come to our church? Are we the best church? Why do they have different kinds of songs, prayers, and other parts of worship? Why don't their pastors dress like our pastor? Why do they worship on different days, at different times? Those are all very good questions. But if they believe Jesus is the Savior and that he forgives us for our sins and died on the cross to save us, we should be happy that they are serving God and Jesus.
Jesus said to his disciples that if people were not against us they were for us! We may not play on the same team, but we can play the same game. We may not say the same words, but if we all believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he loves us and shares his life with us, then we are all Christians.
The next time you see someone wearing a school jacket or a shirt, ask him/her if they go to that school. If they say no, they don't go to that school, then ask them if they like the school and the people that go there. I think they will tell you they like the school. The next time you see someone going to a different church, ask him or her if they love Jesus. I think they will tell you that they do and they hope you do also.
