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Save The Good Part

Children's sermon
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Wesley T. Runk
The Giant Book Of Children's Sermons
Matthew To Revelation
Object: a banana


Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you like bananas? (let them answer) A banana is one of my favorite fruits. I like to eat it on cereal, or I like to eat it all by itself. I guess my favorite way to eat a banana is in a banana split, but I don't have those often. I brought a banana along today to see if you eat it the same way I do. Is there anyone here who would like to eat the banana for us? Let's all watch very carefully to see how she (he) does it. (watch her for a moment until it is apparent that she is not going to eat the peeling) What are you going to do with the peeling? Does that mean that you are not going to eat it? (let her answer) Are you going to throw it away? (you may act a little shocked) In other words, you are only going to eat the inside of the banana, and you are going to throw the peeling in the garbage or do something to get rid of it. (let her answer) Is that the way the rest of you would eat a banana? (let them answer)

All right, I think that everyone knows that we do not eat banana peelings, because they are not good to eat. They are bitter, not tasty, and so we get rid of them.

The Bible says something like this when it talks about the way that God works with the people who obey him and the ones who do not. The Bible teaches us that, after our lives are lived here on earth, God makes a choice between the people who do obey him, and those who don't. The ones who obey him, love him, and live the way he teaches are forgiven for any wrong that they do, and are asked to share his life in heaven. The ones who are wrong, have hate in their hearts, and are unforgiving, are done away with about the same way that you get rid of a banana peeling. There is no place for them in heaven.

I don't want to scare you. You should not be scared, but instead, you should be pleased to know that God wants to share his life with you. People who love God, and there are many, are going to have a wonderful life on earth and forever after with God in his heaven. That is what the Bible teaches, and it is what we believe. But if you want to know what happens to the people who do not love God, who hate what he teaches, then you can remember the way we care for a banana peel, and you will have the answer.

So the next time you eat a banana, I want you to remember that there is a good part and a bad part, and that the two parts are the two kinds of people who live in this world and how both of them know God.
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