Independence Day: We pray for our country's leaders.
Preaching
Children's Sermons for Special Days
Visual Aids: A U.S. flag
Handouts: Activity sheets
Advance Preparations: Copy enough activity pages for each child to have one.
The Sermon:
What do you think of when you see our *flag? Do you think of our country? We see lots of flags in July because it is the time we celebrate Independence Day, or maybe you call it the Fourth of July. We have fireworks and parades and a holiday. What are we celebrating?
We celebrate the time when our country's first leaders signed a paper called the Declaration of Independence. That means that this nation would no longer belong to England. Our people wanted freedom. This meant freedom to worship God as each thought they should. It means freedom to say what they thought, freedom from government interference in the lives of persons, and freedom to have our own government and laws with the right to change those laws if we wanted to. This paper said people had the right or freedom to have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Those leaders of our country over 200 years ago did a good job. Most of them believed in God and they were trying to do a good thing. God surely helped them. They worked hard to make our country a good one. But today we can help our country, too. The Bible tells us how in 1 Timothy 2:1--4:
... I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of god our Savior who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
We don't have a king, but we do have a president, vice president, governor, and others in government office. These verses tell us we are to pray for them all, even if we don't agree with them. Why? It says that we do this so that we may have a quiet and peaceful life, so that we can worship God, and so that all persons can hear the message of the Bible and learn to know Jesus as their Savior. The people in office need the guidance and wisdom that God can give them.
So, when you say your prayers, remember to pray for your country and your country's leaders.
*Use visual aids
Handouts: Activity sheets
Advance Preparations: Copy enough activity pages for each child to have one.
The Sermon:
What do you think of when you see our *flag? Do you think of our country? We see lots of flags in July because it is the time we celebrate Independence Day, or maybe you call it the Fourth of July. We have fireworks and parades and a holiday. What are we celebrating?
We celebrate the time when our country's first leaders signed a paper called the Declaration of Independence. That means that this nation would no longer belong to England. Our people wanted freedom. This meant freedom to worship God as each thought they should. It means freedom to say what they thought, freedom from government interference in the lives of persons, and freedom to have our own government and laws with the right to change those laws if we wanted to. This paper said people had the right or freedom to have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Those leaders of our country over 200 years ago did a good job. Most of them believed in God and they were trying to do a good thing. God surely helped them. They worked hard to make our country a good one. But today we can help our country, too. The Bible tells us how in 1 Timothy 2:1--4:
... I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of god our Savior who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
We don't have a king, but we do have a president, vice president, governor, and others in government office. These verses tell us we are to pray for them all, even if we don't agree with them. Why? It says that we do this so that we may have a quiet and peaceful life, so that we can worship God, and so that all persons can hear the message of the Bible and learn to know Jesus as their Savior. The people in office need the guidance and wisdom that God can give them.
So, when you say your prayers, remember to pray for your country and your country's leaders.
*Use visual aids
