The Propelling Word
Children's sermon
Alleluia!
Messages For Children On Lent And Easter Themes
"You are under arrest," the policeman said to the old man, caught for stealing a loaf of bread, because he was starving. He had not eaten for several days.
The policeman brought the hungry man before the judge. "Your honor, this man has broken the law. He has been arrested for stealing."
Now it happened that that night the major of the city, Fiorello La Guardia, was serving as judge in order to learn more about his people and their problems. He asked, "What did he steal?"
"A loaf of bread, sir."
The judge fined the old man ten dollars, saying, "I am sorry but the law is the law. Stealing is against the law." But the Mayor reached into his pocket, took out his billfold, and paid the ten dollar fine for the old man. Then he stood up and said to the people in the courtroom. "I am fining each of you fifty cents for living in a city that does not feed its hungry people." The Mayor passed an empty plate among the people. When he had collected almost fifty dollars, he turned to the old man. "This money is yours to buy bread. You are free to go." The old man left the courtroom with tears in his eyes, for he had experienced God's love in people.
Talk together: What "propelled" the mayor to pay the fine for the old man? Do you know any hungry people? The church knows there are hungry people and cares for them by collecting food and money because it is the will of God to take care of all. Jesus said, "Go, tell God's story, and preach God's love through what you do."
Prayer: Thank you, God, for your love. Help us to share that love with others by caring for their needs as disciples of Jesus. Amen.
The policeman brought the hungry man before the judge. "Your honor, this man has broken the law. He has been arrested for stealing."
Now it happened that that night the major of the city, Fiorello La Guardia, was serving as judge in order to learn more about his people and their problems. He asked, "What did he steal?"
"A loaf of bread, sir."
The judge fined the old man ten dollars, saying, "I am sorry but the law is the law. Stealing is against the law." But the Mayor reached into his pocket, took out his billfold, and paid the ten dollar fine for the old man. Then he stood up and said to the people in the courtroom. "I am fining each of you fifty cents for living in a city that does not feed its hungry people." The Mayor passed an empty plate among the people. When he had collected almost fifty dollars, he turned to the old man. "This money is yours to buy bread. You are free to go." The old man left the courtroom with tears in his eyes, for he had experienced God's love in people.
Talk together: What "propelled" the mayor to pay the fine for the old man? Do you know any hungry people? The church knows there are hungry people and cares for them by collecting food and money because it is the will of God to take care of all. Jesus said, "Go, tell God's story, and preach God's love through what you do."
Prayer: Thank you, God, for your love. Help us to share that love with others by caring for their needs as disciples of Jesus. Amen.
