The Right Thing To Do
Children's sermon
A Time To Plant
52 Children's Sermons
There are many ways to tell if you're growing up. One way is to measure how tall you've gotten. Another more important way is to see what kind of decisions and choices you are making and how you are behaving.
Let me ask you a question. What is a rule? (Children respond. Offer help and clarification as needed.) A rule is something that helps us know what we are supposed to do. Is that right? Why do we have rules? (Children respond.) Ah, we have rules to make us behave a certain way. One more question, why should we obey the rules? (Children respond. Undoubtedly, you will hear, "We obey the rules so we won't get in trouble." Listen carefully to hear, "We obey the rules because it is the right thing to do." If the children do not come up with this answer, be sure to supply it.)
There seem to be two main reasons that we obey rules. The first reason is we don't want to get in trouble. That makes sense. Who wants to get in trouble for doing something wrong? Who wants to be punished?
The second reason is because we know obeying the rules is the right thing to do. Let's think about this one for a moment. If you could do something wrong and you knew you would not get caught, would you do it? Some of us might. Some of us might try to see what we could get away with, especially if we knew we would not get in trouble. But is that the right thing to do? Should we break the rules just because we know we will not get caught? No.
Those of us who are growing up and trying to make decisions that will make God happy will choose to do the right thing, even if we can get away with doing the wrong thing. Growing up the way God wants us to means living the way God wants instead of living the way we want. It means making decisions and choices that help us obey God's rules for our lives.
It's good to obey the rules so we will not get in trouble, but it is even better to obey the rules simply because we know it's the right thing to do.
This week, I challenge you to follow the rules, because you know that's what God would want you to do. God bless you.
Let me ask you a question. What is a rule? (Children respond. Offer help and clarification as needed.) A rule is something that helps us know what we are supposed to do. Is that right? Why do we have rules? (Children respond.) Ah, we have rules to make us behave a certain way. One more question, why should we obey the rules? (Children respond. Undoubtedly, you will hear, "We obey the rules so we won't get in trouble." Listen carefully to hear, "We obey the rules because it is the right thing to do." If the children do not come up with this answer, be sure to supply it.)
There seem to be two main reasons that we obey rules. The first reason is we don't want to get in trouble. That makes sense. Who wants to get in trouble for doing something wrong? Who wants to be punished?
The second reason is because we know obeying the rules is the right thing to do. Let's think about this one for a moment. If you could do something wrong and you knew you would not get caught, would you do it? Some of us might. Some of us might try to see what we could get away with, especially if we knew we would not get in trouble. But is that the right thing to do? Should we break the rules just because we know we will not get caught? No.
Those of us who are growing up and trying to make decisions that will make God happy will choose to do the right thing, even if we can get away with doing the wrong thing. Growing up the way God wants us to means living the way God wants instead of living the way we want. It means making decisions and choices that help us obey God's rules for our lives.
It's good to obey the rules so we will not get in trouble, but it is even better to obey the rules simply because we know it's the right thing to do.
This week, I challenge you to follow the rules, because you know that's what God would want you to do. God bless you.
