The Sustaining Promise
Children's sermon
Alleluia!
Messages For Children On Lent And Easter Themes
Long ago King Philip of France issued a decree ordering all Jews under the penalty of death to leave his kingdom within two days. Without time to sell their fields and homes and household goods, they left empty-handed. One was a wealthy dealer in precious jewels, and in his haste and great need, he put them into the care of one of his Christian neighbors who promised to guard them well.
Many years later King Philip died and his son took back his father's decree. Now the Jews could safely return to their homes and continue living their lives, and so the wealthy dealer did. But when he called on the one to whom he had entrusted his treasure, he was gone! The man had disappeared. The dealer finally learned that he had lost all he had, had sold his fine home, and was living outside the city in poverty. The dealer began to grieve, for everything he had was now gone.
Downcast, he went to look for the man whom he had trusted. He found him in a tiny, bare hut with neither bed nor bench, seated on a chest, trembling with cold and hunger. When the poor man saw his former neighbor, he greeted him warmly, and then opening the chest said, "Here is your treasure. I have guarded it well, as I promised."
The other said, "I do not understand. You were cold and hungry and did not use my money?"
The poor man replied, "How could I take what was not mine? Many a time I grew weary of life and wanted to die, but I dared not, because I had promised to guard your treasure. I suffered and waited. It is good you have returned."
His friend was mightily moved. "It is good you did not die. You are my brother and half of all I have belongs to you." And the two lived together in everlasting friendship.
Jesus promised his friends that he would be with them always. His was an everlasting friendship.
Talk together: Do you have a best friend? Might it be an everlasting friendship? In the Bible Jesus says that he is our friend and it is an everlasting friendship.
Prayer: Dear God, we thank you for friends whom we love and who love us, and thank you especially for your love. In Christ's name. Amen.
Many years later King Philip died and his son took back his father's decree. Now the Jews could safely return to their homes and continue living their lives, and so the wealthy dealer did. But when he called on the one to whom he had entrusted his treasure, he was gone! The man had disappeared. The dealer finally learned that he had lost all he had, had sold his fine home, and was living outside the city in poverty. The dealer began to grieve, for everything he had was now gone.
Downcast, he went to look for the man whom he had trusted. He found him in a tiny, bare hut with neither bed nor bench, seated on a chest, trembling with cold and hunger. When the poor man saw his former neighbor, he greeted him warmly, and then opening the chest said, "Here is your treasure. I have guarded it well, as I promised."
The other said, "I do not understand. You were cold and hungry and did not use my money?"
The poor man replied, "How could I take what was not mine? Many a time I grew weary of life and wanted to die, but I dared not, because I had promised to guard your treasure. I suffered and waited. It is good you have returned."
His friend was mightily moved. "It is good you did not die. You are my brother and half of all I have belongs to you." And the two lived together in everlasting friendship.
Jesus promised his friends that he would be with them always. His was an everlasting friendship.
Talk together: Do you have a best friend? Might it be an everlasting friendship? In the Bible Jesus says that he is our friend and it is an everlasting friendship.
Prayer: Dear God, we thank you for friends whom we love and who love us, and thank you especially for your love. In Christ's name. Amen.
