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In The Power Of His Name

Children's sermon
The Giant Book Of Children's Sermons
Matthew To Revelation
Object: a bottle of shampoo


Good morning, boys and girls. I brought one of your best friends with me this morning. (show them the bottle of shampoo) How many of you like shampoo? (let them answer) Do you like to put the shampoo on your head when you are taking a bath? Isn't it fun to feel all of those wonderful suds just working away to make your hair cleaner than a whistle? (let them answer) Most of you like it, some of you think it is a waste of time, and others don't like to get the shampoo suds in their eyes. But have you ever noticed how often your mom and dad shampoo their hair? (let them answer) They like it a bunch. They can hardly wait to wash their hair. Some parents do it everyday.

Someday you will shower once a day, brush your teeth four times a day, shampoo your hair once a day, comb your hair four or five times a day, and wash your hands six or seven times a day. And guess what? You will love it. That's when you will start telling others to make the big change and to start to do those things as often as you are. Good things happen when you are clean. You have fewer colds and other kinds of sickness and you smell good, too.

Jesus knows about changing sides. One day his disciples were upset because some people who hardly knew Jesus were preaching and teaching and even trying to heal people in the name of Jesus. They were not his disciples, but they went from town to town doing these kinds of things. The disciples were upset because they knew that these people had never even met Jesus. They wanted Jesus to stop them. But Jesus knew something very important and he told the disciples to stop worrying about the other people. Jesus told them that when the other people found out the good things that were happening in the name of Jesus, they would also begin to believe. He said even though they did not know him, they would soon become followers of Jesus. When good things happen to you and to others, you change.

Sometimes we wonder about other Christians who worship differently than we do. We want everyone to be like us. But they talk about Jesus, pray like Jesus, sing songs about Jesus, and read about Jesus, and we realize they are followers of Jesus just like us. We don't all have to be the same; we just need to love Jesus.

So when you see a stranger using the name of Jesus and he/she doesn't sound like you do when you talk about Jesus, remember how Jesus told his disciples to relax and enjoy. Change happens to all of us who know the Lord. Even strangers find Jesus to be good. The next time you have to take a bath, ask your mom or dad if you can also have a shampoo. Tell them you have changed just like Jesus' disciples changed their feelings about strangers who used the name of Jesus.
UPCOMING WEEKS
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Haggai 2:1-15b--2:9 and Psalm 145:2-5, 17-21 or Psalm 98

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Jesus responded to a trick question by telling people the good news that after death we live on forever in a new kind of life. In our worship today, let us explore the theme of life after death.

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Jesus, sometimes I find it hard to believe in life after death. Lord, have mercy.

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Psalm 145 is known not so much in its entirety, but piecemeal, by those who are familiar with Christian worship texts. Words like "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised" (v. 3); "The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season" (v. 15) and "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth" have often called us to worship. The words, "The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" (v. 8) have often called us to confession, or assured us of God's pardon.
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Here is a true story about a strange funeral service.

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I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him down the labyrinthine ways
Of my mind; and in the midst of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped;
And shot, precipitated
Adown Titantic glooms of chasmed fears,
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase
And unperturbed pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy;
They beat -- and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet --

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