Four rules
Children's sermon
Object:
a "No Smoking" sign and a "No Parking" sign
Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them;
for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. (v. 1)
Good morning, boys and girls. This morning we are going to talk about rules. How many of you know about rules? (let them answer) Tell me some of the rules you have at home or at school. (let them answer) Those are really good rules. Moms, dads, and teachers are good rule makers. Why do we have rules? (let them answer) That's right, so that we are safer. Rules like "Don't run in front of moving cars," and "Never talk to strangers when you are alone," are really good rules.
Today we see a lot of this kind of sign, "No Smoking." People are told not to smoke in places where they work, where they go to school, in restaurants, on airplanes, and even in homes.
Jesus did not give us a lot of rules, but he thought the Ten Commandments covered what people really needed to know about living. One day Jesus was talking with his disciples and he gave them some good advice. First, he told them that whenever they gave an offering of money to God, they should be very quiet about it. Put it in an envelope or give it in secret so people don't think you are bragging about it. Some people, Jesus said, want everyone to know how much a person gives to the church and that is really boring to God.
Second, Jesus said that showing off when praying is not the way God wants us to talk with him. Jesus said that some people are very good with words and they say them in such a way that everyone knows that they are talking with God. Jesus said it would be better to go to your room, go into your closet, close the door, and pray. Prayer is something very special between the person praying and God.
Third, Jesus looked at some of the people around him who were fasting. He saw sad people walking around and telling others how long it had been since they had eaten. It was supposed to be an honor to God to not eat and worship God instead. But tired old faces and bragging about fasting is a no-no.
Fourth, don't hoard all of your money. Don't take the wonderful things like money and hide them where they do no good. Some people want everyone to know how rich they are. Jesus says that this is really bad. Think about all of the people who are hungry and have no housing. Think of the sick and lonely and how much a little money could help them. Jesus said when we keep all of our riches that some day they will just go away and no one will ever get the joy out of seeing the riches make others joyful and better because they ate, found a home, were healed, or made friends.
The next time you see a rule, think of the four rules that Jesus shared with us today and you will live a very happy life. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. This morning we are going to talk about rules. How many of you know about rules? (let them answer) Tell me some of the rules you have at home or at school. (let them answer) Those are really good rules. Moms, dads, and teachers are good rule makers. Why do we have rules? (let them answer) That's right, so that we are safer. Rules like "Don't run in front of moving cars," and "Never talk to strangers when you are alone," are really good rules.
Today we see a lot of this kind of sign, "No Smoking." People are told not to smoke in places where they work, where they go to school, in restaurants, on airplanes, and even in homes.
Jesus did not give us a lot of rules, but he thought the Ten Commandments covered what people really needed to know about living. One day Jesus was talking with his disciples and he gave them some good advice. First, he told them that whenever they gave an offering of money to God, they should be very quiet about it. Put it in an envelope or give it in secret so people don't think you are bragging about it. Some people, Jesus said, want everyone to know how much a person gives to the church and that is really boring to God.
Second, Jesus said that showing off when praying is not the way God wants us to talk with him. Jesus said that some people are very good with words and they say them in such a way that everyone knows that they are talking with God. Jesus said it would be better to go to your room, go into your closet, close the door, and pray. Prayer is something very special between the person praying and God.
Third, Jesus looked at some of the people around him who were fasting. He saw sad people walking around and telling others how long it had been since they had eaten. It was supposed to be an honor to God to not eat and worship God instead. But tired old faces and bragging about fasting is a no-no.
Fourth, don't hoard all of your money. Don't take the wonderful things like money and hide them where they do no good. Some people want everyone to know how rich they are. Jesus says that this is really bad. Think about all of the people who are hungry and have no housing. Think of the sick and lonely and how much a little money could help them. Jesus said when we keep all of our riches that some day they will just go away and no one will ever get the joy out of seeing the riches make others joyful and better because they ate, found a home, were healed, or made friends.
The next time you see a rule, think of the four rules that Jesus shared with us today and you will live a very happy life. Amen.
