Keep it a secret
Children's sermon
Object:
a newspaper story about some form of philanthropy
Good evening! I read this story recently in the paper about
a person who (Show the article and describe the act). Now, do you
think that was a good thing for that person to do? (Let them
answer.) Yes, that was a nice thing for them to do, but it could
have been done better. How do you think the person could have
done it better? (Let them answer.) The Bible tells us that God
would rather we would do such things in secret so that others
don't praise us. He would rather that we do such things so that
only God knows what we did.
In some Christian churches, people are asked to do something
during Lent to show how much they love God. They are asked to
make some kind of a sacrifice, perhaps give up something they
really like to eat or something they really like to do to show
their love for God. Do you think there is anything wrong with
doing that? (Let them answer.) No, of course not. That's
perfectly all right for them to do that. But, should they tell
anybody what they have given up? (Let them answer.) No! They
should keep it strictly between them and God. That way, they will
really be doing it to show their love for God and not to get
others to praise them for their sacrifice.
Let's ask God to help us do our good works in secret and not
brag about them.
Dear God: Please help us do our charitable acts that help others
in secret as much as we can so that we do not do them simply to
have people praise us, but do them only out of love for You.
Amen.
a person who (Show the article and describe the act). Now, do you
think that was a good thing for that person to do? (Let them
answer.) Yes, that was a nice thing for them to do, but it could
have been done better. How do you think the person could have
done it better? (Let them answer.) The Bible tells us that God
would rather we would do such things in secret so that others
don't praise us. He would rather that we do such things so that
only God knows what we did.
In some Christian churches, people are asked to do something
during Lent to show how much they love God. They are asked to
make some kind of a sacrifice, perhaps give up something they
really like to eat or something they really like to do to show
their love for God. Do you think there is anything wrong with
doing that? (Let them answer.) No, of course not. That's
perfectly all right for them to do that. But, should they tell
anybody what they have given up? (Let them answer.) No! They
should keep it strictly between them and God. That way, they will
really be doing it to show their love for God and not to get
others to praise them for their sacrifice.
Let's ask God to help us do our good works in secret and not
brag about them.
Dear God: Please help us do our charitable acts that help others
in secret as much as we can so that we do not do them simply to
have people praise us, but do them only out of love for You.
Amen.
