Sharing Jesus
Children's sermon
Object:
a teddy bear
Love your neighbor as yourself. (v. 9)
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of you have one of these? (hold up teddy bear) This isn't my teddy bear; (insert name of congregation member, family member) let me borrow it. How many of you have asked to borrow something before? (allow answers each time) Did the person you asked let you have that thing? It's good to be able to share things with other people, but sometimes we have a hard time with that. How many of you have had a brother or sister or friend ask to borrow something, but you didn't want to give it to them? How did that make them feel? How does it make you feel when others won't let you have what you ask for?
Today in the reading, Paul said Jesus asks us to love our neighbors as ourselves. How many of you have heard that before? That means to treat everybody else with kindness. Do you think it's kind when other people won't share with you? Is it kind when they do? If Jesus wants us to be kind to everyone, what does he want us to do? (allow answers) He wants us to share with our friends. What are some things you can share with your friends? (allow answers) Do you know what else you can share with your friends? Jesus! You can share Jesus with your friends by bringing them to church, to youth group, or to Sunday school or Bible school. You can share Jesus with your friends by telling them your favorite Bible story. How else can you share Jesus with your friends?
Another way to share Jesus with your friends is to be kind to them, which is another thing Jesus wanted us to do when he said, "Love your neighbor as yourself." What are some things that aren't nice? (allow answers) What are some things that you could do instead of those not-nice things? (allow answers) When you do nice things for others, you are showing God's love for those other people.
Even though we know what is the right thing to do and what isn't, sometimes we make mistakes. How many of you have done something mean and felt bad about it later? I know I have. Remember this teddy bear? What do you know about bears? (allow answers) Bears are also famous for bear hugs! When you feel bad, sometimes a nice bear hug can make you feel a little better. Jesus is a little bit like this teddy bear. We can share him with others and do what he wants us to do, but if we make mistakes he'll always be there to give us a big bear hug and make us feel better. Isn't that great? Thank you, Jesus! Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of you have one of these? (hold up teddy bear) This isn't my teddy bear; (insert name of congregation member, family member) let me borrow it. How many of you have asked to borrow something before? (allow answers each time) Did the person you asked let you have that thing? It's good to be able to share things with other people, but sometimes we have a hard time with that. How many of you have had a brother or sister or friend ask to borrow something, but you didn't want to give it to them? How did that make them feel? How does it make you feel when others won't let you have what you ask for?
Today in the reading, Paul said Jesus asks us to love our neighbors as ourselves. How many of you have heard that before? That means to treat everybody else with kindness. Do you think it's kind when other people won't share with you? Is it kind when they do? If Jesus wants us to be kind to everyone, what does he want us to do? (allow answers) He wants us to share with our friends. What are some things you can share with your friends? (allow answers) Do you know what else you can share with your friends? Jesus! You can share Jesus with your friends by bringing them to church, to youth group, or to Sunday school or Bible school. You can share Jesus with your friends by telling them your favorite Bible story. How else can you share Jesus with your friends?
Another way to share Jesus with your friends is to be kind to them, which is another thing Jesus wanted us to do when he said, "Love your neighbor as yourself." What are some things that aren't nice? (allow answers) What are some things that you could do instead of those not-nice things? (allow answers) When you do nice things for others, you are showing God's love for those other people.
Even though we know what is the right thing to do and what isn't, sometimes we make mistakes. How many of you have done something mean and felt bad about it later? I know I have. Remember this teddy bear? What do you know about bears? (allow answers) Bears are also famous for bear hugs! When you feel bad, sometimes a nice bear hug can make you feel a little better. Jesus is a little bit like this teddy bear. We can share him with others and do what he wants us to do, but if we make mistakes he'll always be there to give us a big bear hug and make us feel better. Isn't that great? Thank you, Jesus! Amen.
