Stumbling blocks
Children's sermon
Object:
a sign written in a foreign language, a padlock without a key
But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling
block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human
things." (Matthew 16:23)
Good morning, boys and girls. Do you ever walk by someone that speaks another language? (let them answer) You can hear them, you can see them using their hands and making different expressions with their faces, but you do not know what they are saying. (show them the sign) I found this sign the other day and I don't know how to read it. Does anyone here know how to read this sign? (let them answer) I am sure it is very important but the different language is a stumbling block to me. That's what the Bible calls things that get in our way or prevent us from understanding. Jesus told Peter he was a stumbling block to him. That's because he did not understand what Jesus had been teaching him for a long time. Jesus told him he had to die soon. Peter said that he would not allow him to die. Peter told Jesus that God would forbid it. Peter did not understand that Jesus was going to be our Savior and would die for our sins. Peter was a stumbling block.
I have a padlock and I want to use it but I can't find the key. (show them the padlock) I can't lock my garage door because I can't find the key. I left the key somewhere but I can't remember where I left it. My memory is a stumbling block. I have the lock and somewhere there is a key for the lock but my memory is not good enough to tell me where I put the key.
Stumbling blocks are everywhere but sometimes we make stumbling blocks for Jesus. We tell everyone how great Jesus is and then we are selfish. Being selfish is a stumbling block. Why would another person believe that Jesus is so great if you are selfish? We are a stumbling block when we say bad things. We tell everyone that God is holy and a perfect God and then we use his name in a bad way. How can he be so perfect if we use God's name in an unholy way?
Staying home on Sunday morning because we pretend to be sick or have a headache or because we want to watch television is a stumbling block. God teaches us that this is a holy day, a time to worship God. Instead, our neighbors see us in our pajamas or outside playing when it is time to be in church. Church must not be as important as we said it was. That's a stumbling block.
We need to stay away from stumbling blocks. It is an insult to Jesus for us to be stumbling blocks when we know better and can do better.
The next time you embarrass Jesus by doing something different than what you tell others is important remember that you are a stumbling block and you need to say you are sorry and ask God's forgiveness. Then you will remember not to be a stumbling block again. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. Do you ever walk by someone that speaks another language? (let them answer) You can hear them, you can see them using their hands and making different expressions with their faces, but you do not know what they are saying. (show them the sign) I found this sign the other day and I don't know how to read it. Does anyone here know how to read this sign? (let them answer) I am sure it is very important but the different language is a stumbling block to me. That's what the Bible calls things that get in our way or prevent us from understanding. Jesus told Peter he was a stumbling block to him. That's because he did not understand what Jesus had been teaching him for a long time. Jesus told him he had to die soon. Peter said that he would not allow him to die. Peter told Jesus that God would forbid it. Peter did not understand that Jesus was going to be our Savior and would die for our sins. Peter was a stumbling block.
I have a padlock and I want to use it but I can't find the key. (show them the padlock) I can't lock my garage door because I can't find the key. I left the key somewhere but I can't remember where I left it. My memory is a stumbling block. I have the lock and somewhere there is a key for the lock but my memory is not good enough to tell me where I put the key.
Stumbling blocks are everywhere but sometimes we make stumbling blocks for Jesus. We tell everyone how great Jesus is and then we are selfish. Being selfish is a stumbling block. Why would another person believe that Jesus is so great if you are selfish? We are a stumbling block when we say bad things. We tell everyone that God is holy and a perfect God and then we use his name in a bad way. How can he be so perfect if we use God's name in an unholy way?
Staying home on Sunday morning because we pretend to be sick or have a headache or because we want to watch television is a stumbling block. God teaches us that this is a holy day, a time to worship God. Instead, our neighbors see us in our pajamas or outside playing when it is time to be in church. Church must not be as important as we said it was. That's a stumbling block.
We need to stay away from stumbling blocks. It is an insult to Jesus for us to be stumbling blocks when we know better and can do better.
The next time you embarrass Jesus by doing something different than what you tell others is important remember that you are a stumbling block and you need to say you are sorry and ask God's forgiveness. Then you will remember not to be a stumbling block again. Amen.
