Winning the battle
Children's sermon
Object:
some candy
Good morning! Have any of you ever disobeyed your parents?
(Let them answer.) Yes, none of us is perfect, and I'm sure there
have been times when we didn't do exactly what our parents wanted
us to do. When this happens, however, it is a sin. Actually, when
we disobey our parents, we are breaking the Fourth Commandment
that tells us that we must honor our father and mother.
Now let's suppose there was a candy dish at your house with
some candy in it like this. (Show the candy.) And your mother or
father told you not to eat any of the candy because it was there
for a special purpose. Maybe it was there because you were going
to have company and they wanted the candy for them. If you went
ahead and ate some of the candy, would that be a sin? (Let them
answer.) Yes, of course it would. You would be disobeying your
parents. But, if the candy looked really good and you really
wanted some, would you be tempted to eat it anyway? (Let them
answer.) You would be tempted, but you could overcome that
temptation. What would you do to overcome the temptation? (Let
them answer.) Those are good ideas. God promises us that He will
help us overcome temptations to sin. All we have to do is ask Him
for help. We never have to let sin win. We can be stronger than
temptation because we have God on our side. Let's thank God for
helping us when we are tempted.
Dear God: Thank You for helping us overcome temptation. Thank You
for always being there when we need You. Amen.
(By the way, I haven't told you not to eat some of this candy, so
take a piece with you.)
(Let them answer.) Yes, none of us is perfect, and I'm sure there
have been times when we didn't do exactly what our parents wanted
us to do. When this happens, however, it is a sin. Actually, when
we disobey our parents, we are breaking the Fourth Commandment
that tells us that we must honor our father and mother.
Now let's suppose there was a candy dish at your house with
some candy in it like this. (Show the candy.) And your mother or
father told you not to eat any of the candy because it was there
for a special purpose. Maybe it was there because you were going
to have company and they wanted the candy for them. If you went
ahead and ate some of the candy, would that be a sin? (Let them
answer.) Yes, of course it would. You would be disobeying your
parents. But, if the candy looked really good and you really
wanted some, would you be tempted to eat it anyway? (Let them
answer.) You would be tempted, but you could overcome that
temptation. What would you do to overcome the temptation? (Let
them answer.) Those are good ideas. God promises us that He will
help us overcome temptations to sin. All we have to do is ask Him
for help. We never have to let sin win. We can be stronger than
temptation because we have God on our side. Let's thank God for
helping us when we are tempted.
Dear God: Thank You for helping us overcome temptation. Thank You
for always being there when we need You. Amen.
(By the way, I haven't told you not to eat some of this candy, so
take a piece with you.)
