The Two Sons
Children's sermon
Story Time At The Altar
86 Messages For Children
Jesus said, "A father had two sons, two boys (Young children sometimes confuse their "suns"). Early one morning the father asked the first son to help him, and the son said, "No, sorry, Dad!"
The father asked the second son to help him. The second son said, "Yeah! Sure!"
Now the sun in the sky began to move across the day, and the son who had said, "No," changed his mind and went to help his father. The second son, who had said, "Yes," found something else to do and forgot his promise to his father.
Jesus asked the people who were listening, "Which of the two did the will of his father?"
Later, another rabbi (storyteller) asked those who were listening, "What would you do if you were walking along and found a purse full of money lying on the street?" The first said, "I would return it to its owner." The rabbi thought, "Perhaps he answers too quickly. Does he mean what he says?" The second student said, "I would keep it, if no one saw me," and the rabbi thought, "That's deceitful." The third answerer said, "To be honest, I would be tempted to keep it. So I would pray to God to give me the strength to do the right thing." The rabbi said to the people, "Go and do the same."
Talk together: Have you ever said, "No," and changed your mind? Why do you think the first son changed his mind?
Prayer: Dear God, help us to say, "Your will be done," and listen for your will for us. Give us strength to say, "Yes," to you and do it. Amen.
The father asked the second son to help him. The second son said, "Yeah! Sure!"
Now the sun in the sky began to move across the day, and the son who had said, "No," changed his mind and went to help his father. The second son, who had said, "Yes," found something else to do and forgot his promise to his father.
Jesus asked the people who were listening, "Which of the two did the will of his father?"
Later, another rabbi (storyteller) asked those who were listening, "What would you do if you were walking along and found a purse full of money lying on the street?" The first said, "I would return it to its owner." The rabbi thought, "Perhaps he answers too quickly. Does he mean what he says?" The second student said, "I would keep it, if no one saw me," and the rabbi thought, "That's deceitful." The third answerer said, "To be honest, I would be tempted to keep it. So I would pray to God to give me the strength to do the right thing." The rabbi said to the people, "Go and do the same."
Talk together: Have you ever said, "No," and changed your mind? Why do you think the first son changed his mind?
Prayer: Dear God, help us to say, "Your will be done," and listen for your will for us. Give us strength to say, "Yes," to you and do it. Amen.
