1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the
morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; 4 and he said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. 5 When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. 6 And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here idle all day?' 7 They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.' 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' 9 When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. 11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13 But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
Materials: (note that this is for use with 3 church leaders--adjust as needed.) one envelope with 6 slips of paper, each saying "Jesus Loves Me", Two envelopes with 3 slips of paper each, each on saying "Jesus Loves Me", Three envelopes with 2 slips of paper each, each one saying "Jesus Loves Me". (You can also prepare slips for each child if you like.)
(Note that in the message below, you will want to start with the pastor who has been at the church the longest. You can also enlist an accolyte, organist, etc. Be sure to let them know ahead of time what you are planning. )
Message: Good Morning! How are you all doing today? I'm glad you came up this morning because I want you to help me with something. I've been thinking that our pastors do a lot for the church and I was thinking we should give them some payment for their time this morning. Let's start with Pastor Tom. Tom, how long have you been here? (Tom answers 15 years). Does that sound like a lot to you kids? Has any of you turned 15 years old yet? No? Well, I think we should give Tom, a lot this morning, so let's give him 3 of these envelopes. (You can ask a child to bring the envelope to the pastor.)
How about you Pastor Keith? How long have you been here? (Pastor Keith answers 10 years). Well, what do you kids think? Is that less than Pastor Tom? You're right, it is less time--but it is still a lot of time isn't it. I'm thinking we should give Tom 2 envelopes. Does that sound fair to you? Okay, let's do that. (Pick one of the children and ask them to think 2 envelopes would be fair? Yes? Let's give him two.
Nicole is our accolyte today. Nicole, have you been serving as an accoltye for 15 years? (No) 10 years? (No) How long have you been an accolyte? (1 year). Well, kids, Nicole is doing a good job but she hasn't been here as long as the pastors, so I think one envelope sounds fair, don't you?
I think we did a good job handing out those envelopes, but I'm curious about what is in them, aren't you? Let's ask Nicole how many papers she had in her envelope (Nicole answers "6"). That's a lot isn't it? How many do you think Pastor Keith has? He has more envelopes than Nicole. Pastor Keith, can you tell us how many you have. (He answers "6"). Hmmm. that's interesting. How about you Pastor Tom, you had the most envelopes, how many slips of paper do you have. (He answers "6".)
Well, isn't that something! They all have the same amount after all. Pastor Keith, what's written on those papers? (He answers "Jesus Loves Me"). That explains it! Jesus doesn't give us his love based on how old we are , or how years we have come to church, or even on how good we are. Jesus loves us all the same. And even though you are very small and are young, Jesus loves you just as much as he loves Pastor Keith and Pastor Tom and everyone else here.
Let's say a prayer about that: Repeat after me:
Dear Jesus,
We thank you for loving us all the same. Help us to love each other the way you love us. Amen
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Matthew 18:21-35
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Materials: Two long pieces of string tied together with bow, bookmark (I printed some with a bow on top, "Jesus Helps Me Forgive Others' in the middle, and a present on the bottom)
Good Morning! How are all of you today? I have something to show you-- (hold up the bow)--what is this? That's right--it's string. What else? Yes, there's a bow here. There are two pieces of string here and a bow in the middle. Where do you see bows? (let them answer.) Yes, there are hair bows, bows on shoe strings, and bows on presents. A bow can be used to tie two things together--just like these two pieces of string. Can I get a couple of helpers? Okay, let's have you take one end of this string, and you can take the end of the other string. Now you two are connected because the bow ties each of your pieces of string together. That's kind of how we are with our friends and family members--we are connected to each other. But sometimes, we get mad at each other or our feelings get hurt. Does that ever happen to you? And maybe we don't want to talk to someone or play with our friend when we're mad. And that's a little like undoing the bow that connects us (untie bow). See, now you are both holding your piece of string, but you aren't connected in the same way. What can we do when that happens--when we get mad at our friends or when our feelings get hurt? (let the kids answer). You're right. We can say we're sorry, we can make up. Have you heard the word 'forgive'? Forgiving means we can make up with our friends or our brothers & sisters when they have done something wrong or something to hurt us. And, that's like tying the bow again. (tie the bow as you speak). And, we can do that as many times as we need too. No matter how many times the bow comes untied, we can tie it again. You know, Jesus tells us that God forgives us too. We don't always say or do the right thing, and God forgives us. Forgiveness is a gift that God gives us and he wants us to give that gift to each other too. Even though forgiving each other is hard, Jesus will help us make up with each other. So this week, every time you see a bow (whether it's in your hair, or on your tennis shoe strings, or on a present), I want you to remember that when we get mad or hurt, we can make up with each other and give each other the gift of forgiveness.
Let's say a prayer about that.
Dear God, Thank you for forgiving us. Help us to forgive others. Help us to remember that we are all your children and that you tie us together. Amen.
As you go back to your seats, you can each take a bookmark with you.
Materials: Two long pieces of string tied together with bow, bookmark (I printed some with a bow on top, "Jesus Helps Me Forgive Others' in the middle, and a present on the bottom)
Good Morning! How are all of you today? I have something to show you-- (hold up the bow)--what is this? That's right--it's string. What else? Yes, there's a bow here. There are two pieces of string here and a bow in the middle. Where do you see bows? (let them answer.) Yes, there are hair bows, bows on shoe strings, and bows on presents. A bow can be used to tie two things together--just like these two pieces of string. Can I get a couple of helpers? Okay, let's have you take one end of this string, and you can take the end of the other string. Now you two are connected because the bow ties each of your pieces of string together. That's kind of how we are with our friends and family members--we are connected to each other. But sometimes, we get mad at each other or our feelings get hurt. Does that ever happen to you? And maybe we don't want to talk to someone or play with our friend when we're mad. And that's a little like undoing the bow that connects us (untie bow). See, now you are both holding your piece of string, but you aren't connected in the same way. What can we do when that happens--when we get mad at our friends or when our feelings get hurt? (let the kids answer). You're right. We can say we're sorry, we can make up. Have you heard the word 'forgive'? Forgiving means we can make up with our friends or our brothers & sisters when they have done something wrong or something to hurt us. And, that's like tying the bow again. (tie the bow as you speak). And, we can do that as many times as we need too. No matter how many times the bow comes untied, we can tie it again. You know, Jesus tells us that God forgives us too. We don't always say or do the right thing, and God forgives us. Forgiveness is a gift that God gives us and he wants us to give that gift to each other too. Even though forgiving each other is hard, Jesus will help us make up with each other. So this week, every time you see a bow (whether it's in your hair, or on your tennis shoe strings, or on a present), I want you to remember that when we get mad or hurt, we can make up with each other and give each other the gift of forgiveness.
Let's say a prayer about that.
Dear God, Thank you for forgiving us. Help us to forgive others. Help us to remember that we are all your children and that you tie us together. Amen.
As you go back to your seats, you can each take a bookmark with you.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Matthew 18:15-20
15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16
But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that
‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three
witnesses.’ 17
If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they
refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a
tax collector. 18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about
anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Materials: small dry erase board or chalkboard
(do not speak directions in parenthesis)
Good Morning! How are you all today? Did some of you start school this week? Or, your brothers & sisters? Well, since school has started, I thought we'd practice some counting and math. Let's start with an easy one. If you are the only person, all by yourself in your room, how many people are in your room? That's right, one. Let's write one on the board. (then add a plus one next to it.) (you can ask one of the kids how many people live in their house and use that too.) How about behind us here, how many people are up there: there's Pastor Tom, and Pastor Keith, and our acolyte today--how many is that? 3--that's right, we'll put 3 on the board (then add a plus one next to it). Okay, how many of us are up here for the children's message--let's count. (count aloud). There are 11 of us, so we'll write that on the board. (then add plus one next to it.) Now, let's look out there (at the congregation). I see Mr. Bob & Ms. Dorothy. How many people do you think there are? (go with whatever the kid's guess). 100? Okay, we'll say 100. (write that down and then add plus one next to it.) Well, you all did very well. Let's look at our list here. Wait a minute, I have put a 'plus one' next to all of these? Why do you think I did that? (let them guess). Well, I did that to remind us that Jesus is always with us. So, when you are by yourself in your room, that's 1 AND one more with Jesus. (you can add the one to each item on the list as you go.) And when we're all together like we are now, there is one more with us! If we're alone in our room and feeling sad or scared, it is nice to know that Jesus is there to help us. But, do you know it is also very important to know that Jesus is with us when we're in a group? Sometimes, when we are with others, it is hard to get along with each other. We can get mad, or our feelings get hurt, and then we may have a hard time showing love to each other. Jesus reminds us that he is with us and he can help us show love to each other. So this week, I want you to remember that no matter how many people you see at home, or at school, or in your room--there's always one more!
Let's say a prayer about that: Dear Jesus, thank you for always being with us. Help us to get along with each other and to show your love to everyone we are with. Amen.
Materials: small dry erase board or chalkboard
(do not speak directions in parenthesis)
Good Morning! How are you all today? Did some of you start school this week? Or, your brothers & sisters? Well, since school has started, I thought we'd practice some counting and math. Let's start with an easy one. If you are the only person, all by yourself in your room, how many people are in your room? That's right, one. Let's write one on the board. (then add a plus one next to it.) (you can ask one of the kids how many people live in their house and use that too.) How about behind us here, how many people are up there: there's Pastor Tom, and Pastor Keith, and our acolyte today--how many is that? 3--that's right, we'll put 3 on the board (then add a plus one next to it). Okay, how many of us are up here for the children's message--let's count. (count aloud). There are 11 of us, so we'll write that on the board. (then add plus one next to it.) Now, let's look out there (at the congregation). I see Mr. Bob & Ms. Dorothy. How many people do you think there are? (go with whatever the kid's guess). 100? Okay, we'll say 100. (write that down and then add plus one next to it.) Well, you all did very well. Let's look at our list here. Wait a minute, I have put a 'plus one' next to all of these? Why do you think I did that? (let them guess). Well, I did that to remind us that Jesus is always with us. So, when you are by yourself in your room, that's 1 AND one more with Jesus. (you can add the one to each item on the list as you go.) And when we're all together like we are now, there is one more with us! If we're alone in our room and feeling sad or scared, it is nice to know that Jesus is there to help us. But, do you know it is also very important to know that Jesus is with us when we're in a group? Sometimes, when we are with others, it is hard to get along with each other. We can get mad, or our feelings get hurt, and then we may have a hard time showing love to each other. Jesus reminds us that he is with us and he can help us show love to each other. So this week, I want you to remember that no matter how many people you see at home, or at school, or in your room--there's always one more!
Let's say a prayer about that: Dear Jesus, thank you for always being with us. Help us to get along with each other and to show your love to everyone we are with. Amen.
Matthew 16:21-28
21 From that time on Jesus
began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and
suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the
teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be
raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26
What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit
their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his
angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have
done. 28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Materials: none needed
Good Morning. It is good to see you all here today. I have some questions for you and I want you to tell me if these things are hard to do or easy to do. If you have a big plate of spinach, is it hard to share it with someone else or easy? How about if you have one cookie--is it hard to share or easy? If you have an old, broken toy, is it hard to let someone else play with it or easy? What if you have something brand new that is your favorite toy--is that hard or easy to share? There are lots of things in our lives that are hard to do--sometimes it is hard to share with each other, sometimes it is hard to be nice and to get along. Jesus had to do the hardest thing ever--do you know what it was? That's right, he was going to die on the cross. And you know, his friends, like Peter, did not want this to happen. But Jesus came to show us how much God loved us. If Jesus can show that God loves everyone even after what people did to Jesus, then Jesus can help us love each other even when we find that hard to do. So the next time that it is hard to get along with someone, or to be kind, or to share, you can ask Jesus to help you love that person and He will!
Let's say a prayer about that. Dear God, Thank you for sending Jesus to show us how very much you love us. Help us show kindness, caring, and love to everyone. Amen.
Materials: none needed
Good Morning. It is good to see you all here today. I have some questions for you and I want you to tell me if these things are hard to do or easy to do. If you have a big plate of spinach, is it hard to share it with someone else or easy? How about if you have one cookie--is it hard to share or easy? If you have an old, broken toy, is it hard to let someone else play with it or easy? What if you have something brand new that is your favorite toy--is that hard or easy to share? There are lots of things in our lives that are hard to do--sometimes it is hard to share with each other, sometimes it is hard to be nice and to get along. Jesus had to do the hardest thing ever--do you know what it was? That's right, he was going to die on the cross. And you know, his friends, like Peter, did not want this to happen. But Jesus came to show us how much God loved us. If Jesus can show that God loves everyone even after what people did to Jesus, then Jesus can help us love each other even when we find that hard to do. So the next time that it is hard to get along with someone, or to be kind, or to share, you can ask Jesus to help you love that person and He will!
Let's say a prayer about that. Dear God, Thank you for sending Jesus to show us how very much you love us. Help us show kindness, caring, and love to everyone. Amen.
Matthew 16:13-20
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Materials: Picture (coloring sheets) of: teacher in front of classroom, doctor with child, parents with child, and a blank sheet of paper.
Good Morning! How is everybody today? I brought some drawings today and I wanted to ask you if you could tell me who these people are. (hold up drawing of teacher.) Who is this? A teacher! That's right; how did you know? [the kids may say because there's a chalkboard, or desks, or students.] Have any of you had a teacher? What do teacher's do? [let kids answer and fill in as needed]. That's right, they help us learn new things. Let's try another. Who is this? A Doctor! How could you tell? [they may say because he has a white coat.] Have any of you been to the doctor? What do Doctor's do? [let kids answer and fill in as needed.] Yes. Doctor's help us feel better when we're sick. Okay, here's another. You're right--this is a Mommy & Daddy. What do Moms, & Dads, and sometimes Grandparents or Aunts & Uncles do? They take care of us and love us. [One Sunday, a child answered 'they pay taxes' to this question!] Here's the last one. Uh Oh! This page is blank. Well, instead of showing you a picture. I'll tell you about this one. This is someone who like Moms & Dads, cares for us and like a Doctor, makes us feel better, and like a teacher, shows us how to live and how to love one another. Who do you think I'm talking about? That's right. I'm talking about Jesus. But you all have had teachers and been to the Doctor and have parents/grandparents or someone who lives at home and takes care of you--so I see how it is that you know them. How is it that you know Jesus? Because you come to church and learn about him and because your family teaches you about him --but it isn't just because others tell you about Jesus, it is because he lives in your heart! So you can know him yourself--just like a good friend.
Let's say a prayer about that. Dear Jesus, we are thankful that we can know you. Thank you for taking care of us, for helping us, and for teaching us how to love others. Help us show your love to others everyday. Amen.
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Materials: Picture (coloring sheets) of: teacher in front of classroom, doctor with child, parents with child, and a blank sheet of paper.
Good Morning! How is everybody today? I brought some drawings today and I wanted to ask you if you could tell me who these people are. (hold up drawing of teacher.) Who is this? A teacher! That's right; how did you know? [the kids may say because there's a chalkboard, or desks, or students.] Have any of you had a teacher? What do teacher's do? [let kids answer and fill in as needed]. That's right, they help us learn new things. Let's try another. Who is this? A Doctor! How could you tell? [they may say because he has a white coat.] Have any of you been to the doctor? What do Doctor's do? [let kids answer and fill in as needed.] Yes. Doctor's help us feel better when we're sick. Okay, here's another. You're right--this is a Mommy & Daddy. What do Moms, & Dads, and sometimes Grandparents or Aunts & Uncles do? They take care of us and love us. [One Sunday, a child answered 'they pay taxes' to this question!] Here's the last one. Uh Oh! This page is blank. Well, instead of showing you a picture. I'll tell you about this one. This is someone who like Moms & Dads, cares for us and like a Doctor, makes us feel better, and like a teacher, shows us how to live and how to love one another. Who do you think I'm talking about? That's right. I'm talking about Jesus. But you all have had teachers and been to the Doctor and have parents/grandparents or someone who lives at home and takes care of you--so I see how it is that you know them. How is it that you know Jesus? Because you come to church and learn about him and because your family teaches you about him --but it isn't just because others tell you about Jesus, it is because he lives in your heart! So you can know him yourself--just like a good friend.
Let's say a prayer about that. Dear Jesus, we are thankful that we can know you. Thank you for taking care of us, for helping us, and for teaching us how to love others. Help us show your love to others everyday. Amen.
Matthew 15:10-28
10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” 12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” 13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides.[a] If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.” 21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22
A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord,
Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and
suffering terribly.” 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” 25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” 27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” 28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Materials: Apple, Rock, Carrot, Stick--all in a paper bag
Good Morning! How are you today? Today, I brought some things and I wanted to ask you if people can eat these. [Pull each item out of the bag and let the kids name each one and then tell you if it can be eaten.] You're right! We can eat apples & carrots, but not rocks & sticks. What do we do with apples before we eat them? That's right, we wash them first. You know it is important for us to learn what is good to eat, and even how we should wash some things before we eat them. When Jesus was with his disciples, there were some people who were very concerned about what they ate, how they got the food ready, and even who they ate with. Jesus taught us even though we think about what is good to eat, what we should put in our tummies, that it is more important to think about what kinds of things are in our hearts. Do you know that the words that we say and the things we do come from what's in our hearts? Can you think of some things Jesus would want us to say & do? [Let them say some and add if needed.] Yes, Jesus wants us to say kind things, to share, and to be loving toward each other. And he will help us do those things because he is in our heart too.
Let's say a prayer about that: Dear God, we thank you for the good food that we have to eat. Help us to remember that what is in our heart is even more important than what is in our tummy. Help us to say words and to do things that show you live in our hearts. Amen.
Materials: Apple, Rock, Carrot, Stick--all in a paper bag
Good Morning! How are you today? Today, I brought some things and I wanted to ask you if people can eat these. [Pull each item out of the bag and let the kids name each one and then tell you if it can be eaten.] You're right! We can eat apples & carrots, but not rocks & sticks. What do we do with apples before we eat them? That's right, we wash them first. You know it is important for us to learn what is good to eat, and even how we should wash some things before we eat them. When Jesus was with his disciples, there were some people who were very concerned about what they ate, how they got the food ready, and even who they ate with. Jesus taught us even though we think about what is good to eat, what we should put in our tummies, that it is more important to think about what kinds of things are in our hearts. Do you know that the words that we say and the things we do come from what's in our hearts? Can you think of some things Jesus would want us to say & do? [Let them say some and add if needed.] Yes, Jesus wants us to say kind things, to share, and to be loving toward each other. And he will help us do those things because he is in our heart too.
Let's say a prayer about that: Dear God, we thank you for the good food that we have to eat. Help us to remember that what is in our heart is even more important than what is in our tummy. Help us to say words and to do things that show you live in our hearts. Amen.
Matthew 14:22-33
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Good Morning. How is everybody today? Have any of you ever been afraid? What scared you? (a storm, a snake, a dog, etc). Where were you? (in my room, outside, at Grandma's, etc.)
You know in our Bible story today, Jesus' disciples were afraid. They were out on a boat, and they were afraid--it was windy and they might have been afraid of a storm. But they were also afraid because they saw something they didn't understand--they saw Jesus walking toward them on the water and you know what they thought? They thought he was a ghost. that would be scary wouldn't it. Jesus asked Peter to do something very hard and that made Peter afraid too. But you know what Jesus did--he reached out his hand and caught him. That made everything okay again. Sometimes when we're afraid, we want someone to hold our hand or give us a hug-and that makes us feel better. Has any one ever done that for you? (let the kids answer). Just like God gives us Moms, Dads, Grandparents, and friends who can hold our hands or hug us, we need to remember too that no matter where we are or what we're afraid of, Jesus is with us. We can trust that he will take care of us and help us.
Let's say a prayer about that. (have the kids repeat after you). Dear God, We thank you for being with us. Help us to remember that you are with us when we are afraid. Amen
Good Morning. How is everybody today? Have any of you ever been afraid? What scared you? (a storm, a snake, a dog, etc). Where were you? (in my room, outside, at Grandma's, etc.)
You know in our Bible story today, Jesus' disciples were afraid. They were out on a boat, and they were afraid--it was windy and they might have been afraid of a storm. But they were also afraid because they saw something they didn't understand--they saw Jesus walking toward them on the water and you know what they thought? They thought he was a ghost. that would be scary wouldn't it. Jesus asked Peter to do something very hard and that made Peter afraid too. But you know what Jesus did--he reached out his hand and caught him. That made everything okay again. Sometimes when we're afraid, we want someone to hold our hand or give us a hug-and that makes us feel better. Has any one ever done that for you? (let the kids answer). Just like God gives us Moms, Dads, Grandparents, and friends who can hold our hands or hug us, we need to remember too that no matter where we are or what we're afraid of, Jesus is with us. We can trust that he will take care of us and help us.
Let's say a prayer about that. (have the kids repeat after you). Dear God, We thank you for being with us. Help us to remember that you are with us when we are afraid. Amen
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