Children’s Message on James 1 and Serving Others
Main Objective: God loves us and saves us no matter what, but He wants us to live out our faith by valuing and serving other people. It’s one thing to read God’s word and know what it says, but it’s also important to understand the Lord’s instructions and do what He says. James 1 reminds us that we are to be “doers of the word” by caring for those around us. This message uses the act of following a recipe to remind children that we need to act in order to make things happen. We can demonstrate the love of Christ when we obey His teachings and help people.
Law/Gospel Theme: This passage focuses on the importance of our actions, but it’s important to emphasize to students that our works do not earn God’s love or win us salvation. Eternal life is a free gift available to all. However, because of the wonderful blessings and gifts God has given us, we should naturally want to pass love onto others. The Lord gives us good things in order that we can use them to serve others and honor Him. We can imitate His care when we find ways to reach out to His people.
James 1:17-27 Children’s Sermon – Obey God’s Word
Optional Materials: Cookbook or baking mix; ingredients to make something; Bible.
Bible Passage: James 1:17-27
Message: Note: As with most messages, the details of how you choose to communicate this are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs.
Greet the children and talk about following a recipe…
Hello, children of God!
Would you like some brownies? Talk about whichever recipe or mix you have with you to illustrate. Hold up the items as you describe. I think just about everyone loves a nice chocolatey brownie, and I’d love to give you some! I have everything I need to make them right here. Let’s see, I’ve got my brownie mix. I have eggs, oil, and tools. The box tells me how to put this together: preheat the oven, mix the ingredients, bake it in the pan, let it cool, and cut it. Okay, great. So…where are the brownies? Why don’t I have anything to pass around for you? Pause for responses. You mean I have to actually do something? I need to do what these instructions tell me to do? Hmm, I guess you’re right. See, I could have this box memorized, and I could know everything there is to know about brownies and their ingredients and history and all. But none of that is going to give you or anyone else brownies. I have to do something with the information in order to produce something.
Sometimes this is the way we treat things in our lives. We might have a lot of knowledge about something, but that doesn’t mean much if we don’t use the information. Sometimes we even do this with our faith. It’s wonderful to read the Bible and know about what God says. But if we don’t actually take it to heart, follow His directions, and serve others, it doesn’t do anyone much good. The book of James says that we should not just be “hearers of the word” but doers. We need to live out our faith and act on what we read. Now, to clarify, we are not saved by works. We don’t need to do anything (except believe in Jesus) to earn our salvation. We don’t need to do anything to get to Heaven. We don’t need to do anything to have God love us. However, this doesn’t mean we should never do anything! God doesn’t need our good deeds, but His people do. We demonstrate His love and show others what it means to be a Christian when we obey Him and help others.
God has blessed us with incredible gifts, and He wants us to use those to take care of people. God loves each and every one of us. He wants us to love His people, and He uses us in remarkable ways to serve people. God gives us all of the “ingredients” and tools we need. He gives us the instruction manual that describes how we should live (hold up Bible). Part of following God’s directions is caring for people. In James, it says that religion means caring for orphans and widows. We are to serve all who need help or cannot support themselves. There are a lot of ways we can do that. It might mean something like helping at a homeless shelter or making a meal for someone in need. Or maybe it’s something simple, like sitting with a lonely person at lunchtime, or giving someone a nice compliment. God will help us find ways to reach out, and He will help us accomplish His purposes.
The great thing is that we are blessed by blessing others. If I make these brownies for you, I’ll probably get to enjoy some, too. When we love those around us, it makes our lives better. This doesn’t mean caring for and serving people are easy. Many times things will be challenging. We might not even see benefits this side of Heaven. But God is with us through it, and when we do His work, He is pleased. Doing God’s work is always worth it! So let’s get out there and be doers of His word. How can you help someone today?
Let’s say a prayer asking God to help us serve Him and others.
Prayer:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for the good gifts you give us.
Help us to share your love with others.
Please help us to be doers of your word
And find ways to serve people.
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
James 1:17-27 Meaning for Kids
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. –James 1:17-27
Thank you for all that you do! Your lessons are simple, relevant and heart-felt. Thank you for passing on what you have learned through God to others!