Children’s Message on James 2 Sin of Favoritism
Main Objective: All people are created in God’s image and loved by Him. Unfortunately, we sometimes treat people differently, showing partiality or judging others based on appearances or possessions rather than intrinsic value. James warned the people of the day not to show favoritism to certain people, but to love others with genuine actions. The same words can be directed at people today. This message reminds children that God sees us all the same, despite our differences, and that all people should be welcome in church.
Law/Gospel Theme: The focus of this lesson reminds us that the Gospel is for all people. We all sin, and therefore have no place to judge what others do. Yet God gives love and mercy to everyone. Regardless of how we look or how much we have, all are welcome in His family and precious in His sight. The book of James can sometimes feel like an emphasis on following the law or performing good works. But it isn’t only works that James urges. Our faith is proved genuine by the state of our hearts. When we truly love God and others, it is easily evidenced by daily actions.
James 2:1-17 Children’s Sermon Love your Neighbor as Yourself
Optional Materials: Pictures of people from various walks of life and financial status; Bible.
Bible Passage: James 2:1-17
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 different kinds of people…
Hello, children of God!
Let’s start today with a little game…We’ll call it “Who Belongs in Church?” I’m gong to show you pictures of some different people, and I want you to tell me if you think you’d expect to see these people at church with you. Ready? Show the students several pictures of different people. Have a variety of dress styles, ages, and apparent wealth represented. Discuss the different people and judgments someone might make of them. Well, this person looks pretty well-dressed, I would probably see them at church. How about this one? He looks a little dirty, maybe even homeless…I’m not sure if he’d feel welcome at my church. Or what about this guy with the tattoos and piercings? Or this lady with ripped jeans and pink hair? Hmm, this guy looks like a pastor, he’d probably fit in at church. But what about this one?
Well, the truth is that ALL people belong in church, and all should feel welcome there. There might be people that we would expect to fit in more, but it’s not our job to decide who should come to the house of the Lord. God has created us all in His image. He loves each and every one of us and wants us to all be part of His family through Jesus. It’s not our job to choose favorites or judge people. Unfortunately, though, sometimes we do. All too often people at church make certain assumptions on others based on what they look like or the way they talk. We might treat people differently based on those prejudiced thoughts, and some people might not feel welcome at church.
In the Bible, the epistle of James warns against this. James knew that sometimes people in church (or other places) would give special treatment to those that came in if they looked wealthy, and might look down on others if they seemed needy or poor. James told the people that this is not how God wants us to act. Whether it’s at church or elsewhere, it isn’t our place to judge. That’s God’s job. If we want to be obedient to God, then we’ll follow His instructions to love our neighbors, no matter who they are or how they look. Fulfilling that law means caring for people and seeing them as God does. God welcomes everyone. He wants to see everyone in His church! We shouldn’t act differently to someone who seems wealthy. We shouldn’t think about someone in a certain way without knowing who they really are. All people have sinned and fall short. All can receive God’s love and mercy! Even if we don’t agree with someone’s views, we can give them respect. Even if we don’t love their actions, we can care about them as people. And we can show others love and remind them that God loves them and accepts them, gently guiding them to know and understand God’s laws.
So next time you’re at church, or anywhere, and you start thinking certain things about someone you don’t really know, try to remember that it’s a person made in God’s image and precious in His sight. When we show kindness to others, we live out our Christian faith and make a difference for Christ!
Let’s say a prayer asking God to help us see others as He sees them.
Prayer:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for letting all be welcome in your family.
Help us to see others through your eyes
And treat them with care and fairness.
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
James 2:1-17 Meaning for Kids
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good[ is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. -James 2:1-17