The Heart of the Matter

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. 1 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV)

 Props: 4 dark balloons, marker, pin, 4 paper hearts—2 dark and 2 white

 Preparation: Stuff 4 dark balloons with paper hearts–2 dark and 2 white.  Blow up the balloons and tie them.  Label each balloon with the name of the corresponding action.  

 Read 1 Corinthians 4:5 aloud and explain as needed.

Maybe you’re thinking, “Oh, no!  I don’t want Jesus to judge everything I’ve done.  I’ve done some pretty bad things.”  The truth is, all of us have messed up.  We’re all human.  The good news is that Jesus looks past what we do, and He sees our heart.  Let me show you what I’m talking about.

(Display balloon labeled “Burned counter”).  Once there was a little girl who loved to help her mother.  One day while she was walking through the kitchen, she noticed that a pot of corn was on the stove and it was about to burn.  Wanting to help, she took the pot off the stove and put it on the countertop.  The pot was still very hot, and it burned the counter.  She didn’t mean to, she was just trying to help.  Jesus sees past the burnt counter, and he looks to the heart.  (Pop balloon and display white heart).  Her heart was pure and right.  That’s what counts.       

            (Display balloon labeled “Cleaned house”).  There was also a little boy who cleaned the whole house for his mother one day.  That seems like a very nice, thoughtful thing to do.  Let’s see how his heart looks.  (Pop balloon and display dark heart).  What?!  His heart is dark—that means that what he did will be judged as bad.  Why would that be?  It seems that the only reason he cleaned the house was to get money out of his mom and to be allowed to go to his friend’s house.  He wasn’t interested in helping at all.  In fact, he had a bad attitude.  So, all of his cleaning will amount to nothing. 

            (Display 2 balloons, each labeled “Read Bible”).  Here we have a boy and a girl who each read their Bible.  Surely they will both be judged the same, right?  They did the same exact thing!  Let’s find out.  (Pop “boy’s” balloon and display white heart).  The boy came out good!  Jesus is pleased with Him.  He read his Bible every day because He wanted to make God happy and learn how to live for Him and do what’s right.  The girl…(pop balloon and display dark heart)…well, she didn’t do so well.  Jesus isn’t pleased with her because the only reason she read her Bible was to get more points than her friends in Sunday school class.  Her actions were good, but her reason for doing them wasn’t. 

            Jesus is our Judge.  He is the one who will look at all we’ve done and decide whether it’s good or bad.  He looks at the heart.       

The Real Deal?

 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. 1 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV)

 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (NIV)

 Props: fake money and real money

              Begin with a skit in which a helper tries to make a purchase using fake money.  During his interaction with the vendor, he insists that the money looks real, someone told him it was real, he worked hard to get it, etc.  The vendor insists that without real currency, he can’t buy anything. 

             (Display real and fake money as you speak).  Fake money isn’t going to buy you anything because it’s not worth anything.  No matter how hard you try, you can’t buy anything with it.  Only real money has value and can be used to buy things. 

            Some people think that just because they do things that look good, Jesus is going to give them a reward.  Remember, though, that not everything that looks good is truly good, just like not every paper that looks like money is real money.  A truly good work is done out of a heart of love for God and love for others.  Those are the good works that are true, genuine and please God.  Those works will be rewarded.  Some people only do good things to be seen on the outside, or to please other people.  Those works will not be rewarded, because they are not truly good. 

            You may be able to fool people with you works, but Jesus will always be able to tell which works are truly good.  Jesus is our Judge.  What will He find when He looks at your works?  Are they truly good?

The Sheep and the Shepherd (skit)

“I am the Good Shepherd.  The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”  John 10:11 (NIV) 

Props: Vaseline, cotton balls, shepherd’s staff, club        

Preparation: Have a helper dressed as a “sheep” (wearing a white or gray sweat suit).  

Teacher: Good morning, boys and girls.  This morning we’re going to continue our series on Jesus.  Today’s lesson is about how Jesus is our Shepherd.  

Helper:  So, what’s my part in all of this? 

Teacher: Well, to help the boys and girls understand what it means to be a shepherd, and how Jesus is our Shepherd, I’m going to play the part of a shepherd. 

Helper: And….? 

Teacher:  And you’re going to play the part of one of my sheep. 

Helper:  You’re kidding.

 Teacher:  Nope. (Display Vaseline and cotton balls).   Now if you’ll stand still, I’ll put some wool on your face. 

Helper:  That’s not wool!  It’s Vaseline and cotton balls. 

Teacher:  Oh, well.  Same effect. 

(Teacher begins applying cotton balls.  Continue script during application). 

Helper:  I can’t believe this.           

Teacher:  First of all, sheep are stupid.         

Helper:  Hey!  Who you callin’ stupid?

Teacher:  No offense.  It’s just that you’re always trying to go your own way, and sometimes I have to bring you back.        

Helper: So what’s the problem if I want to go my own way every now and then?        

Teacher:  You might get stuck in the rocky mountains somewhere and die out there.

Helper:  We’re nowhere close to the Rocky Mountains!

 Teacher: No…not the Rocky Mountains, the rocky mountains…you know, mountains that are rocky.  Oh…never mind!  Anyway, if you wander away from me and get lost, you would die out there by yourself.  You wouldn’t have me to take care of you.  So every now and then I have to poke and prod you with my staff to bring you back.

 Helper:  I know, and it hurts! 

 Teacher:  Better than being torn to shreds by a wild animal.

 Helper: Uhh…I suppose.  Those wild animals scare me to death!  Lions and bears….lions and tigers and bears, oh my!  Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!  With their big teeth and their sharp claws…just the thought of those claws tearing in to my sensitive skin.  Aaaahhhh!  (Really over-do the fear thing and embrace the teacher, refusing to let go). 

 Teacher:  Get a grip, I’m right here.  You know I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.  I   always watch out for you.

 Helper: (Regains composure).  Yeah, you’re right.  Like the time that lion came into the sheep pen.  You raced down the hill, jumped the fence in two seconds flat, and beat that lion senseless with your club. 

 Teacher:  Always watching out for you. 

 Helper: You know what, shep, you’re not too bad.

 Teacher:  Thanks.  Just stick by me and you’ll be okay.  (to kids)  Jesus takes care of us.  Just like a shepherd takes care of his sheep, Jesus takes care of us and watches out for us. 

The Shepherd Leads

He guides me in paths of righteousness
       for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3 (NIV)

 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25 (NIV)

 Props: shepherd’s staff (or cane)

             Shepherds have many responsibilities when caring for their sheep.  One of those jobs is to lead their sheep.  Sheep love to run away and go in the wrong direction, to places that are dangerous or bad for them.  Shepherds have to make sure that they stay with them where it is safe.  Sometimes a shepherd has to use a staff to bring his sheep back.  (Display staff).  This is a staff.  It probably wouldn’t feel very good to get pulled back in line with this.  But it’s better than getting lost, stuck in the rocks somewhere or killed by a wild animal. 

            We often like to go our own way, the opposite of where God is trying to lead us.  We think we can do our own thing and still be okay.  But Jesus loves us so much that He tries to bring us back.  It doesn’t always feel good, but it is for our best.  Jesus won’t use a staff like this to bring you back.  He may give you a bad feeling on the inside when you do something wrong.  He may use your parents or teachers to let you know you’re going in the wrong direction and you need to come back.  However He does it, listen closely for Him and follow wherever He leads you.  Jesus takes care of us, so let Him lead you to places that are best for you.

The Shepherd Protects

Even though I walk
       through the valley of the shadow of death,
       I will fear no evil,
       for you are with me;
       your rod and your staff,
       they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (NIV)

 ”I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

John 10:11

 Props: club (or large stick), slingshot

             Shepherds do many things to take care of their sheep: they make sure that their sheep have what they need, and they lead them where they will be safe.  Another job that shepherds have is to protect their sheep from wild animals that try to attack them.  Bears, lions and other animals may try to get in to where the sheep are to attack them.  A shepherd is always watching for such animals and is always ready to fight them off.  (Display weapons).  He may use a club like this or a slingshot to kill or at least scare away the attacking animals. 

            Our Shepherd is Jesus.  He is always ready to fight off our worst enemy, satan.  Satan may try to attack us with sickness; Jesus brings healing.  Satan may try to attack us with fighting in our home; Jesus brings peace.  Satan may try to attack us by trying to get us to do something we shouldn’t; Jesus gives us the power to do what’s right.  Jesus—our Great  Shepherd—will always be stronger than our enemy, satan.  Jesus takes care of us.

The Shepherd Provides

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  Psalm 23:1

 …our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep… Hebrews 13:20

 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25

 Props: plugs of grass (or “Easter” grass) and clear container filled with water; food and bottle of water or juice

             One of the things that shepherds do is make sure that their sheep have everything that they need.  A shepherd must make sure that he is taking his sheep to places where they will have enough food and water.  (Show grass and water).  Sheep eat grass, and if they don’t have enough grass, they will go hungry.  The shepherd takes them to places where there is plenty of grass. 

            Jesus is the Great Shepherd.  He will always make sure that you have everything you need.  (Show food and water).  He takes care of us when we need food.  He also takes care of everything else that we need. 

            Sometimes, though, a sheep may run away from the shepherd.  When that happens, the sheep is away from everything the shepherd gives that it needs.  Boys and girls, Jesus will always make sure that you have what you have to have, but you must stick close to Him.  Don’t run away!  Stay close to Jesus, and He will give you everything you need.

The Weight of Our Sin

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24

 Props: backpack, heavy objects (rocks, weights, etc.)

             Jesus knew that He would not only be hurt in his body, but that He would have to carry our sin.  Jesus had never sinned in his life, so he did not know what it felt like.  When you do something wrong, it is like a heavy weight wrapped around you.  (Put on backpack).  You know the feeling: you tell a lie and then you have to think about it for days.  “Oh, boy.  I shouldn’t have said that.  I feel so bad.  I wonder if anyone is going to find out.  Then they’re going to think I’m a liar.”  Or maybe you’ve hurt someone’s feelings before and you think, “He really looks upset.  I really need to watch what I say.”  It feels terrible to know that you’ve done something wrong.  It’s like carrying a heavy weight around until you make it right. 

Now think of all the guilt you’ve ever felt in your life.  Imagine having to carry around the guilt of every person in the whole world.  That’s what Jesus did when He went to the cross.  He knew He was going to carry that weight for everyone.  And He had never felt that guilt before; it was a crushing feeling.  That’s part of the reason He was in such agony in the garden when He prayed.  His obedience to God’s plan wasn’t easy.  He suffered more than we’ll ever know.  But He did it because He loves God and He loves us.

(Remove backpack).  When Jesus took our punishment, He took all the guilt we feel for doing something wrong.  He carried that guilt for us, so that we wouldn’t have to.  

His obedience brought us blessings.  Obedience isn’t always easy, but it does always bring blessings.  Choose to obey God like Jesus did, no matter what it costs you.  It’s always worth it.

One of Us

“…She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”  Matthew 1:23 (NLT)

Props: birdcage, bird or picture of birds in snow

            There was once a man sitting in his living room by the fireplace on a cold winter’s day.  Outside, snow was falling and had already covered the ground.  The man heard a tapping on the window and turned to see a small bird pecking at the glass with its beak.  It was lost and cold, suffering out in the bitter weather.  Feeling sorry for the bird, the man walked outside so that he could help it inside and save its life.  But when he came close to the bird, it got scared and flew away.  So the man went inside once again, realizing that his plan to help the bird had failed.  A few minutes later as the man rested by the warm fire, he heard once again the sound of tapping on the window.  He turned to see the same bird trying to get into the house and escape the freezing cold weather outside.   

            This time as the man walked onto the front lawn he saw many other birds also trying to find warmth.  One by one he came close to them, trying to help, but each of them got scared and few away. 

            Frustrated, the man walked back inside.  “If only I could become a bird,” he thought.  “Then I could speak their language.  They would know that I am only trying to help them and save their lives.” 

            After Adam and Eve sinned, they began to die.  Since then, we’ve been like those little birds—lost and suffering in our sin.  Every time God has tried to come close and take us into His loving care, we’ve run away from Him.

            Like the man trying to save the birds, God had to find a way to become one of us, to speak our language and help us to understand Him.  So He sent His son Jesus, who is just like Him, to come and live on this earth with us.  Just like that man left the comfort of the fireplace to go out into the cold and try to help the birds, Jesus left His home in Heaven to come to this earth to save us.  Jesus spoke our language and told us of God’s love for us. He told us that God wants to take us in as His children.  

            One of the names of Jesus is Immanuel.  That means “God is with us.”  God came to us as a person, as Jesus, and walked on this earth.  He understands us and He loves us.  Instead of running away from God we need to run to Him.  Remember, Jesus is God with us.

What’s It Worth?

“A child has been born for us.  We have been given a son who will be our ruler.” 

Isaiah 9:6 (CEV)

 Props: baby doll, two five-dollar bills, decorative star

             This year at our church we’re going to have a Christmas play.  Let’s say that the director of the play has asked that everyone bring something that can be used in the play.  (Show baby doll).  One girl brought her favorite baby doll that she plays with every day.  She said, “I don’t mind if you use him as the Baby Jesus.”  A boy in the church went to work for his neighbors.  He worked very hard and earned ten dollars that could be used to help buy costumes for the play.  (Show two five-dollar bills).  And another girl took her time and put lots of work into making a star that could be hung above the manger during the play.  (Display star).  Which one of these gifts is the most valuable?  (Allow for response).  These gifts are equally valuable to God because each of the children gave his or her best.  It’s not so much what you give, but what your gift means to you and that you’re giving it from the heart.       

            This year, bring Jesus your very best.  Maybe you could share a toy with a friend or neighbor who doesn’t have as much as you.  Or it might be that if Jesus has blessed you with money, you could give a special offering to Him.  Another idea is to make something nice for someone and give it to them for Christmas.  These are just a few of the ways that we can give our best to Jesus on His birthday