Sermon
Be Sure Your Light Is Shining
Theme
Let your light shine for Jesus
Object
Bible, small jar (jelly type), tealight candle (preferably red), lighter (long enough to reach bottom of jelly jar), 1 gallon tea pitcher/jug, baking soda, vinegar Preparation: Glue tealight candle into bottom of jelly jar so it won't fall out when you turn it upside down. You will need to practice this at home to be sure you get the right amount of baking soda and vinegar.
Scripture
Matthew 5:14 and 1 John 1:9
Good morning boys and girls! How is everyone today? Today, I want to talk to you about being the light of the world. I have a candle inside this jar and this is going to represent your heart. The Bible says, in Matthew 5:14, "You are the light of the world". (Light the candle.) This candle represents the light that we have in our hearts when we love Jesus. This light shines really brightly when we are kind to others, when we listen to our parents, and when we pray and read God's Word.
Sometimes we do bad things though, like not listening to our parents, or telling a lie. (Put baking soda in bottom of tea jug and add vinegar while you are still talking - it will foam way up and go back down) This jug is going to represent our sins. You know, sometimes we even think we are getting away with our bad behavior. Maybe we might tell Mom that we cleaned our room and really we just pushed everything under the bed.
God knows all of our sins though and look what happens to our light when we sin (pour "air" - careful not to get liquid mixture - into jar with candle inside...the candle goes out and won't light back). Oh no! My light went out! Well, let me just light it back up. Oh NO! It won't light back up. God's light won't shine when we have sin in our lives.
What do you think I should do now? (Allow a few seconds for responses.) Well, boys and girls, did you know that God can give us light again? That's right! The Bible tells us in 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all righteousness". So we ask for forgiveness for our sins and (turn the jar with candle over and pour out "air" - it takes a few seconds) God makes us clean and new again. Now look what happens...(light the candle)...our light shines! We can shine God's light again!
Let's pray and thank God for His forgiveness and ask Him to help us keep our light shining for Him! (Prayer)
