Children’s Sermon

Matthew 5:14-16

Light of the World

(Adapted from sermon on John 1:1-18)

OBJECT: Flashlight

Do you like being in a room with the lights on––or would you rather be in a dark room with the lights off and the door shut? (Accept all answers)

Most of us like having the lights on instead of off. We feel more secure when we can see what’s going on around us. We like it better when we can see where we are going. We might like to sleep in a dark room, but most of us would like to have a night light to give us at least a little bit of light.

Or we might like to have a flashlight that we can turn on when we need it. (Show them the flashlight and turn it on.)

An interesting thing about darkness and light is that light drives away the darkness. If you have ever been in the Carlsbad Caverns of New Mexico, you will discover that there is a place where everyone stops in a safe place and the guide turns out the lights. You can’t see anything – not even your hand right in front of your nose! But, when the guide strikes a match and that tiny light pushes back the darkness and you can see the people around you. You can even see stalagmites and stalactites not far away. It is amazing. Such a small light can drive away the darkness.

Jesus said something very nice about us––about me––about you. He said:

“You are the light of the world….
Let your light shine before men;
that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

When Jesus said that we are the light of the world, he meant that we make our world a little lighter and brighter when we believe in him––and when we do what he has told us to do––when we love each other––when we treat each other with kindness.

You can make your parents’ lives a little lighter and brighter when you do what they ask you to do.

You can make your friends’ lives a little lighter and brighter when you treat them nicely while playing games.

Just remember that Jesus wants you to be a bright light––shining––lighting the way for others––helping them to believe in God.

PRAYER: Thank you Jesus, for telling us that we are light and not darkness. Help us to live as you would have us to live, so that we might, indeed, make the world a lighter, happier place to be. Amen.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible