Children’s Sermon

Acts 4:5-12

Giving Credit

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Acts 4:5-12
Giving Credit

By Lois Parker Edstrom

Object suggested: A DVD listing credits on the case. A book with author name displayed and perhaps photographer or artist’s name.

Do you like to watch movies? Have you noticed, when you start a DVD, you see information on the screen telling you which company made the movie? Whether you watch Cinderella, The Lion King, Finding Nemo, Mary Poppins, or Peter Pan you will see the name Disney and also a picture of the castle at Disneyland.

After the movie is over there is a list of actors’ names and the list also lets you know who composed the music, who put the program together, who made the costumes, and who took care of the lights.

Do you know why this is done? Yes, it is a way of honoring and giving credit to those people who worked so hard to make something others could enjoy. You will find the same thing when you read a book; the author’s name is always on the cover along with the title of the book.

Think about something you do well such as painting a picture. If someone saw the picture and said, “Hey who did this – it’s beautiful!” You would want credit for making a lovely work of art, wouldn’t you?

There is a story in the Bible that teaches us about the importance of “giving credit.” Some of the disciples of Jesus were questioned by the rulers and leaders in Jerusalem about a lame man who had been healed. They asked the disciples, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”(4:7).

Peter, one of the disciples, answered. He said, “be it known to you all…that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…does this man stand here before you whole” (4:10). Peter gave credit to Jesus for the lame man being healed. He honored Jesus in this way.

Every day we have the opportunity to honor and give credit to God. Think of the beautiful things we see around us in nature. Think about the love that comes from our family and friends. Think about your life. If we listed credits we would find God’s name at the top of every list and repeated over and over again. All credit goes to God!

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible

Copyright 2009, Richard Niell Donovan