Children’s Sermon

Matthew 2:13-23

Why We Obey

By Lois Parker Edstrom

OBJECTS SUGGESTED:

Examples of things babies shouldn’t put in their mouths, a bike helmet, or other safety items.

Let’s talk about the ways your parents try to protect you. When you were a baby your parents taught you not to put certain things in your mouth; things that might make you sick or things that could cause you to choke. You probably didn’t understand why you couldn’t put certain things in your mouth, but you learned to do what your parents asked of you.

When you were a toddler your parents taught you to stay off the road. They wanted to protect you from fast moving cars and trucks.You may not have understood the danger, but you needed to learn to trust your parents and to obey them.

As you grow older your parents are still trying to protect you.They ask you to use a seatbelt when you travel in the car. They teach you about healthy foods and take you to the doctor for checkups so you will stay healthy. They ask you to wear a helmet when you ride your bike. Can you think of other ways your parents protect you?

In the Bible there is an example of a good parent who does whatever is necessary to protect the child, Jesus. Joseph was told by an angel of the Lord in a dream that Herod, the king had heard about the birth of Jesus and that Herod wanted to harm the child. The angel told Joseph to “take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you ….” to return.

Joseph wanted to protect Jesus so he did exactly what the angel of the Lord told him to do. When Herod was no longer king, the angel told Joseph in a dream that it was safe to go back to the land where Jesus was born and that’s exactly what they did.

Joseph obeyed God even though it had meant moving his family to a foreign land. He did everything he could to protect his child.

So, this is a story about obedience to parents and to God. It is a good story for us to think about and remember today and every day.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible

Copyright 2007, Richard Niell Donovan