ROMANS 6:3-11

MATTHEW 10:34-42

June 26, 2005

10:30a.m. “Interactive sermon” with kids

(The kids gather up in front of the pews with me.) This week’s Bible story from Jesus comes in the Bible right after last week’s Bible story from Jesus, so I’m going to ask those of you who were here last week to start by helping me tell everyone about last week’s story.

Jesus says that sometimes everyone has difficult or sad days and sometimes we have to deal with mean people, so we need to be “as wise as ____(serpents) and as innocent as ____(doves)” which means to do things that are both smart and right. And we can get guidance and strength in doing what is smart and right from six sources: (1) church people, (2) preachers, (3) the Bible, (4) communion, (5) God’s guidance all week, including from other people, and (6) God’s guidance directly to us.

This week, Jesus tells us that when we do what is smart and right, we should do it to help others and serve Jesus. Some people always think “me first, me second, me third” and that’s not what Jesus wants, and it’s not good.

Serving Jesus and helping others sometimes will be difficult, but it’s the right thing to do and will help us to live the way God wants us to live. And we can start serving others by doing something simple.

Have any one of you been hot the last couple of days? (Responses.) Do you get thirsty when you get hot? (Responses.) Do you like a nice cup of cold water when you get hot? (Responses.)

In this (touch coffeepot) we have some cold water. Sound good? What I’d like each of you to do is offer cold water to everyone else before you have any. Can you do that? And when each of you takes a cup of cold water to someone, please say, “I offer you this water because I have the love of Jesus in my heart.” (Practice this.) Once everyone in the church has been given or offered cups of water, then you can come back for some for yourselves.

(After everyone has been served, including the kids,) let’s hold hands and repeat after me, “Thank you, Jesus, for teaching us to serve others first.”

(The Rev.) Francis A. Hubbard

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church