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Sermons 4 Kids
Sermon of the Week
Proper 18 (23)
September 4, 2011
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Title: Building Bridges
Theme: Living in harmony - Proper 18 (23)
Object: Use craft sticks to make a fence or a bridge.
Scripture: "If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him--work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you've made a friend." Matthew 18:15 (The Message) Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:10 (NLT)
Once upon a time, there were two brothers. Their father had a large farm and when he became too old to work, he called his sons to him. "I am too old to work anymore," he said. "I will divide my farm in half and give each of you one half. I know that you will always work together and will be good friends."
When the brothers first started farming on their adjoining farms, they were the best of friends and would share everything together. Then, one day there was an argument between the two brothers and they stopped speaking to one another. For many years, not a word was spoken between them.
One day, one of the brothers was at his house when a carpenter came to his door and said, "I would like to do some work. Do you have any work that I can do?" The brother thought for a moment and then replied, "I would like for you to build a fence on my property. Build it down near the stream there that separates my farm from my brother's. I don't want to see my brother any more and I would like for you to build a high fence there please. I'm going into town and I'll be back this evening.
When he came back that evening, he was shocked to see that the carpenter had not followed his instructions. Instead of building a high fence there, he had built a bridge over the stream. The man walked down to take a look at the bridge, and as he did, his brother walked toward him from the other side. His brother said, "After all the terrible things I've done to you over the years, I can't believe that you would build a bridge and welcome me back." He reached out to his brother and gave him a big hug.
The brother then walked back up to his farmhouse to talk to the carpenter. "Can you stay?" he asked. "I have more work for you to do." The carpenter answered, "I'm sorry but I can't stay. I have to go, for I have many other bridges to build."
Sometimes you and I have a disagreement with our brothers and sisters in Christ. When that happens, we often build a fence between ourselves and them. We stop talking to them. We don't want to see them. We don't want to be around them. That isn't what Jesus wants us to do. Instead of fences, he wants us to build a bridge of love between us.
Dear Father, we know it is your desire for us to live together in peace and harmony. Help us to love one another. Amen.
Citation: Author unknown. Adapted from many sources on the Internet.
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| Coloring Pages and Activities |
GROUP ACTIVITIES PAGE COLORING PAGE: "Building Bridges" CROSSWORD PUZZLE (PDF) (HTML) DECODER PUZZLE (PDF) (HTML) WORD SEARCH PUZZLE (PDF) (HTML) POWERPOINT PRESENTATION WORSHIP BULLETIN (WORD DOCUMENT) Save this document to your computer and personalize it with your church's name. Print side one then reinsert it into the printer and print side two. |
| Sermon Links | |
A PRINT FRIENDLY VERSION OF THIS SERMON: "Building Bridges"
AN ALTERNATE OT LESSON (Exodus 12:1-14): "The First Passover"
AM ALTERNATE NT LESSON (Matthew 18:20): "One Plus One Equals Three"
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