Cleanup The Trash 

Children's Sermon on the Ten Commandments

Copy and print the following statements (1 per sheet) and crumple the paper. Throw the wads of paper around the meeting room floor. The area should look trashy.

I tell lies. My friends don't care.

I called my Mom and Dad mean names.

I pretend I'm sick so I don't have to go to church.

I took a friend's eraser at school.

I want to go fishing, and not go to church.

I took a candy bar from the grocery store. They won't miss just one candy bar.

I'll hide from my Mom. I don't want to take out the trash.

I told Dad that I already cleaned my room, but I didn't.

My sister makes me so mad, that's why I hit her.

Those people next door are weird. I won't help them do anything. Someone might see me helping them.

I'll beg Dad to get me a bike like my friend's.

Mom won't let ME buy clothes like my friend has.

Mom will love the flowers that grow in the park. I will pick them for her.

I cuss all I want, when Mom can't hear me.

My friend says bad words and I think he is funny.

My neighbors are old, I wish they would move away.

No body pushes me around, I will beat them up.

She is ugly. I don't like the way she dresses.

I don't do what Mom and Dad tells me until they get REAL mad.

Before children arrive, write John 14:15 on the board. When the children enter the room, ask them if they know who left this trash on the floor. Ask if they think we should leave the trash where it is or clean it up. Tell them for right now, we will just leave it.

Today, we are going to talk about how we can know if we really love God. The Bible shows us that God knows how to tell if we love him. God says, "If you love me, keep my commandments" John 14:15.

Explain the verse by sharing some of the Ten Commandments. We show our love to God by keeping his commands. When we do not obey his commandments, we are trashing God, His Word, and messing up our lives--like the trash on the floor. Here are some of the commandments we can obey to show God we love him.

Expound on each of the following - interacting with the children as you go.

Honor your father and mother.

Honor the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not lie.

Thou shalt not covet (explain covet).

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vain.

Should we obey God's commands? Why?

What happens when we do not obey God?

Sin is not obeying (breaking) God's commandments.

What does the Bible say is the payment (wages) for sin?

"For the wages of SIN is DEATH, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" Romans 6:23.

God sent Jesus to pay for all the sins that we do. Is it right that we should continue to sin and break God's commandments?

God loved us so much HE had Jesus die for our sins. God loved us so much that HE gave us rules that will make our lives good, but we must obey them. God wants us to have a good life. God wants others to see our good behavior and for us to tell them about HIS love. IF we make choices to obey and not to disobey, people will want to know why we are a nice person. Then we can tell them about God's love and God's plan (the Bible) to help us have a good life. If we ask Jesus into our lives, Jesus will make us strong and brave and help us to obey God's commandments! Jesus will help us to do the right thing to honor God and our parents, to not lie, or cheat, to honor God by going to church and learning about the Bible, and to love others, not be mean to them, so that they will want to know Jesus too.

When we obey God's Word, we will not trash up our lives by getting into trouble all of the time. Now, let's find out about the trash on the floor.

(Have the children take turns picking up a piece of trash. Have them read the message on the paper, or help them read the message). 

Ask, "Is that a good way to show love to God? If it is not a good way to show God we love him then it is TRASH, we should throw away that kind of behavior. Let children wad up the paper and throw it away - slam dunk - 3 point try in the garbage. Reiterate that we don't want to TRASH God's commandments. Each time a piece of trash is thrown away, restate John14:15  until all of the trash is cleaned up.

Ask the children if they will show God that they love him this week. Will they keep God's commandments or make TRASH?

Copyright 2004 Emmalea Butler

Learn more about teaching the Ten Commandments to kids.

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