Love My Kids

Sixth Sunday of Easter

From “Sitting on the Rainbow”

Scripture Reference: 1 John 5:1-2

Preparation (optional): Arrange for several older members of the congregation to bring small photos of their grandkids and be prepared to show them to the kids during the children’s time.

How many of you have grandparents? Raise your hand. I know quite a few grandparents, and all of them just love their grandkids. They love to have their grandchildren visit them, and they tell their friends how wonderful and sweet their grandchildren are. Most grandparents carry around pictures of their grandkids in their wallets and their purses.

Are there any grandparents here this morning who would be willing to show us pictures of their grandchildren? (Your prearranged grandparents may come up to show the kids their pictures and say just a few words about the grandchildren.)

I’d like to know how each of you got your grandparents to love you so much. Did you pay them lots of money? Do you take them out to fancy restaurants every week? Are you always extra good when they’re around—never complaining about anything, never fighting with your brother or sister? (Listen to responses.)

Your grandparents love you for who you are, don’t they? Your mom or dad is their child. They love your parents, and they love you. In 1 John, chapter 5, the Bible says, “Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child” (v. 1 rsv).

Who are the children of God? (A child may give the correct answer.) All who believe in Jesus are children of God. Our heavenly Father is the parent, and his children are sitting all around you. Some of God’s children are young, like you, and some are older like your parents and grandparents. We are all children of God.

The Bible says that everyone who loves the parent also loves the child. Just like your grandparents love the parent (your mom or dad) and love the child (you), so, too, all of us who love God, the heavenly parent, should love all of God’s children.

If God had pictures of all of his children in his wallet, how big do you suppose that wallet would have to be? Really big! God has many children. We’re part of a big family, aren’t we? We’re a family of believers, and God wants us to love everybody else in our family.

Prayer:  Dear God, help us love all of your children as much as you do.