The Real Thing (Upper Elementary) - Children's Sermons from Sermons4Ki...

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Have you ever gone to the grocery store with your parents? As you walk up and down the aisles, there are hundreds of cans with food in them. How do you know what is on the inside? On the outside of the can, there is a label with a picture that shows you what is on the inside. If you pick up a can that has a picture of apples on the label, you would surely expect to find apples inside the can, wouldn't you? Of course you would. If you pick up a can with a picture of peaches on the outside, you have every reason to expect that there are peaches in the can. If you were making an apple pie and opened a can with a picture of apples on the outside, but had tomatoes inside, it wouldn't make a very good apple pie, would it? That would be false advertising - when the outside doesn't match what's really inside.

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We sometimes wear labels that tell the world that we are followers of Jesus. Some people wear a cross around their neck or a t-shirt that says, "Jesus, He's the Real Thing." Some people may have a "Honk if you love Jesus" bumper sticker on their car, or they might carry a Bible to school. When people see us displaying these Christian labels, they have every reason to expect us to be "the real thing." They expect us to live in such a way that it is plain to see that we really do have the love of Jesus in our heart. But here's the important question: Does our behavior match our label?

Think about this: If someone sees you wearing a Christian t-shirt but then watches you cheat on a test, what message does that send? If you have a cross necklace but you're mean to the new kid at school, are you being truthful about what's inside your heart? People are watching Christians - especially kids your age - to see if we're genuine or just pretending.

When John the Baptist was preaching and baptizing, many people were coming to be baptized because it was the popular thing to do - kind of like how sometimes people do things just because everyone else is doing it. That made John very unhappy. "You are a bunch of snakes!" he said. "Do you think that a little water will make you OK in God's eyes? The way you live should show that you have repented of your sins and turned to God." John was saying that getting baptized was meaningless if their hearts hadn't really changed.

"What should we do then?" they asked John. This is such an important question - they wanted to know how to live differently.

"If you have two coats, give one to the poor," he answered. "If you have food, share it with those who are hungry." John was teaching them about generosity and caring for others who have less.

Some of those coming to be baptized were tax collectors who were famous for cheating people by collecting more taxes than they owed - imagine if someone was supposed to collect $10 but took $15 and kept the extra $5 for themselves. To them, John said, "If you are a tax collector, collect no more than the government requires." He was telling them to be honest in their work.

Others in the crowd were soldiers. John said to them, "Don't try to get money from people by threatening them or making false accusations against them. Be satisfied with your pay." He was teaching them not to use their power to hurt or take advantage of others.

John wanted people to know that labels were not important if they were not a true picture of what was on the inside. That is just as true today as it was when John was telling people of the coming Messiah. Think about it - would you rather have a friend who says they're a Christian but lies and is mean, or someone who doesn't call themselves a Christian but is kind, honest, and helpful?

"What should we do then?" you might ask. Here are some ways we can make sure our "label" matches what's inside:

If God has blessed you with toys, games, or clothes, share with those in need. If you have extra food in your lunch, give it to someone who forgot theirs. If you have two winter coats, give one to someone who is cold. At your age, you might not have money to give, but you have time, energy, and belongings you can share.

Be honest at school - don't cheat on tests or copy homework, even when it's tempting. Stand up for kids who are being bullied, even if it's not popular. Include the lonely kid at lunch instead of just sitting with your usual friends. Use your words to encourage others instead of gossiping or putting people down.

During this season of the year, a lot of people wear a button that says, "Jesus Is the Reason for the Season." Do we really believe that? If so, people should see Jesus in the way we live - not just during Christmas, but all year long. They should see Jesus in how we treat our siblings when we're angry, how we respond when someone is mean to us, and how we act when adults aren't watching.

Here's something to think about: What would happen if everyone at your school lived like Jesus for just one week? How would your classroom be different? How would the playground change? What if you were the one to start that change?

Remember, being a Christian isn't about being perfect - it's about letting Jesus change your heart so that your actions show His love. When we mess up (and we all do), we can ask for forgiveness and try again. That's what makes us real followers of Jesus, not fake ones.

Father, we confess that we don't always live the way we should. Sometimes we want people to think we're good Christians, but our hearts and actions don't always match. Help us to be genuine followers of Jesus, not just people who wear the label. Help us to live in such a way that others will see that we have the love of Jesus inside, especially when it's hard or when no one is watching. Give us courage to stand up for what's right and to show Your love to everyone we meet. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.