Children’s Sermon

John 7:37-39

River of Life

By Lois Parker Edstrom

Rivers are important to us and to our world. Why do you think this is so? Yes, fish live in rivers. Rivers provide water which farmers use to irrigate food crops such as wheat and corn. Rivers provide drinking water for people, birds, and animals. When a dam is placed across a river, the energy from the river is turned into electric energy which we use to light, heat, or cool our houses. Rivers also provide a waterway for boats. Can you think of other reasons why rivers are so important?

As we talk about rivers we realize that rivers provide many necessary things, for us as well as for farm animals and wildlife.

In the Bible we read the words spoken by Jesus and he says, “He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water” (7:38). He is speaking of the Spirit of God which is like “a river of living water.”

When we believe in God, we are given his Spirit that lives within us. The Spirit of God is what we feel inside that helps us make good choices. It teaches us right from wrong. It comforts us when we are upset. It makes us aware of the good things in our lives. Like a river, the Spirit of God provides many things that are necessary to us. We could say “the living water” – the Spirit of God, gives us life now and forever.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible