Children’s Sermon

Luke 6:39-49

The Real Thing

Objects suggested: Pictures of cartoon characters

Do you have a favorite cartoon character? Let’s make a list. Tell me if any of these characters are familiar to you.

Mickey Mouse
The Road Runner
Bugs Bunny
Cat in the Hat
Donald Duck
Curious George
Dora the Explorer
Charlie Brown
Magilla Gorilla
Scooby Doo
Spiderman
Winnie the Pooh
Yogi Bear
Woody Woodpecker
Batman
Porky Pig
Casper the Friendly Ghost
Eeyore
George of the Jungle
Pink Panther
Snoopy

(NOTE: To find pictures of these various characters, go to Google and search for them by name.)

What do all of these cartoon characters have in common? It is this: they entertain us and make us laugh, but not one of them is real. We all love Mickey Mouse, however he does not look like a real mouse or act as a real mouse would. Real ducks do not talk like Donald Duck. It is exciting to watch Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner chase each other, but we would never do the things they do. These are pretend characters that are imitations of the real thing.

Our Bible lesson today is about being real. Jesus teaches us how to recognize a good person, not a person who is an imitation or pretends to be good, but the real thing. He says, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good” (6:45).

Being sincere and honest, wanting to do the right thing, it is like having a “good treasure” within us that we can share with others. When we do that we are “the real thing” and we are able to recognize the “good treasure” in others as well. Share your laughter and your love.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible