05/17/2020 CHILDREN’S CHURCH MESSAGE: Stephen Forgives His Accusers as They Stone Him

We’ve come together today to worship God. Today we’re going to talk about how we bring honor and glory to God when we stand up for him. People all over the world serve God with their loyalty and love.
By standing up and singing worship songs to God, you honor him. But standing up for God means a whole lot more than standing on our feet.
• What does it mean to stand up for someone?
(be willing to help the person; say good things about them.
• What does it mean to stand up for God?
(talk about how great God is; do what God asks us to do.)
• How does standing up for God honor him?
(we praise him when we talk about him; we show people that God is important.)
Standing up for God means that we will do what’s right even if others disagree with us. It means speaking the truth about God when others say things about him that aren’t true. It means telling others about Jesus even if they think he’s not real. Jesus was the perfect example of someone who stood up for God.
• How did Jesus stand up for God?
(Jesus taught about God; Jesus died because God told him to.)
• How did his actions honor God?
(Jesus showed that God is most important; people believed in God because of Jesus.)
Jesus stood up for God. He spoke the truth about God even when people hated him for it. He obeyed God in everything, even though it meant being put to death on the cross. When he died on the cross, Jesus was standing up for us, too. He didn’t stand up for us because of the great things we do; he died on the cross because he loves us and has mercy on us. Let’s think about honoring Jesus by loving others as Jesus loves them.
We stand up for God when we follow Jesus.
Jesus showed us how to honor God by standing up for him. Because we have his example, we can stand up for God, too.
Open your Bible to 1 Corinthians 16:13, and read it out loud.
• What does this verse tell us to do?
(stand up for Jesus; be brave.)
• How can we “stand firm” in our faith?
(be truthful; tell about it.)
• Have you ever been teased about being a Christian or for going to church? What was said to you?
Teasing can hurt us. It’s like getting hit with tennis balls! But it’s important that we stand up for what’s right anyway.
• Have you ever tried to tell people about Jesus and felt bad because they wouldn’t listen? Please explain. What can you do to stand up for God? My suggestion is to continue coming to Sunday School and Children’s Church and learning the Word of God. If we know God’s Word and keep the truth about God deep inside us, it’ll help us to stand strong for Jesus. Then we’ll bring honor to God. Let’s read God’s Word and talk to Jesus so we can be strong. Let’s honor God this week by telling others about the joy he brings no matter what we’re facing.
Are you going to praise the Lord? Are you going to take a stand for him when people say he’s not real? when they don’t believe in him? when they say it’s not important to do what’s right?
God is honored when we stand up for him.
God also gives us the Holy Spirit to help make us strong. The Holy Spirit will be with you and give you words to say. The Holy Spirit will fill you with God’s love for other people. Honor God by doing good to others. If you want God to strengthen you today, join me and let’s stand and tell God we want to honor him by standing up for him and living inside out.
? God, we worship you today because you are a good and holy God. You deserve our love and our praise. Help us, God, to honor you by standing up for you this week. Help us do what’s right and good and to honor your name at home, at school, on the playground, and in church.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.