This children’s sermon aims to communicate the importance of keeping peace in relationships and restoring conflict if possible.
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“Can We Fix It?” Children’s Sermon
Resolving Conflict and Fixing Friendships Lesson from Matthew 18:15-20
Children will be reminded that sometimes we need outside help to fix things, even things like interactions with others. It might take effort, but we want to do everything we can to fix friendships and keep things together.
Law/Gospel Theme: There will be times in life when we need to let relationships go, or peacefully depart from people. However, our goal should be living in relationships and brothers and sisters in Christ, recognizing that all are redeemed by His grace. The Law condemns us after sin, but the Gospel reminds us that we are forgiven, and ought to offer that forgiveness to others as well.
Optional Materials / Object Lesson Props: Simple item that needs repair (stapler, coffee maker, electronic, etc.)
Bible Passage: Matthew 18:15-20
Message: Note: As with most messages, the details of how you choose to communicate this are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs. Use your judgment and ideas to best serve students.
- See the demonstration of this children’s sermon on our YouTube channel.
- Don’t miss the related Sunday School Craft demonstration.
Can We Fix It? Matthew 18:15-20 Children’s Sermon
Greet children, with a stapler and paper in hand—or other items, if desired:
Hello, children of God!
I am so glad to see you again. Today we are talking about a very important topic: we are discussing how we can get along with other people and have good relationships! God wants us to keep peace with one another, because when we do that, we can serve Him as His people and help others. In fact, I was just preparing a little craft to go along with this. I’m stapling these papers together, because the staples hold things together, just like Jesus, and…. (Pause as though the stapler is not working).
Well, that’s funny. It won’t staple! Hmm…why is this happening? What should I do? (Attempt to use it again, without success.)
Well this is frustrating. Should I hit it? Maybe a good smack would do the trick… Let me open it up and check it out. Any ideas? It looks okay. It has staples. (Use other ideas to try working on the broken tool: have students make suggestions, ask for help, or even fake a phone call to someone else to get help with finding a solution. Eventually, figure out a method to fix the item.)
Hurray! I did it! It took a little effort, but now I can use this again to help me with my work!
So, why in the world do you think I did that? Why bother sharing with you the process of fixing a broken stapler? Well, sometimes it takes a little extra effort to fix things. This is true in our lives, and even in our relationships with one another!
The Bible tells us that it’s important to get along well with others, but it’s not always easy. In fact, the Gospel today mentions how we might have to go through a few steps to fix a conflict we have in relationship. If someone is having trouble or giving us a hard time, we should try to address the problem and restore friendship. If that doesn’t work, though, sometimes we need to get other people involved. We can ask friends for help, or we can even turn to parents or pastors to try to assist. Sometimes, people might still not want to fix issues. But usually, with prayer and care, we can resolve things and be able to work together.
The point is, God values relationships. He wants us to do everything we can to keep peace and to stick with one another in friendship. He knows that friendships are important in our lives, as well as the life of the church. He wants us to love and live well with one another, and gives us helpers to keep relationships going. Most importantly, we hear that when we are together with others, God is with us. No matter what, HE is present with us, and will help us when things get rough. So if you have been having a problem with someone, talk to them about it. If that doesn’t work it out, you might bring others in for support, but most importantly, pray. Why don’t we do that right now?
Children’s Prayer Moment
Dear God,
Help us to resolve our arguments
To remember your grace
And to have good relationships
Thank you for your forgiveness
Help us pass it on to others
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
Matthew 18:15-20 ESV
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be[e] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[f] loosed in heaven. 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” -Matthew 18:15-20