Tested

Children's Message

Sermon

Good morning! Did everyone have a good week at school? Did anyone have any tests this week?

Actually, that’s exactly what we’re talking about today - tests!

Ugh, I know, I know. Tests are boring, hard, stressful. But tests can also tell us something important. They can show us what we know and where we need help to improve.

Let’s make a list of all the different kinds of tests we can think of:

• Math/science/history tests
• Physical tests like presidential fitness test
• Eye exam at the doctor’s office
• Driving test to get your license

There are lots of kinds of tests, and they don’t stop when you get out of school. At work you may have to take a strengths/weaknesses test or at the doctor you may have to take a blood test. In fact, the Bible even talks about tests.

In our Scripture today, Paul is continuing his letter to his friends the Thessalonians and he says that God “tests our hearts.” Woah. What do you think that means? (Take a few answers.)

Hmm. Have you ever used an exercise band? (Option to show one at this point or just describe it.)It’s kind of like a rubber band but you use it to work out. You might put it around your legs and then step side to side or put one side under your foot and pull up. Athletes use these a lot to warm up their muscles. Every time you use it, you’re testing it. You’re testing its flexibility and strength. You don’t give the exercise band a piece of paper with questions like “Are you going to stretch 3 feet long?” That would just be silly. But by using it, we’re testing it.

And I think that’s what Paul was trying to show us too. God isn’t giving us a piece of paper with questions about our heart on it. Paul is telling us that every time we use our hearts, or we might say every time we live our faith, we are testing them. We are practicing getting stronger and more flexible in the way we show God’s love.

The more we use our faith, or test it, the better we get at loving one another. That’s a pretty good test, if you ask me.

Prayer

God of love, help us to stretch and grow our faith. May we encounter people and situations this week that give us opportunities to test our faith by putting it into action. Come beside us and guide us each and every day. Amen.

Wonder Questions

I wonder how you feel when you have to take a test?
I wonder what it looks like to live your faith?
I wonder if there is someone who could show you how to share God’s love?

Church Activities

1. Rubber Band Crafts: Use rubber bands to exemplify the lesson of testing through use. Create a slingshot with rubber bands and popsicle sticks, make a guitar with a tissue box and rubber bands, or build a car with rubber bands, CDs, and cardboard.
2. Faith Bingo: Create a bingo board with different ways to live your faith (ex: help a neighbor, pray for a friend, invite someone new to church). Kids can brainstorm their own ideas to fill in the squares. Then take the bingo home and use it during the week. The following Sunday, celebrate anyone who practiced using their faith!

Family Activities

1. Family Exercise: Take a little time this week to “test” your muscles. This will look different for every family. Maybe you go on a short walk, or swim in the pool together, or even do a family workout. Choose the level of activity that makes sense for your family.
2. Examples of Faith: Paul told the Thessalonians that he tried to live as a good example for them. Practice celebrating each other this week when someone lives as a good example. Big brother was patient with little sister? Celebrate! Mom stayed peaceful when things went sideways? Celebrate! Dad used self control when someone said something unkind? Celebrate! (Pro tip: Printing out a list of the fruit of the spirit can give kids concrete things to look for.)