The bible is full of references of people doing good works.
In fact, you have all heard of good works… afterall… doesn’t everyone tell you to be good?
If you’ve ever been in the boy or girl scouts they even give you badges for doing good works…
But how good… is good enough?
1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
So there is a test, a trial that needs to take place to see what will hold up, what will honor God…
What good works this morning… will honor God?
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(Take the balloons and have the children call out good works and write then on the balloons.)
Once you have collected them all (in a container) Place them over… the fire (candle of flame)
Note: a candle has a tendency to be blown out when the balloon pops
As you pop each good work exclaim that there must be some work that will stand the test of fire… there must be some work that is good enough!
Then… after all the balloons are popped:
Romans 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
So if there are no good works that will stand the test… How can we get to heaven…
What IS good enough
Jesus Said:
John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
(Take the balloon filled with water… Write JESUS on it and hold it over the flame.
Note: the Balloon doesn’t pop)
It’s not good works… it’s Jesus!
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
- Jesus is the only way to heaven, not good works.
- Jesus will past the trial by fire
Jesus will save you! - But How?
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Have you ever called on Jesus to save you?
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Addl.
Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.