CHILDREN’S SCRIPTURE REFLECTION CHILDREN’S REFLECTION GUIDE Start a discussion on what the passage means, what was Jesus trying to MATTHEW 5:14-16 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD tell us? Some thoughts: Please read the scripture from the Breakthrough Bible Have you ever had to go aside or away from a large crowd in order to talk and be with people who are important to you? If Each week, as there is time, you can use this as an opportunity to teach so, explain when and why you had to do that. the children how to look things up in the Bible. For older grades, assign a reader if you like or ask your prayer leader to read. Jesus said that a “city built on a hill cannot be hidden” – everyone will see the hill and the city from a distance. Have you THEME AND BACKROUND INFORMATION ever done anything by yourself that people could look and see you, even from a distance? Explain. If we are full of darkness, then we will always fumble around as one Lamps are usually lit inside our homes, especially when it is does in the dark, and all around us will be cast a shadow of darkness. dark. No one lights a lamp in their house and then hides it. They let the lamp give light to all in the house. If the light a lamp gives In today’s scripture we are told directly that we are light for the world. to the whole house is the same as the light within each person, The power of light comes from God, and God has placed his light within how can you tell when the light in each person is shining all of us. God calls us to shine that light for ourselves and for all the brightly? world to see, so that we may know we are God’s children and that all may come to see and know how good God is because we are like him. Your good deeds shine like a lighted lamp. You light the world with your goodness. Can you tell when you let your light shine brightly? Are there times when you hid light from others? Can you think of some ways that your good deeds light up other people’s lives? Think of your talents; how do you share them? Think of a good deed you can do this week. What is it? Let people see your good deeds. Your goodness will lead them to praise God. PRAYER Dear Jesus, you said that you are the Light of the world and that anyone who follows you will never live in darkness, but will have the light of Life – John 8:12. May the light we have been given always reflect the love you gave us from our Father in Heaven. Amen! .