Sermon Illustrations on Child Evangelism

Won by a Smile

Simple kindness and friendliness can lead entire families to Christ.

In London, in 1872, one Sunday morning a minister said to me, "I want you to notice that family there in one of the front seats, and when we go home I want to tell you their story." When we got home I asked him for the story, and he said, "All that family were won by a smile." "Why," said I, "how's that?" "Well," said he, "as I was walking down a street one day I saw a child at a window; it smiled, and I smiled, and we bowed. So it was the second time; I bowed, she bowed. It was not long before there was another child, and I had got in a habit of looking and bowing, and pretty soon the group grew, and at last, as I went by, a lady was with them. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to bow to her, but I knew the children expected it, and so I bowed to them all. And the mother saw I was a minister, because I carried a Bible every Sunday morning. So the children followed me the next Sunday and found I was a minister. And they thought I was the greatest preacher, and their parents must hear me. A minister who is kind to a child and gives him a pat on the head, why the children will think he is the greatest preacher in the world. Kindness goes a great way. And to make a long story short, the father and mother and five children were converted, and they are going to join our church next Sunday."

Won to Christ by a smile! We must get the wrinkles out of our brows, and we must have smiling faces.

A Little Boy's Experience

Patient care and invitation can win a reluctant child to Sunday school and Christ.

One day as a young lady was walking up the street, she saw a little boy running out of a shoemaker's shop, and behind him was the old shoemaker chasing him with a wooden last in his hand. He had not run far until the last was thrown at him, and he was struck in the back. The boy stopped and began to cry. The Spirit of the Lord touched that young lady's heart, and she went to where he was. She stepped up to him, and asked him if he was hurt. He told her it was none of her business. She went to work then to win that boy's confidence. She asked him if he went to school. He said, "No." "Well, why don't you go to school?" "Don't want to." She asked him if he would not like to go to Sunday school. "If you will come," she said, "I will tell you beautiful stories and read nice books." She coaxed and pleaded with him, and at last said that if he would consent to go, she would meet him on the corner of a street which they should agree upon. He at last consented, and the next Sunday, true to his promise, he waited for her at the place designated. She took him by the hand and led him into the Sabbath-school. "Can you give me a place to teach this little boy?" she asked of the superintendent.

He looked at the boy, but they didn't have any such looking little ones in the school. A place was found, however, and she sat down in the corner and tried to win that soul for Christ. Many would look upon that with contempt, but she had got something to do for the Master. The little boy had never heard anybody sing so sweetly before. When he went home he was asked where he had been. "Been among the angels," he told his mother. He said he had been to the Protestant Sabbath-school, but his father and mother told him he must not go there any more or he would get a flogging. The next Sunday he went, and when he came home he got the promised flogging. He went the second time and got a flogging, and also a third time with the same result. At last he said to his father, "I wish you would flog me before I go, and then I won't have to think of it when I am there." The father said, "If you go to that Sabbath-school again I will kill you." It was the father's custom to send his son out on the street to sell articles to the passers-by, and he told the boy that he might have the profits of what he sold on Saturday. The little fellow hastened to the young lady's house and said to her, "Father said that he would give me every Saturday to myself, and if you will just teach me, then I will come to your house every Saturday afternoon." I wonder how many young ladies there are that would give up their Saturday afternoons just to lead one boy into the kingdom of God. Every Saturday afternoon that little boy was there at her house, and she tried to tell him the way to Christ. She labored with him, and at last the light of God's spirit broke upon his heart.

One day while he was selling his wares at the railroad station, a train of cars approached unnoticed and passed over both his legs. A physician was summoned, and the first thing after he arrived, the little sufferer looked up into his face and said, "Doctor, will I live to get home?" "No," said the doctor, "you are dying." "Will you tell my mother and father that I died a Christian?" They bore home the boy's corpse and with it the last message that he died a Christian. Oh, what a noble work was that young lady's in saving that little wanderer! How precious the remembrance to her! When she goes to heaven she will not be a stranger there. He will take her by the hand and lead her to the throne of Christ. She did the work cheerfully. Oh, may God teach us what our work is that we may do it for His glory.

A Little Boy Converts his Mother

A child's faith and prayer can lead to the conversion of an unbelieving parent.

I remember when on the North Side I tried to reach a family time and again and failed. One night in the meeting, I noticed one of the little boys of that family. He hadn't come for any good, however; he was sticking pins in the backs of the other boys. I thought if I could get hold of him it would do good. I used always to go to the door and shake hands with the boys, and when I got to the door and saw this little boy coming out, I shook hands with him, and patted him on the head, and said I was glad to see him, and hoped he would come again. He hung his head and went away. The next night, however, he came back, and he behaved better than he did the previous night. He came two or three times after, and then asked us to pray for him that he might become a Christian. That was a happy night for me. He became a Christian and a good one. One night I saw him weeping. I wondered if his old temper had got hold or him again, and when he got up I wondered what he was going to say. "I wish you would pray for my mother," he said. When the meeting was over I went to him and asked, "Have you ever spoken to your mother or tried to pray with her?" "Well, you know, Mr. Moody," he replied, "I never had an opportunity; she don't believe, and won't hear me." "Now," I said, "I want you to talk to your mother to-night." For years I had been trying to reach her and couldn't do it.

So I urged him to talk to her that night, and I said "I will pray for you both." When he got to the sitting-room he found some people there, and he sat waiting for an opportunity, when his mother said it was time for him to go to bed. He went to the door undecided. He took a step, stopped, and turned around, and hesitated for a minute, then ran to his mother and threw his arms around her neck, and buried his face in her bosom. "What is the matter?" she asked--she thought he was sick. Between his sobs he told his mother how for five weeks he had wanted to be a Christian; how he had stopped swearing; how he was trying to be obedient to her, and how happy he would be if she would be a Christian, and then went off to bed. She sat for a few minutes, but couldn't stand it, and went up to his room. When she got to the door she heard him weeping and praying, "Oh, God, convert my dear mother." She came down again, but couldn't sleep that night. Next day she told the boy to go and ask Mr. Moody to come over and see her. He called at my place of business--I was in business then--and I went over as quick as I could. I found her sitting in a rocking chair weeping. "Mr. Moody," she said, "I want to become a Christian." "What has brought that change over you. I thought you didn't believe in it?" Then she told me how her boy had come to her, and how she hadn't slept any all night, and how her sin rose up before her like a dark mountain. The next Sunday that boy came and led that mother into the Sabbath-school, and she became a Christian worker.

Oh, little children, if you find Christ tell it to your fathers and mothers. Throw your arms around their necks and lead them to Jesus.

Moody and his Little Willie

Children may be unaware of their spiritual dirtiness despite outward cleanliness.

I said to my little family, one morning, a few weeks before the Chicago fire, "I am coming home this afternoon to give you a ride." My little boy clapped his hands. "Oh, papa, will you take me to see the bears in Lincoln Park?" "Yes." You know boys are very fond of seeing bears. I had not been gone long when my little boy said, "Mamma, I wish you would get me ready." "Oh," she said, "it will be a long time before papa comes." "But I want to get ready, mamma." At last he was ready to have the ride, face washed, and clothes all nice and clean. "Now, you must take good care and not get yourself dirty again," said mamma. Oh, of course he was going to take care; he wasn't going to get dirty. So off he ran to watch for me. However, it was a long time yet until the afternoon, and after a little he began to play. When I got home, I found him outside, with his face all covered with dirt. "I can't take you to the Park that way, Willie." "Why, papa? you said you would take me." "Ah, but I can't; you're all over mud. I couldn't be seen with such a dirty little boy." "Why, I'se clean, papa; mamma washed me." "Well, you've got dirty since." But he began to cry, and I could not convince him that he was dirty. "I'se clean; mamma washed me!" he cried. Do you think I argued with him? No. I just took him up in my arms, and carried him into the house, and showed him his face in the looking-glass. He had not a word to say. He could not take my word for it; but one look at the glass was enough; he saw it for himself. He didn't say he wasn't dirty after that!

Now the looking-glass showed him that his face was dirty--but I did not take the looking-glass to wash it; of course not. Yet that is just what thousands of people do. The law is the looking-glass to see ourselves in, to show us how vile and worthless we are in the sight of God; but they take the law and try to wash themselves with it.

A Little Child Converts an Infidel

A child's simple question softens an infidel's heart toward Jesus.

I remember hearing of a Sabbath-school teacher who had led every one of her children to Christ. She was a faithful teacher. Then she tried to get her children to go out and bring other children into the school. One day one of them came and said she had been trying to get the children of a family to come to the school, but the father was an infidel, and he wouldn't allow it. "What is an infidel?" asked the child. She had never heard of an infidel before. The teacher went on to tell her what an infidel man was, and she was perfectly shocked. A few mornings after the girl happened to be going past the post-office on her way to school, and she saw the infidel father coming out. She went up to him and said, "Why don't you love Jesus?" If it had been a man who had said that to him probably he would have knocked him down. He looked at her and walked on. A second time she put the question, "Why don't you love Jesus?" He put out his hand to put her gently away from him, when, on looking down, he saw her tears. "Please, sir, tell me why you don't love Jesus?" He pushed her aside and away he went. When he got to his office he couldn't get this question out of his mind. All the letters seemed to read, "Why don't you love Jesus?" All men in his place of business seemed to say, "Why don't you love Jesus?" When he tried to write his pen seemed to shape the words, "Why don't you love Jesus?" He couldn't rest, and on the street he went to mingle with the business men, but he seemed to hear a voice continually asking him, "Why don't you love Jesus?" He thought when night came and he got home with his family, he would forget it; but he couldn't. He complained that he wasn't well, and went to bed. But when he laid his head on the pillow that voice kept whispering, "Why don't you love Jesus?" He couldn't sleep. By and by, about midnight, he got up and said, "I will get a Bible and find where Christ contradicts himself, and then I'll have a reason," and he turned to the book of John. My friends, if you want a reason for not loving Christ, don't turn to John. He knew Him too long. I don't believe a man can read the gospel of John without being turned to Christ. Well, he read through, and found no reason why he shouldn't love Him, but he found many reasons why he should. He read this book, and before morning he was on his knees, and that question put by that little child led to his conversion.

Giving, and Praying

A child's simple prayer blesses her small gift for missions, showing faith in giving and prayer.

A little girl of six years old, who was very desirous of putting her pennies into the missionary-box with others, when saying her evening prayers at her father's knee, hesitated a moment, and then added, "Lord bless my two pennies for Jesus' sake. Amen!" She prayed thus every night after giving her pennies for the missionary-box.

Sunday Schools, Influence of

Sunday school teaching gave a boy assurance of God's care even in death.

A little boy learned in Sunday school the text, "When my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up." While working in a coal-mine, the water burst in, and cut off all escape. Some days after, his body was found, and near it the above text, cut in the soft coal. The Lord had indeed taken him up.

Sunday Schools, Rescues of

Sunday schools rescue many children from spiritual ruin like a fisherman saving children from the sea.

Six little children got into a boat, and were swept away to sea. All that could, put out in search of them. Great anxiety filled the place. All night, the children were drifting on the cruel sea. Next day, a fisherman discovered and rescued them. The cry, "They are safe!" ran through the town. The work of the Sunday school is to rescue, not six, but millions of children who are drifting to ruin.

Teaching, Early

Failing to teach children to pray leaves them vulnerable to negative influences like swearing.

I have heard of a father who objected to teach his child to pray. The child broke his leg; and, while his leg was being taken off, he continued to curse and swear all the time. "See!" said the physician, "you have a point of conscience about teaching your child to pray; but Satan has no conscience about teaching him to swear."

— Spurgeon

Young, Care of the

Taking care of the young is the secret to raising noble and fruitful lives.

A gentleman was walking over his farm with a friend, exhibiting his crops, herds of cattle, and flocks of sheep, with all of which his friend was highly pleased, but with nothing so much as his splendid sheep. He had seen the same breed frequently before, but had never seen such noble specimens; and with great earnestness he asked how he had succeeded in rearing such flocks. His simple answer was, "I take care of my lambs, sir." Here was all the secret, — he took care of the lambs. Bowes.

The Sixpence

John 3:3

A missionary encourages a boy to read John 3:3, sparking his spiritual awakening.

Some time in the latter part of the last century, says Rev. Mr. Grinnell, a missionary from one of the New England Societies was laboring in the interior of the State of New York, where the settlements were very few and far between. This missionary was much devoted to his work, meek and affable, and possessed of a remarkable faculty for introducing the subject of religion to every individual with whom he came in contact. On a hot summer's day, while his horse was drinking from a small brook through which he rode, there came along a poor-dressed, bare-headed, bare-footed boy, about 7 years old, and stood looking at the missionary from the bridge just above him.

"My son," said the missionary, "have you any parents?"

"Yes, sir; they live in that house," pointing to a cabin near by.

"Do your parents pray?" "No, sir."

"Why do they not pray?"

"I do not know, sir."

"Do you pray?" "No, sir."

"Why do you not pray?"

"I do not know how to pray."

"Can you read?"

"Yes, sir; my mother has taught me to read the New Testament."

"If I will give you this sixpence, will you go home and read the third chapter of John, and read the third verse over three times?" The little boy said he would; and the missionary gave him the sixpence and rode on.

Some twenty years had elapsed, and the same missionary, advanced in years, was laboring in a sparsely peopled region, in another part of the same state. While on his way to a little village one day, late in the afternoon, he called at a small house, and inquired the distance. "Six miles," was the reply. He then stated that himself and horse were very weary, and inquired if he could not stay all night. The woman of the house objected on account of their poverty, but the husband said, "Sir, you shall be welcome to such as we have."

The missionary dismounted and went in. The wife began to prepare his supper, while her husband proceeded to take care of the horse. As he came in, the missionary addressed him: "Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ?"

"That," said the man, "is a great question." "True," said the missionary, but I cannot eat till you tell me."

"Sir," said the man, "about 20 years ago, I lived in the interior of this state, and was then about 7 years old. While playing in the road one day, a gentleman in black, rode into the brook near by me, to water his horse. As I stood on the bridge above looking at him, he began to converse with me about praying, and reading the Bible; and told me he would give me a sixpence if I would read the 3d chapter of John and the third verse, three times—"And Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." I gave him my promise, took the money, and felt wealthy indeed. I went home, and read as I had promised. That verse produced an uneasiness in my mind, which followed me for days and years, and finally I was led by its influence, as I trust, to love Jesus as my Saviour! "Glory to God!" said the missionary, rising from his seat; "here is one of my spiritual children; the bread cast on the waters is found after many days!"

They took their supper, and talked and sang and prayed and rejoiced together all night long, neither of them having any disposition to sleep. The missionary found him to be poor in this world's goods, but rich in faith, and an heir of the kingdom. Early in the morning they parted, and the missionary went his way inspired with fresh zeal for the prosecution of his pious labors.

# 66. Benefit to Christians.

The Child And The Shoe Maker

A child's testimony and prayers lead a shoemaker to faith and salvation.

When Mr. Whitfield was preaching in America, a certain lady in New England became a subject of grace, and a praying, experienced Christian. But she was alone in her exercises; she could influence none to pray with her but her little daughter, between nine and eleven years of age. This child she took into her closet with her, from day to day, a witness to her cries and tears. It pleased God, after some time, to touch the heart of the child, and after sorrow for sin, to give her the knowledge of salvation through the remission of sin. The child, then about eleven years of age, in a transport which is so peculiar to such a blessed experience, said, "O, mother, if all the world knew this! I wish I could tell every body! Pray, mother, let me run to some of the neighbors, and tell them, that they may be happy, and love my Savior too."

"Ah! my dear child," said the mother, "that would be needless; for I suppose if you were to tell your experience, there is not one in many miles but what would laugh at you, and say it was all delusion."

"O, mother," said the child, "I think they would believe me. I must go over to the shoemaker and tell him; he will believe me."

the want to come. She ran over, and found him at work in his shop. She began by telling him that he must die, and that he was a sinner, and that she was a sinner, but that her blessed Savior had heard her mother's prayers, and had forgiven all her sins; and that now she was so happy she did not know how to tell it! The shoemaker was struck; his tears flowed down like rain; he threw aside his work, and cried for mercy, by prayer and supplication. That alarmed the neighborhood, and in a few months from that time there were above fifty people brought to the knowledge of Jesus, and experienced his power and grace.

# 107. Influence of Earnestness and Tenderness.

Daughter Explaining The Bible

A Sabbath school child could explain Bible truths better than unschooled neighbors.

A teacher called at a neighbor's house, and the parents being absent, questioned the children about the creation, the flood, &c. They appeared much surprised at the questions, and were as unable to answer them as though they had related to another planet. They did not attend the Sabbath school.

In the same neighborhood lived another child, whose age was about the average age of those children just mentioned, and her advantages, excepting the Sabbath school, of which she was a member, were no better than theirs. As her father called on the superintendent to inquire the meaning of a certain passage of Scripture, he remarked that he was in the habit of asking his daughter the meaning of obscure portions of the Bible, and that he seldom failed of obtaining a satisfactory explanation.

Little Peace

A child's desire to reconcile others illustrates Jesus' blessing on peacemakers.

MAKER.—A gentleman, once speaking at a Bible Society meeting, stated, that a little time previously he had called in at one of the Sunday schools in Southwark; and as he was looking over one of the classes, the teacher took him aside and said, "Sir, Lucy, whom you have just noticed, is one of the most extraordinary children I ever knew," "How so?" said he. "Why, sir, she is remarkably diligent, gentle, and, above all, remarkably humble. She is very forgiving to those who have injured her; and there never is a quarrel in the school but she interferes, and is not satisfied until she has reconciled the parties. I am almost afraid of loving her too much." After school the gentleman addressed her: "Lucy, I am pleased to hear you give great satisfaction to your teacher. What is it makes you so desirous to oblige your schoolfellows, and settle their disputes?" She blushed, and hesitated some time; and at last said, in a meek voice, "Sir, I hope it is because our Savior has said, 'Blessed are the peace-makers.'"

Testimony Of A Justice

Sabbath schools transformed a dangerous neighborhood by positively influencing children.

A justice of the peace, near Bristol, England, in 1820, speaking of the neighborhood in which a Sunday school had been established, said, that formerly it was dangerous even to go through the parish, in consequence of the ignorant and depraved state of the inhabitants; but now he saw such an alteration for the better, and was so pleased with the sight of the children, that on one occasion he invited them all to his house, and gave them refreshment.

The Clergyman'S Visit

A poor boy is transformed by attending Sunday school and joining the class.

I was, one Sabbath afternoon, says a superintendent, about to close the school in which I was engaged, when a well-dressed genteel person, who presented himself as a visitor, requested me to allow him to speak to the children. This being readily granted, he addressed them nearly to the following effect:

There was once a poor lad, who was noted, even among his sinful companions, for wickedness, but especially for swearing and Sabbath breaking. He, along with others, resolved, one Sabbath, to pelt some steady boys who were going to their school. However, it so happened, that the lads, on being attacked, ran away; this lad followed them to the very doors of the school, which, when opened, as they were then singing, such a sound came from the place as seemed to stun him. He wondered what they could be doing inside; and a teacher at that moment admitted the other boys, and invited him in. A new scene now opened itself upon him; nearly three hundred boys, seated with their teachers. They all appeared so neat and clean, and in such order that he wished he was "one of them." He stood, for some time, a spectacle for the whole school dirty and ragged, and with his wooden clogs on. After some consultation, it was resolved to admit him into the A B C class. Every thing was new to him. The next Sabbath he appeared, his hair was combed, his face washed, and a pair of shoes were given to him. He now found himself so much behind the other boys, that he resolved to strain every nerve to get up to them. This determination was the means of his rising to the very first class; when his conduct being approved of, he was chosen a teacher. He now felt he had something more to do than to teach; he had a soul to be saved or lost. In a little time he was enabled, after much prayer, to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and to rejoice in his salvation. The Lord then called him to preach these glad tidings, and happening some time after to officiate within twenty miles of his own much beloved school, he rode hard, after the morning's labors, and reached the place just in time to see the poor lads in his own, very own school;—and here he is now speaking to you.

The scene now became truly affecting; he burst into tears, as did several others around him; at last, he sobbed out, "O, my dear lads, be in right good earnest to make the most of your very great Sabbath school privileges; I have kept you too long!" He then concluded with a most affecting prayer.

# 39. Miscellaneous.

16 Sermon Illustrations on Child Evangelism