All Saints Day

Main Point: We are sure of our salvation because we have been made “saints” through Christ.

Introduction

Children’s message

Good morning! who are you? [look at new puppet].

“Hi, I’m Reginal.”

Explain that we should get to know each other and wear a name tag so that folks know who you are. “This is me, Saint Dan!” Puppet talk about how he didn’t think I was to much of saint. Invite everyone to imagine they are wearing a name tag that says “Hello my name is, Saint _______. Kids, do you think parents always think you’re a saint? I’ve never heard a parent scold a child by saying, “Saint Johnny, you go set in the corner!”

The fact is, everyone who follows Jesus is a saint. We’ve talked before about how the love of Jesus changes us. He loves us so much that He died on the cross to pay for our sins. Then He rose to life again and is alive now forever. Because Jesus did that, God forgives the sins of everyone who believes in Jesus. Like we said before, God changes us from being slaves to sin into being His dear children. That’s why you’re a saint! That doesn’t mean you never sin anymore; we still fight with those temptations all the time. But it does mean that when you ask God to forgive you and help you do better, He always does. And one day all the saints who ever lived will be alive together again in heaven. That will be amazing! That’s why in our Gospel lesson today Jesus said we are blessed. He was talking to those who already believed in Him and telling them about how God blesses His children.

Listen to it again: “Blessed are the poor in spirit”—that’s everyone who knows they’re a sinner and can’t change themselves—“for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (v. 3). That means that Jesus changes you into a child of God, one of His saints who gets to be part of His kingdom forever.

Here’s the next part: “Blessed are those who mourn” (v. 4). To mourn means to be really sad. We’re very sad when someone we love has died, aren’t we? If a child wants to tell about being sad over someone who died, allow it, then respond, Yes, exactly. Well, God wants us to feel the same way because of our sins. In fact, Jesus’ next words were “for they will be comforted” (v. 4). That means we won’t be sad forever because God will comfort us. When someone we love dies, He helps us be a little less sad every day. But even better, He takes away our sins and fills us with the joy of His forgiveness. And best of all, we’ll see all those people we loved again one day in heaven! We’ll never have to be sad anymore.

Jesus told us about one more blessing in today’s Gospel. He said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (v. 5). Because we love Jesus, He helps us to be gentle and kind and forgiving toward others. That’s one way you can recognize saints who follows Jesus; they try to treat other people like He did. When we mess up and sin, we saints just go right back to Jesus and say, “I’m sorry, please forgive me and help me do better.” And His answer is always “Your sins are forgiven, My little saint. I love you!” We know that He takes care of us now and will come back one day to make everything right.

CHRIST IS RISEN - HE IS RISEN INDEED! HALLELUJAH!

This is all we need [mic drop]. Allow for some silence to sit in.

We are here today to celebrate All Saints Day as we worship God.

But how can we be sure that we are saints?

Tell story from your own life about questioning how we can be saved, and how key adult leaders and God’s Word were the comfort.

A Number Beyond Counting is before God

Revelation 7:9-10

who are these? What happened before this verse? - explain about the interpretations of sealing the 144,000

God has sealed completely His people

Look at verse 14, in the Greek, the present participle “those who are coming out,” suggests an ongoing number of new people being added continuously. Go over and read some names. So this means that right now these folks are a part of this great multitude that John is witnessing. Isn’t that amazing, that means these people whom we love, miss, and grieve are counted in Scripture!

Saints Are Made Pure by the Blood of the Lamb

Revelation 7:11-15

What happens if you put a red sock into the laundry with all the whites? Right the red spills out and makes everything else pink. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life (Romans 6:23). In the death of Christ he has taken our sins and all the muck, yuck, and guck - to make us white, pure, and HOLY.

The Lamb is Among His Sheep

Revelation 7:16-17

This reminds of of a common verse read at funerals doesn’t it? Psalm 23 Here he see and hear how Jesus is the Good Shepherd leading us to good pasture, leading us to water that never runs out, taking away the pain and the sorrow of this world.

How can we be sure that our loved ones, and we ourselves are saints? We know this because of the trust, hope, and faith in God from the Holy Spirit. God has spoken this truth through His Word and the saints are already there in the presence of God, worshipping and praising Him.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank You for making me God’s child and a saint in Your kingdom. Thank You for all the saints who lived before me, and thank You that I’ll be able to see them again in heaven. Amen.