04/10/2026
*LIGHT 4 LIFE SERMON*
(BASED ON THE PRESBYTERIAN ALMANAC)
(SUNDAY 4TH OCTOBER 2026)
From:
PRESBYTERIAN WORSHIP CENTRE, PWC
@ PRESEC, LEGON
Theme:
*“THE CHILD IN NEED, OUR RESPONSIBILITY”*
BIBLE READINGS:
1ˢᵗ: 1 KINGS 17: 8 – 16
2ⁿᵈ: JAMES 1: 27 – 2: 10
3ʳᵈ: LUKE 16: 19 – 31
INTRODUCTION
Today, as we celebrate our Children's Harvest, we are reminded of the beauty and vulnerability of childhood. Children are a heritage from the Lord, a gift that brings joy to every home and community. Yet, not every child experiences the warmth of love and provision. Many children live in need—orphans without parents, children in poverty, those who are neglected, abused, or abandoned.
The Word of God speaks clearly and powerfully about our duty toward the vulnerable, and especially children. Our theme today is "The Child in Need, Our Responsibility." Let us glean the Scriptures to see how God provides through willing vessels, what true religion looks like, and the eternal consequences of neglecting the needy among us.
LET US PRAY!
#1. God Provides Through Willing Vessels
In our first reading (1 Kings 17: 8 – 16), God sends the prophet Elijah to Zarephath, a town outside Israel, to a widow who was preparing what she believed would be her last meal for herself and her son. The drought had devastated the land. She had only a handful of flour and a little oil. Yet God, in His infinite wisdom, chose to provide for Elijah through this needy widow.
Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be emptied, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth'" (1 Kings 17:13-14).
This widow's obedience—her willingness to give out of her own lack—became the channel of God's provision. She gave, and the Lord multiplied. She did not wait until she had enough. She gave what she had, and God sustained her, her son, and the prophet for many days.
Beloved, God will provide for the child in need through you and me. He does not drop provision from the sky. He multiplies the little we give. The question is not whether we have enough, but whether we are willing to be a vessel. When we give, even in our lack, God multiplies. The child in need is our responsibility because God has chosen us to provide for them.
#2. True Religion Cares for the Vulnerable
The second reading from James (James 1: 27 – 2:10) is direct and uncompromising. He writes, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world" (James 1:27).
James does not say that true religion is about eloquent prayers, beautiful songs, or impressive church buildings. No. True religion is practical. It is about caring for the orphan and the widow. It is about the people in need. James goes on to expose the sin of partiality. If we favour the rich and neglect the poor, we sin. If we see a brother or sister who is naked and hungry and say, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," but do nothing to help, what good is that? Faith without works is dead.
The child in need is not just a project for the church; the child is the very test of our faith. Our love for God is demonstrated by our love for the least of these. Beloved, let us not be deceived. We cannot claim to love God who is unseen if we do not care for the children in need we can see.
#3. The Danger of Neglect (Luke 16: 19 – 31)
Our final reading presents a sobering story. Jesus tells of a rich man who lived in luxury and a poor man named Lazarus who lay at his gate, covered with sores, longing for the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. The rich man did not actively harm Lazarus; he just ignored him. He was indifferent.
In time, both died. Lazarus was carried by angels to Abraham's bosom, but the rich man found himself in torment. He then asked Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers, so they would not come to the same place. Abraham replied, "If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead" (Luke 16:31).
The message is clear: Neglect has eternal consequences. The rich man was not condemned for his wealth; he was condemned for his neglect. He had the opportunity to help Lazarus every day at his gate, but he was too busy, too comfortable, too consumed with his own life. Children in need are often at our gates today. They are in our streets, our communities, our schools, and sometimes even in our own extended families. We must not be like the rich man. We must not be too busy to see, too comfortable to act, and too self-absorbed to care. The child in need is our responsibility.
Conclusion & Response
Beloved, the Word of God has spoken. The Holy Spirit is calling us to respond. What action steps is the Holy Spirit asking you to take in response to the child in need?
1. Trust God's Multiplication. Like the widow of Zarephath, give what you have, even if it seems small. The harvest does not begin with abundance; it begins with obedience. Do not wait until you have "enough" to give to the child in need. Give in faith, and watch God multiply.
2. Practice Pure Religion. Examine your faith. Is it only in words, or does it show in action? Visit the orphan. Feed the hungry child. Support the vulnerable. True religion is practical, and it begins with you.
3. Refuse the Sin of Neglect. The rich man is a warning to us. Do not let comfort blind you to the needs around you. The child at your gate, the child in your community, the child in your church—they are opportunities to show the love of Christ.
4. Commit to the Children's Harvest. Today, as we give toward the work of God among children, let your giving be sacrificial and joyful. It is not about the amount; it is about the heart. Your offering today will help provide for the needs of children and support the ministry of nurturing them in the Lord.
5. Be a Channel of Blessing. God provides through willing vessels. Be that vessel. Let your life be a conduit of God's love and provision. Remember the words of our Lord Jesus: "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me" (Matt. 25:40).
The child in need is not a burden; the child is our responsibility. And when we care for them, we care for Christ Himself.
Shalom
LET US PRAY!
© Rev. Sir Anthony Ani
Resident Minister – PWC Presec, Legon.
NB: For Counselling and Prayer Support, WhatsApp 0548333398.
