No room for lazy people
Children's sermon
Object:
For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. (v. 11)
Object: Call a number of parents near the end of the week and ask them to tell you about chores that their children did or did not complete during the week. Write them down so that you can talk about them in the lesson.
Good morning, boys and girls. I hope you had as good a week as I did. I worked hard and finished almost every job that I wanted to complete. I studied my Bible, wrote my sermon, and prepared a Sunday school lesson. I attended all of my meetings. I cleaned the garage and helped my wife with the shopping. I got the yard all cleaned up for the winter. The Bible tells us that a lot is expected of us. Did you know that? (let them answer) The Bible says that we should do our work quietly and earn our own living.
Did you know that people talk about other people who are lazy? (let them answer) I brought a list with me today. I wonder if any of you are on my list. (Read over your notes carefully and then begin to talk about some of the things you have written down. Talk about the jobs that did not get finished first and save the completed chores until later.) Does this sound like anyone here?
Back when Paul was alive, some people thought that the end of the world was coming soon, so they didn't bother to work. Instead, they just sat around and did nothing. Of course, the lazy people still got hungry so they asked their friends and families to share their food. Their families didn't mind at first, but pretty soon the lazy people were bothering the working people for food and drinks and clothing every day. Paul wrote a letter and told the hard workers that they should stop feeding the lazy people. The letter also said that everyone needed to do his share.
Let me look at my list again. (read your list again and mention some of the jobs that were completed during the week) Does this sound like anyone here? (let them answer)
We all have work to do. Grown-ups have their jobs to do and children have their chores to do. It isn't fair for some people to be lazy because that makes twice as much work for the busy people.
When you get home today, ask your mom or dad which chores you can do to help out around the house. Remind them that Paul said there is no room for lazy people. Tell them you don't want to be lazy so you need some jobs to do every day to help the whole family. Does that sound like a good idea? (let them answer) It was a good idea during Paul's time and it is a good idea now.
