Paired with Jesus
Children's sermon
Object:
a yoke or picture of oxen with a yoke on and fabric strips
Good morning, boys and girls. Does anyone live on a farm or near a farm? (let them answer) What do farmers use today to plow fields and harvest the grain? (let them answer) That's right, tractors. Before farmers used tractors what did they use? (let them answer) That's right, horses. Did you know that farmers also used to use animals called oxen? These animals are like bulls that have horns and are very strong. They can pull a plow easily as long as they worked in pairs. If the oxen didn't work together, it was hard.
The farmer would use a yoke like this one to help the oxen. (show the yoke or picture of a yoke) It helped them walk together and pull the plow straight. If one ox was pulling this way (point to the right) and the other ox was pulling the other way (point to the left), it made a mess. I can show you what I mean. (use the fabric strips to tie together the two inside legs of two children that are going to demonstrate) Now, if the two of you will walk across the front of the church, we will see how well you work together. (let them demonstrate) You can see how important a yoke was for oxen.
Jesus suggests that we wear a yoke with him. Sounds like a good idea doesn't it? (let them answer) If Jesus were tied to you or me, he would be there to teach us all the time. Isn't that a wonderful idea? We could be working with Jesus and learning all about him. (let them answer)
Just imagine what it would be like if we didn't tell the truth about something while Jesus was yoked to us? Do you think you could tell a lie or be selfish if Jesus was that close to you? (let them answer) Think of all the good things that would happen to you, too. Imagine if you could hear him pray to his Father in heaven, or watch him work miracles.
This yoke is an invitation from Jesus to everyone of us. We should be as close to him every day as a pair of oxen in a field that is being plowed. If we are that close, then we will learn a lot and be one of his disciples.
The next time you see a big tractor working in a field, I want you to think about those oxen that used to do the work. Then think how important it was for them to work together and you will think about Jesus and you being so close. It would be a wonderful thing to have happen to you and you would never forget the experience.
The farmer would use a yoke like this one to help the oxen. (show the yoke or picture of a yoke) It helped them walk together and pull the plow straight. If one ox was pulling this way (point to the right) and the other ox was pulling the other way (point to the left), it made a mess. I can show you what I mean. (use the fabric strips to tie together the two inside legs of two children that are going to demonstrate) Now, if the two of you will walk across the front of the church, we will see how well you work together. (let them demonstrate) You can see how important a yoke was for oxen.
Jesus suggests that we wear a yoke with him. Sounds like a good idea doesn't it? (let them answer) If Jesus were tied to you or me, he would be there to teach us all the time. Isn't that a wonderful idea? We could be working with Jesus and learning all about him. (let them answer)
Just imagine what it would be like if we didn't tell the truth about something while Jesus was yoked to us? Do you think you could tell a lie or be selfish if Jesus was that close to you? (let them answer) Think of all the good things that would happen to you, too. Imagine if you could hear him pray to his Father in heaven, or watch him work miracles.
This yoke is an invitation from Jesus to everyone of us. We should be as close to him every day as a pair of oxen in a field that is being plowed. If we are that close, then we will learn a lot and be one of his disciples.
The next time you see a big tractor working in a field, I want you to think about those oxen that used to do the work. Then think how important it was for them to work together and you will think about Jesus and you being so close. It would be a wonderful thing to have happen to you and you would never forget the experience.
