The reason we obey
Children's sermon
Object:
An officer's or NCO's insignia (or picture of same)
Good morning! It's good to see you here this morning. I'd
like to talk with you today about a big word. The word is
"obedience." Does anyone know what the word means? (Let them
answer.) That's right. Obedience means doing what you're told to
do.
Now, if you were in the army or the navy, you would be
required to obey those who had a higher rank than you. For
instance, if you were a private and someone was wearing this
insignia (show the insignia), you would have to obey them. If you
didn't, you would be in a lot of trouble. They might put you in
jail if the offense was bad enough!
Now let me ask you a question. Do you all obey your parents?
(Let them answer.) Well, good! I'm glad you do at least most of
the time. And I know you don't obey them just because you don't
want to be punished, do you? You obey them because you love them.
Suppose one of your parents told you to take out the garbage
and you said that you would, but you didn't do it. Would that be
obedience? (Let them answer.) No, of course it wouldn't. We call
that "lip service." You say that you will obey, but you don't do
it. That's a very bad thing to do, isn't it? We love our parents,
and it isn't showing love if we lie to them and disobey them, is
it? (Let them answer.)
Jesus says, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
Do all of you love Jesus? (Let them answer.) Well then, if we love
Jesus, what should we do? (Let them answer.) Yes! The people who
love Jesus listen to his words and they do what he wants them to
do. They don't just give him lip service. Will you all remember
that and always try to do what Jesus wants you to do? (Let them
answer.) Okay, that's great!
Dear Jesus: We do love you and we want to show our love by obeying
you. Help us to do that. Amen.
like to talk with you today about a big word. The word is
"obedience." Does anyone know what the word means? (Let them
answer.) That's right. Obedience means doing what you're told to
do.
Now, if you were in the army or the navy, you would be
required to obey those who had a higher rank than you. For
instance, if you were a private and someone was wearing this
insignia (show the insignia), you would have to obey them. If you
didn't, you would be in a lot of trouble. They might put you in
jail if the offense was bad enough!
Now let me ask you a question. Do you all obey your parents?
(Let them answer.) Well, good! I'm glad you do at least most of
the time. And I know you don't obey them just because you don't
want to be punished, do you? You obey them because you love them.
Suppose one of your parents told you to take out the garbage
and you said that you would, but you didn't do it. Would that be
obedience? (Let them answer.) No, of course it wouldn't. We call
that "lip service." You say that you will obey, but you don't do
it. That's a very bad thing to do, isn't it? We love our parents,
and it isn't showing love if we lie to them and disobey them, is
it? (Let them answer.)
Jesus says, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
Do all of you love Jesus? (Let them answer.) Well then, if we love
Jesus, what should we do? (Let them answer.) Yes! The people who
love Jesus listen to his words and they do what he wants them to
do. They don't just give him lip service. Will you all remember
that and always try to do what Jesus wants you to do? (Let them
answer.) Okay, that's great!
Dear Jesus: We do love you and we want to show our love by obeying
you. Help us to do that. Amen.
