Serving others
Children's sermon
Object:
a large kettle, a large stirring spoon, some bowls, and some cans of soup
But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant.... (v. 43)
Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to learn something about being a disciple of Jesus. How many of you would like to be a disciple? (let them answer) Why do you think it would be good to be a disciple of Jesus? (let them answer) Do you think that Jesus would give you a little extra if you were one of his disciples? (let them answer)
Have you heard the story about the time that the brothers, James and John, asked Jesus if they could have a special place in heaven? They wanted to sit close and be a part of the action in heaven. They wanted Jesus to tell them that when they died and went to heaven that they would be special people in heaven, different from everyone else. Jesus told them that those kinds of decisions belonged to the Father and not to him. Jesus also told them that greatness did not come with being important but with helping other people.
How many of you know what a soup kitchen is? (let them answer) A soup kitchen is a place where the very poor can come to eat every day and it doesn't cost them anything. People like you, your mother and dad, and other Christians buy food and send it to the soup kitchen. Then sharing people go to the soup kitchen and make good things for people to eat. Finally, when everything is made and ready to eat, these sharing people serve the people their food. When the meal has been served and everyone is full, more sharing people clean up the kitchen and the place where the people ate.
These are the servants of the poor who serve and care for them. Jesus said that if you are going to be great you must first be a servant. There are lots of ways for us to be servants. We have people in our church who make blankets and quilts and send them to people that have no blankets. Other people gather up wheelchairs and send them to poor hospitals far away. Some of our people travel thousands of miles to dig wells, build houses, schools, and churches for people who are too poor to make them. We can give books, first-aid kits, and fishing equipment so that poor people can help themselves.
Christians are called to serve others and that is what makes a great Christian. James and John learned a good lesson that day and every one of us should learn the same thing that Jesus taught them. Just remember, "Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant." Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to learn something about being a disciple of Jesus. How many of you would like to be a disciple? (let them answer) Why do you think it would be good to be a disciple of Jesus? (let them answer) Do you think that Jesus would give you a little extra if you were one of his disciples? (let them answer)
Have you heard the story about the time that the brothers, James and John, asked Jesus if they could have a special place in heaven? They wanted to sit close and be a part of the action in heaven. They wanted Jesus to tell them that when they died and went to heaven that they would be special people in heaven, different from everyone else. Jesus told them that those kinds of decisions belonged to the Father and not to him. Jesus also told them that greatness did not come with being important but with helping other people.
How many of you know what a soup kitchen is? (let them answer) A soup kitchen is a place where the very poor can come to eat every day and it doesn't cost them anything. People like you, your mother and dad, and other Christians buy food and send it to the soup kitchen. Then sharing people go to the soup kitchen and make good things for people to eat. Finally, when everything is made and ready to eat, these sharing people serve the people their food. When the meal has been served and everyone is full, more sharing people clean up the kitchen and the place where the people ate.
These are the servants of the poor who serve and care for them. Jesus said that if you are going to be great you must first be a servant. There are lots of ways for us to be servants. We have people in our church who make blankets and quilts and send them to people that have no blankets. Other people gather up wheelchairs and send them to poor hospitals far away. Some of our people travel thousands of miles to dig wells, build houses, schools, and churches for people who are too poor to make them. We can give books, first-aid kits, and fishing equipment so that poor people can help themselves.
Christians are called to serve others and that is what makes a great Christian. James and John learned a good lesson that day and every one of us should learn the same thing that Jesus taught them. Just remember, "Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant." Amen.
