Childrens Sermon Service

Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you can read? (Let them raise their hands.) How many of you want to learn to read? (Let them raise their hands.) When there is something that you want to do but can't yet, like learn to read, that means you have a goal. Your goal is to learn to read. (Hold up the book.) If your goal is to learn to read, you must be taught how to read. You can't just wake up one morning and start reading. To learn to read takes a desire to learn and recognize letters and words.

Different people have different goals. Some of your goals may be to learn to ride a bike, learn to swim, learn to roller skate, learn to blow bubbles, or learn to play the piano.

As you grow older, your goals change. Your older brothers and sisters and your parents have goals too. To achieve your goals takes work. Goals just don't happen by themselves.

All this talk about goals reminds me about this morning's Bible story. In it Paul is writing about one of his goals. Paul was a follower of Jesus. What do you suppose his goal was? (Let them answer.) His goal was so important to him that he put all his energy into it. He forgot everything else but his goal! His goal was to be as much like Jesus as he could be. In this morning's story Paul says that he is "pressing on toward the goal." Paul knew that to become like Christ would take a long time. It is like learning to read or any of your goals. You have to work at it. Becoming like Christ may even take your entire lifetime! Paul said that to become like Christ was something that he worked at all the time. He constantly tried to improve.

This week, I want you to think about your own goals. These may be learning to read, or swim, or blow bubbles, or skate. Add to your list of goals to become more like Jesus. To do that you must care for others, share with others and be friendly toward others. When you become more like Jesus, Paul says that God will have a heavenly reward for you.