Be imitators of the Lord
Children's sermon
Object:
a bunch of grapes
Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever noticed how many of us like to do the same things? Dads like to watch football games, moms like to grow flowers, brothers like to play video games, sisters like to dance, grandmothers and grandfathers like to tell you how pretty and handsome you are. They all like to do the same kind of things. We sometimes call that imitating. Can you say the word imitate? (let them say it) Very good! Sometimes imitating is a good thing and sometimes it is not so good, but we are talking today about good imitating.
God imitates things that he likes. God likes stars, so he made a lot of them. He imitated them. God likes grass, so he made a lot of it. He imitated it. God made good things to eat like this bunch of grapes. God loved grapes, and there are many kinds of grapes, but they look pretty much like this. They grow on vines and you can eat or drink the juice of grapes in many ways. I like grapes; how many of you like grapes? (let them answer and give one to each child that wants one; occasionally, while you continue talking, pass out more grapes) Look at how God imitated his grapes. (hold them up) They have the same color, are about the same size, taste exactly the same, and feel the same. God did a good job of imitating the grapes.
Saint Paul tells us about how glad he is that the people in Thessalonica are imitators of Silvanus, Timothy, and himself. He wrote about how the people in this town heard about Jesus and followed him. They were trying to be like the disciples and worship and pray to God just like other Christians. They were learning to share the gifts that God had given them with people who were poor. They were visiting the sick and helping them, visiting people in jail and sharing the story of Jesus as Savior. They were real imitators of Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy.
Jesus wants you to be imitators of Christians that you know. God wants you to live lives like your Sunday school teacher and your pastor and members of our church who love Jesus and follow his word. It would be great to hear someone write a letter that visited our church and said that they watched Sally, Mike, Tim, and Sarah and have decided to imitate you and be followers of Jesus. Don't you think that would be great? (let them answer)
God didn't make you to be a star or a sun or the rain or even a bunch of grapes. God made you to imitate Jesus and follow him all the days of your life.
Prayer: Help us to be good imitators of Jesus, dear God. Amen.
God imitates things that he likes. God likes stars, so he made a lot of them. He imitated them. God likes grass, so he made a lot of it. He imitated it. God made good things to eat like this bunch of grapes. God loved grapes, and there are many kinds of grapes, but they look pretty much like this. They grow on vines and you can eat or drink the juice of grapes in many ways. I like grapes; how many of you like grapes? (let them answer and give one to each child that wants one; occasionally, while you continue talking, pass out more grapes) Look at how God imitated his grapes. (hold them up) They have the same color, are about the same size, taste exactly the same, and feel the same. God did a good job of imitating the grapes.
Saint Paul tells us about how glad he is that the people in Thessalonica are imitators of Silvanus, Timothy, and himself. He wrote about how the people in this town heard about Jesus and followed him. They were trying to be like the disciples and worship and pray to God just like other Christians. They were learning to share the gifts that God had given them with people who were poor. They were visiting the sick and helping them, visiting people in jail and sharing the story of Jesus as Savior. They were real imitators of Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy.
Jesus wants you to be imitators of Christians that you know. God wants you to live lives like your Sunday school teacher and your pastor and members of our church who love Jesus and follow his word. It would be great to hear someone write a letter that visited our church and said that they watched Sally, Mike, Tim, and Sarah and have decided to imitate you and be followers of Jesus. Don't you think that would be great? (let them answer)
God didn't make you to be a star or a sun or the rain or even a bunch of grapes. God made you to imitate Jesus and follow him all the days of your life.
Prayer: Help us to be good imitators of Jesus, dear God. Amen.
