A Real Champion
Children's sermon
The Giant Book Of Children's Sermons
Matthew To Revelation
Object: a big piece of cardboard with the words "Round 15" on it and some boxing gloves
Good morning, boys and girls. I have a piece of cardboard with a word and a number on it, and I want you to guess what you think it means. (hold up the card) How many of you have ever heard of "Round 15"? Here is another hint that will help you guess what the word and number mean. (show them the boxing gloves) That's right, a boxing match. But not just any boxing match. When you go fifteen rounds that means you are a champion boxer or you are fighting for the championship.
The Apostle Paul was a champion, and he talked a lot about fighting. Of course, Paul did not use his fists. Paul fought against all people who worked against Jesus. Paul was a champion of Jesus, and wherever he went he taught everyone who would listen about the good things that Jesus did for them. Sometimes it meant going to prison or being chased out of a town. Sometimes people threw rocks at him or beat him with a whip. But never once did Paul give up. It had not been an easy life, and Paul had many scars. When we listen to the lesson he wrote to his young friend, Timothy, we learn that he is now ready to retire and rest. Paul is going to quit fighting, but he is not giving up. It is the fifteenth round, and the fight is over for Paul. He is ready to die and glad that soon he will be with God in heaven.
There are others like Timothy, who must now fight the battle. They, too, must fight with love, patience, kindness, and all the things that Paul fought with, but they must never give up until the end, or the fifteenth round. God looks for champions like Paul and Timothy, people who are ready to stay with him all the way.
There are many different kinds of champions, but none of them is as rewarded as the champion of God. Imagine how Paul must have felt as he prepared to die and go to heaven. It was all worth it, and he was glad that he had served Jesus. You, too, can be a champion for God. Think how good you will feel when you see the fifteenth round. That will mean that you have been a champion, a real champion, and that you will have shared the teachings of Jesus with other people in the world.
Good morning, boys and girls. I have a piece of cardboard with a word and a number on it, and I want you to guess what you think it means. (hold up the card) How many of you have ever heard of "Round 15"? Here is another hint that will help you guess what the word and number mean. (show them the boxing gloves) That's right, a boxing match. But not just any boxing match. When you go fifteen rounds that means you are a champion boxer or you are fighting for the championship.
The Apostle Paul was a champion, and he talked a lot about fighting. Of course, Paul did not use his fists. Paul fought against all people who worked against Jesus. Paul was a champion of Jesus, and wherever he went he taught everyone who would listen about the good things that Jesus did for them. Sometimes it meant going to prison or being chased out of a town. Sometimes people threw rocks at him or beat him with a whip. But never once did Paul give up. It had not been an easy life, and Paul had many scars. When we listen to the lesson he wrote to his young friend, Timothy, we learn that he is now ready to retire and rest. Paul is going to quit fighting, but he is not giving up. It is the fifteenth round, and the fight is over for Paul. He is ready to die and glad that soon he will be with God in heaven.
There are others like Timothy, who must now fight the battle. They, too, must fight with love, patience, kindness, and all the things that Paul fought with, but they must never give up until the end, or the fifteenth round. God looks for champions like Paul and Timothy, people who are ready to stay with him all the way.
There are many different kinds of champions, but none of them is as rewarded as the champion of God. Imagine how Paul must have felt as he prepared to die and go to heaven. It was all worth it, and he was glad that he had served Jesus. You, too, can be a champion for God. Think how good you will feel when you see the fifteenth round. That will mean that you have been a champion, a real champion, and that you will have shared the teachings of Jesus with other people in the world.
