Answering the call immediately
Children's sermon
Object:
a chalkboard eraser, a whistle, a car key, a large bell
Good morning, boys and girls. When a teacher asks you a question at school, when does she expect you to answer? (let them answer) Yes, right away. Another way to say right away is "immediately." When the teacher asks you a question she expects you to answer immediately.
When the policeman blows his whistle, when does he expect a person to stop? (let them answer) That's right, he expects a person to stop immediately.
When your mother or father puts the car key into the ignition, when do they expect the car to start? (let them answer) Very good, you're catching on. Your parents expect the car to start immediately.
When you are outside playing and your mother rings the bell or calls your name, when does she expect you to come home? (let them answer) We all know the answer, she expects you to come home immediately.
The word "immediately" means right now and not a moment later. A teacher asks a question and you answer immediately. The policeman blows his whistle and a person stops immediately. The car key is turned and the engine starts immediately. And when Mom calls or rings the bell you head home immediately.
When Jesus first asked his disciples to follow him they did it ... (let them fill in the word). That's right, immediately! When Jesus asked Andrew, Peter, James, and John to be his disciples they got up from whatever they were doing and followed Jesus. They were working on the fishing nets, but when Jesus called they put down their nets and began to follow him. Their father was standing in the boat but the disciples never looked back. They followed Jesus immediately.
Matthew wrote this story because he knew how important the disciples were to Jesus. Jesus had a big job to do and it needed to start that very moment. That's the way it should be with us, too. We should be ready to serve Jesus when he calls. We shouldn't tell Jesus that we have a big dinner waiting for us at home, or that we'll be right with him after our favorite television show or computer game. We must answer his call immediately.
The work of the Lord is very special and needs to be done right away. That's the way Andrew, Peter, James, and John understood it and they did the things Jesus asked of them right away. Pretty soon you will hear a call from Jesus to follow him. I hope you are ready when he calls because you have some important work to do for Jesus and you will be very excited to do it when he asks you.
When the policeman blows his whistle, when does he expect a person to stop? (let them answer) That's right, he expects a person to stop immediately.
When your mother or father puts the car key into the ignition, when do they expect the car to start? (let them answer) Very good, you're catching on. Your parents expect the car to start immediately.
When you are outside playing and your mother rings the bell or calls your name, when does she expect you to come home? (let them answer) We all know the answer, she expects you to come home immediately.
The word "immediately" means right now and not a moment later. A teacher asks a question and you answer immediately. The policeman blows his whistle and a person stops immediately. The car key is turned and the engine starts immediately. And when Mom calls or rings the bell you head home immediately.
When Jesus first asked his disciples to follow him they did it ... (let them fill in the word). That's right, immediately! When Jesus asked Andrew, Peter, James, and John to be his disciples they got up from whatever they were doing and followed Jesus. They were working on the fishing nets, but when Jesus called they put down their nets and began to follow him. Their father was standing in the boat but the disciples never looked back. They followed Jesus immediately.
Matthew wrote this story because he knew how important the disciples were to Jesus. Jesus had a big job to do and it needed to start that very moment. That's the way it should be with us, too. We should be ready to serve Jesus when he calls. We shouldn't tell Jesus that we have a big dinner waiting for us at home, or that we'll be right with him after our favorite television show or computer game. We must answer his call immediately.
The work of the Lord is very special and needs to be done right away. That's the way Andrew, Peter, James, and John understood it and they did the things Jesus asked of them right away. Pretty soon you will hear a call from Jesus to follow him. I hope you are ready when he calls because you have some important work to do for Jesus and you will be very excited to do it when he asks you.
