Are you a servant?
Children's sermon
Object:
a dictionary
I've told you before that I like to get out a dictionary when I read a word I'd like to understand better. Well, today there's another word I want to talk about with you. In Ephesians 3:7, the Apostle Paul says that he has become a servant of the gospel -- of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Do you have any idea what he means by this? (invite their responses)
I looked up the word "servant" in my dictionary. Under one definition, it says that a servant is a person "who expresses submission, duty or debt" to another person or thing. In other words, a servant works and cares for someone or something else. A servant places more value in that person or cause than he does in himself. Paul is serving Jesus. He is making the Good News of Jesus more important to him than anything else. A servant is different than an employee. Paul doesn't just work for Jesus. He serves him. He submits and gives in to the work of Jesus. Paul sees the work of Jesus Christ as being more important than he is.
It's pretty complicated, isn't it? Why would Paul think that the work of Jesus is more important than anything else? He does it because he loves Jesus more than anything else in the world. Jesus loved Paul, died for Paul and taught Paul how to live the fullest life possible. Paul received the great gift of God's love and it changed his life forever. Because of that, Paul was so thankful that he spent the rest of his life sharing the Good News with others. That's why so many books in the Bible were written by Paul. Paul wants us to know that the Good News and love of Jesus can be ours to know as well.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for the Apostle Paul. You loved him very much, and he loved you too. It's such Good News that we can know you just like he did. Help us serve you too. Amen.
I looked up the word "servant" in my dictionary. Under one definition, it says that a servant is a person "who expresses submission, duty or debt" to another person or thing. In other words, a servant works and cares for someone or something else. A servant places more value in that person or cause than he does in himself. Paul is serving Jesus. He is making the Good News of Jesus more important to him than anything else. A servant is different than an employee. Paul doesn't just work for Jesus. He serves him. He submits and gives in to the work of Jesus. Paul sees the work of Jesus Christ as being more important than he is.
It's pretty complicated, isn't it? Why would Paul think that the work of Jesus is more important than anything else? He does it because he loves Jesus more than anything else in the world. Jesus loved Paul, died for Paul and taught Paul how to live the fullest life possible. Paul received the great gift of God's love and it changed his life forever. Because of that, Paul was so thankful that he spent the rest of his life sharing the Good News with others. That's why so many books in the Bible were written by Paul. Paul wants us to know that the Good News and love of Jesus can be ours to know as well.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for the Apostle Paul. You loved him very much, and he loved you too. It's such Good News that we can know you just like he did. Help us serve you too. Amen.
