Childrens Sermon Service

Good morning, boys and girls. I suppose you noticed when you came up front this morning that we are going to do a little training and get in shape. How many of you work out everyday? (let them answer) Do you lift weights, run a couple of miles, swim laps in a pool, and do exercises? (let them answer) Very good! Some of you are getting ready for the next Olympics.

I also brought along some very powerful vitamins to help you build big muscles. How many of you take special muscle vitamins? (let them answer) Wonderful!

Is there anyone here who would like to try to lift a few weights and get a head start on the day? (let them answer) I will let you take your own vitamins when you get home. (let a couple of the children try to lift some weights with your help) These are heavy; they belong to someone who lifts them everyday. He is an athlete.

Saint Paul talked about athletes and how they had to train hard, forcing their bodies always to do more things than they were able to do the day before. Runners have to train to run faster, pole vaulters have to jump higher than they did the last time, and swimmers must be able to swim longer distances than they did when they first started. It takes a lot of hard work to be a good athlete.

Now athletes do all of this so they can win a prize. Sometimes they get a trophy, sometimes they get a ribbon, and sometimes they get a medal, but they all compete with each other to win some sort of a prize.

Paul said that Christians are also looking for a prize, but it is not a medal, a trophy, or a ribbon. Christians are preparing their bodies and spirits for the great prize of living with God. Christians also must train. We must pray, read our Bibles, share the good news about Jesus with friends and strangers, care for the poor, feed the hungry, give clothes to people who have very little, and help the homeless find a good place to live. We are in training just like the athletes. We worship God and ask him for his direction, and we have to do it everyday.

So the next time you see someone training their body by running or lifting weights you can think a little bit about the training you are doing to be a loving Christian. You can think about the prayers you prayed last week, yesterday, and today and the ones you are going to pray tomorrow and next week. Remember there is a great prize to be won. The prize is being a disciple of Jesus and living with him forever.