The cost of discipleship
Children's sermon
Object:
a pad and pencil
Good morning! I would like to ask all of you this morning if
you really love Jesus. Do you? (Let them answer.) Of course you
do. I knew that before I asked you. Do you know what we call
people who really love Jesus and try to do what he wants them to
do? (Let them answer.) We call them "disciples." To be a disciple
of Jesus means being willing to follow him even when it is very
hard to do what he wants us to do.
Now I want you to tell me about one of your favorite things
to do. Of all the things you might do, swimming, playing games,
going to a movie, what is your favorite activity? (Let them
answer and write the activity down on the pad with their name
next to it. If there are a lot of children, just write three or
four of the answers on the pad.)
Okay, now I want to ask you something. __________, if you
had a chance to do (name the activity) but there was a need for
you to do something important for Jesus, which would you do?
Let's say that you had been asking a friend to come to Sunday
school with you, and he or she finally agreed to come, but it
was at the same time as your activity. Would you give up the
activity to bring your friend to Sunday school? (Let the child
answer.) Well, that's what being a disciple is all about, being
willing to give up something in order to follow Jesus. Sometimes
it is very hard to do. (Ask some of the others the same kind of
question.)
I think we can all agree that being a disciple of Jesus is
not always easy. Let's pray about it.
Dear Jesus: Please forgive us for not always being good
disciples. When we are tempted to do something else when you need
us for your own work, strengthen us so that we will follow you.
Amen.
you really love Jesus. Do you? (Let them answer.) Of course you
do. I knew that before I asked you. Do you know what we call
people who really love Jesus and try to do what he wants them to
do? (Let them answer.) We call them "disciples." To be a disciple
of Jesus means being willing to follow him even when it is very
hard to do what he wants us to do.
Now I want you to tell me about one of your favorite things
to do. Of all the things you might do, swimming, playing games,
going to a movie, what is your favorite activity? (Let them
answer and write the activity down on the pad with their name
next to it. If there are a lot of children, just write three or
four of the answers on the pad.)
Okay, now I want to ask you something. __________, if you
had a chance to do (name the activity) but there was a need for
you to do something important for Jesus, which would you do?
Let's say that you had been asking a friend to come to Sunday
school with you, and he or she finally agreed to come, but it
was at the same time as your activity. Would you give up the
activity to bring your friend to Sunday school? (Let the child
answer.) Well, that's what being a disciple is all about, being
willing to give up something in order to follow Jesus. Sometimes
it is very hard to do. (Ask some of the others the same kind of
question.)
I think we can all agree that being a disciple of Jesus is
not always easy. Let's pray about it.
Dear Jesus: Please forgive us for not always being good
disciples. When we are tempted to do something else when you need
us for your own work, strengthen us so that we will follow you.
Amen.
