Childrens Sermon Service

Good morning. I want to tell you a story about this poor dollar bill. I wanted to use it to buy myself a treat at the local convenience store. The sign said the treat was "Only one dollar!" I had a dollar. I thought I had enough money. I ordered the treat and it came. The cost was $1.06! "Wait," I said. "The sign says this only costs a dollar and you are charging me a dollar and six cents! That's not fair, is it?"

The man told me, "It does just cost a dollar, but the six cents is for tax." Unfortunately, I only had the dollar and didn't have the six cents. I couldn't get my treat! I hadn't counted the cost -- the true cost -- of my treat.

Jesus said that for anyone who wanted to follow him, that person should count the cost. Anybody following Jesus should first ask, "How much will it cost me to be a Christian?"

Many people don't know that it costs something to be a Christian. Can you tell me how it costs to be a Christian -- a follower of Jesus? (Let them answer. Suggest things like the cost of our offering each week. The cost of doing good over doing what we feel like doing. The cost of forgiving an enemy. Then emphasize the joy of discipleship over the cost.)

We call this cost "discipleship." I hope you will always be a disciple of Jesus and not like this lonely dollar bill who couldn't be spent because I had not counted the cost first.

Thank you, Jesus, for letting me be a disciple. You are worth the cost! Amen.