Defining greatness
Children's sermon
Object:
a light switch and a beautiful lamp
Good morning, boys and girls. Today I brought along a couple of friends with me to help me tell a story. First I would like to introduce you to my friend Larry the Lamp. Larry thinks he is very special. He told me the other day that he can light up a whole room. Of course he does not stay lit all of the time. During the day, Larry stands over there by a big chair and kind of snoozes.
Now I have another friend and this friend is hardly noticed. If you go into a room during the daytime, you may not notice him at all. He is almost part of the wall. You can't see most of him, just a little part of him. We call him Sam the Switch. Sam just hangs out waiting to be used. Most of the time people leave Sam completely alone until they need him. Larry the Lamp needs him. Without Sam the Switch, Larry the Lamp could not even make a small glow. When people come into a room, they just give Sam the Switch a little flip and Larry the Lamp comes on. People talk all of the time about how good-looking Larry the Lamp is, but they never say anything about Sam the Switch.
The reason I tell you that story is because it reminds me of a time when Jesus' disciples got into an argument over who should be the most important. A couple of them even asked Jesus if they could not have a special privilege and sit on either side of Jesus when they were all in heaven. This kind of talk made the other disciples upset and they told James and John how they felt. But Jesus stepped in and told them things would be different for Christians. Jesus said the most important people are the people who serve other people. The important people are like Sam the Switch. Larry doesn't want to hear about it, but Sam the Switch is pleased to be a servant. He likes helping people have a better life. He doesn't mind sending the power to Larry the Lamp so there can be light. Not at all! Sam the Switch is a servant and a friend of Jesus.
The next time you think about what kind of a person you want to be, you will remember that you have a choice. You can tell everyone how important you are and want to be, or you can be like Sam the Switch and help others have a better life. If you choose to be like Sam the Switch, Jesus will call you a faithful servant.
Now I have another friend and this friend is hardly noticed. If you go into a room during the daytime, you may not notice him at all. He is almost part of the wall. You can't see most of him, just a little part of him. We call him Sam the Switch. Sam just hangs out waiting to be used. Most of the time people leave Sam completely alone until they need him. Larry the Lamp needs him. Without Sam the Switch, Larry the Lamp could not even make a small glow. When people come into a room, they just give Sam the Switch a little flip and Larry the Lamp comes on. People talk all of the time about how good-looking Larry the Lamp is, but they never say anything about Sam the Switch.
The reason I tell you that story is because it reminds me of a time when Jesus' disciples got into an argument over who should be the most important. A couple of them even asked Jesus if they could not have a special privilege and sit on either side of Jesus when they were all in heaven. This kind of talk made the other disciples upset and they told James and John how they felt. But Jesus stepped in and told them things would be different for Christians. Jesus said the most important people are the people who serve other people. The important people are like Sam the Switch. Larry doesn't want to hear about it, but Sam the Switch is pleased to be a servant. He likes helping people have a better life. He doesn't mind sending the power to Larry the Lamp so there can be light. Not at all! Sam the Switch is a servant and a friend of Jesus.
The next time you think about what kind of a person you want to be, you will remember that you have a choice. You can tell everyone how important you are and want to be, or you can be like Sam the Switch and help others have a better life. If you choose to be like Sam the Switch, Jesus will call you a faithful servant.
