Do as you say
Children's sermon
Object:
an invisible dog
Good morning, boys and girls. Do any of you have invisible
friends or playmates? Those are friends you play with who only
you can see. (Let them answer.) I have an invisible dog, who is
my pet. His name is Ralph. I brought him with me this morning.
Here he is. (Pretend to pet your dog on the head.) Ralph is my
friend and is very obedient. He really trusts me, too. That means
he always does what I ask him to do. I can make him roll over.
(Tell Ralph to roll over.) I can make him shake hands. (Tell
Ralph to shake hands.) I can toss a stick and he will bring back
to me. (Toss a stick and let him retrieve it.)
My obedient and trusting invisible pet reminds me of this morning's Bible story. It is a story that Jesus told about two sons and their father. The father asked the first son to do some work for him. The son said, "No," but later did the work. The father also asked the second son to do some work for him. The second son said, "Yes," but then he didn't do the work.
Jesus told this story and then asked his disciples to name the obedient son -- the one who did what the father asked. Which son do you think was obedient, the son who first said he wouldn't work and then did, or the son who said he would work, but then didn't. (Let them answer.) The first son did the right thing. That son did the work his father asked him to do.
When Jesus told this story he was trying to tell people something important. He was saying that some people are like the first son. They don't start out believing in God. But they make God happy by finding God and trusting and serving God. People like the second son, disappoint God. They say that they trust and serve God, but they really don't. God wants us to be obedient. God wants our trust, like my invisible pet trusts me. Remember this week that God wants our trust and obedience. When you say that you trust and obey God, really mean it!
My obedient and trusting invisible pet reminds me of this morning's Bible story. It is a story that Jesus told about two sons and their father. The father asked the first son to do some work for him. The son said, "No," but later did the work. The father also asked the second son to do some work for him. The second son said, "Yes," but then he didn't do the work.
Jesus told this story and then asked his disciples to name the obedient son -- the one who did what the father asked. Which son do you think was obedient, the son who first said he wouldn't work and then did, or the son who said he would work, but then didn't. (Let them answer.) The first son did the right thing. That son did the work his father asked him to do.
When Jesus told this story he was trying to tell people something important. He was saying that some people are like the first son. They don't start out believing in God. But they make God happy by finding God and trusting and serving God. People like the second son, disappoint God. They say that they trust and serve God, but they really don't. God wants us to be obedient. God wants our trust, like my invisible pet trusts me. Remember this week that God wants our trust and obedience. When you say that you trust and obey God, really mean it!
