Doing the job
Children's sermon
Object:
a wand, a small unfinished project of some type (woodworking, painting, sewing), some work gloves, and some tools
Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to take our lesson from another writer in the Bible by the name of James. James is the person in the Bible who "tells it like it is."
Let me show you what I mean. I brought along my wand today because I want to get this project finished. (take out the wand and your project) This project has been sitting around for days, so I thought I would bring along my wand and kind of wave over it and tell it to get finished. (wave the wand around, say some funny words, and look like you expect it to be finished) Good, now that takes care of that job!
Do any of you have any jobs for my wand and me to finish for you? (let them answer) What do you mean my project isn't finished? I said it was done, didn't I? Isn't it enough just to say it is done? Well, it should be, shouldn't it?
Maybe it takes something else. Do you think I could get the project done a little faster if I put on my work gloves and used some of my tools? (let them answer) I have some friends that do this instead of waving a wand, and they seem actually to get things done.
James the Bible writer was not a wand man. He was a work gloves and tools kind of person. He told people who followed Jesus that they had to do more than simply sit around and listen to the Word of God. James said it was important to feed the hungry and put clothes on people who did not have money for clothes. He also told them to visit widows and take care of them. James was a worker and not just a listener, and he told other people to do the same thing.
How many of you are workers for Jesus? (let them answer) How many of you just wave your wand and sit around and listen? (let them answer) Christians have a lot to do. We are not just sitters, listeners, and lazy folk. We are doers of the Word.
So the next time you see a job to be done, you have two choices. You can try the magic wand, or you can get up, put on the gloves, and go to work. I think the workers and James will get along really well. But James does not have much patience with wand wavers. Remember: Be doers of the word and not just listeners.
Let me show you what I mean. I brought along my wand today because I want to get this project finished. (take out the wand and your project) This project has been sitting around for days, so I thought I would bring along my wand and kind of wave over it and tell it to get finished. (wave the wand around, say some funny words, and look like you expect it to be finished) Good, now that takes care of that job!
Do any of you have any jobs for my wand and me to finish for you? (let them answer) What do you mean my project isn't finished? I said it was done, didn't I? Isn't it enough just to say it is done? Well, it should be, shouldn't it?
Maybe it takes something else. Do you think I could get the project done a little faster if I put on my work gloves and used some of my tools? (let them answer) I have some friends that do this instead of waving a wand, and they seem actually to get things done.
James the Bible writer was not a wand man. He was a work gloves and tools kind of person. He told people who followed Jesus that they had to do more than simply sit around and listen to the Word of God. James said it was important to feed the hungry and put clothes on people who did not have money for clothes. He also told them to visit widows and take care of them. James was a worker and not just a listener, and he told other people to do the same thing.
How many of you are workers for Jesus? (let them answer) How many of you just wave your wand and sit around and listen? (let them answer) Christians have a lot to do. We are not just sitters, listeners, and lazy folk. We are doers of the Word.
So the next time you see a job to be done, you have two choices. You can try the magic wand, or you can get up, put on the gloves, and go to work. I think the workers and James will get along really well. But James does not have much patience with wand wavers. Remember: Be doers of the word and not just listeners.
