Listening to Jesus
Children's sermon
Object:
a church bulletin, a sign, and a quick game of Simon Says
Good morning! Did you have any trouble getting here this morning? Did you put on the clothes your mother wanted you to wear? Did you eat the right breakfast? Did you follow all of the directions that were given to you? (let them answer) Very good!
Everywhere I go there are directions. (hold up a sign that gives driving directions) If I am driving my car there are all kind of directions. Some say stop, some say turn, some say do not enter, others tell me where to park, and a few tell me where not to park. Even when I come to church the usher gives me a bulletin, which tells me when to stand and when to sit. It also tells me when to sing and when to pray. It tells me when I can talk and when I should listen. The church bulletin is filled with directions.
Let me see how good you are with directions. Everyone stand up and do what I tell you to do. The only thing is that I must say, "Simon Says," first before you do it. If I don't say, "Simon Says," then don't do it. Do you understand? (let them answer) Okay! (Play until a few children have to sit down) It is hard to take directions, isn't it?
Jesus had a hard time getting people to follow his directions. One day he healed a man of a very serious illness. The man was about to die and he was very sad. He came to Jesus and pleaded with him to heal him. Jesus looked at this man and felt very sorry for him. So he walked over to him and put his hand on the sick man and then ordered him to be healed. Right away, the man was healed. He was so happy he hardly knew what to do first.
Jesus was very happy for the man, but he asked him to do two things. The first thing was that the man was not supposed to say a word about what happened. Then Jesus told him to go to the church and make an offering just like the Bible said. Those were his directions.
However, the man never went to church, but instead he started telling everyone what happened. This was a mistake for two reasons. One, he did not follow directions, and two, Jesus could no longer stay where he was because no one would let Jesus alone. They were after him to heal others, and finally he had to leave the area and go somewhere else to teach about God.
When Jesus gives you a direction, I hope you listen to him. Following the ways of Jesus is very important to all of us. It means we must be good listeners and good followers.
Everywhere I go there are directions. (hold up a sign that gives driving directions) If I am driving my car there are all kind of directions. Some say stop, some say turn, some say do not enter, others tell me where to park, and a few tell me where not to park. Even when I come to church the usher gives me a bulletin, which tells me when to stand and when to sit. It also tells me when to sing and when to pray. It tells me when I can talk and when I should listen. The church bulletin is filled with directions.
Let me see how good you are with directions. Everyone stand up and do what I tell you to do. The only thing is that I must say, "Simon Says," first before you do it. If I don't say, "Simon Says," then don't do it. Do you understand? (let them answer) Okay! (Play until a few children have to sit down) It is hard to take directions, isn't it?
Jesus had a hard time getting people to follow his directions. One day he healed a man of a very serious illness. The man was about to die and he was very sad. He came to Jesus and pleaded with him to heal him. Jesus looked at this man and felt very sorry for him. So he walked over to him and put his hand on the sick man and then ordered him to be healed. Right away, the man was healed. He was so happy he hardly knew what to do first.
Jesus was very happy for the man, but he asked him to do two things. The first thing was that the man was not supposed to say a word about what happened. Then Jesus told him to go to the church and make an offering just like the Bible said. Those were his directions.
However, the man never went to church, but instead he started telling everyone what happened. This was a mistake for two reasons. One, he did not follow directions, and two, Jesus could no longer stay where he was because no one would let Jesus alone. They were after him to heal others, and finally he had to leave the area and go somewhere else to teach about God.
When Jesus gives you a direction, I hope you listen to him. Following the ways of Jesus is very important to all of us. It means we must be good listeners and good followers.
