Not for sale!
Children's sermon
Object:
play money
Good morning! Money can buy all kinds of things. What are
some things money will buy? (Let them answer.) You are correct!
Money can buy houses, cars, toys, and candy. Money can even help
a person buy friends. Money can do all kinds of things! That is
probably why many people like money. It helps us get what we
want.
But there is something that is very important that even money can't buy. Do you know what I'm talking about? (Let them answer.) I am talking about heaven -- eternal life. All the money in the world (here show them the play money) cannot buy even one moment in heaven!
One day a very rich man came to Jesus and he really wanted to know if he could buy his way into heaven. "Good Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Then the rich man went on to tell Jesus about how many good things he had done. He had kept all the commandments. He thought maybe that would get him into heaven. But Jesus had to tell the rich man that his money and all the good things he had done in his life would not work. None of them would get him into heaven!
Jesus went on to tell him that his money would do no good. All his good deeds were worthless. Then Jesus said to him two little words that are really big words: "Follow me." The way to get into heaven is to follow Jesus. Jesus died and went to heaven and told us to follow him, to believe and go where he went. It's that simple. Every one of us here can understand how to get to heaven.
We follow Jesus. Because we follow Jesus, we are called "Christians." Another word that means "follower," that we are called, is "disciples." I like being a disciple, a follower of Jesus. I know that Jesus knows the way to heaven. I don't. I know that no amount of money or anything I can do will earn me the privilege of going to heaven. But I can follow Jesus.
I'm going to give you this pretend money to help remind you that we cannot buy our way to heaven, just as this money cannot buy anything.
Dear Jesus: Help us follow you all our lives. We know we will go to heaven when we die. Thank you for this promise. Amen.
But there is something that is very important that even money can't buy. Do you know what I'm talking about? (Let them answer.) I am talking about heaven -- eternal life. All the money in the world (here show them the play money) cannot buy even one moment in heaven!
One day a very rich man came to Jesus and he really wanted to know if he could buy his way into heaven. "Good Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Then the rich man went on to tell Jesus about how many good things he had done. He had kept all the commandments. He thought maybe that would get him into heaven. But Jesus had to tell the rich man that his money and all the good things he had done in his life would not work. None of them would get him into heaven!
Jesus went on to tell him that his money would do no good. All his good deeds were worthless. Then Jesus said to him two little words that are really big words: "Follow me." The way to get into heaven is to follow Jesus. Jesus died and went to heaven and told us to follow him, to believe and go where he went. It's that simple. Every one of us here can understand how to get to heaven.
We follow Jesus. Because we follow Jesus, we are called "Christians." Another word that means "follower," that we are called, is "disciples." I like being a disciple, a follower of Jesus. I know that Jesus knows the way to heaven. I don't. I know that no amount of money or anything I can do will earn me the privilege of going to heaven. But I can follow Jesus.
I'm going to give you this pretend money to help remind you that we cannot buy our way to heaven, just as this money cannot buy anything.
Dear Jesus: Help us follow you all our lives. We know we will go to heaven when we die. Thank you for this promise. Amen.
