The right voice
Children's sermon
Object:
"Simon Says" game (Editor's note: Before the service ask
two children to help you. Ask them to demonstrate with you how to
play "Simon Says" during the object lesson part of the worship
service.)
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have played
"Simon Says?" (Let them answer.) In case some of you don't know
how to play, I've asked (name the students) to show us.
(Have the students stand. Give them one "Simon Says" statement like: "Simon says, 'scratch your head.' " Then give them a statement like: "Scratch your head." Explain that by following the wrong voice, a player is out of the game. The object is to follow the right voice.)
"Simon Says" is a fun game to play. It makes me think of today's lesson. The lesson is about following the right voice instead of the wrong voice. Sometimes in the game "Simon Says" you follow the wrong voice and do the wrong thing. Life is like that, too. Sometimes you do something that you know is wrong, but you do it anyway. Sometimes you might say something bad about a friend. That makes your friend feel hurt. Sometimes you might be with a group of friends. The group may tease someone and you follow along. At the time you know it is wrong, but you follow the wrong voice, and do it.
Adults have this problem also. They say bad things and even tease when they shouldn't. When this happens the adult is following the wrong voice. The good news is that as in the game "Simon Says," there is one voice that we can always listen for and follow. It is the voice of Jesus. This voice will always tell us to do what is right. Our lesson says that Jesus is like a good shepherd who takes care of a flock of sheep. The sheep never follow a stranger -- or the wrong voice. Sheep follow their shepherd's voice. The next time you are faced with a decision about doing something that you know is wrong, try to follow Jesus' voice. You may always trust Jesus. If you do this, you will always do the right thing.
(Have the students stand. Give them one "Simon Says" statement like: "Simon says, 'scratch your head.' " Then give them a statement like: "Scratch your head." Explain that by following the wrong voice, a player is out of the game. The object is to follow the right voice.)
"Simon Says" is a fun game to play. It makes me think of today's lesson. The lesson is about following the right voice instead of the wrong voice. Sometimes in the game "Simon Says" you follow the wrong voice and do the wrong thing. Life is like that, too. Sometimes you do something that you know is wrong, but you do it anyway. Sometimes you might say something bad about a friend. That makes your friend feel hurt. Sometimes you might be with a group of friends. The group may tease someone and you follow along. At the time you know it is wrong, but you follow the wrong voice, and do it.
Adults have this problem also. They say bad things and even tease when they shouldn't. When this happens the adult is following the wrong voice. The good news is that as in the game "Simon Says," there is one voice that we can always listen for and follow. It is the voice of Jesus. This voice will always tell us to do what is right. Our lesson says that Jesus is like a good shepherd who takes care of a flock of sheep. The sheep never follow a stranger -- or the wrong voice. Sheep follow their shepherd's voice. The next time you are faced with a decision about doing something that you know is wrong, try to follow Jesus' voice. You may always trust Jesus. If you do this, you will always do the right thing.
