Seeking answers
Children's sermon
Object:
a blank test
"Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple." (v. 26)
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of you have taken a test at school? (allow answers) How many of you have had a hard time finding the answers? (allow answers) Teachers give us tests so that we can show what we have learned. They do not give tests over information we already know; instead, they test us over new ideas. If they tested us over things we already knew, we would not learn anything! The point of school is to seek out knowledge and find answers to questions we have about the world around us.
School is not the only place where teaching happens. A lot of teaching happens right here at church! How many of you have heard or read something in church that was confusing to you? (allow answers) What are some of these things that you have not understood? (allow answers) Our gospel lesson is one that confuses many people. Jesus says, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple." Wow! That doesn't sound like Jesus! This verse makes it sound like Jesus wants us to hate our family and friends. Do you think that is what Jesus means? (allow answers)
No, it's not! Why would Jesus want his disciples to hate their own parents or families? Jesus teaches us to love our family and to be kind to those around us. We talk about showing Jesus' love to others. So it doesn't make sense that Jesus wants disciples who hate people!
Jesus doesn't mean his followers should hate their families and friends. Instead, Jesus wants followers who are looking for answers. If his followers already have good families and are happy with their lives, they will not be looking for answers to life's big questions like what happens when we die, why some people are rich and some are poor, and why bad things happen to good people. People who are happy with their lives have already found their answer to having a good life. It is unhappy people who are searching for answers -- and those seekers of knowledge are the people that Jesus wants for his disciples. After all, a disciple is just a fancy word for "student"! Since Jesus' message is of love, he doesn't have to tell it to those who already have love in their lives. Those people already know what he has to say. Those who are lost, lonely, and hurting are who Jesus wants to teach. They are the ones seeking his answers… and they are the ones who most need them. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of you have taken a test at school? (allow answers) How many of you have had a hard time finding the answers? (allow answers) Teachers give us tests so that we can show what we have learned. They do not give tests over information we already know; instead, they test us over new ideas. If they tested us over things we already knew, we would not learn anything! The point of school is to seek out knowledge and find answers to questions we have about the world around us.
School is not the only place where teaching happens. A lot of teaching happens right here at church! How many of you have heard or read something in church that was confusing to you? (allow answers) What are some of these things that you have not understood? (allow answers) Our gospel lesson is one that confuses many people. Jesus says, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple." Wow! That doesn't sound like Jesus! This verse makes it sound like Jesus wants us to hate our family and friends. Do you think that is what Jesus means? (allow answers)
No, it's not! Why would Jesus want his disciples to hate their own parents or families? Jesus teaches us to love our family and to be kind to those around us. We talk about showing Jesus' love to others. So it doesn't make sense that Jesus wants disciples who hate people!
Jesus doesn't mean his followers should hate their families and friends. Instead, Jesus wants followers who are looking for answers. If his followers already have good families and are happy with their lives, they will not be looking for answers to life's big questions like what happens when we die, why some people are rich and some are poor, and why bad things happen to good people. People who are happy with their lives have already found their answer to having a good life. It is unhappy people who are searching for answers -- and those seekers of knowledge are the people that Jesus wants for his disciples. After all, a disciple is just a fancy word for "student"! Since Jesus' message is of love, he doesn't have to tell it to those who already have love in their lives. Those people already know what he has to say. Those who are lost, lonely, and hurting are who Jesus wants to teach. They are the ones seeking his answers… and they are the ones who most need them. Amen.
