Taking the hard way
Children's sermon
Object:
the church piano
Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to talk about tough decisions that everyone has to make at one time or another in their lives. Let's start with a question -- this includes you, but let's also include everyone else. How many people, when you were children, took piano lessons? (ask all of the members who took lessons to stand up) Here is the next question. How many people who took piano lessons when they were children can still play the piano? If you still play, sit down. (Ask the people who still play to sit down and then ask the other people who do not play to come up front. After the people arrive at the front, ask if any of them would like to play something on the piano. Also ask them why they quit. Ask if today they wish they had continued with their lessons. After a few minutes of fun and honesty, let them go back to their pew and sit down.)
It seems that more people started to play the piano than still play the piano. Learning to play the piano is not easy. It takes a lot of practice and a lot of time. People give up when it does not come easy or seem to be a lot of fun. They do other things.
Jesus had problems like this with some of his disciples. Every day Jesus taught what it meant to be one of his disciples. One day some of the disciples thought that Jesus was asking too much. Jesus could have argued with them and said, "Hang around a while and try it and see if it is too tough for you, or maybe I will change my mind and make it easier." But Jesus didn't say those things. Being a disciple is hard. It is hard to forgive others. It is hard to share with people who don't have much. It is hard to love your enemies.
So, some of the disciples left Jesus and went their own way. He did not run after them and ask them to think it over. If people decided it was too hard to follow Jesus, they would have to go their own way. But if they stayed with Jesus and followed his teachings, he promised them something wonderful, something called eternal life.
The next time you see someone practicing the piano, notice how hard they work. Then ask yourself if they think it is worth it. The same choice is yours about Jesus. I hope you are better followers than you are piano players.
It seems that more people started to play the piano than still play the piano. Learning to play the piano is not easy. It takes a lot of practice and a lot of time. People give up when it does not come easy or seem to be a lot of fun. They do other things.
Jesus had problems like this with some of his disciples. Every day Jesus taught what it meant to be one of his disciples. One day some of the disciples thought that Jesus was asking too much. Jesus could have argued with them and said, "Hang around a while and try it and see if it is too tough for you, or maybe I will change my mind and make it easier." But Jesus didn't say those things. Being a disciple is hard. It is hard to forgive others. It is hard to share with people who don't have much. It is hard to love your enemies.
So, some of the disciples left Jesus and went their own way. He did not run after them and ask them to think it over. If people decided it was too hard to follow Jesus, they would have to go their own way. But if they stayed with Jesus and followed his teachings, he promised them something wonderful, something called eternal life.
The next time you see someone practicing the piano, notice how hard they work. Then ask yourself if they think it is worth it. The same choice is yours about Jesus. I hope you are better followers than you are piano players.
