Teamwork
Children's sermon
Object:
three or four buckets
For here the saying holds true, "One sows and another reaps." I sent you to
reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered
into their labor. (vv. 37-38)
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have ever been on a team? (let them answer) There are many different kinds of teams and I want to share one with you this morning. In many places, there are no fire engines and firemen or even a fire hydrant. Instead, when there is a fire, a team of neighbors help put it out. Maybe there is a pond or a large tower where they keep water just in case something like this happens. When people hear about the fire, they run and pick up their buckets and race as fast as they can to the place where the fire is.
I brought along some buckets today to show you how we would be part of the team in case we were near a fire. (line up the children and practice with them on how to pass the bucket and the last person in line practices throwing the water on the fire) Remember, we don't want to spill any of the water before it gets to the last person. We need to pass the bucket as fast as we can without spilling it. (practice it a few times) You are great. If I ever have a fire, I hope you are working the buckets at my place. It takes practice and teamwork.
Jesus talked about teamwork to the disciples. He told them that each of them had a job to do and if they did their jobs well, then other disciples could also do their part, and when it was all done they would have done a good job.
This isn't easy. Sometimes we want to do it all. Some people think they can run with the bucket faster than the bucket can be passed. That only happens one person at a time, and running will spill the water in the bucket.
We want to share Jesus with everyone. We would like to do the job all by ourselves, but it doesn't work as well as when we work like a team. Some of us are good teachers, some of us are good helpers, some of us are good storytellers, and some of us are good inviters. It takes all of us to bring people to Jesus. Being a Christian is like being in the bucket line. Each one of us does a good job and then the whole job gets done. Be a part of God's team and work with your Christian friends, and together we will bring people to learn and love Jesus. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have ever been on a team? (let them answer) There are many different kinds of teams and I want to share one with you this morning. In many places, there are no fire engines and firemen or even a fire hydrant. Instead, when there is a fire, a team of neighbors help put it out. Maybe there is a pond or a large tower where they keep water just in case something like this happens. When people hear about the fire, they run and pick up their buckets and race as fast as they can to the place where the fire is.
I brought along some buckets today to show you how we would be part of the team in case we were near a fire. (line up the children and practice with them on how to pass the bucket and the last person in line practices throwing the water on the fire) Remember, we don't want to spill any of the water before it gets to the last person. We need to pass the bucket as fast as we can without spilling it. (practice it a few times) You are great. If I ever have a fire, I hope you are working the buckets at my place. It takes practice and teamwork.
Jesus talked about teamwork to the disciples. He told them that each of them had a job to do and if they did their jobs well, then other disciples could also do their part, and when it was all done they would have done a good job.
This isn't easy. Sometimes we want to do it all. Some people think they can run with the bucket faster than the bucket can be passed. That only happens one person at a time, and running will spill the water in the bucket.
We want to share Jesus with everyone. We would like to do the job all by ourselves, but it doesn't work as well as when we work like a team. Some of us are good teachers, some of us are good helpers, some of us are good storytellers, and some of us are good inviters. It takes all of us to bring people to Jesus. Being a Christian is like being in the bucket line. Each one of us does a good job and then the whole job gets done. Be a part of God's team and work with your Christian friends, and together we will bring people to learn and love Jesus. Amen.
