The twelve harvesters
Children's sermon
Object:
picture of Jesus and the disciples at the Last Supper
Hello! I have a question: who can tell me what a harvest is? (see if anyone knows) After a farmer plants a crop, it begins to grow. Sometimes it takes a while. The seeds sprout, begin to get taller and finally produce a harvest -- something that people can use or eat. When the plants are ready, they need to be cut down and the fruit collected for use. Harvesting is a big job, so the farmer needs help to get the crop collected, stored and used before the crop begins to spoil.
Jesus was just like a farmer. He believed that people of the world are ready to hear the Good News of God's love, just like a crop that is ready to be harvested. He also knew that spreading the message of God's love was a really big job. The world is a big place with lots and lots of people who need to hear. So, just like a farmer gets help with the harvest, Jesus found himself some workers. (hold up the picture of Jesus and the disciples) Here are the harvesters who helped Jesus do his work: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, another James, Thaddaeus, Simon and Judas Iscariot. They are called the disciples. The word "disciple" means "follower." They followed Jesus, listened to his teaching and helped him with his work.
The people of the world still need to hear the Good News of God's love. They need to know that God loves them more than anything and that they are his special children. The disciples helped Jesus 2,000 years ago, and we can too. We can tell the story of Jesus Christ just like workers who help with the harvest.
Prayer: God, thank you for the disciples. Show us the work that still needs to be done and how to help your world. Amen.
Jesus was just like a farmer. He believed that people of the world are ready to hear the Good News of God's love, just like a crop that is ready to be harvested. He also knew that spreading the message of God's love was a really big job. The world is a big place with lots and lots of people who need to hear. So, just like a farmer gets help with the harvest, Jesus found himself some workers. (hold up the picture of Jesus and the disciples) Here are the harvesters who helped Jesus do his work: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, another James, Thaddaeus, Simon and Judas Iscariot. They are called the disciples. The word "disciple" means "follower." They followed Jesus, listened to his teaching and helped him with his work.
The people of the world still need to hear the Good News of God's love. They need to know that God loves them more than anything and that they are his special children. The disciples helped Jesus 2,000 years ago, and we can too. We can tell the story of Jesus Christ just like workers who help with the harvest.
Prayer: God, thank you for the disciples. Show us the work that still needs to be done and how to help your world. Amen.
