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Explorations in Just Living

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Welcome to the blog of the Enough for Everyone program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). By "just living" we mean both justice-based living and just simply living – freeing ourselves from the clutter of stuff so we can focus on living faithfully and living well. Join us in the exploration!

About the Author
Bryce Wiebe coordinates Enough for Everyone, a ministry of the Presbyterian Hunger Program. He loves slow food and is fascinated by the way things are made.  He is excited to dive into experiments in simplicity with you.  His sacred cow of consumption: kitchen gadgets.

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September 28, 2014

Children's Sermon for Food Week of Action

Bryce Wiebe

Children’s Sermon

Food Week of Action

 

 

Text: Matthew 25:31-46

31 ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” 37Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” 40And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” 41Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” 44Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” 45Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” 46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’

 

Lesson:  Jesus has lots of ways for us to be a part of God’s work in the world, and when we do them, God says that we are sheep!

 

What you need:  nothing except if you want to learn and teach this song (though you may only want to do the first verse) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYKxzTHPJpE

 

Who here wants to be a sheep?  (hands may go in the air or they may not) Why do you?  Or maybe why don’t you?  (kids may respond).  What can you tell me about sheep? Sheep have four legs and they’re white, or black or brown.  Sheep eat grass and run and play.  They are bushy with lots of wool!  So, in other words, they are just like me and you!  Oh they aren’t?!?!  Well, which parts are we like sheep?  We can be white or black or brown.  We like to run and play.  Sometimes our hair can get bushy, too!

 

Jesus talked a lot about sheep.  But Jesus has a different list of what a sheep is.  Do you know what Jesus says a sheep is like?  Jesus says a sheep feeds people who are hungry, gives water to those who are thirsty, and is kind to those who need a friend.  Jesus says that sheep offers clothing to those who don’t have any, and visits people in prisons.  Here at church, we try to do all of those things.  We give to the food bank here, and, together with other Presbyterian churches, we help hungry people all over the world and make sure that there is safe drinking water.  When you are friendly and kind to kids at the park who are lonely, you help them.  When we give coats and blankets to the homeless shelter we see that people’s needs are met.  You see, there are lots of ways where we are sheep!  So who here really wants to keep being a sheep!!!  It doesn’t mean you eat grass or walk on four legs, it means you follow Jesus and offer help to those in need!

 

(Here’s where you can teach the song, or sing it if your church already knows it)

 

Prayer:  Repeat after me

Dear God,

Thank you for calling us to be sheep.

Not so that we can make silly noises or eat grass,

But so that we can follow you.

Help us

To keep feeding the hungry

Being kind to those without friends

And being good followers of you.

In Jesus’ name

Amen.