A Christian Is... An Imitator Series

HoHum:

Have children come up front and do Children’s Minute with them:

Have you ever watched the original Disney “Peter Pan” movie? In the movie, the children sing a song and play a game called "Following the Leader." Following the leader, the leader, the leader We're following the leader wherever he may go. Tee dum, tee dee A teedle ee do tee day Tee dum, tee dee It's part of the game we play

Have any of you ever played "Follow the Leader?" Of course you have! I played the game when I was a child and I am sure you have too.

The rules are very simple. You choose a leader and you follow him wherever he goes and do whatever he does. Play follow the leader briefly!

Follow the Leader is a great game, but in our daily lives we play follow the leader too. In school, in Church, in sports, in any activity we are in, there are always leaders. Every day we are faced with making a choice of which leader we will follow. We must be sure to choose a leader that will lead us in the right direction. For a Christian who should be our leader? Jesus!

At Sermons4Kids: http://www.sermons4kids.com/following_the_leader.htm

Pray with them

WBTU:

A Christian Is... An Imitator

Have a struggle with this from a professor. He is against WWJD. I do agree with him that there are several things that we cannot imitate Jesus in. We cannot imitate Jesus in his incarnation-

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Philippians 2:6, 7, NIV. We cannot imitate Jesus in his atoning death for our sins- “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:8, NIV. We cannot imitate Jesus in his resurrection and victorious enthronement- “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11, NIV.

However, how many times does the Scripture say that we need to follow the example of Jesus:

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:5, NIV.

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21, NIV.

“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.” 1 Peter 4:1, NIV.

Ask this same professor, “How should we now live?” He says, “By God’s law.” This is true, but no one kept the law except Jesus Christ. Not that we can keep the law (all have fallen short) but we need a model, an example like Jesus Christ so we can follow in his steps. Paul says this: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1, NIV.

Main Scripture this morning is 1 Peter 2:21. The word example here comes from Greek elementary education. Greek boys learned to write on a shallow box filled with soft wax. A student wrote with a sharp stylus that was flat on the opposite end for erasing so the wax could be repeatedly used. The teacher prepared the student’s tablet by writing a line at the top to be reproduced by the student below. The teacher’s line at the top was the “pattern” the boy must copy in his own hand in learning to write. 1 Peter is talking about suffering for the cause of Christ. Peter’s words show that Jesus’ suffering was not just for our salvation but also as an example for us. We need to follow Jesus’ example in suffering unjust treatment.

Thesis: Jesus is our examples suggests 3 facts

For instances:

1. Jesus is the perfect example

Jesus is the “writing copy” we must strive to reproduce in our own lives. Jesus is the original “the pattern” because He is God. What would God do in this situation? Look to Jesus and we will know. “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9, NIV.

““He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”” 1 Peter 2:22, NIV. This comes from Isaiah 53:9. Isaiah spoke prophetically of Jesus Christ’s freedom from sin, as other writers and the history of Jesus’ life show. No other human ever lived without sin. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.” Hebrews 4:15.