Who are you Committed to? Luke 6:46-49
Gladstone Baptist Church - 29/5/05 - Children’s Service
Get all the children down the front and hand out worksheets.
How are you all today kids. Well today is a special day because we had a baby dedicated. Wasn’t she cute. You know, baby dedications are a great time because we see that a Mum and Dad are doing something very special. They are bringing their baby and saying to God - I can’t do this by myself, I need some help.
Do you think that Dad’s and Mum’s have a hard job trying to look after your family? I think they do. They need all the help they can get and today - Mr & Mrs Harrison were asking God for some help.
You know, that reminds me of a story Jesus told. He getting to the end of a big sermon - we call it the sermon on the mountain. Do you know how sometimes people fall asleep near the end of sermons, well, I don’t think that anyone had fallen asleep during this sermon. Do you want to know why? Because in it Jesus was talking all about how people should live. He was giving some fantastic advise...
- He told them that they were to not hate other people. Because hating is as bad as killing them.
- He told them to not seek revenge on others who did something bad to them.
- He told them to look after people who were hurt or needed help.
- He told them not to spend all their time worrying or being scared, because God was there to help them
- He told people to treat our enemies with kindness
- He told people not to judge each other.
All this fantastic advice and then at the end of the sermon he told a story ...
Mum’s & Dad’s if you have your bible’s can you open them to Luke 6:46
46 “Why do you call me, ¡¥Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
Come, Hear And Do
Boys and Girls, have you ever had a friend that SAYS they are a Christian, but they don’t ACT like it. They might go to children’s church or KOGs or Brigades and when they are there, they say all the right things. They even know all the answers to all the questions the teachers ask. But when you see them at school they are nasty and mean. They aren’t true Christians.
Boys and Girls, maybe that describes some of you. Jesus says at the end of his sermon. Why do you say that you are a true Christian and then not do what I say?
A person who is a True Christian is a person who obeys Jesus. Some people come to church every Sunday, but that doesn’t make them a true Christian. Jesus says that a true Christian does 3 things. They COME to Jesus. They HEAR what Jesus has to say and they OBEY what Jesus says. 3 things. Can you say them with me? Come, Hear, Obey.
I need a volunteer - I want to tell them a secret. (Whisper to them that there is a chuppa chup on the piano that they can have).
Wow - wasn’t he lucky. He got a chup a chup. Let me ask you boys and girls. Would ____ have got that chuppa chup if he didn’t come out the front to me? No of course they wouldn’t have.
But is coming out here enough? What if they came out here, but refused to listen to what I said. Would they have got the chuppa chup? No. They needed to come out here and then listen to the instructions I gave them.
But is coming and hearing enough? What if they came out here, listened to what I said, but refused to do what I told them. They may have been too afraid to walk up on the stage. Would they have got the chuppa chup? No. They needed to come out here and then listen to the instructions I gave them and then obey what I told them.
The same is true for us. Jesus wants us to Come, Hear and Obey. If we don’t we aren’t true Christians.
Tell me - what did _______ use to come out here? - Legs. What did ______ use to hear? - Ears. What did ______ use to obey? - Hands.
Okay - I’ve got a job for you to do - I want you to draw some pictures of some legs, ears and hands.
To Adults ...
Okay - Adults, Last week we began to talk about what made a true disciple. We heard that they had 2 characteristics ... TRUE DISCIPLES HAVE THE CHARACTER OF JESUS AND LIVE TOTALLY COMMITTED TO JESUS. Last week we talked about having the character of Jesus. Jesus told the parable about bearing fruit and said by their fruit you will know them. You want to be seen as a true disciple, bear fruit that reflect’s Christ’s character.
This week, I want to talk about the second characteristic. Living lives that are totally committed to Jesus.
At the end of the Semon on the Mount - an incredibly practical sermon, Jesus questions the people’s commitment. We read last week from Matthew’s account (7:22-23) of this passage. Jesus recognises that many will say on the day of judgment ¡¥Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ¡¥I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
The commitment that Jesus is looking for is more than people who come to church. The commitment that Jesus is looking for is more than people who come to church and hear his word. That’s not enough. The commitment that Jesus is looking for is people who come to church, hear his word and then go and put it into practice. Don’t do the things you think that God would be impressed with. Do the things that God has told you He will be impressed by. He wants you to Come, Hear and Obey. Charlie and Elena brought Rebecca to church today to ask for God’s guidance in raising her. No doubt as she grows up, they will bring her to church. No doubt they will teach her about Jesus. She will come and hear, but will she obey? That will ultimately be her decision. She can’t be a Christian by riding on the coat tails of her Mum and Dad. She’ll have to make her own mind up one day for herself.
Mr Wise and Mr Foolish
How are you going Kids with your drawings? Have you drawn some legs, some ears and some hands...
Jesus says that to be a true Christian you need to come to places where you learn about Jesus, hear what he says and obey what he says.
Jesus then told a little story. And I think that many of you have heard this story before, so I think I might get you to help me. I think some of your Mum’s and Dad’s look a bit old and forgetful though, so we might have to help them remember it. Okay, Here’s the story. ... Jesus said, once upon a time, there was a wise man and a foolish man. We’ll call them Mr Wise and Mr Foolish. Now both Mr Wise and Mr Foolish wanted to build houses. They went and got some plans and they looked to see where would be a nice place to build their house.
Mr Wise looked around and said - I like nice views. So I’ll build my house up nice and high on this rock. Besides if I build it on the rock, I’ll have something really nice and solid to build it on.
Mr Foolish saw where Mr Wise put his house, He also liked views, but he didn’t want to walk all the way down to the river bank from up on the top of the rock, so he though that he’d build his house right down on the river. There wasn’t any rock there to build on, but he didn’t really care. He was happy to build his house on the sand.
Well they both worked hard and their houses were completed and they were enjoying life. Mr Wise with his views from the headland. Mr Foolish with his river frontage. Then one day, it started to rain. It rained and rained and rained and before long, the river started to rise. It kept rising and rising and rising - It was a flood!!! The winds blew and the rain fell and Mr Foolish started to get really worried. The flood water got closer and closer to his back door and it was washing away all the sand. Mr Wise was okay, his house was built on the rock and it wasn’t going anywhere. The water kept rising and before long, Mr Foolish had to abandon his house. The water washed his house away and the last he saw of it was a few boards floating off down the river.
Jesus told this story to illustrate that it is very important that we build houses on places that are solid.
Can you draw for me Mr Foolish’s house built on the sand?
To Adults ...
Jesus told this parable to illustrate what a true disciple looked like.
True disciples have the Character of Jesus and live totally Committed to Jesus.
You see, true disciples are totally committed to Jesus. They don’t just come to Jesus when they have a problem. They don’t just hear his word and then go and do something else. No they come to him regularly, hear his word accurately and follow it completely.
The story about the two builders is a picture of life. People build buildings in all kinds of places. Some build their buildings on ground that is not solid and they end up in all sorts of problems. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is build on swamp land and was moving. 3 years ago, $25 Million dollars was spent trying to stabilise it and stop it continuing to topple. It didn’t have a stable foundation. Our church building here also has problems with its foundations. It was built across an old drain and unfortunately when it was filled in, there was a part of the earth works which was not compacted. Therefore our building is moving also. That is why there are cracks in the floor and walls and why one of the front doors can no longer be opened. The foundations are critical when building buildings. But they are also critical when we are building our lives.
We build our lives on all sorts of foundations. Some people build their lives on money and financial security. When I was at university, I saw many people putting huge amounts of time, money and energy into getting pieces of paper. With the right piece of paper, you could get the right job and be set for life. Some people build their lives on their successes or their possessions. But if you don’t have a good foundation, your whole building is at risk when the storm comes.
To Children ...
How is your drawing going kids? Don’t forget to draw in the flood - the rain and wind.
To Adults ...
Horace A.W. Tabor was one of the richest Americans of his time, having amassed tens of millions of dollars from his silver mines in Leadville, Colorado, during the 1870’s and 1880’s. His richest mine was called the Matchless. He lived an extravagant lifestyle and caused a scandal when he left his wife Augusta for a beautiful young woman named Baby Doe. He would think nothing of betting $3,500 on one poker pot - which in those days would be close to $200,000. He ran his mansion in princely style; he and Baby Doe bought furs, jewelry, carriages, furniture, art objects.
When Congress demonetized silver in 1893 and made gold the only standard for money, Tabor lost his wealth overnight. They got to the point where he didn’t have a nickel left to buy food. He ended up hauling slag at the Leadville mines for $3 a day. All of their possessions were sold to pay off the debts and the Tabors ended up renting a small cottage in Denver for $30 a month. One day in April 1899, while taking a stroll, he went into the Tabor Grand Opera House (which he had built) and stood gazing at the oil portrait of himself, which the new owners had allowed to remain hanging. Suddenly a sharp pain from a burst appendix cut through his side. As he was dying, he said to Baby Doe: "Whatever happens, hold on to the Matchless. It will give you back all that I have lost."
Baby Doe packed up her two daughters and moved back to the desolate mountain town of Leadville. They lived in the abandoned tool house on the mine. Its timbers were rotting, its broken windows boarded up. It was freezing cold in winter. When their money ran out Baby Doe dressed herself and the girls in discarded miners’ clothing. For years she kept the water out of the Matchless mine and guarded the property with a shotgun. One winter night she froze to death at the mine where she had remained for 30 years, faithful to Horace Tabor and to his parting instructions: "Hold on to the Matchless. It will give you back all that I have lost."
The problem with building our lives on money or fame or popularity or power, is that it is like sand it can be swept away in an instant.
To Children ...
Okay kids, how is your drawing going? Have you drawn Mr Foolish’s house. Mr Foolish thought he was doing a great job of his house, but he forgot to follow the builder’s instructions - Make sure you build it on something solid.
You know when we are at home or at school, we often act like Mr Foolish. We say that we love Jesus, but we don’t obey what he says. Yes, we’ve gone to Children’s church and we’ve heard all the bible stories. We know what we are supposed to do, but we don’t do it. We are like Mr Foolish. We need to do the right thing don’t we.
Now I want you to draw Mr Wises’ house. He came and heard, but unlike Mr Foolish, Mr Wise actually did what he knew was right. He built his house up on the rock out of the way of all the flood waters. He chose a solid place to build his house and when the floods came, his house was safe.
To Adults ...
Jesus was challenging his audience to build their lives on him. To come, hear and obey what he said - to be totally committed. When we do these three things we can build a solid foundation that nothing in this world or the next can destroy. By coming, hearing and obeying we have a firm foundation for our lives. Why? Because, Jesus says, when the judgment day comes, he will recognise us as true disciples.
True disciples have the Character of Jesus and live totally Committed to Jesus.
In 1 Cor 3:10-17 Paul writes
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.
Jesus will one day judge everyone. And Christians will be separated from non-Christians. All those who claim to be Christians will be judged at what the Bible calls the BEMA seat according to what they have done. They are already saved, but God will examine what they have done so that he can REWARD them. What will he look for?
True disciples have the Character of Jesus and live totally Committed to Jesus.
Jesus is going to look at their character and their commitment. He will see if the FOUNDATION they have built their lives on is solid. If it is not, it will be burnt up and they will survive, but only as one who is running through the flames.
I don’t know about you, but I want to be rewarded when I stand before God, not scorched. But to do that, I’ve got to have the character of Jesus and be totally Committed to Jesus. I need to build my life on the right foundation.
What are you building your foundation on? Will you be recognised as a true disciple of Jesus or will everything you have held important be burnt up in the fire?
To Children ...
How are you going Kids, Have you finished your drawings? Everyone hold them up so I can see them?
We need to finish now, but I know a song about Mr Wise & Mr Foolish. And I think some of you know it also. So we are going to sing it now together. Do you think that you can all help me out? It goes ...
The Wise man built his house upon the rock ....
