Children’s Sermon

Matthew 4:12-23

Time to Go

There are flight patterns around our world that certain birds follow to fly to warmer climates for the winter and back north in the summer. These birds migrate (change location) to find better sources of food and a climate where they will be more comfortable.

Have you noticed that some birds are in your area at a certain time of year and are gone at other times of the year?

Wild geese are especially interesting to watch because they fly in a V formation. They fly in the shape of a V because there is less wind resistance and they can fly faster and with greater ease. The goose flying at the front point of the V receives the most wind and has the most difficult time flying. When that goose gets tired another goose comes and takes its place and other geese take turns as well.

When it is time to migrate the flock leaves all at once. No one knows exactly what tells them it is time to leave, but when the time is right, they go.

There is a story in the Bible about four men who knew it was time to go. They were all fishermen and were working by the sea. They knew it was time to go because Jesus called to them and said, “Come after me” (4:19). Immediately these men, Peter and Andrew, and James and John left their nets and their boats and “followed him” (4:22).

These men, who followed Jesus, became his disciples. A disciple is like a student and these men wanted to study and learn from Jesus so they could serve others. They didn’t question if the time was right to go, they knew they had been called by God.

Even today we can listen for that voice inside of us that helps us learn the ways of Jesus so we are able to go out into the world and serve others.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible