Children’s Sermon

Matthew 9:35-38

Workers are Few

Kyle and Kelly stayed one week with their Aunt Millie to help her get ready for a family reunion. While Kyle vacuumed, Kelly dusted all the baseboards in the big living room. While Kyle swept the deck, Kelly swept the steps. The family reunion was only two days away, and there were still so many things to do; things like making beds, polishing mirrors and buying and preparing food.

One day, Kelly said, “We need more people to help us.”

Aunt Millie chuckled. “Let’s take a break.” So they did. They sat at Aunt Millie’s freshly cleaned and swept deck and drank lemonade while Aunt Millie shared this story about Jesus from the Holy Bible:

Jesus went from place to place teaching and telling people about God. Jesus felt sad for the people of the area who were worried, troubled and afraid. He said they reminded him of sheep without a shepherd.

Jesus told his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (vs. 37). Kelly didn’t understand about the harvest, but Kyle remembered his teacher explaining that harvest time meant the crops were ready. Harvest is when the fruit is ripe and ready to pick. It’s the time when farmers dig potatoes or cut and store the wheat.

Do you think Jesus talking about fruit, or potatoes, or wheat? (Allow children to answer.) No, he was talking about workers who would share the story of God’s love to other people.

It took lots of work, but the twins worked hard. They put pillow cases on all of the pillows and helped Aunt Millie make the beds. They hung fresh towels in the bathrooms. And before every one arrived on the day of the reunion, the twins swept the walkway from the deck to the driveway. They enjoyed their time with Aunt Millie, and learned something more about Jesus and harvest time.

Aunt Millie thanked the twins for their help. She told them when everyone works together more work can be accomplished than when we work alone.

Remember that earlier I said Jesus wasn’t talking about harvesting fruit or crops. He was talking about people who are willing to share God’s love with others. How were Kyle and Kelly already sharing God’s love with others? (Allow children to respond.) By working with Aunt Milly to get everything ready for the family reunion, they were showing God’s love. I want to do that, don’t you?

PRAYER

God, we are thankful that Jesus came to earth to show us how to live for you and how to care for others who need us. And thank you for the lesson about harvest from the Holy Bible. Amen

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible