Text: Mark 10:23-27

Prop: A sewing needle.

Summary: Riches will make it hard for us to be saved if we give them more importance than God.

Look what I brought with me today. What is it? [a needle] Look how small this hole is where you put the thread in! This reminds me of something Jesus said about a rich man that didn’t want to part with his rich things to serve God. (Read Mark 10:23-27]

Jesus was saying that it was nearly impossible for a person that trusted in their own riches to be born again spiritually. But with God, all things are possible! Now Jesus wasn’t referring to a sewing needle when he talked about a camel going through the eye of a needle. The “eye of a needle” was referring to a small gate within the larger gate at the entrance to a city. It was common to build an ordinary door in the huge gate so that common folks could go and come in the city without leaving the large gate wide open all the time. But here’s the catch: For a camel to get in, he would have to take off the burden of all he was carrying on his back, and kneel down and crawl through the door. So Jesus was comparing the rich young rulers many possessions as a burden to him. He was giving his treasure more importance than service to God. He had made an idol out of his money. For that reason, he went away very troubled at what Jesus told him. He was unwilling to change his ways and kneel to God.

Whenever we place anything in a more important position than God, we have made it an idol. God wants us to love him more than anyone or anything else, and then to love our neighbor as ourselves. If we love God first, God will bless us. He will give us the ability to love others, even the ones we think we cannot love without God’s help. So God can make all things possible for us. He can help us realize that things aren’t nearly as important as people. He wants us in a right relationship with God and our neighbors.

The disciples were wondering who then can be saved? Jesus responded that it was impossible for men to save themselves. We need God’s help. Jesus is the answer. If we want to be saved, we must look to Jesus for our salvation. That’s what Jesus meant when he said for with God all things are possible. Jesus wants to help us with our burdens in life, the things that are pulling us down and keeping us from being all we can be for God. If we give up trying to do it all by ourselves, and rely on him, he will give us all we need. What are you trying to do all by yourself? Have you given something or someone more importance than God? Let’s look to Jesus and stop putting our money or wealth or anything else in front of God in importance, and God will help us.

©1998 by Jim Kerlin. All rights reserved.

One thing, and only one, in this world has eternity stamped upon it. Feelings pass; resolves and thoughts pass; opinions change. What you have done lasts – lasts in you. Through ages, through eternity, what you have done for Christ, that, and only that, you are. – F. W. Robertson

Text: Matthew 6:19-21; Mark 8:36

Prop: a poster of the pyramids

Summary: This sermon explains the difference between treasures that will last and treasures that are temporary.

This is a picture of the pyramids in Egypt. The Pharaoh (or king) was buried inside. He thought he could take his great riches and treasures with him when he died. Later thieves broke in and stole some of the treasures. Today I want to talk to you about treasures or things of great value that will last.

Jesus talked about setting aside or saving up treasures that would last in this passage of scripture. (Read Matthew 6:19-21) If we have a lot of money and televisions and lots of toys, a thief could break in our home and steal them. If we owned an expensive dress, unless we protected it in our closet, a moth could eat holes in it. If we had a fire truck, if it got left in the rain it would probably rust. These are the kinds of treasures that we may see today, but when we get old and die we cannot take them with us.

Jesus told us to send our treasure ahead of us to heaven. But how do we do that? We can do it by doing good deeds to others and by telling others about Jesus. If we are kind to others, God will reward us in heaven. If we tell someone about Jesus and they accept Him as their Savior, that person will go to heaven. These are treasures that last forever. They don’t rust or rot and a thief can’t steal them.

If we try all our life to gain great amounts of money, but forget about God, our soul will be lost and we won’t go to heaven. For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36) There was a poem written that goes like this: ” ‘Tis only one life will soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” The lasting treasure comes from doing things for Jesus. Let’s start a Savings Account in heaven today! Let’s be kind to others and tell them about Jesus.

Alternate Introduction: Play a game called “Now you see it, now you don’t.” Use a shell game to hide a ball. Get the children to follow which cup the ball is under. Show it to them the first time. On the second time, use the cup to hold the ball and conceal it from them. Ask them where it went. Explain that today you will talk about treasures. Some treasures can be seen for a while, but not forever. Other treasures will last all the way to heaven.

©1999 by Jim Kerlin. All rights reserved.

… as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. – 2 Corinthians 6:10

Text: John 14:12-14; Colossians 3:2

Prop: birthday candles

Summary: If you have asked Jesus into your heart, you have all you will ever need.

Today I want to talk about wishes. I brought some birthday candles with me. (Show candles.) By show of hands, how many of you have ever made a wish before blowing out the candles on your birthday cake? [See show of hands.) Let me ask one of you (select a child], what did you wish for? [Listen to answer.) Now I want all of you to pretend for a moment that you found a magic lamp and a genie popped out and is willing to grant you one wish. You can wish for anything at all. What would you wish for? (Listen to answers.)

The Bible tells us about something better than wishes. It is called prayer. The Lord Jesus told his followers (disciples) that after he went back to heaven he would do anything they asked for in his name. Let us read about it.

(Read John 14:12-14.)  Jesus told his followers that they would do greater works than he had done. Remember that Jesus had done miraculous and marvelous works: healed the sick, made the lame walk, gave sight to the blind, cured diseases, raised the dead, and much more! He told them whatever they asked for in his name that he would do it. And he did not tell them they could only ask one time. The reason Jesus wants us to ask in his name is because God the Father receives glory every time we ask through his Son, Jesus. When you hear a Christian pray and ask God for something, you almost always will hear words such as this: “I ask it in the name of Jesus.” This prayer gives respect (honor) to the Lord Jesus as God’s only Son.

Rather than asking for riches and gold, or great power or fame, the Bible tells us we ought to set our minds on the things of God.

(Read Colossians 3:2.) If we owned everything on earth, it would not be worth anything compared to eternal life with God. Something better than the greatest wish in the world is to ask Jesus to be your Savior. That means to be truly sorry for all the bad things you ever did or ever will do and to trust Jesus to forgive you. If you have asked Jesus into your heart, you have all you will ever need. That is worth more than all the money in the whole wide world!

Let us pray. Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for these children. Help us to realize that all we ever need is you. Amen.

©2003 by Jim Kerlin. All rights reserved.