Main Objective: Following Jesus isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it! This message focuses on the choice that the disciples made to continue with Christ when others turned away due to His tough teachings. They knew that only Jesus had the words of eternal life, and that staying close to Him was the best thing they could do. Sometimes we might want to run away or quit when things in life or faith are difficult, but we can trust that sticking with Jesus is worth it. He will care for us and help us always.
Law/Gospel Theme: Jesus wants us to love and follow Him, but He doesn’t force us to do so. We have the option to turn away when things are tough. Life as a Christian is not guaranteed to be free from challenges, but we know that Jesus is with us always. He will help us when we call upon Him. And He is the way to eternal life! Jesus has already given us salvation. Our hope is in Him, and nothing else can take His place.
Optional Materials: Backpack or items that might be taken if someone was trying to run away; Bible.
John 6:56-69 Children’s Sermon – Following Jesus Christ is worth it.
Bible Passage: John 6:56-69
Message: Note: As with most messages, the details of how you choose to communicate this are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs.
Greet the children and talk about running away…
Hello, children of God!
Well, I’m running away. Yep, my bags are packed and I’m getting out of here! Well, okay, I’m not really leaving. But there have been times in my life when I thought about it. Sometimes running away sounds like a good option. Have you ever felt that way? Maybe something was not going so great at home, or you had a fight with your parents or a sibling, and you thought that running away would be a good solution. When I’ve felt that way, I wanted to just disappear. But then I’d get to thinking, and realized that there would be a lot of uncertainties. Hold up props as you describe. Where would I go? After all, the little blanket I packed didn’t quite compare to my nice bed. This toy wasn’t the same as my mom’s hugs. A half-empty jar of peanut butter and granola bar weren’t nearly as good as the food I got at home. I usually realized that, even when things were challenging, I actually had it pretty good where I was. I had people who cared for me, a roof over my head, food, a place to sleep. Where would I go if I ran away? Nowhere else would really do.
The disciples were faced with a situation like this in the Bible. Well, sort of. They didn’t want to run away from home, but there were some people who wanted to run away from Jesus. He was teaching some things that they just couldn’t quite understand. They said that His words were too difficult to grasp, and some of them turned away and decided not to follow Jesus anymore. He asked His disciples if they wanted to walk away, too. The disciples said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” They knew that Jesus was the only One who could truly help them, and the only way to Heaven. They knew trusting in Him would lead to life. He had the answers to their questions. Even if it was hard sometimes, and even if they didn’t always fully understand everything, they could count on Jesus.
This same choice comes to us, too. Jesus loves us and wants us to follow Him and love Him, but He doesn’t force it. We can make the choice to turn away and leave our faith. In fact, there might be times that this sounds tempting. Sometimes we see the way other people live and it seems like they have less rules and responsibilities. Or it grows difficult to follow Jesus, and we want to give up and walk away. But where would we go? Even when other things appear to be good, they’re often not what we’d hope for. No one else has the key to eternal life. No one else can help us and provide for us. Jesus is the way. We can count on Him and trust in Him. After all, Jesus gave His life for us. Through His death, we have life. He sacrificed everything for us, so we know that not only will we be in Heaven with Him one day, but He will care for our needs and be with us now.
So don’t run away! Even if you do, though, God will always welcome you back with loving arms and provide for you. He will never leave us. Jesus is worth following. Where else would we go? He has the words of eternal life! So pick up the word of God, and read those words now!
Let’s say a prayer to thank God for giving us all we need.
Prayer:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
You have the words of eternal life.
Thank you for how you care for us.
Please help us to trust in you
And follow you always.
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
John 6:56-69 Meaning for Kids:
Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread] the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” -John 6:56-69