Olympics - Children's Sermon

Today's Children's Sermon was based on 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Once the kids came to the front I asked them if they had heard anything about some big world wide event that started on Friday? With a few questioning looks, I asked if they had heard anything about athletes going to compete? To which I got "The Olympics!" "Yes! You are correct, but wait let me have 3 volunteers." I selected 3 kids and had them lineup as if starting a race. Then "Today we are going to have our own Olympic Event - right here. We are going to have the 25ft race! So line up, get ready, get set, Oh wait a minute, I forgot, I have a few questions for the runners. First who is your coach?" one young man replied "My Dad" "Really?(turning to his Dad), Dad did you know this?" To which he shook his head no. Another young man replied "I don't know" and the 3rd runner replied "My sister" I replied "I see, hmmm." Okay so for this huge race, have you been training? I mean the Olympics have a whole Training Center in Colorado and they have been training for years and eating special diets. So have you been training?" To this they shook their heads no. "I see, well, I think that is all of the questions, so if your ready." (we cleared a path across the front of the church for the runners to run across) "On your mark, get set,.. Wait (and after I got the one who started anyhow back to the starting line) who is going to win this race?"  To which all 3 raised their hands. "Well, that's good that you all think that you are going to win, because what's the point of racing if you have the attitude of "oh well I think I'll come in last"  Is there much point?" No!" So okay let's try this again "On your Mark, get set, go!" (and the 3 ran across the front of the church and then I declared a winner.)

"Well did you know that God talks about running and racing in the Bible, Let's look at 1 Corinthians 9:24-25"
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who compete in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

"So God has given us a race to run. The race of living a Christian Life. We are to run or live life in a way that we will win the Crown or eternal life. So according to what we just read, what do we need to do? (A reply was) Train -"Yes we must train to be Christan's and to follow God, but how do we do that?" "We need to worship, sing and come to church" were some of the answers. I agreed with them, but I then asked about our training manual - the Bible. "If we read it and spend time talking with our Trainer - Jesus, then we will be able to Run the Race that God has set before us."

"So this week when you are watching the Olympics, enjoy watching them, but ask yourself if you are training with God and Running a Good Race for him." And we closed in prayer.