Serving Two Doers Facts for 3-8 Year Olds

Categories: Sermon on the Mount

• The end of the Sermon is coming near.
• Jesus shows his disciples the choices they have to make.
• He is talking to the people who have found and entered through the narrow gate.
• They made that right decision, and they also have a true message.
• They are not wolves dressed up in sheep's clothing.
• But now there is another choice to be made. It’s between the right and wrong message—how to choose a good life.
• Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.”
• But just saying the words is not enough.
• The ones who will enter the kingdom are the ones “who do the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
• “Doing the will” means we do God’s will all the time.
• “Doing the will” is following Jesus’ commands as laid out in the Sermon.
• Simply reciting (saying) the words of the Sermon is not the same as doing the work.
• Jesus continues, “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ ”
• Using someone’s name is to try to use that person’s authority or power.
• But they are using Jesus’ name as if it gives some magic formula.
• “Prophesying” doesn’t just mean telling the future, but also means speaking truth from a position of power.
• “Driving out demons” and “miracles” are spiritual acts of power.
• Jesus and his disciples did these things honestly.
• But Jesus is pointing out the difference between people who do things for honest reasons and those who do things to look good and get attention and praise from others.
• Jesus looks at the heart and motives of people.
• He wants them to do God’s will, not do their own will.
• The main idea of the Sermon has to do with inward stuff, with obedience to God, with issues of truth and mercy and justice.
• But people who perform miracles to get noticed by others have forgotten the people they are to serve.
• Instead of working to glorify God, they say, “Lord, Lord, wasn’t I great?”
• We’re supposed to lean on God, hunger for “righteousness,” and have a pure heart. We’re not supposed to do things just to get praise from other people.
• Jesus is reminding people to be honest and do what they say they’re going to do.