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THE ON MISSION CHURCH NETWORK CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
Children’s Missions Education Sermon Idea #3
Title: "The Greatest Story Never Heard" (or "The Greatest
News Never Told")
Objective: to help children understand that there are people in the world
who will never hear about Jesus unless we as Christians go to tell them
Scripture Principle: "Anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.
But before people can ask the Lord for help, they must believe in him; and
before they can believe in him, they must hear about him; and for them to hear
about the Lord, someone must tell them."
(Romans 10:13-14, New Century Version)
Preparation and Materials: a map of the world or a globe (OPTIONAL)
Presentation: Ask the children: What if you lived on an island and there
was a terrible hurricane coming, and you knew that the only way to safety on the
mainland was by boat?
Although there are many different kinds of boats on the island–some made
for fishing; some made for sailing; and others made for canoeing down the small
canals–only one boat is strong enough and big enough to handle the rough
waters of the sea and take all the people on the island to safety; and you are
the only person on the island who knows where that boat is located.
The people are scattered all across the island, and some of them are
difficult to reach. There isn’t much time before the hurricane hits, and only
you have the information that can save their lives.
Knowing that the people will die if they don’t get off the island, would
you take the time to tell them that there is a boat which can rescue them and
carry them to safety? Or would you keep the information to yourself? (They will
probably respond that they would share the information about the boat.)
Afterward, ask: How would you get the news to all the people in time for them
to be saved? (Possible answers might include: the use of radio and television,
getting friends to help spread the news, telling every person you know to tell
someone they know.)
Application: Ask: Did you know that there are a lot of people in the
world like the people on this island? They have never heard about Jesus or that
He is the Only Way they can be saved. They don’t even know that God loves them
and that He sent His Son to die for their sins.
There are places in the world where there aren’t any Christians to tell the
people about Jesus. In many of these places the people worship false gods, such
as Buddha, or idols made of wood and stone. It is difficult to get the message
about Jesus to some of these groups of people because they speak a different
language, or their homes are difficult to reach, or their countries have laws
which forbid teaching about or believing in Jesus.
In Romans 10:13-14 we read, "Anyone who calls on the Lord will be
saved. But before people can ask the Lord for help, they must believe in him;
and before they can believe in him, they must hear about him; and for them to
hear about the Lord, someone must tell them."
Just like the people on the island, if these people are going to hear about
how Jesus can save them, then someone must go and tell them. As Christians, you
and I have important news that needs to be told (or, a wonderful story that
needs to be shared). Will we keep that news to ourselves, or will we share it
with others so that they too can be saved?
Prayer Thought: Lord, thank You for letting me be born in a country where
I can go to church and learn about You. Help me find ways to share Your love
with people who have never heard about You, and who won’t hear unless someone
tells them.
Note to Leader: People groups for which the majority have had little or
no access to the gospel of Jesus Christ make up what is known as "The Last
Frontier." These people groups have no missionary witness, no Bibles in
their languages, no radio programs, and certainly no Christian churches to
attend. Of the 5.6 billion people in the world, 1.6 billion are located in The
Last Frontier. These are not people who have rejected the gospel; these are
people who have never heard the gospel or had an opportunity to accept Christ as
Savior and Lord. For more information about unreached people groups, contact the
International Mission Board’s Customer Services at (800) 866-3621.
Copyright 2000 North American
Mission Board, SBC
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