Use this object lesson to share a message with children about sharing the Gospel with others. This sermon is based on Matthew 9:35-10:11 where Jesus talks about the plentiful harvest ready for those who are sharing Good News. Print the message notes below, watch our example video, and gather your supplies.
Get Ready ![]()
“The Harvest is Great”
Children’s Sermon Object Lesson about Sharing the Gospel
Main Objective: God wants all people to come to faith, and He has made us an important part of that process. This message seeks to impart the importance of sharing our faith with others in need through words, prayers, and actions.
Law/Gospel Theme: The harvest is ready and ripe for the picking! What can this possibly mean? Jesus wants us to “plant seeds” that will let others know the good news of God’s love. When we understand what Christ has done through His death and resurrection, we should be eager to share the Good News with those around us. Through the help of the Spirit, we can love and serve all around us.
Optional Materials / Object Lesson Props: Various types of fruit or produce, some of which might be getting rotten
Bible Passage: Matthew 9:35-10:11
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. Use your judgment and ideas to best serve students.
More Teaching ideas about the Great Commission
- See our video playlist of these crafts and lesson ideas.
- See all our resources based on the Great Commission
- Compare this full Sunday School lesson on the Matthew 28:16-20
Children’s Sermon (Matthew 9:35-10:11) The Harvest is Ready
Greet children, and explain your “fruity props”…
Hello, children of God! What do I have here? (Hold up a piece of fruit) That’s right, this is fruit! I love fruit, don’t you? Do you have a favorite kind of fruit? (Hold up several fruits and/or vegetables)
What do you think would happen if fruit did not get picked off of the trees? What if no one came to harvest the produce? Well, it would go bad. It would get old, and moldy, and rotten and yucky! (If available, demonstrate a piece of rotting or old fruit).
No one would be able to enjoy it, and it wouldn’t provide nourishment or joy. That seems a little sad, doesn’t it?
Did you know that people can be like this? It’s true! Jesus calls us all to be fruit pickers! See, if people never hear about the good news of Jesus, and they never experience the love of God, they won’t be able to bless others and be blessed through faith. Without love and without the Gospel, people tend to “rot” in their hearts, and they miss out on amazing and beautiful opportunities. So our job is to communicate the good news. We are called to serve God’s people.
Jesus told the disciples that the “harvest” was ready: He meant there were many people who needed to hear the wonderful story. This is no less true today! When people miss out on God’s love or don’t hear the Gospel, they tend to go sour, and can do things they shouldn’t. Jesus was us to share His love. He wants us to recognize opportunities to serve each other. So many people need to hear this good news, and we get to communicate it! Isn’t that wonderful? And we can tell ALL people about God’s love.
The good news of Jesus is not just for people that look a certain way, or treat us nicely…we want to make sure that we are looking for ways in which all people will be noticed, helped, and “picked’ for service. We don’t want to leave anyone “rotting” on a branch, but we seek to bring all people into God’s family. Why don’t we consider that possibility now, with a prayer of thanksgiving?
Children’s Prayer Moment
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for letting us be part of your plan
Please show us ways to love one another
And to share the good news of Jesus
Show us ways that we can love one another
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
Matthew 9:35-10:11 The Workers are Few
And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics[ or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. –Matthew 9:35-10:11 ESV
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