Giving all she had
Children's sermon
Object:
a penny
Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury." (v. 43)
Good morning, boys and girls. I have a penny, a regular penny and Jesus once said that it was worth more than millions of dollars. Do you have a penny? (let them answer) Do you have more than a penny? Do any of you have nickels or dimes? (let them answer) Does anyone have a quarter or a silver dollar? (let them answer) Does anyone here this morning have dollars, real dollars? (let them answer) You have a lot of money, but none of you has a million dollars. None of you have so much money that it would cover the front of the church.
Jesus saw men with millions of dollars giving very big gifts to the temple. They had big smiles on their faces because people were watching them and they liked to be watched. When they made their gift the people oooohed and aaahhed. Can you say, "Ooooh?" (let them say it) Can you say, "Aaaah"? (let them say it) Very good, you would have been very helpful in the temple. But after they had given, an old woman came to the front of the temple and very humbly put a penny in the offering. It was the only penny that was given that day and I don't think that anyone besides Jesus watched her do it. Jesus also knew it was the only penny she had. Since it was the only penny she had, it was very valuable. After the penny was given, there were no other coins. The woman went on her way but the disciples stayed and talked to Jesus about what they had all just seen.
You cannot give more than the last penny you own. This penny is given with all of the woman's love.
What kind of giving do you do? (let them answer) Are you learning what to give because your father is teaching you to give when the offering is received? Have you ever asked your father or mother about what is a good amount for you to give in Sunday school or church? [probably not, but we should talk about it] Did you know that God loves a cheerful giver? He truly does.
Do you understand why Jesus said that the woman with only a penny had given more that the men with thousands and millions of dollars who gave a small part of what they really had? It is not an easy story to understand, but the next time you make a gift to God, make sure it is enough that it makes you think or it means that you will have to give something up and not buy it because of what you gave to God. Think of the widow who only gave a penny but when she gave it, it was all that she had. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. I have a penny, a regular penny and Jesus once said that it was worth more than millions of dollars. Do you have a penny? (let them answer) Do you have more than a penny? Do any of you have nickels or dimes? (let them answer) Does anyone have a quarter or a silver dollar? (let them answer) Does anyone here this morning have dollars, real dollars? (let them answer) You have a lot of money, but none of you has a million dollars. None of you have so much money that it would cover the front of the church.
Jesus saw men with millions of dollars giving very big gifts to the temple. They had big smiles on their faces because people were watching them and they liked to be watched. When they made their gift the people oooohed and aaahhed. Can you say, "Ooooh?" (let them say it) Can you say, "Aaaah"? (let them say it) Very good, you would have been very helpful in the temple. But after they had given, an old woman came to the front of the temple and very humbly put a penny in the offering. It was the only penny that was given that day and I don't think that anyone besides Jesus watched her do it. Jesus also knew it was the only penny she had. Since it was the only penny she had, it was very valuable. After the penny was given, there were no other coins. The woman went on her way but the disciples stayed and talked to Jesus about what they had all just seen.
You cannot give more than the last penny you own. This penny is given with all of the woman's love.
What kind of giving do you do? (let them answer) Are you learning what to give because your father is teaching you to give when the offering is received? Have you ever asked your father or mother about what is a good amount for you to give in Sunday school or church? [probably not, but we should talk about it] Did you know that God loves a cheerful giver? He truly does.
Do you understand why Jesus said that the woman with only a penny had given more that the men with thousands and millions of dollars who gave a small part of what they really had? It is not an easy story to understand, but the next time you make a gift to God, make sure it is enough that it makes you think or it means that you will have to give something up and not buy it because of what you gave to God. Think of the widow who only gave a penny but when she gave it, it was all that she had. Amen.
