Passing tests
Children's sermon
Object:
a test paper with a star on it and a star sticker for each child
Good morning, boys and girls. Most of you haven't been in school long enough to have to take tests like some of your bigger brothers and sisters have. (show them the test paper) But I think you probably have taken tests before, even if no one called it a test. Did you learn to walk and talk when you were only a year or two old? (let them answer) When someone held out their arms and encouraged you to walk to them, that was a test. Did you pass the test? (let them answer) If you are walking today, you passed the test a long time ago. If someone repeated a word or two over and over again for you and then wanted you to say it, that was a test. Can you talk today? (let them answer) Then you passed the test! How many of you can tie your shoes? (wait for a show of hands) Most of you can tie your shoes. So you passed the text. How many of you can say the alphabet? (wait for a show of hands) You probably had someone go over the letters with you until you could say them all by yourself. When you could, you passed the test. Did you have a test paper like this one? (let them answer) No, not all tests are on paper like this one was. Was it hard learning to walk and talk? (let them answer) It doesn't seem like it now, but all you have to do is watch a tiny child learning to walk and falling down over and over again and you know how hard it is. It might not even be a tiny child. It could be someone who has had surgery or been very sick or been in an accident who has had to learn to walk and talk all over again. That is a real test for them. But our lesson says that God makes us stronger when we pass tests. Passing tests is hard work. When we pass them and are smarter and stronger for it, we deserve this star (show the stars) for passing the test. (pass out the stars)
