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Children's sermon
Object:
a bag of Hershey kisses -- enough for all the children
For today's lesson I need some help. I need two volunteers to come up here and help me show how today's lesson works. (select two children) I have with me today a bag of Hershey kisses. I am going to give myself two kisses, and I am going to give only one of you two kisses. (do this)
Okay. Listen to a part of today's scripture reading. (read verses 12-14) Did you hear what it said? Don't just do something nice for somebody who can repay you. Instead, do nice things for people who may not ever be able to repay you.
Let's look at this lesson and use our kisses as an example. I gave Mary two kisses. I have two kisses. Tommy doesn't have any kisses at all. Let's pretend that I want to share my kisses with Mary. I don't mind doing this, because Mary has some that she can share with me too. I'll give Mary one of mine, and Mary will give me one of hers. (do this) What happened? Nothing really, because Mary and I each have the same number we started with. So I shared with Mary. Big deal. It didn't really cost me anything, did it?
What if I share with Tommy? He doesn't have anything to give me in return, but it's the right thing to do. He doesn't have any chocolate at all! Here, Tommy. (give him one of your kisses) Now we each have one. That seems fair. You know what would be better, though? What if I gave him BOTH my kisses? (do this) Now I don't have any, but he and Mary have the same amount. I did something nice for Tommy. The most important thing I could do was share with him. It doesn't matter that I don't get anything in return.
That's the kind of love that Jesus wants us to have. He wants us to love others more than ourselves. Don't just share with people who will share with you. Think about sharing with those who cannot give you anything in return. It's the right thing to do.
Who wants a kiss? (hand out a kiss to each child)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us love others the way you do. Amen.
Okay. Listen to a part of today's scripture reading. (read verses 12-14) Did you hear what it said? Don't just do something nice for somebody who can repay you. Instead, do nice things for people who may not ever be able to repay you.
Let's look at this lesson and use our kisses as an example. I gave Mary two kisses. I have two kisses. Tommy doesn't have any kisses at all. Let's pretend that I want to share my kisses with Mary. I don't mind doing this, because Mary has some that she can share with me too. I'll give Mary one of mine, and Mary will give me one of hers. (do this) What happened? Nothing really, because Mary and I each have the same number we started with. So I shared with Mary. Big deal. It didn't really cost me anything, did it?
What if I share with Tommy? He doesn't have anything to give me in return, but it's the right thing to do. He doesn't have any chocolate at all! Here, Tommy. (give him one of your kisses) Now we each have one. That seems fair. You know what would be better, though? What if I gave him BOTH my kisses? (do this) Now I don't have any, but he and Mary have the same amount. I did something nice for Tommy. The most important thing I could do was share with him. It doesn't matter that I don't get anything in return.
That's the kind of love that Jesus wants us to have. He wants us to love others more than ourselves. Don't just share with people who will share with you. Think about sharing with those who cannot give you anything in return. It's the right thing to do.
Who wants a kiss? (hand out a kiss to each child)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us love others the way you do. Amen.
