A smiling giver
Children's sermon
Object:
chocolate coins (enough for all children)
God loves a cheerful giver. (v. 7b)
Good morning, boys and girls! Today we're going to talk about a very short Bible verse. Are you ready? Here it is: "God loves a cheerful giver." Can you say that with me? (repeat, encourage them to repeat with you) "God loves a cheerful giver." Now say it with a big smile on your face! (repeat in unison) "God loves a cheerful giver!"
Much of what we do for God involves giving. What do you or your parents give to God? (allow answers) Good answers! We give God our time when we come to church or youth group or when we volunteer. How else can we give God our time? (allow answers) Good! We also give God our talents. That means we use the skills and abilities we have to work for God. A person who is good at music can sing or play an instrument during worship. A person who is good at painting can volunteer to paint the Sunday school classrooms or the sanctuary. How else can we share our talents with God? (allow answers) Right! The third way we give back to God is through our possessions. Maybe we give our used clothes and toys to the Salvation Army, or donate food to the food pantry. What other possessions can you share with God? (allow answers) Good job! Money is another possession we have that we can give to God. When do you see people give money to God? (allow answers) Good job! We give money in Sunday school or in church. Have you ever seen Salvation Army volunteers ringing bells for donations? They'll start doing that soon. That's another time we give money to God. What can that money be used for? (allow answers) Good. We can use that money to help people in poor countries overseas, to help Sunday school teachers get the supplies they need, and lots of other things.
Now, that's a pretty big list of what we can give to God! Our time, our talents, our possessions. But there are two ways that we can give these things to God. The first way is like this. (frown) We can say, "Here, God, I have this, but I guess you probably want it." Is that how God wants us to act about giving? (allow answers) No! What was our verse today? (have them say it with you) "God loves a cheerful giver!" Show me what a cheerful giver would look like. (have them show you) Good! A cheerful giver smiles! A cheerful giver says, "This is for you God! I'm so thankful for all the blessings you've given me -- let me give you something in return!" God appreciates all the gifts we bring him, but his favorites are the ones we give with a smile. Before you go back to your seats, I'm going to give you all one of these coins. Watch how I give them to you -- with a smile! (hand out chocolate coins) Remember to be this cheerful when you give back to God. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls! Today we're going to talk about a very short Bible verse. Are you ready? Here it is: "God loves a cheerful giver." Can you say that with me? (repeat, encourage them to repeat with you) "God loves a cheerful giver." Now say it with a big smile on your face! (repeat in unison) "God loves a cheerful giver!"
Much of what we do for God involves giving. What do you or your parents give to God? (allow answers) Good answers! We give God our time when we come to church or youth group or when we volunteer. How else can we give God our time? (allow answers) Good! We also give God our talents. That means we use the skills and abilities we have to work for God. A person who is good at music can sing or play an instrument during worship. A person who is good at painting can volunteer to paint the Sunday school classrooms or the sanctuary. How else can we share our talents with God? (allow answers) Right! The third way we give back to God is through our possessions. Maybe we give our used clothes and toys to the Salvation Army, or donate food to the food pantry. What other possessions can you share with God? (allow answers) Good job! Money is another possession we have that we can give to God. When do you see people give money to God? (allow answers) Good job! We give money in Sunday school or in church. Have you ever seen Salvation Army volunteers ringing bells for donations? They'll start doing that soon. That's another time we give money to God. What can that money be used for? (allow answers) Good. We can use that money to help people in poor countries overseas, to help Sunday school teachers get the supplies they need, and lots of other things.
Now, that's a pretty big list of what we can give to God! Our time, our talents, our possessions. But there are two ways that we can give these things to God. The first way is like this. (frown) We can say, "Here, God, I have this, but I guess you probably want it." Is that how God wants us to act about giving? (allow answers) No! What was our verse today? (have them say it with you) "God loves a cheerful giver!" Show me what a cheerful giver would look like. (have them show you) Good! A cheerful giver smiles! A cheerful giver says, "This is for you God! I'm so thankful for all the blessings you've given me -- let me give you something in return!" God appreciates all the gifts we bring him, but his favorites are the ones we give with a smile. Before you go back to your seats, I'm going to give you all one of these coins. Watch how I give them to you -- with a smile! (hand out chocolate coins) Remember to be this cheerful when you give back to God. Amen.
