The Offertory (What Shall I Render ...)
Children's sermon
Let Them Answer
(Ask the children to come forward during the offering. You will need a bag or box of old and new "gifts" to give to a "friend.")
Good morning! I could use your help this morning. I have a friend who was really nice to me and helped me when I needed help. I want to give him a gift to show him how thankful I am. My problem is that there are so many things to choose from that I couldn't make up my mind on what to give. I wonder if you could help me pick just the right gift? (LTA)
(Dump out bag or box.) Let's see ... We have some pens and some notepads, some crayons, some toys and some candy. It sure is hard to choose. Which do you think would be the best gift? (LTA) If you had a friend you wanted to give something to, how many would give a note pad and pen? (LTA) How many would give a toy? (LTA) How about candy? (LTA) It looks like we're divided over which kind of gift to give.
Well, this friend is so special I think I'll give him some of each. Let's pick out the ones we'll give him, shall we? (LTA) Here's a brand new pen and here's an old one that doesn't write very well. If I give him the old one, I'll have a good one for myself, won't I? (LTA) Or how about the candy. Someone took a bite out of this one. Shall we give him this one or the new one? (LTA) Would we give him the nicer toy, too? (LTA) Why? Why not just give him the junk and the worn out stuff? (LTA) We wouldn't want to receive that kind of gift ourselves, would we? If I don't give him the very best there is, do you think he'll believe I really appreciate what he did for me? (LTA) No, I don't think so either. So I'll give him the best I have.
The person who wrote the song we sing when the offering is brought forward during Lent must have thought about that, too. He asks "What shall I render to the Lord, for all his benefits to me?" Who do you think was his very best friend? (LTA) Yes, it was God. He's asking what he can give to the Lord for all the Lord has done for him. What are some good things God has done for you? (LTA - Home, family, daily food, school, all we need from day to day, and many more interesting things will be shared.)
Wow! If God does all those things for us, then we can sing the same song, can't we? (LTA) Every Sunday we have to decide what to give God to show our thanks. What do you think God wants more than anything else? (LTA) He wants us to love him and worship him with all of his people.
Do you think God just wants us to send him a gift and not come to his party? (LTA) No, I don't either. God really loves us and really loves to have us come to worship and bring our gifts.
What kind of gifts shall we give to God? The broken and used kinds, or the very best we have? (LTA) Why? (LTA) It shows God our true thankfulness for all he has given us. Let's place the best gifts in this pretty package and give it to the Lord when the ushers come forward, shall we? (LTA and help. Then choose someone to place it on the plates.) "What shall I render ..."
(Note: A number of hymns work well as offertories also.)
Good morning! I could use your help this morning. I have a friend who was really nice to me and helped me when I needed help. I want to give him a gift to show him how thankful I am. My problem is that there are so many things to choose from that I couldn't make up my mind on what to give. I wonder if you could help me pick just the right gift? (LTA)
(Dump out bag or box.) Let's see ... We have some pens and some notepads, some crayons, some toys and some candy. It sure is hard to choose. Which do you think would be the best gift? (LTA) If you had a friend you wanted to give something to, how many would give a note pad and pen? (LTA) How many would give a toy? (LTA) How about candy? (LTA) It looks like we're divided over which kind of gift to give.
Well, this friend is so special I think I'll give him some of each. Let's pick out the ones we'll give him, shall we? (LTA) Here's a brand new pen and here's an old one that doesn't write very well. If I give him the old one, I'll have a good one for myself, won't I? (LTA) Or how about the candy. Someone took a bite out of this one. Shall we give him this one or the new one? (LTA) Would we give him the nicer toy, too? (LTA) Why? Why not just give him the junk and the worn out stuff? (LTA) We wouldn't want to receive that kind of gift ourselves, would we? If I don't give him the very best there is, do you think he'll believe I really appreciate what he did for me? (LTA) No, I don't think so either. So I'll give him the best I have.
The person who wrote the song we sing when the offering is brought forward during Lent must have thought about that, too. He asks "What shall I render to the Lord, for all his benefits to me?" Who do you think was his very best friend? (LTA) Yes, it was God. He's asking what he can give to the Lord for all the Lord has done for him. What are some good things God has done for you? (LTA - Home, family, daily food, school, all we need from day to day, and many more interesting things will be shared.)
Wow! If God does all those things for us, then we can sing the same song, can't we? (LTA) Every Sunday we have to decide what to give God to show our thanks. What do you think God wants more than anything else? (LTA) He wants us to love him and worship him with all of his people.
Do you think God just wants us to send him a gift and not come to his party? (LTA) No, I don't either. God really loves us and really loves to have us come to worship and bring our gifts.
What kind of gifts shall we give to God? The broken and used kinds, or the very best we have? (LTA) Why? (LTA) It shows God our true thankfulness for all he has given us. Let's place the best gifts in this pretty package and give it to the Lord when the ushers come forward, shall we? (LTA and help. Then choose someone to place it on the plates.) "What shall I render ..."
(Note: A number of hymns work well as offertories also.)
