Little red hen
Children's sermon
Object:
a loaf of bread
"And we did not eat anyone's bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you." (v. 8)
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of you have heard the story of the little red hen? (allow answers) In case you haven't, I'll tell it to you. Ready? (allow answers)
Once upon a time, there was a little red hen that lived on a farm. She decided to make a loaf of bread to feed her chicks. Since there was no flour, the first thing she had to do was plant some wheat. She asked all the other barnyard animals if they would help her with her task, but they all said "No! We are too busy!" So the little red hen planted the wheat all by herself.
When the wheat was ready to harvest, the little red hen again asked the other barnyard animals to help. Again, they all told her "No!" So the little red hen harvested all the wheat by herself.
Once the wheat was harvested, the little red hen had to grind it into flour. Again, none of the other animals would help her -- nor would they help her mix, knead, or bake the bread.
Finally, the little red hen pulled her fresh loaves of bread out of the oven. She had worked over this bread, and finally it was time to eat it! As she shared her bread with her little chicks, the barnyard animals gathered around. "Can we have some?" as they gazed hungrily at the delicious, steaming loaves of bread.
"Did you help me with the planting?" asked the little red hen. "Did you help me with the harvest, milling, mixing, kneading or baking?" The animals shuffled their feet and looked at the ground. "Then you certainly will not help me with the eating!" So the little red hen and her chicks ate the bread right up!
Do you think it was fair for the little red hen to refuse to feed the other animals? (allow answers) The author of our second reading today would think so! Our lesson talks about early leaders of the church preaching to small congregations. It says, "We did not eat anyone's bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you." The Bible teaches us that we do not deserve good things unless we do our share of the work that needs done. We can use this lesson in our everyday life! If you want to have a piece of the reward, you also need to take a piece of the work. Remember the little red hen and the lesson from the Bible: pitch in and help so that blessings will be yours! Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of you have heard the story of the little red hen? (allow answers) In case you haven't, I'll tell it to you. Ready? (allow answers)
Once upon a time, there was a little red hen that lived on a farm. She decided to make a loaf of bread to feed her chicks. Since there was no flour, the first thing she had to do was plant some wheat. She asked all the other barnyard animals if they would help her with her task, but they all said "No! We are too busy!" So the little red hen planted the wheat all by herself.
When the wheat was ready to harvest, the little red hen again asked the other barnyard animals to help. Again, they all told her "No!" So the little red hen harvested all the wheat by herself.
Once the wheat was harvested, the little red hen had to grind it into flour. Again, none of the other animals would help her -- nor would they help her mix, knead, or bake the bread.
Finally, the little red hen pulled her fresh loaves of bread out of the oven. She had worked over this bread, and finally it was time to eat it! As she shared her bread with her little chicks, the barnyard animals gathered around. "Can we have some?" as they gazed hungrily at the delicious, steaming loaves of bread.
"Did you help me with the planting?" asked the little red hen. "Did you help me with the harvest, milling, mixing, kneading or baking?" The animals shuffled their feet and looked at the ground. "Then you certainly will not help me with the eating!" So the little red hen and her chicks ate the bread right up!
Do you think it was fair for the little red hen to refuse to feed the other animals? (allow answers) The author of our second reading today would think so! Our lesson talks about early leaders of the church preaching to small congregations. It says, "We did not eat anyone's bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you." The Bible teaches us that we do not deserve good things unless we do our share of the work that needs done. We can use this lesson in our everyday life! If you want to have a piece of the reward, you also need to take a piece of the work. Remember the little red hen and the lesson from the Bible: pitch in and help so that blessings will be yours! Amen.
