Our ToDo List
Children's sermon
Object: A whiteboard, or something you can write on for everyone to see.
NOTE: Today’s message is a group participation activity, having the children brainstorm things for you to put on a list with them. Most of your time will be “free for all,” as you encourage them to share their ideas. When you receive any suggestions that clearly aren’t things that might fit the list, gently explain your hesitance and help the children find a way to make it more appropriate for the list.
And, for some extra help remembering today’s message, make copies of the list of things the children come up with and give them to the children when you see them again.
* * *
Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) We are going to do something different today. Are you ready? (Let them respond.) Great! Instead of me telling you a story or something like that, I want you to help me create a list. (Show the whiteboard or paper.) We will think together and then I will put our ideas here on this board. But first, let me tell you about the list we are going to create.
One day, while Jesus was talking with a big group of people, he told them a list of things that would prove to them that God was with them. For example, most people believed that if you did what God wanted, God would reward you and make you rich. But most of the people listening to Jesus that day were very poor and didn’t have a home, or anything to eat. So, do you think those people believed God was with them? (Let them respond.) No, they didn’t.
And most people believed that if you did what God wanted you to do, you would always be happy and have good things happen to you. But most of the people there had problems in their lives, and had sad things happen to them and weren’t always very happy. Do you think they felt like God was blessing them? (Let them respond.) Probably not.
And most people believed that if you did what God wanted you to do, everyone would love you and you would become famous. But most of the people there were just plain people and hadn’t become famous at all. Do you think they felt like God was close to them? (Let them respond.) I doubt it.
Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said something like, “Do you want to know what you really need to do to be close to God?” They all said yes, so he said, “The number one thing you need to do if you want to be close to God is to treat others the way you would want them to treat you.” He said, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
I thought it might be interesting if we made our own list of things we might do if we treated other people the way we would want them to treat us. For example, what if we were feeling really sad or really afraid? What could someone do to show us that they cared about us?
(Let them respond and add to your list.)
What if we were hungry and didn’t have anything to eat or any money to buy food? What might we like someone to do for us?
(Let them respond and add to your list.)
What if no one would talk with us or sit with us?
(Let them respond and add to your list.)
What if it was getting really cold and we didn’t have a coat to wear?
(Let them respond and add to your list.)
What if we made a mistake and no one would forgive us?
(Let them respond and add to your list.)
What other things could we do that show we really do care about all of God’s children? (Continue adding to your list until it is time to end.)
Before we stop, let’s look at our list of things we think God might want us to do to help take care of everyone. That’s quite a list, isn’t it? (Let them respond.) Wouldn’t it be great if we could remember to do even one of those things each day? (Let them respond.)
Let’s all pray together and ask God to help us remember how much God loves every one of us no matter who we are and ask God to help us remember some of the ways we might be able to help someone who needs our help.
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for reminding us how much you love us. Please help us understand what you are trying to teach us in your stories. And help us to remember that you love all of the people you have created and help us let the people around us know that we love them just like Jesus loves us. Amen.
NOTE: Today’s message is a group participation activity, having the children brainstorm things for you to put on a list with them. Most of your time will be “free for all,” as you encourage them to share their ideas. When you receive any suggestions that clearly aren’t things that might fit the list, gently explain your hesitance and help the children find a way to make it more appropriate for the list.
And, for some extra help remembering today’s message, make copies of the list of things the children come up with and give them to the children when you see them again.
* * *
Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) We are going to do something different today. Are you ready? (Let them respond.) Great! Instead of me telling you a story or something like that, I want you to help me create a list. (Show the whiteboard or paper.) We will think together and then I will put our ideas here on this board. But first, let me tell you about the list we are going to create.
One day, while Jesus was talking with a big group of people, he told them a list of things that would prove to them that God was with them. For example, most people believed that if you did what God wanted, God would reward you and make you rich. But most of the people listening to Jesus that day were very poor and didn’t have a home, or anything to eat. So, do you think those people believed God was with them? (Let them respond.) No, they didn’t.
And most people believed that if you did what God wanted you to do, you would always be happy and have good things happen to you. But most of the people there had problems in their lives, and had sad things happen to them and weren’t always very happy. Do you think they felt like God was blessing them? (Let them respond.) Probably not.
And most people believed that if you did what God wanted you to do, everyone would love you and you would become famous. But most of the people there were just plain people and hadn’t become famous at all. Do you think they felt like God was close to them? (Let them respond.) I doubt it.
Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said something like, “Do you want to know what you really need to do to be close to God?” They all said yes, so he said, “The number one thing you need to do if you want to be close to God is to treat others the way you would want them to treat you.” He said, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
I thought it might be interesting if we made our own list of things we might do if we treated other people the way we would want them to treat us. For example, what if we were feeling really sad or really afraid? What could someone do to show us that they cared about us?
(Let them respond and add to your list.)
What if we were hungry and didn’t have anything to eat or any money to buy food? What might we like someone to do for us?
(Let them respond and add to your list.)
What if no one would talk with us or sit with us?
(Let them respond and add to your list.)
What if it was getting really cold and we didn’t have a coat to wear?
(Let them respond and add to your list.)
What if we made a mistake and no one would forgive us?
(Let them respond and add to your list.)
What other things could we do that show we really do care about all of God’s children? (Continue adding to your list until it is time to end.)
Before we stop, let’s look at our list of things we think God might want us to do to help take care of everyone. That’s quite a list, isn’t it? (Let them respond.) Wouldn’t it be great if we could remember to do even one of those things each day? (Let them respond.)
Let’s all pray together and ask God to help us remember how much God loves every one of us no matter who we are and ask God to help us remember some of the ways we might be able to help someone who needs our help.
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for reminding us how much you love us. Please help us understand what you are trying to teach us in your stories. And help us to remember that you love all of the people you have created and help us let the people around us know that we love them just like Jesus loves us. Amen.
