Parable of three wagons
Children's sermon
Object:
a wagon
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have a wagon?
(Let them answer.) I brought our family wagon in this morning. I
want to tell you a story about three wagons and three
grandchildren. Two of the grandchildren do the right thing with
their wagons. One grandchild does the wrong thing. See if you can
decide which two do the right thing.
Once there were three grandchildren. A grandparent gave each grandchild a new wagon as a gift. The grandparent lived far away and was only visiting. When the visit was over, the grandparent went back home. The first grandchild played with her wagon. She shared it with others. She always kept it clean. When she outgrew it she sold it and bought a bike for herself. The second grandchild played with his wagon. He shared it with others. Soon he outgrew it. But he kept it and used it as storage for some of his toys. The third grandchild didn't take care of his wagon. He played with it, but soon wrecked it. When he wrecked it he became afraid to tell anyone. Instead of trying to fix it, he threw the wagon in the trash and it was destroyed.
The grandparent finally returned for another visit. The grandparent asked the three grandchildren about their wagons. Each grandchild told the grandparent what became of each wagon. What do you suppose the grandparent thought after each story was told? (Let them answer.) You are correct. I want you to know that in this story, the grandparent is God. The three grandchildren are people. The wagons represent our lives. God gives each of us a life to live. It is up to us to live it the best way we can. God does not want us to throw our life away like the grandchild who threw his wagon in the trash. God wants us to take care of our life and do good things with it. This week I want you to think about the three grandchildren and their wagons. Think about which grandchild you want to be.
Once there were three grandchildren. A grandparent gave each grandchild a new wagon as a gift. The grandparent lived far away and was only visiting. When the visit was over, the grandparent went back home. The first grandchild played with her wagon. She shared it with others. She always kept it clean. When she outgrew it she sold it and bought a bike for herself. The second grandchild played with his wagon. He shared it with others. Soon he outgrew it. But he kept it and used it as storage for some of his toys. The third grandchild didn't take care of his wagon. He played with it, but soon wrecked it. When he wrecked it he became afraid to tell anyone. Instead of trying to fix it, he threw the wagon in the trash and it was destroyed.
The grandparent finally returned for another visit. The grandparent asked the three grandchildren about their wagons. Each grandchild told the grandparent what became of each wagon. What do you suppose the grandparent thought after each story was told? (Let them answer.) You are correct. I want you to know that in this story, the grandparent is God. The three grandchildren are people. The wagons represent our lives. God gives each of us a life to live. It is up to us to live it the best way we can. God does not want us to throw our life away like the grandchild who threw his wagon in the trash. God wants us to take care of our life and do good things with it. This week I want you to think about the three grandchildren and their wagons. Think about which grandchild you want to be.
