Thoughtful gift
Children's sermon
Object:
A thank you card (and perhaps a gift you recently
received)
Good morning! When I get a nice present from someone, I
always send a "thank you" card to let the person know how much I
appreciated the gift. It takes me just a few minutes and I know
how much the other person likes hearing that I received the gift
and that it suits me well. For example, when I got this (gift), I
wrote to (name[s]) and thanked them.
We are thankful for the things that people give us not just because we like the gift they gave, but mostly because we are thankful they thought of us in the first place. I would call such a gift a "thoughtful gift." A thoughtful gift is the most appreciated gift of all. Have you ever wanted something very much and then -- you got it! (Let them answer.) That is a thoughtful gift. That person thought about you to give you a gift in the first place and then thought some more to give you just the right gift -- just what you needed and wanted. When we receive gifts -- especially thoughtful gifts -- we know we are loved. That is a nice feeling.
In the same way, God has given us a very thoughtful gift: each other. Have you ever thought about that? (Let them answer.) We are a gift to each other! God has given us each other and so we thank God for each other.
Many years ago the apostle Paul wrote to a church at a place called Thessalonica and he told them that he and his friends give thanks to God for them. Here is what the Bible says: "We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers." How do you think that made them feel? (Let them answer.) It surely would make me feel good to know that someone is constantly giving thanks to God for me.
Well, I give thanks to God for YOU! You are special to me because God has given you as a gift for me. It is a very thoughtful gift on God's part and I truly am thankful to God for YOU! I'm going to write my prayer on this "thank you'" card and give it to God. (Write the prayer below on the card and read it. Then place it on the altar or in an offering plate.)
Dear God: Thank you for gift of each other. Amen.
We are thankful for the things that people give us not just because we like the gift they gave, but mostly because we are thankful they thought of us in the first place. I would call such a gift a "thoughtful gift." A thoughtful gift is the most appreciated gift of all. Have you ever wanted something very much and then -- you got it! (Let them answer.) That is a thoughtful gift. That person thought about you to give you a gift in the first place and then thought some more to give you just the right gift -- just what you needed and wanted. When we receive gifts -- especially thoughtful gifts -- we know we are loved. That is a nice feeling.
In the same way, God has given us a very thoughtful gift: each other. Have you ever thought about that? (Let them answer.) We are a gift to each other! God has given us each other and so we thank God for each other.
Many years ago the apostle Paul wrote to a church at a place called Thessalonica and he told them that he and his friends give thanks to God for them. Here is what the Bible says: "We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers." How do you think that made them feel? (Let them answer.) It surely would make me feel good to know that someone is constantly giving thanks to God for me.
Well, I give thanks to God for YOU! You are special to me because God has given you as a gift for me. It is a very thoughtful gift on God's part and I truly am thankful to God for YOU! I'm going to write my prayer on this "thank you'" card and give it to God. (Write the prayer below on the card and read it. Then place it on the altar or in an offering plate.)
Dear God: Thank you for gift of each other. Amen.
