You can't outgive God
Children's sermon
Object:
three small boxes, one with a nickel inside, one with a
dime inside, and one with a quarter
Good morning! What are we doing here in church on a
Thursday? (Let them answer.) Yes, today is Thanksgiving Day, a
day that we thank God for all that He has given to us. Are all of
you planning to have a big dinner today? (Let them answer.)
You know there are a lot of people in this world who will
not have a big dinner today. There are many poor people who have
no money for a turkey or any of the other good things we will be
eating today. Our church tries to help these people by (describe
a local or national relief program that your church participates
in).
I'm going to give one of you an opportunity to contribute
some money to this work. Can I get one person to volunteer? (Pick
one of the children.) Now I'm going to give _______________ ten
pennies. (Give the child ten pennies.) You can keep all those
pennies for yourself, or you can give all or part of them to this
project. If you want to give less than five pennies put them on
the first box. If you want to give five to nine pennies, put them
on the second box. If you want to give all ten pennies to the
project, put them on the third box. (Let the child make a
decision.)
Okay, those pennies will go to the project, but there is
something I didn't tell you. Because you gave those pennies,
whatever is in the box is yours to keep. Let's open all the boxes
and see what you get. (Open the boxes and show the contents.) You
see, there is no way to outgive God. When you give, God always
gives you more back in blessings of one kind or another. Because
you gave ______, you got back ______. If you had given ______,
you would have gotten back ______. That's the way God works in
our lives. The more we give, the more God gives back to us.
That's what we are celebrating today. We're thanking God for all
that He does for us. Let's say a thanksgiving prayer together.
Dearest God: On this Thanksgiving Day, we praise and thank You
for all Your many blessings. Amen.
Thursday? (Let them answer.) Yes, today is Thanksgiving Day, a
day that we thank God for all that He has given to us. Are all of
you planning to have a big dinner today? (Let them answer.)
You know there are a lot of people in this world who will
not have a big dinner today. There are many poor people who have
no money for a turkey or any of the other good things we will be
eating today. Our church tries to help these people by (describe
a local or national relief program that your church participates
in).
I'm going to give one of you an opportunity to contribute
some money to this work. Can I get one person to volunteer? (Pick
one of the children.) Now I'm going to give _______________ ten
pennies. (Give the child ten pennies.) You can keep all those
pennies for yourself, or you can give all or part of them to this
project. If you want to give less than five pennies put them on
the first box. If you want to give five to nine pennies, put them
on the second box. If you want to give all ten pennies to the
project, put them on the third box. (Let the child make a
decision.)
Okay, those pennies will go to the project, but there is
something I didn't tell you. Because you gave those pennies,
whatever is in the box is yours to keep. Let's open all the boxes
and see what you get. (Open the boxes and show the contents.) You
see, there is no way to outgive God. When you give, God always
gives you more back in blessings of one kind or another. Because
you gave ______, you got back ______. If you had given ______,
you would have gotten back ______. That's the way God works in
our lives. The more we give, the more God gives back to us.
That's what we are celebrating today. We're thanking God for all
that He does for us. Let's say a thanksgiving prayer together.
Dearest God: On this Thanksgiving Day, we praise and thank You
for all Your many blessings. Amen.
