The Upside Down Cup
Children's sermon
Children's Sermons A To Z
Exegetical Aim: The priorities of Kingdom living.
Props: A clear jar full of coins and a metal tray that will make lots of noise when struck by falling coins.
Lesson: Good morning! With excitement and a positive tone: Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have any money? I mean, if we were poor ... no money at all ... wouldn't that be great? (response, if any) Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have any food? If we went to bed tonight hungry ... wouldn't that be great! (response) Wouldn't it be great if we were crying now? I mean just having a good cry! Wouldn't that be great? (response) wait for an actual response this time. No? You mean that wouldn't be great? (response) Why? (response)
Raise the jar before the children with the tray underneath. What do I have in my hands? (response) That's right, it looks like a lot of money, doesn't it? What else can I put in this jar? (response) You mean I can't put anything else in the jar? (response) Why not? (response) What would happen if I were to turn this jar upside down? (response) Incredulously: No, they wouldn't fall out, would they? (response) No, I think it would be all right if I just turned it upside down a little bit, don't you? (response) As you speak these next words turn the jar over causing a few coins to strike the tray: I don't think anything will happen - continue pouring - oh, no! Pour the coins slowly making as much racket as possible. Leave just a few coins in the jar.
Application: While holding the jar before them say: Jesus says it would be good for you shake the jar if you are poor, because you will have the kingdom of God. He says it would be good for you to be hungry now, because you will be filled with goodness. Jesus says it is good for you to cry because tomorrow you will laugh such a strong laugh. If we try to fill our lives with money and fill our lives with food and fill our lives with fun, fun, fun all the time - nonstop money, food, and toys, toys, toys - then we won't have time for the more important things in life.
Now there's some room in the jar. What are we going to fill it with? Can you tell me what the most important things in life are? Let's hope they answer correctly. (response) What are some more things that are very important? (response) Is money the most important thing? (response) Food? (response) Toys? (response) That's right. Let's fill the jar with God, Church, family, kindness to our school mates. Let's fill it with some love. Optional: You might have some pieces of paper with these words on them and let the children place them in the jar as you say the words. If you do this, fold them and hand them to the children as they come forward. Let them read what's on the paper when you have emptied the jar of the coins.
Remember. Hold up the jar. Jesus didn't say, "Fill our lives with money, pizza, and Barbie dolls." Jesus gave us two commandments: Love God with all your heart, and love one another with all your heart. Go and fill your jars as Jesus commanded.
Let's Pray: Lord, fill our lives with the good things of your kingdom. Amen.
?
Epiphany 6
1 Corinthians 15:12--20
First Fruits
Exegetical Aim: We all will experience eternal life.
Props: An apple.
Lesson: This morning I brought something to show to you. Bring out the apple. How many of you like apples? (response) What other kind of fruit do you like? (response) Fruit is good for us, so we should eat lots of it. I like apples, so I bought an apple yesterday. But then I got to thinking. Someone had to pick this apple in order for me to eat it. I started to wonder, if someone picks an apple off of the tree, does the tree die? (response) No? Why not? (response) What if it was the very first apple to appear on the tree? Will other apples still grow on the tree after I pick the first one? (response) Yes? Good! We can pick the first apple from a tree, but there will be a lot more to come. Many more apples will follow, because that's the way God made things. God will continue to provide beyond the very first fruits that are picked.
Application: Do you know what? That's the same way it is with eternal life. Jesus was the first to be raised from the dead forever, and he is now with God. Do you know what the Bible tells us about that? The Apostle Paul says, "In fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died." He said that Jesus is like the first fruits. In the same way that more apples will follow the first one that is picked, Jesus was just the first who will be raised. Many more will follow. All who believe upon Jesus will enjoy eternal life with God, just like all of the other apples that will grow. Because that's the way God is. He will continue to provide beyond the first fruits. So the next time you see an apple, remember about the first fruit, and that Jesus is the first fruit of eternal life. And the promise of God is that we who believe will be the other fruit that follows.
Let's Pray: We thank you, God, that Jesus is the first fruit of eternal life. Help us to remember that you want us to join in that eternal life that Jesus brings. Amen.
?
Props: A clear jar full of coins and a metal tray that will make lots of noise when struck by falling coins.
Lesson: Good morning! With excitement and a positive tone: Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have any money? I mean, if we were poor ... no money at all ... wouldn't that be great? (response, if any) Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have any food? If we went to bed tonight hungry ... wouldn't that be great! (response) Wouldn't it be great if we were crying now? I mean just having a good cry! Wouldn't that be great? (response) wait for an actual response this time. No? You mean that wouldn't be great? (response) Why? (response)
Raise the jar before the children with the tray underneath. What do I have in my hands? (response) That's right, it looks like a lot of money, doesn't it? What else can I put in this jar? (response) You mean I can't put anything else in the jar? (response) Why not? (response) What would happen if I were to turn this jar upside down? (response) Incredulously: No, they wouldn't fall out, would they? (response) No, I think it would be all right if I just turned it upside down a little bit, don't you? (response) As you speak these next words turn the jar over causing a few coins to strike the tray: I don't think anything will happen - continue pouring - oh, no! Pour the coins slowly making as much racket as possible. Leave just a few coins in the jar.
Application: While holding the jar before them say: Jesus says it would be good for you shake the jar if you are poor, because you will have the kingdom of God. He says it would be good for you to be hungry now, because you will be filled with goodness. Jesus says it is good for you to cry because tomorrow you will laugh such a strong laugh. If we try to fill our lives with money and fill our lives with food and fill our lives with fun, fun, fun all the time - nonstop money, food, and toys, toys, toys - then we won't have time for the more important things in life.
Now there's some room in the jar. What are we going to fill it with? Can you tell me what the most important things in life are? Let's hope they answer correctly. (response) What are some more things that are very important? (response) Is money the most important thing? (response) Food? (response) Toys? (response) That's right. Let's fill the jar with God, Church, family, kindness to our school mates. Let's fill it with some love. Optional: You might have some pieces of paper with these words on them and let the children place them in the jar as you say the words. If you do this, fold them and hand them to the children as they come forward. Let them read what's on the paper when you have emptied the jar of the coins.
Remember. Hold up the jar. Jesus didn't say, "Fill our lives with money, pizza, and Barbie dolls." Jesus gave us two commandments: Love God with all your heart, and love one another with all your heart. Go and fill your jars as Jesus commanded.
Let's Pray: Lord, fill our lives with the good things of your kingdom. Amen.
?
Epiphany 6
1 Corinthians 15:12--20
First Fruits
Exegetical Aim: We all will experience eternal life.
Props: An apple.
Lesson: This morning I brought something to show to you. Bring out the apple. How many of you like apples? (response) What other kind of fruit do you like? (response) Fruit is good for us, so we should eat lots of it. I like apples, so I bought an apple yesterday. But then I got to thinking. Someone had to pick this apple in order for me to eat it. I started to wonder, if someone picks an apple off of the tree, does the tree die? (response) No? Why not? (response) What if it was the very first apple to appear on the tree? Will other apples still grow on the tree after I pick the first one? (response) Yes? Good! We can pick the first apple from a tree, but there will be a lot more to come. Many more apples will follow, because that's the way God made things. God will continue to provide beyond the very first fruits that are picked.
Application: Do you know what? That's the same way it is with eternal life. Jesus was the first to be raised from the dead forever, and he is now with God. Do you know what the Bible tells us about that? The Apostle Paul says, "In fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died." He said that Jesus is like the first fruits. In the same way that more apples will follow the first one that is picked, Jesus was just the first who will be raised. Many more will follow. All who believe upon Jesus will enjoy eternal life with God, just like all of the other apples that will grow. Because that's the way God is. He will continue to provide beyond the first fruits. So the next time you see an apple, remember about the first fruit, and that Jesus is the first fruit of eternal life. And the promise of God is that we who believe will be the other fruit that follows.
Let's Pray: We thank you, God, that Jesus is the first fruit of eternal life. Help us to remember that you want us to join in that eternal life that Jesus brings. Amen.
?
