Wants And Needs
Children's sermon
THE BIG INFLUENCE OF SMALL THINGS
Exegetical Aim: Rejection of that which is essential.
Props: Contrasting items: bubblegum and a stalk of asparagus; a book and an electronic handheld game (e.g., Gameboy); a golf club and a Bible.
Lesson: Good morning. (response) I want to show you two things and ask you a question. Are you ready? (response) Show the following pairs. The desirable item is at the end for emphasis: What do you want? Do you want some asparagus or do you want some bubblegum? (response) What do you want? Do you want to read a book or do you want to play Gameboy? (response) Okay, let's ask this question of the men in the congregation: What do you want? Do you want to go to church or do you want to go play golf? (response) Do you think they are telling the truth?
I want to show you the same things again but I am going to ask different questions. What do you need? Do you need asparagus or do you need bubblegum? (response) What do you need? Do you need to read or do you need to play Gameboy? (response) Let's ask our question of the men: What do you need? Do you need to go to church or do you need to play golf? (response)
Application: What's the difference between a want and a need? (response) A want is something we would like to have - like a toy. Hold up the Gameboy. A need is something that we have to have - like knowledge. Hold up the book. The difference between being a baby and being grown up is understanding the difference between these two things: wants and needs. Jesus told a story about some guys who got that mixed up and they demanded bubblegum and rejected asparagus - they demanded the things they wanted and rejected the thing they needed most. My prayer for you is that as you get older you will grow in your desire for asparagus; grow in your desire for knowledge; and grow in your desire for Jesus and his church.
Let's Pray: Lord, games and golf and gum are good things, but help us never to substitute them for that which we need. Amen.
Props: Contrasting items: bubblegum and a stalk of asparagus; a book and an electronic handheld game (e.g., Gameboy); a golf club and a Bible.
Lesson: Good morning. (response) I want to show you two things and ask you a question. Are you ready? (response) Show the following pairs. The desirable item is at the end for emphasis: What do you want? Do you want some asparagus or do you want some bubblegum? (response) What do you want? Do you want to read a book or do you want to play Gameboy? (response) Okay, let's ask this question of the men in the congregation: What do you want? Do you want to go to church or do you want to go play golf? (response) Do you think they are telling the truth?
I want to show you the same things again but I am going to ask different questions. What do you need? Do you need asparagus or do you need bubblegum? (response) What do you need? Do you need to read or do you need to play Gameboy? (response) Let's ask our question of the men: What do you need? Do you need to go to church or do you need to play golf? (response)
Application: What's the difference between a want and a need? (response) A want is something we would like to have - like a toy. Hold up the Gameboy. A need is something that we have to have - like knowledge. Hold up the book. The difference between being a baby and being grown up is understanding the difference between these two things: wants and needs. Jesus told a story about some guys who got that mixed up and they demanded bubblegum and rejected asparagus - they demanded the things they wanted and rejected the thing they needed most. My prayer for you is that as you get older you will grow in your desire for asparagus; grow in your desire for knowledge; and grow in your desire for Jesus and his church.
Let's Pray: Lord, games and golf and gum are good things, but help us never to substitute them for that which we need. Amen.
