What To Do With A Chocolate Chip Cookie?
Pastoral Resources
Gospel-Telling
The Art and Theology of Children's Sermons
Season: Halloween Crop Walk or any
Summary: Whether or not we will share what we have with others is a decision each of us must consciously make.
Props: Several oversized chocolate chip cookies; several construction--paper--and--string signs, printed with the names of both well--to--do and poor countries, that children can hang around their necks.
With a few words of introduction, read the passage from Isaiah. Then divide the children into groups of about five to ten (ideally three to four groups). Give each group a sign, a few printed with the names of prosperous countries, the others printed with the names of poor countries. Next explain to the children, "Today we're going to play a game - a very serious game, though. Some of you will represent countries with plenty of food, and others will represent countries with very little food."
Now give a cookie to each group representing one of the prosperous countries, and tell the children representing the poor countries that they get nothing. (Don't give cookies to very young children. Give them only to children who can act as leaders of their groups.) Say nothing more (don't overexplain or lead); just wait. Depending upon what happens - and especially if nothing happens - you might say to the representatives, "You have a few minutes to decide what to do with your cookies."
The conclusion must be ad--libbed. Most likely the representatives of the prosperous countries will give away some of the cookies to friends who then might share with others.
When the distribution is complete, summarize the experience by recalling the scripture passage. You might conclude with these words: "Jesus said to his friends, 'When I have gone away and you try to find me, you will see me in the eyes of every man, woman, and child who is hungry.' "*
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*Paraphrase of Matthew 25:44--45. Mahatma Gandhi once said, "To millions who have to go without two meals a day, the only acceptable form in which God dare appear is food."
Summary: Whether or not we will share what we have with others is a decision each of us must consciously make.
Props: Several oversized chocolate chip cookies; several construction--paper--and--string signs, printed with the names of both well--to--do and poor countries, that children can hang around their necks.
With a few words of introduction, read the passage from Isaiah. Then divide the children into groups of about five to ten (ideally three to four groups). Give each group a sign, a few printed with the names of prosperous countries, the others printed with the names of poor countries. Next explain to the children, "Today we're going to play a game - a very serious game, though. Some of you will represent countries with plenty of food, and others will represent countries with very little food."
Now give a cookie to each group representing one of the prosperous countries, and tell the children representing the poor countries that they get nothing. (Don't give cookies to very young children. Give them only to children who can act as leaders of their groups.) Say nothing more (don't overexplain or lead); just wait. Depending upon what happens - and especially if nothing happens - you might say to the representatives, "You have a few minutes to decide what to do with your cookies."
The conclusion must be ad--libbed. Most likely the representatives of the prosperous countries will give away some of the cookies to friends who then might share with others.
When the distribution is complete, summarize the experience by recalling the scripture passage. You might conclude with these words: "Jesus said to his friends, 'When I have gone away and you try to find me, you will see me in the eyes of every man, woman, and child who is hungry.' "*
____________
*Paraphrase of Matthew 25:44--45. Mahatma Gandhi once said, "To millions who have to go without two meals a day, the only acceptable form in which God dare appear is food."
