Sunday Club 1st September 2019
(Script & activities taken from Sermon4kids)
Title: Trapped by Our Own Greed
Theme: The Parable of the Rich Fool
Scripture: Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:13-15
We asked the children “Does anyone here want to know how to catch a monkey”? and then told a story about how they catch a monkey in some places of the world. First, they take a gourd, cut a small hole in it, then put some rice inside. Next, they tie the gourds down securely and wait for the monkey.
Monkeys are so greedy that they fall for the gourd trick every time. The monkey sticks his paw into the gourd to get the rice. He grabs a handful—but then he can’t get his hand out of the gourd. His closed fist won’t go through the small hole.
The monkey is so greedy that he won’t let go of the handful of rice. He just waits there with his greedy fist wrapped around the rice until the men come and capture him.
Well, you’ve got the moral to this story: Don’t be greedy and selfish or you may make a “monkey” of yourself.
In our Bible lesson today, a man came to Jesus and said, "Please tell my brother to divide our father's estate with me."
Jesus replied, "Friend, who made me a judge to decide such things as that?" Then he said, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life isn't measured by how much you own."
Sarah & Tyler read the following story:
Then he told them a story: "A rich man had some rich land that produced fine crops. He said to himself, 'What should I do? I don't have enough room in my barn to hold all my crops." Then he said to himself, "I know, I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I will have enough for all my crops and I will sit back and say to myself, "Take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!"
"But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?'"
"This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but does not have the riches of God."
Hear what God's Word says. Don't let selfishness and greed make a monkey out of you.
Prayer: Dear Father, help us to be content with the blessings which you so generously give us and help us to be on guard against selfishness and greed. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Activities:
- The children and leaders searched for money in 2 teams. They then counted it and were asked to swap. This meant that one team had less than the other team. After discussing what the most unselfish action to do; everyone agreed that the money should be split evenly.
- 16 balloons were inflated before the session and each on contained an example of either a selfish or unselfish act. The children enjoyed popping the balloons and taping the examples to poster headed with either ‘Acts of kindness’ or ‘Selfish Acts.
- On the route taken to rejoin the service we blew bubbles outside and on each action said one of God’s Blessings out loud.