Bounce!

Main Idea: God gives us what we need to give ourselves and our lives away to others.

Scripture Reference(s): Luke 6:38

Categories: Giving, Sharing, Stewardship, Generosity, Money

Supplies: medium-sized exercise ball

(Bounce the ball on the way up the aisle to get attention. Welcome children to the front.)

This is my green ball. I love this ball. I keep this ball in my office because I like to play with it and it makes me smile. What happens when I drop it?

Kids: “It bounces.”

Right. Bouncing is just what this ball does. When I drop it or push on it, it bounces. What if I put it on the ground like this (put the ball on the ground) and say, “OK, ball. bounce.” It just sits there. Maybe if I yell at it: “Ball. Come on. You’re not trying hard enough. BOUNCE. I said BOUNCE.”

We’re kind of like this ball, boys and girls. God wants us to give ourselves and our lives to other people. He wants us to give love, peace, forgiveness, food, stuff, money. Kind of like this:

(As you send the ball down to the ground, say): God gives love.

(As it bounces, say): We give love away.

(As you send the ball down to the ground, say): God gives forgiveness.

(As it bounces, say): We give forgiveness to others.

Now, what if God set us down on the ground (point to the ground or use a child as an example and put them on the ground) and said, “OK. GIVE.”  And then said, “You’re not trying hard enough. I said, GIVE.” That would be pretty awful.The good news is that God doesn’t work that way at all! He wants us to give away love, peace, forgiveness, stuff, but He always gives first! So it goes something like this:

(As you send the ball down to the ground, say): God gives love.

(As it bounces, say): We give love away.

(As you send the ball down to the ground, say): God gives forgiveness.

(As it bounces, say): We give forgiveness to others.

~ by sweetsoup on February 2, 2009.