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Choose from the following Children's Sermons:

• Fully Rely On God, Luke 16:1-13, Rev. Margie L. Osborn

• Sharing, based on children's book "Falling Up" Luke 16:1-13

• Give to God: It Makes the World a Better Place!
  Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 and Luke 16:1-13, by Rev Frank Schaefer

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Fully Rely On God
a children's sermon based on Luke 16:1-13
Rev. Margie L. Osborn, First Presbyterian Church

Last spring I ordered bendable frogs and F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely On God) stickers from Oriental Trading. I had no idea how or when I would use them until this week when I had to come up with a children's story in the wake of our national tragedy. I don't know the origin of the Fully Rely on God acronym, so I wrote my own story to go with it. You're welcome to use it as you see fit with your children.

F.R.O.G. It had been a hard week at the pond where Freddie Frog lived with his mom, dad & baby sister. Some bad things had happened to some of the other frog families & everyone was sad.Felicia Frog had been sunbathing on a lily pad all by herself when a little boy captured her & put her in a jar. She was okay, but now she had to live in an aquarium at the school.

Frank Frog was last seen hopping across the highway on his way to the great big pond across town but he never made it across the road. He was grazed by a speeding car & flipped over & over until he landed in the ditch. When his family found him, he had a broken leg & was shaking all over. And then there was Fanny Frog. Little Fanny was swimming in the river when she got too close to a big drain. It sucked her in & she was swept away.

Now no one knows where she is or if or when she will come home but the frog community sent a rescue team and promised to keep looking for her until they found her. It was hard to believe that so many bad things had happened in just one week! Naturally, everyone in the frog community was really, really sad. Freddie’s parents told him as gently as they could about Felicia, Frank & Fanny. They hugged Freddie & told him it was good to cry when bad things happened.

Then they asked Freddie if he wanted to say anything or ask them any questions. Freddie wanted to talk but he had a big lump in his throat so he just shrugged his shoulders. “It’s okay, Freddie,” said his Dad. “When you’re ready to talk, we’ll be ready to listen.” Even though the frogs were terribly sad, soon they all went back to doing what they usually did - except Freddie. Everyday Freddie’s best friend Ferdie asked him to go out & play & everyday Freddie said no. Ferdie begged Freddie to go with him to catch some flies & jump over mud puddles like they always did, but all Freddie wanted to do was stay inside. Freddie still hadn’t talked to his parents about how he felt & since he wasn’t his usual bouncy self, they knew it was time to do something.

So they got a frogsitter for Freddie’s little sister & took him to a quiet spot for a picnic. After a nice lunch, Freddie & his parents stretched out on a blanket & looked up at the sky. The sky was really blue that day. The sun was shining & there were big fluffy white clouds. It was so peaceful that nobody said anything for awhile. Finally, Freddie’s Mom said, “Freddie, you haven’t been your usual bouncy self lately.

After all that’s happened, you’re probably feeling pretty scared & worried.” “Yep,” whispered Freddie. “I’m afraid something bad is going to happen to our frog family.” A big tear rolled down his cheek. Freddie’s Dad reached over & held his hand. “Bad things do happen sometimes, Freddie, but not usually. Most of the time the world we live in is safe & good. That’s the way God planned it to be. That’s why God made families & especially mom’s & dad’s – so we can take care of you & keep you safe. That’s our most important job in the whole wide world.” “I know, Dad,” said Freddie. I don’t feel afraid when I’m with you, but we aren’t always together.” “You’re right, Freddie, but don’t ever forget that even when you’re not with us, you’re never ever really alone.

God is always with you. Whenever you’re scared, wherever you are, you can always pray & ask God to help you.” “Are you sure about that?” asked Freddie. “Oh, yes, we’re very, very, very sure!” said Freddie’s parents together! Girls & boys, today I have a special way to help you remember that God is always with you. Everyone knows this is a frog (show frog). Some of you may even know how to spell frog. (show F-R-O-G sign) F-R-O-G spells frog but today I want you to show you something else FROG can stand for (show Fully Rely on God sign) F-R-O-G can stand for “Fully Rely on God”.

From now on, when you see a frog say to yourself, “I can Fully Rely on God.” You can fully rely on God because in the Bible God promises that you can & God always keeps God’s promises. Your Discovery leaders will give you one of these F.R.O.G. stickers today. (show sticker) Next week, you will find a frog like this in your worship bags as a reminder that you can fully rely on God.

Let’s have a prayer together. Dear God, You made our beautiful world & every living thing because you are so good & you love us so much. Thank you for giving us parents & teachers & pastors & police officers & firefighters & doctors & all kinds of people whose job it is to keep us safe. If we get scared, help us to remember that you are always with us & will help us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Sharing
based on children's book "Falling Up"
Luke 16:1-13

Use a popular children's poem to talk about "sharing"

There is a children's poem, called Sharing, by Shel Silverstein, from his book "Falling Up" which is humorous, but so . . . .true. Here is an excerpt of the punch-line (try Amazon.com for its availability for shipment): ..."I'll share your toys, I''ll share your money I'll share your toast, I'll share your honey. I'll share your milk, and your cookies too-- The hard part's sharing mine with you."

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Give to God: It Makes the World a Better Place!
a children's sermon based on Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 and Luke 16:1-13
by Rev Frank Schaefer

Objective: to teach the children (and adults) the principle of giving a portion back to God in order to help fight poverty, hunger, and injustice in the world.
Props: an offering plate and 10 coins of your currency (US: 10 dimes; Uk: 10p pieces; Europe: 10 Eurocents; etc.)

Preparation:  Ask a child volunteer an easy bible trivia quiz question (i.e. who was the man in the bible whom God asked to build a huge ship...) and, after   answering correctly, give the child ten coins.

Take one of the regular collection plates/baskets you use for the offering in your church. Show the children the offering plate and tell them that God asks us to give back a portion of what he gives us. Ask the child who has the 10 coins how many of the coins he/she thinks God wants him/her to give back.

[Most likely the child will think it is more than one]. Ask the child to put one coin in the offering plate and say to the children: "God only asks us to give one--one out of ten. God only asks us to return a little portion of what he gave us. Do you think that is asking too much?" [Shake your head in order to encourage a no answer] "No it isn't, especially if we consider that God has given us all we have in the first place.

Now, why do you think God wants us to give to his church?  What does the church do with the offerings like this coin you have put in [lift up the plate with the coin]?  What does the church need money for?  [Let the children suggest things].   Add some things to their list, such as missions giving, givings toward medicine, food for the developing nations, adopt a child programs, neighborhood emergency fund, support for the local soup kitchen, food/clothing supply for homeless people, etc.

All of these things that the church does is to help people who are poor, hungry, homeless, and those who are ill but have no money for a doctor's visit or medicine.  What do you think, is it important to give offerings to God and God's church?  Is it important to help feed and clothe others?    Absolutely.  When you start earning some money, will you give to God?   [nod head slightly to encourage a yes answer] Who of you gives offerings already, perhaps from your weekly allowance?  That is a wonderful thing and God will bless you for blessing others.

Let us pray: "Dear God please help us to remember that giving offerings to you is very, very important.  Especially because a large portion of our church collections go to help those who are poor and hungry.   Let us never forget those who are needy and let us always be willing to share with others what we have.  Amen."