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THE ON MISSION CHURCH NETWORK CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
Children’s Missions Education Sermon Idea #2
Your Special Shape
Objective: To help children identify and appreciate their
unique place in God's work.
Scripture: It was he who gave some to be apostles, some
to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to
prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be
built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son
of God and become mature, attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-13, NIV
Preparation and Materials: Plan to use a toddler's wooden
puzzle with fewer than 10 pieces. Also have available two or three additional
puzzles pieces from another puzzle. These additional pieces should look similar
to the pieces of the complete puzzle.
Presentation/Application: Place the puzzle frame and all
but one of the correct pieces on the floor in front of you. Keep the last piece
of the puzzle, plus the mismatched pieces, out of sight.
Ask for a volunteer to assemble the puzzle. After the child
has placed the pieces in the frame, one or more children will probably say,
"There's a puzzle piece missing."
Ask the children to describe the piece that's missing. Show
them one of the mismatched pieces and ask, "It this it?" If the
children are unsure, let one of them try to fit the piece into the puzzle.
Continue in this way, saving the matching puzzle piece for last. When the puzzle
is finally completed, ask: "Why couldn't we put the puzzle together? All
the pieces we tried were blue (wooden, printed with flowers, etc., whatever
made them alike)."
Allow time for the children's observations, then say:
"The puzzle pieces were all good pieces, but only one fit the place in the
puzzle.
"Each of us has a special fit in God's work. If we don't
do the work God has for us, there's no one else to do it exactly like God
planned for us to do it. We each have a special place to fill that only we can
fit exactly. We're like a part of a puzzle made exactly for a special job. Just
like all the pieces of our puzzle worked together to make the same picture, all
of us, no
matter what shape God has given us, are
supposed to be telling people about Jesus.
"But we can do that in different ways, in ways that fit
our special shape. Can you think of ways you can tell people about Jesus?"
Guide children to name ways that fit a variety of personalities, such as invite
someone to church, give them a story about Jesus, sing them a song about Jesus,
and share a Bible verse.
Prayer Thought: Thank God for making each of us special.
Ask Him to help each of us find our special way to tell others about Him.
Copyright 2000 North American
Mission Board, SBC
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