Connected! – A

OBJECTS: A dead or dying leaf that is no longer connected to a plant. Also, a potted plant with leaves that are in good condition.

(Show the children the dead leaf, and then show them a leaf on the potted plant.)

I have two leaves here. This is one of them (show them the dead or dying leaf). This is the other one (show them a leaf on the potted plant).

What is the difference between this leaf (the dead leaf) and this leaf (the one on the potted plant)?

(Be ready to think on your feet, because children can give unexpected answers. In this case, they might say that one leaf is bigger than the other one––or that one leaf is green and the other one is brown––or that one leaf is dead and the other one is alive. To the extent possible, affirm each answer.)

There are lots of differences between these two leaves, aren’t there! This one is big, and this one is small. This one (the one on the potted plant) is green, but this one (the dead one) is brown. This one (the one on the potted plant) is alive, but this one (the dead one) is dead.

If you were going to be a leaf, which one of these two leaves would you rather be? (Be ready to think on your feet––and to affirm the answers).

If we were going to be a leaf, we would rather be like this leaf (the green leaf on the potted plant), wouldn’t we. We wouldn’t like to be like this one (the dead leaf), would we. This leaf is dried up and dead. We would rather be alive and healthy, like this leaf (the one on the potted plant).

The big difference between these leaves is that this one (the dead leaf) is no longer connected to the plant on which it grew. This one (the leaf on the potted plant) is still connected to its plant. That connection is what gives it life.

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SOURCE: Sermon Writer

Connected! – B

OBJECT:  A lamp. It could be a utility light on a cord. The lamp should be unplugged. You also need to check to make sure that there is an electrical outlet near where you will be delivering the children’s sermon. You should plug the lamp into that outlet and test it to make sure that the lamp works when plugged into that outlet.

As you can see, this is a lamp. When I bought it, I thought it was a nice lamp, but I can’t seem to get it to work today. (Turn the switch on and off). You see, when I try to turn it on, nothing happens. Would someone like to try it?

(They will probably be eager to take turns trying to turn on the lamp––but someone will probably mention that it is not plugged in. That opens the door for you to talk about being connected to Jesus, who is our source of spiritual power.)

You see, it didn’t work. I couldn’t make it work, and you couldn’t make it work. Can anyone guess why it won’t work?

That’s right. This lamp won’t work, because it isn’t plugged in. It isn’t connected to an electrical outlet. I wonder how we could fix that. Does anyone know how to fix it?

That’s a good idea. We need to plug the lamp in to an electrical outlet. There’s an electrical outlet right over here. Let’s try it. I’ll plug in the lamp’s plug (do it). Now would anyone like to see if the lamp will work?

(The children will probably be eager to take turns turning the light on and off. Give them a chance to do that.)

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