God is Patient

Luke 13:1-9

Exegetical Aim: To explain that God is patient with us when we don't live as we should.

Props: Crayons, a blank sheet of paper, and a little bit of artistic talent (but not much). On your sheet of paper draw a jumbled picture of a house, tree, and landscape, but make all the colors appropriate to the object. Draw the horizon. Put the roof''s flat side on the horizon. Then on the tip of the roof, place the frame of the house upside down so that the door is up and the windows are down. You've got the picture now. Place the trees and birds in awkward places and draw the sun square. Draw a stick person walking on the sun. That should do it!

Lesson: Place the drawing face down. This morning, I want to show you a picture I drew. I'm really proud of it. I worked really hard. It's a picture of my house on a sunshiny day. I mean it's got sunshine, a pretty house, trees, and birds in it. You want to see it? (response) Show the children the drawing. Isn't this great! (response) Do you like it? (response) What? (response) No, no, no, there's nothing wrong here. Here's my roof on the ground. (response) Doesn't the roof belong on the ground? (response) It doesn't? Where does it belong? (response) Okay, I'll remember that. The roof belongs on the top of the house. I'll do better next time.

Well, what about the sun? It's just shining! (response) What? (response) While they are shouting out it's square or it's supposed to be round, continue with your thoughts. I don't understand. (response) Interrupt them. No, look, it's shining nice and bright and making the grass grow. (response) What's wrong? (response) You mean, it's not supposed to be square? (response) It's supposed to be round? (response) Okay, I'l remember that. The sun is supposed to be round. I'l do better next time.

Well, this one is neat. This is me up here walking on the sun. (response) What? (response) You mean this is wrong too? (response) I got it all wrong, didn't I? (response)

Okay, I need to remember this. Point to the objects as you remember your corrections. The house goes under the roof and the roof on top of the house. And I'm not supposed to be walking on the sun. That's all wrong. I need to be down here on the grass. And the next time I draw the sun, I need to make it round not square. I'll do better next time.

Application: Sometimes we do get things all mixed up in life. Do you ever fight with your friends? (response) Have you ever been stingy and refused to share with your brother or sister? (response) Did you know that from time to time your mom and dad get things all mixed up and they get mad at each other? (response) When we fight and say bad things, our lives are all mixed up hold up the drawing like my picture. We need to do better.

I want you to know that God loves us all and is patient with us. And when we fight and act ugly, he is waiting for you and me to straighten up our lives. Now I will remember to put the roof and the sun and the little stick person in the right places next time. And I want you to remember not to fight with one another, not to be ugly, and to do as God asks: to love one another.

Let's Pray: Father, we make mistakes so we ask for your forgiveness, but help us all to do better next time. Amen.