1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV says "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." This is a hard concept to grasp at any age. Yes, we know that we are suppose to do everything to the glory of God, but how can what we eat and drink be done for God?
Teaching Sunday school children early that doing everything for the glory of God is a way of life instead of just occasionally, will help them to grow to become strong in the Lord and have a wonderful relationship with Him along the way.
As kids come into class today, have them write down any information you may need to get in touch with them. If needed, ask for the parents numbers or email addresses. Then, let the parents know you will be sending out texts or emails to the kids during the week. Most parents will LOVE this idea and welcome it! Also, it lets parents know what their children are learning and can help encourage them:)
What to Do:
Before class, come up with several scenarios that your kids can relate to such as: being bossy, sneaking extra cookies, skipping church to ride bikes, throwing rocks at the neighbors dog, and so on. Also, come up with a few good scenarios such as helping mom carry in groceries, putting shoes away, picking up toys, sharing, and so on.
Now, we are going to use these scenarios to get the idea of doing everything for God rolling!
Begin by mixing up the good and bad scenarios and asking the kids if they believe the scenario is doing something for God or not. This will help to get their train of thought working.
Now, ask, "Do you think that stuffing yourself with a whole extra-large pizza can be done for the glory of God?"
The answer of course is 'no'.
God did not design our bodies to be stuffed full at every meal. He gave us food to sustain us and to enjoy, but not to overeat.
Ask, "What about smoking or drugs?"
We are to treat our bodies like the temple of God it is! Overeating, smoking, drugs, and other corrupt things were not meant to be used by our bodies.
Now, ask, "Since we know that putting things inside our bodies that shouldn't be there is not glorifying God, what do you think about what you drink?"
Of course many children will know that alcohol will not glorify God, but what about other drinks? God wants us to enjoy what we drink as long as it isn't hurting us, but drinking sodas, sugary drinks, and other drinks that were not designed by God for us to drink can harm us if drank in over abundance! Believe it or not, drinking too much water or milk can even harm our bodies!
Read about the risks of drinking too much milk here.
Read about the risks of drinking too much water here.
We are to partake food and drinks to sustain us and not for gluttony or to look cool.
Express the importance of using all of their activities for God. All of our actions, words, and motions we portray can let others see God in us. We can let God shine in us so others may want to know more about God.
Have you ever heard the saying, "I like your God, but I don't like your Christians?"
This can be very true about so many non-Christians. Non-Christians look at us and can't see Jesus anywhere in us! What a sad thought.
Think about it...
How often do we gripe, complain, grouch, yell, get angry, and so on. These are not attributes of God.
Teaching Sunday school children early that doing everything for the glory of God is a way of life instead of just occasionally, will help them to grow to become strong in the Lord and have a wonderful relationship with Him along the way.
Do All to the Glory of God
When beginning this Sunday school lesson, you will need to keep in mind that gentle reminders are a great way to get the point across. Also, a great way to keep kids on track during the week is to text them or email mail them. There are very few children nowadays that do no have cell phones, iPods, iPads, computers, etc. Use these devices to keep in touch during the week:)As kids come into class today, have them write down any information you may need to get in touch with them. If needed, ask for the parents numbers or email addresses. Then, let the parents know you will be sending out texts or emails to the kids during the week. Most parents will LOVE this idea and welcome it! Also, it lets parents know what their children are learning and can help encourage them:)
What to Do:
Before class, come up with several scenarios that your kids can relate to such as: being bossy, sneaking extra cookies, skipping church to ride bikes, throwing rocks at the neighbors dog, and so on. Also, come up with a few good scenarios such as helping mom carry in groceries, putting shoes away, picking up toys, sharing, and so on.
Now, we are going to use these scenarios to get the idea of doing everything for God rolling!
Begin by mixing up the good and bad scenarios and asking the kids if they believe the scenario is doing something for God or not. This will help to get their train of thought working.
Now, ask, "Do you think that stuffing yourself with a whole extra-large pizza can be done for the glory of God?"
The answer of course is 'no'.
God did not design our bodies to be stuffed full at every meal. He gave us food to sustain us and to enjoy, but not to overeat.
Ask, "What about smoking or drugs?"
1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
We are to treat our bodies like the temple of God it is! Overeating, smoking, drugs, and other corrupt things were not meant to be used by our bodies.
Now, ask, "Since we know that putting things inside our bodies that shouldn't be there is not glorifying God, what do you think about what you drink?"
Of course many children will know that alcohol will not glorify God, but what about other drinks? God wants us to enjoy what we drink as long as it isn't hurting us, but drinking sodas, sugary drinks, and other drinks that were not designed by God for us to drink can harm us if drank in over abundance! Believe it or not, drinking too much water or milk can even harm our bodies!
Read about the risks of drinking too much milk here.
Read about the risks of drinking too much water here.
We are to partake food and drinks to sustain us and not for gluttony or to look cool.
What Else?
There are ways to glorify God in all that we do even as children. Have the kids think about their every day activities: soccer, basketball, fishing, hunting, school, and so on.Express the importance of using all of their activities for God. All of our actions, words, and motions we portray can let others see God in us. We can let God shine in us so others may want to know more about God.
Have you ever heard the saying, "I like your God, but I don't like your Christians?"
This can be very true about so many non-Christians. Non-Christians look at us and can't see Jesus anywhere in us! What a sad thought.
Think about it...
How often do we gripe, complain, grouch, yell, get angry, and so on. These are not attributes of God.
Philippians 2:14 KJV
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
We are all guilty of these things, but because of God's mercy, we can ask forgiveness and start again! Praise the Lord we serve a loving God!
I learned a lot myself from this Sunday school lesson!
Image of reading the bible courtesy of Photo-Monique
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