Lesson: Working for Jesus, Using Your Gifts to Serve (1 Corinthians 12:4-5)

Being a church member is more than just attending worship services, it involves working with other for the purpose of spiritual of yourself and those around you.  It involves working as a team, or a ‘body’ as the Bible puts it.  Each child in your class has been given different abilities and strengths that they will be able to use someday in the church.  This lesson may not help them decide to become a pastor or worship leader, but it will help them start to understand what it means to be a church member.
Lesson Title:  Working for Jesus
Bible Reference: 1 Corinthians 12:4-5; Romans 12:4-6; Colossians 3:23
Target Age Group: Preschool
Learning Context: Sunday School
Target Time Frame: 1 hour
Learning Aim:  Every member has a place in the church to serve.
Hi, My Name Is…
Before the Activity: You will need construction paper and crayons for each child.
During the Activity:  Give each child some paper and crayons.  Ask them to draw a self-portrait.
After about five minutes collect the crayons.  Go around the class and let each child show their portrait, introduce themselves, and say something that they are good at.  They could say, “Hi, My name is ______________.  One thing that I am good at is (helping mommy, riding a bike, setting the table, picking up toys, etc.)”
You Say: Everybody did an awesome job drawing a self-portrait.  God made you all so special and different from one another.  I am so thankful that He made everyone different because it makes life more interesting.  It was lots of fun to hear about all the things that you are good at doing.  In the Bible it talks about how God gives everyone a different gift (thing that they are good at).  Let’s read what the Bible has to say about it. 
Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-5: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  
Say: So what this verse is saying is that God made you! Isn’t that amazing?  Everyone is made by the same God.  But God made everyone different also.  Everyone has different talents and things that they like do. 
Many Members, One Body
Before the Activity: You will need a balloon.
You Say: Why do you think God made everyone good at different things?  (Allow for answers) Romans 12:4-6 tells us everyone in the church needs to work together.  God gave us one church with many members.  God gives everyone a different job so that we can work together and get more done.  If you are good at teaching then you should be a teacher.  If you are good at singing then maybe you should be in the choir.  One person cannot do all the jobs in the church by themselves.  Church members have to work together.  When we work together we can get more done and can help more people know about God.  Let’s play a game where you all have to work together. 
During the Activity: Have the kids line up facing you.  Give them a series of actions to complete together.  They should try to complete the actions at the same time like they are just one body.  For example, 1. Raise Hands, 2. Stomp Feet, 3. Clap, 4. Touch Toes.  Tell the class that you are pretending to be one body and that everyone has to do the motions at the same time.
Emphasize how everyone is working together just like how people have to work together in the church.
Additional Activity:  Stand in a circle.  Try to pass the balloon around the circle without letting it touch the ground.  Make sure that everyone gets a chance to hit it into the circle.
You Say:  Keeping the balloon in the circle meant that everyone had to work together.  It would be much harder to keep the balloon in the circle if you didn’t have help.  It is the same way in the church.  One person cannot preach, teach, clean, lead worship, take care of the finances, visit the elderly, and basically keep the church running alone.  God has given everyone in the church a job to do and when everyone works together and does their part it makes God happy. 
Happy Helpers
Before Class: Cover a small box with white paper to make a die.  Write or draw the following jobs on each side of the box: Preacher, Worship Leader, Teacher, Greeter, Secretary, Custodian.  (Or write whichever church jobs that your class will be familiar with on the box.)  This will be your die for the game.
Read and Discuss: Read Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
You Say: Raise your hand if you like to work!  Who likes cleaning up your toys, picking up trash, and helping others? Cleaning isn’t always fun, but we have to do it, some people are so wanting to help that you can get a quote to let them know you want their services.  In the Bible verse we just read we learned that we should work like we are working for the Lord no matter what we do.  That we means we should always do our best.  God likes happy helpers.  It is important to be a happy helper at church as well.  Remember, everyone who is a church member needs to also be a church helper.  You have a place in the church and you can make a difference!  In a minute we are going to play a game that will allow you to pretend to be a happy helper in the Church.
During the Activity: This is like charades.  Roll the die.  The class will quickly get up and pretend to be that church member.  You may need to explain the church jobs that are written or drawn on the die.  Let each child have a turn rolling the die.  Keep playing as long as everyone is interested.    
Bring it Together
You Say: Today we learned that everyone is different and that God gave everyone different skills.  We also learned that God wants us to happily use our skills to help the church.  Let’s tell some riddles to help you remember what we learned today.
Riddle 1: If you can preach, then you should be a Preacher,
But if you like to teach, then you should be a ____________. (Teacher)
 
Riddle 2: When it’s time to clean up I won’t whimper,
Because I can be a happy ______________. (Helper)
 
Riddle 3: When we work together it’s more fun,
To get all of our work _______________. (Done)
 
Riddle 4:  Everyone is good at different things,
One person preaches while the other one _____________. (Sings)
 
Riddle 5: God made me and He made you,
And He gave us each a job to ___________. (Do)
You Say: What type of job do you think you would like to do in the church?  (Allow for everyone to answer).  You all are so talented!  Let’s pray and thank God for making us all so unique so that we can work together to take care of His church.  Let’s also pray that God would help you all find your place in the church as you grow up. 

Related Resources from Our Website:

• 3 Questions to Help Kids Think about Vocation & Calling
• Coloring Page “Do Everything for the Glory of God”
• Everyday Heros – Coloring Page Series