Opening

• If you went to the animal park or zoo, and every animal was the same, how long would you stay? You would probably get bored fast
  because the animals would not meet your expectations. You go to the zoo or animal park to see different animals like lions, monkeys, leopards, elephants, or crocodiles. When all of these different animals are there, the zoo or animal park is fun.
• Last week we learned that there are many different Spiritual Gifts. God gave us different Spiritual Gifts because there are different needs in the church. Like a zoo or animal park with one animal, a church with only one Spiritual Gift cannot meet all of these needs. How can a church grow if there is no one to keep the floors clean, teach the Sunday school classes, or keep the office going because everyone wants to preach?
• But it is also important to treat all gifts as important. In our scripture for today, Paul tells the Corinthians in a way they will understand that
  each person in the church is important, no matter what they are called to do.

Bible Story

• There was this guy named Paul who lived a long time ago. Paul was really important because he was one of the first Jesus followers to start churches and help them grow. Paul spent a lot of time writing letters with all sorts of advice for these churches. Today we’ll look at one of Paul’s letters that he wrote to a church in the city of Corinth.

• In your Bible, this letter is called First Corinthians. (Hold up Bible.) Paul was trying to teach the people of Corinth about cooperation. Here’s what Paul said to them.

• Open the Bible to 1 Corinthians 12:12, 18, 27 and read.
  “There is one body, but it has many parts. . . . It is the same with Christ. . . . God has placed each part in the body just as he wanted it to be. . . . You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is part of it.

• Now, Paul wasn’t talking about the human body. He was talking about US—about everyone who follows Jesus. He’s saying we’re all different with different strengths and talents and spiritual gifts, but we all make up one group of people who should work together. When we cooperate, it’s like we’re one body.

• I want to ask you a question. What are you good at? What are you good at that maybe other people aren’t as good at? Maybe it’s cooking. Maybe it’s math. Maybe it’s dancing.

• Maybe you’re good at seeing things other people don’t see. Like when a friend is sad or angry. Maybe you’re a good listener. Maybe you’re a good talker. Would any of you like to share what you’re good at? Choose a few children to share what they are good at.

• The truth is, we are ALL good at something. God made us that way

• What about the people around you? What are THEY good at? Do you have a friend who is good at drawing? Does your mom give the best hugs? Do you know someone who’s super generous—someone who would give away ANYTHING to anyone who needed it? Do you have a friend who is always there when you need them? Is there someone in your family who would travel any distance to help a person in need? Have you ever met someone who loved to serve— to volunteer at church?”

• Remember Paul was writing to the Corinthians to encourage them to work together as one body. (Point to the completed body.) When you believe in Jesus, God gives you the ability to put the things YOU’RE good at together with the things OTHERS are good at to make a big difference in people’s lives. When we do that, we can show Jesus’ love to others. We can cooperate to point others to Jesus.

• “Think about it. How could you use your skills and the skills of those around you to point people to Jesus? Could you come up with some funny sayings to go on a card? Could your friend draw a picture on the outside of the card? Could you make a lot of those cards to brighten someone’s day? Could you go around your neighbourhood or school and give the cards you’ve made?

• Maybe you have some clothes and toys that you’ve outgrown. Could you and your friends gather some of them and ask your parents to drop them off at a children’s home, so other people could use them

• You can find ways to work with the people around you to show love to others. When you do that, a really good thing happens. You get to show them how much JESUS loves them, too.

• In Paul’s letter, he says that no part of the body is more or less important. He says ALL parts are needed. Sometimes you might wish you had your best friend’s brains or your dad’s joke-telling skills or the ability to dance like that guy on TV. But Paul was saying that God made you who YOU are on purpose. He wants you to use what you’re good at along with what I’m good at along with what ALL of us are good at to point people to Him. That’s what we can do together! We can work together to point others to Jesus.

• Everyone should use the gifts and talents that God gives them. Although we consider some gifts more valuable, like preaching or teaching, all gifts are important to God, and all are needed in the Church.

• When all these gifts and talents are working together, it is called unity. Just like all the parts of our body need to work together in unity, so do all the people in the church. And no one is too young to help. Everyone, no matter how young can pray, or pick up trash that falls on the floor, or even help mom or dad prepare for a lesson by keeping quiet. Nothing is too small when it helps for the common good of the church.

Questions

1. How many different parts make up the human body? (Many.)
2. Why is each part of the body important? (Together they work in unity.)
3. What would happen if the whole body was an ear? (It couldn’t see, speak, walk, etc.)
4. How many different parts make up the church? (Many.)
5. Why is each part of the church important? (Together they work in unity.)
6. What would happen if everyone in the church did the same thing? (The church couldn’t meet all needs.)
7. If one part of the body suffers, how should the other parts feel? (If one part suffers, all suffer with it.)