Object lesson for thanksgiving: Hold up a doughnut and tell about the old saying “As you go through life make this your goal – look at the doughnut and not the hole.” Explain the meaning of this little ditty and tell the children that it is possible to go through life noticing what we don’t have. Thanksgiving is a time to remember all the wonderful blessings we do have.

 

 

Object lesson props: Purchase a real doughnut or make one out of cardboard. // Or here's another Fun Thanksgiving kids Sermon idea

 

Thanksgiving object lesson: Full sermon:

Good morning children. Do you know what day we are celebrating at church this morning? Yes! It’s thanksgiving. Although we should always be thankful to God this is a special time of remembering the many wonderful blessings that we have. When someone gives us something or does something to help us it is important to say “Thank you” to them. It’s very important that we don’t forget to say thank you to God too. This morning I wanted to share with you a little rhyme I learned when I was very young. But first I want to see if you know what this is. (Hold up your doughnut) You’re right. I’m not very good at crafts but this is supposed to be a doughnut. I brought it because my little rhyme is about a doughnut. It goes like this: “As you go through life make this your goal; look at the doughnut and not the hole.” We’ll say it together. (Get the children and the congregation to say it a few times.) Let me explain what it means. If I gave you a doughnut I bet you’d be pretty happy. Wouldn’t it be sad if you focused your attention on the hole in the middle and complained about the hole! If you did that you’d be drawing your attention to what isn’t there rather than what is there. Sadly, some people go through life noticing what they are missing and they never really notice the good things they do have. Our little rhyme about looking at “the doughnut and not the hole” can remind us to see the many good things in life we do have. That’s important to do as we go through life and it’s especially important for us to do on the Thanksgiving Sunday.

Children’s Prayer: Dear God. We have been blessed by you in so many ways. Help us, through your Holy Spirit, to focus our thoughts on what do have and not on what we don’t have. Thank you for your love and your life known to us through your son Jesus – in his name we pray, Amen!

Copyright Andrew Hewlett & Sundaychildrensfocus.com  Feel free to use this object lessson on Sunday morning but give credit to sundaychidrensfocus.com and consider linking to this site. Blessings, A.H.