Children's Message: What Do We Really Need?

Children’s Message: “What Do We Really Need?”

Preparation:Bring a large empty backpack or suitcase and some props that represent different items (e.g., a toy, book, blanket, picture of family, fake food, etc.) to make the activity more interactive.

Introduction: Sit where the children can see you and hold up the backpack or suitcase.

"Good morning, friends! Today I want you to use your imagination. Imagine that, for one month, you have to leave your house and live somewhere else.  

"Your house got taken over by a giant bubble-blowing machine, and now it’s filled to the top with soap bubbles! You have to wait a month for all the bubbles to pop."

-or-

"The painters said it would take a whole month to finish painting every single room in your house rainbow colors, so you need to stay somewhere else until it’s done!"

Don’t worry—you’ll get to come back home after the month is over. But you can only bring the things you really need. What do you think those might be?"

Interactive Brainstorming:

Pull out the empty backpack or suitcase.

"Let’s pretend we’re packing for this big trip. I’ll write down what we think we need and, if I have it here, we’ll put it in the bag. Raise your hand and tell me something you think you’d need to survive the whole month."

As they respond, guide the conversation with questions like:

• "Would we really need that, or is it something fun to have?"

• "What happens if we don’t have that for a whole month? Would we be okay?"

• "Could we survive without it?"

Gently steer them toward essentials like food, a place to sleep, clothes, family, and love.If someone says "toys" or other extras, respond playfully but thoughtfully:"Hmm, toys are super fun! But if you had a roof over your head, food to eat, and people who love you, would you still be okay without toys for a little while?"

The Big Reveal:

Once the backpack has a few “essentials,” hold it up.

"Wow! Look at this. It turns out that we don’t need to pack very much to survive and even be happy for a whole month. We need food, somewhere safe to sleep, and the love of our family and friends. Those are the big things. Everything else—like toys, games, and extra stuff—is fun, but it’s not as important as having 'enough' of what we really need."

Halloween:

"Now, let’s think about Halloween. When you go trick-or-treating, you collect candy, right? It’s so exciting to see your bag fill up! But what happens if you eat too much candy at once? You might get a tummy ache, right? Even though candy is yummy, having too much isn’t good for us. God wants us to enjoy the fun things in life, like Halloween, but also remember what’s enough. A little candy can make us happy, but love, kindness, and sharing with others are what truly fill our hearts."

The Lesson:

"Sometimes, we think we need more and more to make us happy. We might want the newest toys, the coolest clothes, or even more snacks. But when we stop and think about it, God has already given us so much—enough to be safe, loved, and cared for. We don’t need everything; we just need enough. And when we have enough, we can even share with others who might not have what they need."

Closing Activity (Optional):

Ask the children:

"Now that we know what’s really important, can you think of something you can share this week to help someone else who might not have enough?"

Let a few children answer.

Prayer:

"Let’s pray together:Loving God, thank you for giving us enough. Thank you for food, a place to sleep, and people who love us. Help us remember that the most important things are not things we can buy but the love and care we share with each other. Amen."