Object: A large bag full of peanuts in the shells.
Lesson: Love is from within.
Outline:
1. You crack open a peanut shell to get the nut.
2. You open your heart to love others.
3. The good part is inside.
Can anyone guess what I have inside this big bag? (Let the children give several guesses.) Let me give you a hint. It is something to eat. It grows. And the part that you eat is inside. (After several more guesses, show them a peanut in its shell.)
Now you all know that this is a peanut. I wouldn’t put it in my mouth and eat it because the shell wouldn’t taste too good. What I must do is crack it open, (crack it open) and now I have two lovely peanuts that I can eat. (Proceed to eat the nuts.) That is good. You see the good part that you eat is inside the shell. That’s true about each one of us. The good part is what is inside (point to your heart) and all love starts inside us. That’s why Jesus said we should love with all our heart. I hope you will keep the inside of you loving so it will show outside in what you say and do every day.
I’m going to give you all some peanuts to take home with you so that you can eat them after the worship service is over. And I hope every time you eat a peanut you’ll remember that the good part of everyone is inside, and we need to let that good part—love—come out at home, at school, and into the world.
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Editorial Note: Research has shown that 1 in 200 children (0.5%) have a clinical allergic reaction to peanuts. Caution and good judgement should be used when telling this story.
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Excerpted from Elder’s Guide, Volume A, General Conference Ministerial Association. Reprinted with permission. Visit the Ministerial Resource Center, GC Ministerial Association to purchase this and other helpful resources. Better Sermons © 2005-2008. Click here for usage guidelines.