Luke 16:19-31
Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!
Sammy: Good morning everyone!
Pastor: Sammy, today we are learning about a man named Lazarus.
Sammy: Yes! Lazarus is such a cool name.
Pastor: Yes it is. What do you remember about Lazarus, Sammy?
Sammy: Well, I know that he likes dogs. Maybe the dogs like him. He has a dog. No wait: he has several dogs. I think the dogs lick him.
Pastor: Hold on, Sammy. It seems like you remember the part about the dogs licking Lazarus’s sores.
Sammy: Yes that’s the part I remember.
Pastor: Boys and girls, do you remember anything else about Lazarus?
[Allow time for responses]Pastor: Lazarus had a hard life on earth. He was poor. He ate scraps of food. And the dogs licked his sores.
Sammy: So Lazarus was hungry a lot and he had a lot of boo-boos.
Pastor: Yes he was, and he did.
Sammy: That’s horrible. Why didn’t anyone help him?
Pastor: I am not sure. The rich man in the story had a lot of money and was able to help Lazarus, but he chose not to help him.
Sammy: Well, why not?!
Pastor: Sometimes it’s hard to think of other people when everything is going well in our lives. When our lives are challenging, and we receive help from others, then we realize the importance of giving what we can to each other.
Sammy: I know our church helps a lot. We give food and clothes and supplies to other people in our community.
Pastor: Yes, we do. We have many people here who are very generous. And that’s what Jesus wants of us. He wants us to give to each other. He wants us to love each other.
Sammy: What happened to Lazarus in the end? Did the rich man finally help him?
Pastor: No, the rich man never helped Lazarus. Lazarus went to heaven and the angels waited on him. The angels gave him food and something to drink. They helped him put on better clothes, too. Lazarus gets to spend eternity with Jesus.
Sammy: At least the story has a good ending.
Pastor: Yes—for Lazarus.
Sammy: Boys and girls, will you pray with me? Will you please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, help us to see the poor and the hungry in our community. Help us to feed others. Thank you for giving us serving and loving hearts. Amen.
Pastor: Bye, Sammy!
Sammy: Bye, everyone!
